POOLS™
Explore, admire and listen.
Ratings
Age
9+
Category
Games
Languages
English
Wed Nov 12 2025
Added settings menu
Fixed flickering
Several smaller fixes and improvements
POOLS is an experimental exploration game that brings the 'Liminal Space' and 'Backrooms' aesthetic to life. In this game, there are no monsters chasing you and no jump scares to startle you. Instead, you are invited to wander through a series of vast, hyper-realistic pool complexes. The challenge lies in navigation and the psychological tension of being alone in a place that feels strangely familiar yet deeply alien. Experience immersive 3D audio and stunning visuals in this quiet, haunting journey.
Dinsun Expert Review
Our Expert Score
POOLS is a masterclass in atmospheric minimalism. It manages to be one of the most unsettling experiences on the App Store without ever showing you a monster, a jump scare, or even a drop of blood. It leans entirely into the 'liminal space' aesthetic—that specific feeling of unease found in empty, functional places that should be full of people. Walking through the endless, echoing tile corridors of these surreal water parks feels like a fever dream you can't quite wake up from.
The technical execution is where POOLS truly shines. The sound design is hauntingly realistic; the way your footsteps transition from dry tile to shallow water, and the way the reverb changes in massive vaulted chambers, creates an incredible sense of physical presence. The lighting on the water surfaces is photorealistic, making the environment feel tangible. It’s not a game about 'winning' in the traditional sense; it’s an immersive art piece about navigation and the psychological weight of isolation. If you find beauty in the eerie and the unexplained, this is a must-play.
Features
Photorealistic graphics and water effects
Advanced 3D binaural sound design
Multiple distinct 'chapters' of exploration
No UI or combat for total immersion
Featured In
Tips & Walkthrough
Use the 3D audio to your advantage. If you find yourself in a loop, stop and listen. The hum of machinery or the sound of distant dripping water often indicates the direction of a new zone.
Gameplays
While there is no text, the way the rooms are laid out tells a story. Look for 'impossible' architecture—slides that lead nowhere or stairs that go into the ceiling—to find the correct path forward through the dream-logic.
Screenshot
Q&A
Yes, each level has an 'exit' that leads to the next surreal complex, culminating in a final atmospheric conclusion.
Ratings & Reviews
Don’t Know Why so Many People Are Leaving Bad Reviews
Fri Jan 16 2026 Sun_ReviewsThis was actually a great game! I haven’t purchased the full game but from what I played it was really cool and interesting. I love how open and free it is, letting you explore a maze of rooms and I love how it shows horror, not in a concrete thing or specific monster but in the unknown, in dark passageways, in sudden sounds or screeches or clatters as though your not truly alone, spaced out just enough to keep surprising you, to keep you on your toes. The sound design of this game was amazing. So were the actual rooms. And I felt like I was slowly going insane as I got lost looping the same passageways over and over again only to turn the corner and find a new breathtaking room. Peak experience. I feel like this is one of the best liminal space games on the market. As far as crashing and not loading goes, I haven’t experienced it. Well I admit the game is hard to leave (escape won’t work and you have to press a button to open all your windows to leave the browser) and still needs force quitting on top of that, its still manageable.
Not today.
Fri Nov 14 2025 Niara G.I got this game yesterday and I played for awhile with my siblings watching me. I never knew how good it was until I got to the hole…😀 but before I get to the hole part- I was actually playing this on the bus! I had my headphones on and was very immersed :) but then I heard a deep rumbling noise and got scared so I decided to not scream on the bus and listen to music- but back to the hole. I started playing again and my little sister was watching me! We were at the part with the water maze and we saw an exit sign and said “oh look an exit.” Once I got closer to the hole in the water we saw hands coming out, I immediately turned off my phone and started playing Japanese music- me and my sister were terrified. But after a while from me having a laughing attack on the couch, I started to play again. We noticed there was another exit so we were scared for no reason- overall, a really great game but…are you sure it’s not scary?😭
You made a visually impaired person’s day.
Fri Jan 30 2026 Singularity R3Hi! I’m Squeesh, and I’m visually impaired liminal space fan. This game was compatible with my iPad so I immediately bought the whole entire thing. I knew it was going to be great, but I wasn’t expecting it to be perfect with my device. I was expecting lag, but I haven’t had any lagging issues. I already feel like I’m playing one of the best games on the Internet. I’m not sure if you’re going to make another game like this, but if you do, can you make one inspired by liminal spaces in general? This one is more inspired by pools, but maybe your next game can be an ever expanding all around game. Thank you again for making my day 20 million times better.
Beautiful game, finished in one sitting.
Fri Jan 16 2026 bootylicker79.This is one of those games I just happened to find while doom scrolling on the App Store on the iPad. I am so glad I came across it. I didn’t know at first you had to pay for the whole game, but once I had the free playthrough I was hooked and bought it right there, no questions asked. The graphics were amazing, the type of thrill it gave at times was the perfect amount and at the right times and overall the artwork depicted in the game was beautiful. I caught myself going off track just to get a closer look a few times. Bravo- this game definitely shocked me in the best way.
Graphics at its peak
Tue Nov 11 2025 X7.MustafaGenuinely speaking this game is just what I always wanted the graphics i can’t get enough of it on my iPhone 14Pm it’s works soo well with that amazing graphics gotta say devs did an amazing job to optimise this game I just love this game graphics too much especially water and u guys even added little details like when u get out from the pool its starts droping some water on the tiles I just love they added that also for some it isn’t much but as for mobile gaming industry I hope everyone is like u making graphics and optimising their games first before release this game has no down side its the best game out there 🔥🔥🔥
Unbelievable!
Thu Dec 04 2025 Sharkitty78You guysssss, I cannot believe that POOLS is available to play on my iPad! When I first randomly got into any and all liminal space games a few months ago, the POOLS gameplay was one of the first I came across and have been obsessed with it ever since. The game mechanics, sounds, visuals and atmospheric experience is something else and I can’t express enough what a masterpiece this game is! I purchased all levels and can’t wait to explore all nooks and crannies myself and re-experience all the beautiful (and eerie) spaces over and over again - including the slides :)
Awesome. Best Backrooms game ever
Sat Jan 17 2026 W SPEED 😂🎉First off, the graphics are absolutely beautiful, far too good for a mobile game! You can the see the enormous amount of effort put into it, but not only are the graphics extremely well made, but the game itself really is brilliant. Even though there are no jumpscares, the atmosphere, visuals and sound effects are enough to make a player uneasy. And the price for the full game, in my opinion, is definitely worth it! (Btw this is not even enough to describe how good the game is, no glaze either)
Bland
Fri Jan 23 2026 RaytimestwoI just don’t understand the point of this? Is it a game, because if so, what’s the objective or the goal? I mean, it kept my attention for way longer than I thought it would. But nothing interesting happens while I walk around. When I saw the person, they disappear after I catch a glimpse of them then I cant even get to the ladder??? This is at the end of that maze-like room. I dont know my way around the place and it’s so redundant but also I am always finding new things? Also the duck always getting stuck? What the heck man? I had to reset bc I blocked myself in a room and he wouldnt move. I like the creepy vibes but I wish it were more exciting.
Some Youtube Videos found!
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