Review #015 – Mouthwashing

I didn’t know what to expect coming into Mouthwashing but ended up pleasantly — or, better yet — disturbingly impressed.  It’s ostensibly an interactive horror story told through short, non-sequential chapters with very light gameplay mechanics. Think of it as more of a first- person psychological thriller than a typical survival horror game.

The narrative isn’t anything groundbreaking but the non-linear storytelling and stellar writing really sold it for me. Some of the game’s subject matter is pretty messed up but it’s all portrayed in a purposeful way that I really dug. I didn’t necessarily enjoy everything that was going on, obviously, but it all was emotionally affecting.

There’s a couple of spots that don’t control particularly great but no sequence is especially lengthy. It’s just really well done and is one of the better horror games I’ve played in recent memory.  It’s not necessarily an Amnesia-style spooky game but it’s definitely unsettling and not for the faint of heart.