Mouthwashing – A Story That May or May Not Have Happened

If you enjoy independent indie game coverage, consider supporting Indie-Games.eu on Patreon. It helps keep the site independent.

• Developer: Wrong Organ
• Publisher: CRITICAL REFLEX
• Platforms: PC
• Genre: Psychological Horror
• Release Date: September 26, 2024
• Initial Price: €11.51
• Reviewed Version: PC

Winner of The Horror Game Awards 2024 in the categories of Best Narrative and Player’s Choice. Nominated for Game of the Year and Best Narrative at The Indie Game Awards 2024. Also nominated for Best Horror Game at the IGN Awards 2024. And last but not least, nominated for Outstanding Story-Rich Game at The 2024 Steam Awards. That’s an impressive list of achievements for an indie game that lasts only two hours, like Mouthwashing, especially considering this is only the second game from the development studio Wrong Organ (the first was How Fish Is Made).

Mouthwashing caused a real stir in the gaming industry, receiving praise from both critics and players, even outside the scope of indie games. Now, with nearly half a year passed since its release, looking back at the strong reactions and discussions the game provoked, an important question arises: was the hype around this title justified? I decided to wait for the dust to settle to experience the game with a completely fresh perspective. Here are my impressions after playing Mouthwashing twice in 2025.

Trapped Among the Stars

In Mouthwashing, we follow the story of five crew members aboard the space freighter Tulpar. Following a tragic accident that leaves one of them in desperate condition, the remaining members are forced to confront starvation, isolation, and a slow slide into madness. Soon, their artificial sun is obscured by hallucinations, despair, and the dark secrets of every Pony Express employee.

Mouthwashing is a game best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. We uncover the story by jumping between three timelines: a few days before the accident, a few months after the accident, and a few hours before the final events. It’s up to the players to piece together the fragmented narrative by exploring different parts of the ship, talking to survivors, and searching for ways to increase their chances of survival.

Most of the game can be described as a walking simulator, where the focus is on constantly moving around the ship to complete the next task. Since this often involves walking down long corridors and backtracking to previous locations, it can feel like artificially padding the game’s length, which can sometimes be frustrating. However, this can also work in favor of the atmosphere; when the players are lulled by the monotony, the creepy moments and anomalies are far more effective and powerful.

Another of the game’s strong points is its cast of characters. Each one has a striking personality, hidden internal struggles, and a unique role in the story. Although both their design and characterization are memorable, I wish we had gotten more focus on their individual fates and backstories, which are mostly only mentioned superficially to drive the plot forward.

Exceptional Visual Uniqueness

The game greets players with a bright, reddish sunset accompanied by calm, yet melancholy synth music. Right from the start, this combination successfully captures the unique and captivating style of Mouthwashing: the low-poly retro graphics, reminiscent of PS1 designs, are expertly used to transform bloody and dark scenes into a surreal psychological journey. The industrial interior of the ship unexpectedly morphs into an ocean in space, an abandoned cemetery, or a labyrinth of absurdly large organs, with each new vision bringing something entirely fresh while maintaining a distinct, pixelated visual style.

Mouthwashing is a top-notch game not only in its visuals but also in its sound design. The music plays a crucial role in guiding the player’s emotions through different phases of the game: a relaxed melody reduces tension, warning sounds signal an impending threat, and eerie tones create discomfort during disturbing moments. The sounds are even more striking when the visuals are blocked or completely removed, leaving the most terrifying and agonizing moments to our own imagination. And this, of course, happens quite often.

Well, That Escalated Quickly…

Mouthwashing is an intense experience, even though it takes its time to set up and gradually reveal its biggest twists. In my opinion, it deserves recognition not just for the story itself, but for how it’s told—the short duration and dynamic narrative make it feel like an interactive film, yet the video game format allows for broader storytelling possibilities.

Although the events are set in space, the horror of Mouthwashing doesn’t come from alien creatures or uncharted territories; the true terror is focused on the characters and their relationships with one another. The game tackles very sensitive and difficult themes through metaphors, symbolic dialogue and actions, as well as frequent (and not at all subtle) foreshadowing, which gives the story a raw authenticity and makes it fascinating to explore.

The non-linear, mystery-shrouded narrative makes this game highly suitable for multiple playthroughs. Players mostly spend their first run soaking in the spooky and bizarre scenes, while replaying allows them to gain a deeper understanding of the story’s complexity. Although I enjoyed my second playthrough just as much as my first, I finally clarified some shortcomings that bothered me during both sessions.

Primarily, the ending. I find it powerful and exciting, but it lasts too long. Several sequences that require stealth and caution slow down the fast pace and intensity of the game, making it difficult to progress. Also, while I greatly appreciate the attention to detail and the various methods of ramping up tension, you really don’t need to distort my screen every two seconds to convey the message. Especially if it interrupts key story moments.

Final Thoughts

Despite its obvious and less obvious flaws, Mouthwashing is a game that truly deserves its status as an instant indie horror gem. It’s incredible how every time I come across something related to this title, I discover new facts and details that confirm how thoughtfully designed this production is. While there are many themes worth highlighting and analyzing, the game’s greatest asset is the powerful emotional charge it carries—it’s impossible to experience it with indifference.

Therefore, for those who haven’t had the chance to experience it yet, I highly recommend approaching it with an open mind and heart, as there’s a lot to uncover. After all, it’s a story that may or may not have happened, and that’s true not only in the context of video games.

Review copy provided by the publisher