The Bathrooms is a first-person horror adventure game available on PS5 that places players in a surreal, procedurally generated labyrinth of school bathrooms. A routine morning commute turns into a nightmare after a Halloween ritual opens the restrooms to an otherworldly realm filled with fog, scattered coins, and an adaptive pursuer known as The Custodian. The core objective involves collecting enough coins to purchase an exit ticket while deciding whether to prioritize escape or search for keys to free a missing Shiba Inu named Shibosu.
Gameplay
Players navigate a shifting maze of tiled stalls and hallways using a vacuum cleaner as the primary tool for gathering coins scattered throughout the environment. Upgrades purchased from in-game shops increase collection speed and efficiency. Inhaling copium provides temporary boosts to movement and coin value, while pondering an orb reveals hidden keys and potential threats ahead. Stealth plays a central role, with opportunities to crouch, hide inside locked stalls, and manage lighting to avoid detection. When confrontation becomes unavoidable, a clown gun offers a risky means of defense against The Custodian, whose behavior adapts based on player actions. Slot machines allow gambling collected coins for potential high rewards or losses, adding another layer of risk management to each run. The world generates differently with every attempt, encouraging repeated exploration through nonlinear paths and collectible items that unlock achievements.
Game Modes
The experience centers on a single-player survival horror loop without separate multiplayer or competitive modes. Procedural generation ensures each session presents a unique layout of the bathroom labyrinth, while multiple difficulty settings adjust enemy behavior and resource availability. Players can focus on efficient coin collection for a quicker exit or extend their time in the maze to locate keys and rescue the pet, creating natural replay branches within the same core structure. Achievements track specific accomplishments such as flawless escapes, full collectible sets, and completions on higher difficulties.
Key Mechanics and Features
The vacuum serves as both a collection device and a lifeline, with shop upgrades directly impacting how quickly resources accumulate. Copium inhalation and orb use introduce resource and information management elements that reward careful planning. The Custodian represents a persistent, learning threat that forces players to adapt hiding spots and movement patterns rather than relying on a fixed strategy. Gambling at slot machines and optional combat with the clown gun provide high-variance choices that can accelerate progress or lead to setbacks. The decision to rescue the Shiba adds emotional weight, requiring players to weigh personal safety against deeper exploration in the ever-changing tiled environment.
Is It Worth Playing?
With a small but positive reception of 85 percent from 14 Steam reviews and a low entry price point, The Bathrooms appeals to players who enjoy short-to-medium sessions of indie horror focused on exploration, stealth, and resource decisions. The procedural maze and adaptive enemy create consistent tension without relying on jump scares alone, while the choice between escape and rescue offers meaningful replay value. Those seeking a straightforward action title or large-scale multiplayer experience may find the scope limited, but fans of liminal space aesthetics, roguelike elements in a horror wrapper, and tight single-player loops will find a distinctive take on the genre. Availability on PS5 expands access for console players interested in this style of atmospheric adventure.
