Review: Janitor Bleeds

destructoid.com:

I’ve been reviewing a lot of short-form horror games recently, and that can only mean one thing: a lot of short-form horror games have been getting released. I like them because they’re quick, inventive treats. Developers have become reasonably good at providing thrills and boners through the interactive medium, but someone’s fears are a constantly moving target. It’s fun to watch all the ways people think to hit that.

Janitor Bleeds tweaked my interest valve for a couple of reasons: it’s set in an arcade, and unraveling its mysteries requires you to play an old arcade cabinet. The “Janitor” in its name I had initially expected to be alluding to some grumpy old caretaker who haunts the place. Unfortunately, there is no such tortured soul shrieking about how hard it is to get nacho cheese out of the carpeting.

Janitor Bleeds (PC) Developer: Korpus Publisher: Bonus Stage Publishing Released: April 7, 2022 MSRP:

Your car is wrecked, and I don’t know how you managed to pull that one off. You hit a light post on the side of the gentlest curve imaginable. How did you miss that? Let me rephrase: how did you hit that? You were checking your phone again, weren’t you? Who’s been texting you? Is it that harlot from the office again? My mother was right about you.

You wind up in an abandoned arcade. After a bit of exploration, you find a cabinet stashed away called “Janitor” and inadvertently release a strange entity upon the darkened screens. You would think your job would simply be to leave or call for help, but I guess you want to explore the arcade. That might be fun if something wasn’t trying to kill you.

Janitor Bleeds is a linear experience. While you eventually open the entire arcade to explore, there’s a pretty strict