Pools

Game information

Pools is a first-person exploration game designed around movement through large, quiet, water-filled spaces. The game consists of six chapters, each set in a distinct location where visual design and spatial layout guide the player’s progress. There are no traditional objectives or failure states. Instead, players move through tiled rooms, flooded corridors, and submerged halls, observing subtle changes in lighting, geometry, and acoustics. The absence of characters or narration places full emphasis on observation and atmosphere.

Sound Design and Environmental Detail

The game does not use background music, menus, or dialogue. Instead, all feedback comes from ambient sound — footsteps in shallow water, distant echoes, and the occasional hum of an unseen source. Sound shifts dynamically depending on the architecture of the space, making each section feel different. Movement is intentionally slow, especially when wading through water, encouraging players to focus on details like wall texture, shadow placement, or the way sound carries through narrow chambers. These subtle design choices are central to the game’s immersive effect.

Spatial Progression and Visual Evolution

Though there is no written narrative, Pools evolves visually as players move forward. New sections introduce changes in color tone, structure, and layout, giving each chapter a distinct identity. Some areas are open and well-lit, while others become tighter and more dimly lit, invoking tension through spatial uncertainty. This slow shift in environment suggests that the world is not static, even if nothing directly interacts with the player. Each space raises quiet questions about what came before and what lies beyond the next corner.