About This Demo

🎮Poolside Vigil: The Demo Experience

This demo serves as your initial descent into the eerie and silent world of Poolside Vigil. Walk among abandoned pools and endless tiles in this atmosphere inspired by true events and liminal space phenomena.

Infinite Change: A Different Labyrinth Every Time Poolside Vigil is not a static horror game. Uncertainty and exploration are at the very core of the experience:

• Procedural Generation: Every time you start the game or begin a new run, the map is completely reconstructed from scratch. No corridor, no pool, and no exit will ever be the same as the last. You cannot memorize it; every start is a brand-new labyrinth waiting to be explored.

• 4 Distinct Game Modes: Explore this randomized world your way:

  • Survival: Stay alert while soaking in the atmosphere.

  • Survival Hardcore: No room for error. A true test of your instincts.

  • Exploration: A mode without the "entity," perfect for those who want to focus on puzzles and aesthetics.

  • Exploration Hardcore: Pure atmosphere under the most challenging environmental conditions.

• Playtime: Approximately 30 minutes to 1.5 hours of gameplay, depending on your playstyle and the map's current layout.

• Important Note (Save System): Due to the nature of the game and its randomized labyrinth structure, there is no save system. Each journey is designed as a seamless, high-tension atmospheric experience meant to be completed in a single sitting.

✨🌑 A MOMENTARY GLOW, AN ENDLESS DARKNESS

The idea for this game was born from a real and jarring event I witnessed. One day, while traveling, I saw a motorcyclist slip and take a heavy fall. In that moment, time seemed to stand still. However, what was even more terrifying was the reaction of those around. Instead of rushing to help, people pulled out their phones, competing to record the moment and share it on social media.

That collective blindness, that digital indifference, and the reality of how the glow of a screen can darken our conscience formed the foundation of POOLSIDE VIGIL.

This game is the silent scream of a mind facing the heavy price of a "single second" of digital distraction. It is a haunting journey where you will discover the void left behind in the real world when you are captivated by the momentary flicker of a screen.

Within these endless pools shaped by remorse, you will search for lost fragments while confronting the dark truth of that fateful day. In this labyrinth woven with regret, every step will lead you to one question: What did you truly lose in that one second?

🌀 A VOID YOUR MIND CANNOT MEMORIZE

You can never memorize this place. Just as our traumas constantly reshape themselves, this pool labyrinth is completely reconstructed every time you are caught or fail. New corridors, different rooms, and shifting exit paths make every attempt eerie and utterly unknown.

👁️ THE STARE AND THE SILENT PURSUIT (Your Eyes Are Your Only Weapon)

You are not alone. A relentless presence watches your every move in this labyrinth. But it follows a single rule: It only moves when you aren’t looking. The moment you turn your back, it closes the gap; look at it, and it freezes like a statue.

To survive this eerie game of cat and mouse, your gaze is your only defense. You must never look away. There is nowhere to run, and no closet to hide in. It only gets closer when you stop watching. Do you have the courage to keep your eyes open?

🧩 PHYSICS-BASED INTERACTION & NAVIGATION (Puzzles)

Escaping this void requires more than just running; you must interact with the world around you. Using the power of Unreal Engine 5's physics engine, you must push and pull heavy objects to clear your path or find hidden passages, and overcome logic-based obstacles by using environmental items.

Most importantly, use physical objects as markers to keep from losing your sense of direction in this complex labyrinth. Rearrange items and place objects in ways you will recognize to leave yourself a trail, so you can say, "I've been here before." Remember; in these ever-shifting corridors, every trace you leave might be your only guide to survival.

👤 DEVELOPER'S NOTE & FUTURE VISION

POOLSIDE VIGIL is being passionately crafted by a solo developer (Glare Games) using the power of Unreal Engine 5. My goal is not just to scare you, but to provide a high-quality visual and auditory experience that reflects the familiar sense of "emptiness" created by modern life.

Currently, the game is designed as a pure solo experience. However, if the project achieves its goals and I can secure the necessary resources for further development, my ultimate dream is to introduce a Multiplayer mode. In this mode, you won't just run; you will work together with your friends to solve random events and mysteries that trigger unexpectedly throughout the map.

Your support on this dark journey is my greatest motivation to bring these visions to life. Thank you for joining me and being part of this vision.

Inspiration & Style

Poolside Vigil is deeply inspired by internet phenomena such as POOLS, Liminal spaces, Found footage, and the Backrooms lore—specifically the “Backrooms Pools” or “Poolrooms”.

We would like to credit Jared Pike, one of the original artists behind the Poolrooms concept, whose work was a major influence on the visual direction of this project.

AI Generated Content Disclosure

The developers describe how their game uses AI Generated Content like this:

"Generative AI was used solely for the creation of marketing and promotional materials, such as storefront banners and promotional posters. All in-game assets—including 3D models, textures, environments, and animations—have been manually hand-crafted by the developer without the use of AI to ensure artistic integrity and the highest quality for the gameplay experience."

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

The game explores a heavy narrative centered around parental negligence and its potentially tragic consequences. It contains themes of child endangerment and psychological distress related to family loss. While there is no graphic violence, the emotional impact of the story’s conclusion involves sensitive subject matter regarding the safety of a minor.