Mouthwashing
• PC (Windows) • Adventure, HorrorWho could have known what good ol’ Captain Curly was capable of? Guess he thought his crew dying alongside him was only right. But some men can’t even kill themselves properly. Maimed, limbless and unable to speak, but alive, Curly is now at the mercy of the crew he has doomed to a slow death.
Thoughts
If you are at all interested in the indie video game scene and have kept up with recent releases, you might have heard of Mouthwashing. It is a first-person horror game that apparently every artist I follow on social media has played. It has inspired some of the most interesting fanart I’ve seen, so naturally I wanted to know more about it.
Mouthwashing is not a gameplay-focused adventure. Its biggest strength is its storytelling. Rather than being presented neatly in chronological order, the player is given bits and pieces, each time skip building a fuller picture of what transpired both before and after the incident that leaves the crew stranded in space. It’s a method that works great for the specific story being told.
To be honest, horror games are not usually my thing, but I had read many good reviews and I’m glad I gave it a chance. Rather than relying on jump scares, Mouthwashing creates a tense and frightening atmosphere through its narrative, the manipulation of visual effects, and even mixed media segments. One major aspect of its horror is the choice in protagonist. Rather than fearing for a sudden spook, I feared for what I would be forced to do next as a player.
The rest of this post touches on the themes surrounding a reveal that is central to the plot. Feel free to stop here if you’d like to remain completely spoiler-free.
Unfortunately, I was “too slow” to pick up this game and was unable to avoid spoilers related to one of the most important moments in the story. It is difficult to discuss the impact this game had on me without discussing the themes surrounding that moment. The rest of the post will address those themes, but I will not directly mention characters or specific events.
On top of being a great story exploring toxic work culture and capitalism, Mouthwashing is a grueling portrayal of the lack of acknowledgement and remorse that many abusers display towards their victims, especially in cases of sexual assault. The abuser in this story is more concerned with how they’ll be perceived and judged when they’re back on Earth than the actual damage they’ve caused, and it is left up to interpretation whether they ever actually acknowledge their own actions as being harmful to the people around them. It was tragic to witness and rang true to the way things often unfold in the real world.
Mouthwashing is not for everyone, but it definitely accomplishes what it set out to do. It approaches meaningful themes, and does so in a very unique way. While it might not be the most exciting gameplay-wise, I can guarantee its story will stay with you for a while.
Sneak peek
