Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading. In this installment, we’re covering The Exit 8Â by developer Kotake Create.
The Exit 8: (The Explanation)
Navigating the Haunting Halls of a Japanese subway station in search of the Anomaly.
If you’ve ever navigated Shinjuku station in Japan, you know the chaos of navigating a labyrinth of limbs, tickets, and signage with squiggly lines that look like rainbow spaghetti flung at a white rectangle. The experience is like plunging into a city within a city just to get from one point to another. This feeling of disorientation and achievement upon emergence is perfectly captured by the small horror game, The Exit 8.
The Exit 8 encapsulates the elation and subtle nuances of navigating a cacophony. It might give your 2024 a rocky start, but the reward at the end is worth it if you can endure. The game’s premise is simple: you need to reach exit eight through an innocuous corridor. But there’s a twist—an announcement on the wall warns of “anomalies” affecting the station. To reach your exit, you must identify these anomalies. If you spot one, you go back. If not, you proceed. Successfully follow the protocol eight times, and you’ll reach your destination. Fail to identify an anomaly, and you’re looped back to exit zero.
How hard could it be to spot an anomaly? Initially, the corridor seems like just a white-tiled tube with an average-looking man walking down it every time. But then you notice the details: posters, air vents, a “concourse” sign, and a “no smoking” sign with the cigarette butt facing a certain way. You loop from exit zero to exit zero, realizing you’re not paying enough attention. So, you dig deeper. You notice the man holds a phone in his left hand and a briefcase in his right. There’s a red light at the end of the corridor. The posters seem a bit further away than usual. You turn back, and finally, you ascend to the next floor.
Jump scares like sudden blackouts or water torrents add to the tension, but the true fear in The Exit 8 comes from your commitment and the paranoia of whether you made the right choice. This is heightened by the man walking to catch his train, embodying the game’s hourglass. If he makes it around the bend before you, you’re looped back to floor zero. Best keep an eye on him.
Without spoiling anything, the game also cleverly incorporates Japanese comedy and game show humor, with sudden whacky or fantastical turns. The game would fit right into the Yakuza series, and for the price of a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich, it’s hard to go wrong. The sheer number of anomalies, the laughs, the scares—treat yourself.
Overall, The Exit 8 is a small yet compelling horror experience that brings the thrill of meticulous observation and the dread of missing a crucial detail. It’s a game that challenges your attention to detail and rewards perseverance, making it a must-try for fans of the genre. Gamers looking for something longer or more rewarding may have their patience tried a bit though as there’s not much here in terms of gameplay except walking the halls and avoiding the anomalies you encounter.
The Exit 8: (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: Kotake Create
Publisher: PLAYISM
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Adventure, Simulation
No. of Players: 1 player
Release Date: April 17, 2024 (EU & NA)
Price: $3.99
File Size: 1.1 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
