With a title like Toilet Spiders, players can easily anticipate the unsettling encounters that await them in this unique horror game. The premise is straightforward: navigate an abandoned nuclear facility filled with an astonishing number of toilets, each potentially concealing vital items beneath their grimy lids. Yet, the sheer volume of possibilities within this eerie environment is what truly sets the stage for an unexpected experience.
Exploring the Unsettling Environment
The game raises intriguing questions about the former occupants of this facility, who seemingly left behind keys, security passes, and spare lightbulbs in the most perilous of locations. One could speculate that the remnants of their hasty departure—evidenced by the lo-fi blood smears scattered throughout—suggest a chaotic escape, perhaps involving a rather gruesome fate. Regardless of the backstory, the core gameplay revolves around lifting toilet lids while bracing for the inevitable encounter with a lurking spider.
Despite its seemingly simplistic premise, Toilet Spiders manages to deliver a surprisingly effective horror experience. Much like the Fatal Frame series, the tension builds during the moments leading up to a potential scare. Players find themselves staring at closed toilet lids, the frantic instruction to ‘OPEN TOILET’ flashing at the bottom of the screen, all while straining to catch any hint of movement from the depths of the facility’s plumbing.
However, the randomness of the spider appearances may be one of the game’s most significant drawbacks. It could easily have been dubbed ‘Toilet Gambling’ or ‘Spider Roulette,’ as the timing of the spider encounters feels unpredictable. Initially, players are equipped with a Geiger counter that activates upon entering the restrooms, yet the constant presence of spiders renders the device less effective in determining safe toilets. This leads to a reliance on auditory cues, which can be hit or miss, leaving players to second-guess their safety.
Defensive Strategies and Gameplay Mechanics
Players do have a few tools at their disposal to fend off the spiders, though these resources are limited. Lightbulbs can be thrown at closed lids to deter spiders, while flashbang grenades can be deployed to counter an attack. However, the scarcity of these items means that players must use them judiciously, as running out of supplies can lead to an inevitable demise when a spider emerges.
With only three ‘lives’—or ‘volunteers’ as the game refers to them—players face a daunting challenge in a facility overflowing with toilets. The odds often feel stacked against them, and the repetitive nature of searching for keys can detract from the initial thrill of the game. Progressing through the facility becomes a matter of routine rather than a genuinely chilling experience, especially since players can easily return to previous locations to retrieve lost equipment.
Interestingly, the spiders themselves lack a true sense of menace. Their cartoonish design and predictable behavior create more of a playful atmosphere than a terrifying one. After a short while, players might find themselves developing a lighthearted rapport with these eight-legged foes, rather than experiencing genuine fear. In fact, a quick online search for ‘toilet spiders’ might yield more fright than the game itself.
Final Thoughts on the Experience
While Toilet Spiders offers an hour of entertaining gameplay for a modest price, it ultimately falls short of delivering a compelling horror experience. As the first installment of Steve Gaynor’s new anthology series under the Fullbright Presents label, it leaves much to be desired. The game’s repetitive nature and lack of fresh encounters suggest that players may not feel compelled to revisit this peculiar world anytime soon. For those familiar with Fullbright’s previous successes, such as Gone Home and Tacoma, this latest offering may require a stronger hook to resonate with its audience.
