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I first heard about Mouthwashing through a friend, who heard about it from Tumblr.
But some time in October, word started to get around about this strange little game.
So one night, I decided to try it for myself.
Mouthwashing is bloody, tense, often disgusting, and tragic.
I wanted to go lie down in a dark room and stare at the ceiling after finishing it.
And I loved it.
Others loved it too, so much so that it’s become a uniqueindie gamesuccess story.
Basically, if you haven’t heard about Mouthwashing before, you will very soon.
Who is responsible?
These kinds of short, single player games can take off in ways more expensive projects might not.
“Thats the blunt difference.
Horror game influencers can take credit for Mouthwashing’s success as well.
It’s also just entertaining to watch.
It’s done well even beyond the conventional means.
Let’s go back to Tumblr, where my journey started.
It’s a few months after release, and the top posts have tens of thousands of interactions.
It’s been consistent too, and the developer has spotlighted many entries inits Steam Q&As.
Even its eerie soundtrack has hit milestones, with1 million people streaming it on Spotifyas of November.
It all truly means a lot to us.”
If fanart is any indication, it’s partially thanks to the complexity of its characters.
The imagery is also striking.
However, there’s an underlying cruelty to Mouthwashing that people seem to have latched onto.
Tulpar is under contract with Pony Express, but its crew are laid off during their mission.
Will you continue to live by those rules?
If so, will they morph you into something horrible?
Who will suffer because of it?
Can you be blamed for the actions imposed upon you by a system?
Mouthwashing is a painful, messy experience.
It won’t make you feel good either.
Watching the events unfold leaves you feeling dirty or like you saw something you shouldn’t have.
But that depth, those surprises, and its very human story have appealed to many players.
If its steady trend continues, you’ll be hearing a lot more about it in 2025.
An earlier version of this article misattributed the developer’s quote to Wrong Organ’s Kai Moore.
It was updated on December 30, 2024.
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