Gab Hernandez 
In an era where the biggest horror games are splashy remakes, solid remasters, or the umpteenth sequel in a long-running series, Mouthwashing brings fans something horribly, terribly new.
Indie developers are the heart and soul of modern horror games. Titles such as Iron Lung, Anatomy, and Signalis prove that games don’t need massive budgets or cutting-edge graphics to be terrifying.
Passion, talent, and a willingness to traumatize the player are all a developer needs to thrive in horror. Sometimes, that passion translates into something truly bleak and terrifying.
With its grisly visuals, surreal storytelling, obtuse puzzles, and intensely morbid themes, Mouthwashing shakes players to the core. Instead of “unkillable monsters” like creepy animatronics and manifestations of self-loathing, Mouthwashing explores the horror of humanity in all its ugly, brutal, and selfish agony.
The Good:
- Disturbingly surreal horror story with fantastically written characters
- Creative and striking PS1-style visuals that enhance the horror atmosphere
- A beautiful soundtrack sporadically interrupted by the most vile sounds ever heard in a video game
The Bad:
- Literally nothing
Review Details:
- What Platform Did the Reviewer Play On?: PC
- Platforms Available: Microsoft Windows
- Official Release Date: September 26, 2024
I hope this hurts
Mouthwashing starts with the player intentionally crashing a spaceship. There is no explanation given. The player cannot avoid doing what must be done.
Violent flashes of text screaming at them to “take responsibility” interrupt the mystery person’s sabotage. Upon leaving the cockpit, the player enters a labyrinthian hallway of industrial metal, soulless corporate posters, and a disturbing lack of other people.
The hallway twists as the player delves further, posters spreading like a fungus across the floors and walls. The lights flash faster, the sounds grow louder, and as the ship begins to tear at the seams, the scene cuts to a mundane dinner on the ship, months after the crash. After a short meeting, the player walks to the clinic. Within, they see the horrifying fate of the ship’s captain; a burnt, limbless husk with one, unblinking eye.
From that point on, Mouthwashing puts the player in a chokehold and never lets up. The emotional whiplash from calm to terrifying means the player is constantly on edge, never knowing when a conversation will lead into a nightmarish scenario. Although the game tells the player what to do, it never tells them how to do it.
It’s a fantastic way to immerse the player into the mind of the main character, Jimmy, a man barely holding onto his sanity. After becoming captain, he soon finds out he’s way over his head as the situation goes from bad to much, much worse. The eerie visuals, disjointed storytelling, and chaotic soundtrack will make heart rates spike like nobody’s business.
Our worst moments
As for the dark themes, they simply cannot be discussed deeply in a review. Wrong Organ‘s Mouthwashing is a story best experienced with fresh eyes. What can be said is that the game despises the player, forcing them to commit acts that would sicken anybody with a shred of empathy. The story never fully reveals its cards until the very end, leaving the player suspicious of every new development.
The dedication to writing grounded characters in an extraordinary scenario also makes the player feel every horror the crew feels. The demure Anya, the naive Daisuke, and the jaded Swansea all feel like real people. The kind of workers you’d meet at any blue-collar job, dysfunctional folks who are wonderfully human. These people want nothing more than to get off the ship, and the player has every reason to want the same. Whether the game lets them is a horror unto itself.
The Bottom Line: Mouthwashing is the most disturbing game of 2024 and every horror fan should play it for themselves.
Score: 10/10
