If you’re anything like me, there are nights when you want to play something…but not something that you would want to commit to like a 60 – 120 hour RPG because opening up another big game is just too overwhelming to think about. The Exit 8 offers that quick hit of gameplay that you want at that moment.
Developed by KOTAKE CREATE and published by PLAYISM, The Exit 8 is a short, eerie puzzle-ish game that tasks you with escaping a looping Japanese subway station. It’s a “spot the difference” game at its core, but with a psychological twist. Each section of the station looks nearly identical to the last, but if you don’t catch what’s off—like a subtle face in the ceiling, a vent leaking black ooze, or a poster that’s the wrong size—you’ll be sent back to level 0 and have to climb your way through 8 levels all over again. Not all levels have anomalies and that’s the tricky part. The Exit 8 is simple in design, but effective in delivering a creepy, liminal vibe that makes you question your gut and your surroundings.
I ended up opening this game late one night while hanging out on Discord with some friends. I myself was looking for something chill to play while we chatted. What I didn’t expect was that all of us in the call would hyper-fixate on the game together. I ended up streaming it to the group, and we turned it into a collaborative anomaly finding session. We debated whether a shadow looked out of place, squinted hard when the man in the suit walked past us again, and felt the absolute toil of having to start back at level 0 because one of us felt strongly about something that they thought they saw.
Some anomalies were obvious—like a hallway with scattered lights—but some to this day I have no idea why I was wrong. Sometimes, I just turned the other way because the vibes weren’t there and ended up being right. At the end of the day, I’ll take it.
It only took me about 30 minutes to finish my first successful run. The Exit 8 doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s short and spooky—perfect for a bite-sized gaming session, especially during late nights when your brain is wired but your energy is low.
Honestly, I feel like the price is a steal because even though I finished it once and found all the anomalies on my first playthrough, I still find myself opening up this game in other voice calls. I like to make mini challenges for myself like trying to beat my fastest run or making no mistakes in a single run. The Exit 8 won’t make a dent in your wallet or schedule and is a good addition to your game library.
A Few Things To Know:
- Single Player
- Available on Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox, iOS, Android, Steam
- I purchased on Steam for $3.99. Prices may vary across platforms.
- 1.53gb on Steam
