Indie horror gameThe Bathhouseis the title game by Chilla’s Art. Released just this month, the game features the developer’s signature visual aesthetic, with its eerie character models and ominous environments. Alongside the VHS-style filter, these elements make for a great horror ambiance. But while past games likeThe Convenience StoreandThe Closing Shifttook place in the city,The Bathhousetakes players to the countryside, with a story somewhat likeStardew Valleygone wrong.
The comparison toStardew Valleymight seem strange, but it’s primarily because both games make use of the trope wherein the main protagonist (in this case, the player) moves to the country to get away from their stressful life in the city. Incidentally, the trope is excellent for cozy farm simulators as well as atmosphericindie horror games.
RELATED:MADiSON: Ending Explained
Unlikely Comparisons Between Indie Horror Game The Bathhouse and Stardew Valley
In thebeginning ofStardew Valley, players see their character working a day job at the Joja Corporation. They’re clearly unhappy, which is why their grandfather’s deed to the farm presents them with an alternative. The player then moves to the countryside and begins anew. The protagonist ofThe Bathhousesuffers from the same feelings at the beginning of the game, but instead of a grandparent gifting her with a plot of farmland, they find a job at a mysterious rural bathhouse.
However, that’s where similarities end and why the game becomes “Stardew Valley Gone Wrong.” On one hand, the fledgling farmer arrives at Pelican Town and is met with warm greetings and a cozy cabin. On the other, the protagonist ofThe Bathhouseis greeted by a dingy, bathroom-less apartment and strange townspeople.
The Bathhouseleans into the“Town with a Dark Secret” tropein horror media. As the player progresses through the game, it becomes clear that there’s something very wrong with their workplace, especially since some of the townspeople start seeing things inside, and an elderly lady even leaves flowers by the entrance of the establishment. Despite this, the protagonist continues to do her job, perhaps unwilling to return to the city life she hated so much.
While this newest entry to the Chilla’s Art roster of games emulates the eerie, atmospheric horror from past titles, it doesn’t quite hit as hard asthem. Funnily enough, the answer lies in morecomparison toStardew Valley. The beloved farming simulator manages to create a bright and cozy environment not just because of its visuals, but because of its characters as well. The townspeople are friendly to the player (at least, for the most part), which helps in fostering the vibe the game was going for. And that’s what’s missing fromThe Bathhouse– character interactions.
As far as comparisons go, gamers need look no further than the older games by Chilla’s Art.The Convenience Storehad the player interacting with late-night customers, and some of them could be incredibly creepy if they wanted to be. Thesame goes withThe Closing Shift, which had NPCs that were very much involved in the narrative.The Bathhousealso has the protagonist interacting with eccentric individuals, but it doesn’t quite get to the same level as the last two games mentioned.
Moreover, in the past two games, the player interacted with a co-worker, who often helped further the narrative. However, inThe Bathhousethe owner of the business only ever showed up at the beginning and end of the game, which is a shame since his character model is so eerie. Overall, the NPCs ofThe Bathhousejust felt too detached from what the protagonist was going through.
Perhaps Chilla’s Art can take a leaf from its older games (andStardew Valley) in creating the next title. Namely, the developers should utilize the game’s NPCs. After all, the story of a city girl traveling to a sinister rural town works best when its townspeople are just as sinister as the place they live in. Regardless,The Bathhouseis still a frighteninghorror game that takesStardew Valleyand turns it all types of wrong.
The Bathhouseis available now on Steam.
MORE:Haunted Chocolatier Shouldn’t Shy Away From the Realistic Issues Tackled by Stardew Valley
