Rank 01Games like POOLS
- 29 games
- Updated Nov 2, 2026
Players who liked POOLS also play
The closest matches to POOLS: Dreamcore, Liminalcore, LIMINAL SHIFT, The Exit 8, and Subliminal. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.
- Rank 01
Rank 02Why this
Shares environmental exploration and exploration with POOLS.
- $7.99 (Price checked Oct 31)
- Deck Playable
- 2024
Rank 03Why this
Also Surreal and Walking Simulator, like POOLS.
- $5.99 (Price checked Oct 31)
- Deck Playable
- 2025
Rank 04 
The Exit 8
Why this: Shares exploration with POOLS.
Rank 05 
Subliminal
Why this: Shares environmental interaction and environmental storytelling with POOLS.
Rank 06 
Dead Take
Why this: Shares environmental storytelling and exploration with POOLS.
Rank 07 
EXPEDITION TO THE BACKROOMS
Why this: Also Immersive and Walking Simulator, like POOLS.
Rank 08 
Amygdala
Why this: Shares navigation and environmental exploration with POOLS.
The full ranked list: top 24 games like POOLS
Best match first, as plain text. The same list for AI assistants:
- 1Dreamcore
Shares environmental exploration and environmental storytelling with POOLS.
- 89% of 797 reviews
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- 5Subliminal
Shares environmental interaction and environmental storytelling with POOLS.
- 71% of 2,021 reviews
- 6
- 7
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- 9
- 10
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- Released: 2024
- Developer: Tensori
- Price: $9.79checked Nov 2
- Steam Deck: Deck Verified
- 96% of 3,169 reviews
- Genres: Adventure
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Players highlight
- Builds dread without jumpscares or monsters
- Exploration in mysterious liminal spaces
- Gorgeous lighting and reflections in poolrooms
- Anxious
- Atmospheric
- Dark
More games like POOLS, sliced differently
Reviewers mention these as similar to POOLS
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
Lucid Blocks
Why this: Shares exploration with POOLS.
Yume Nikki
Why this: Also Surreal and Walking Simulator, like POOLS.
NaissanceE
Why this: Shares environmental exploration with POOLS.
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below POOLS at current Steam store prices.
Platform 8
Why this: Shares environmental interaction and exploration with POOLS.
Chorus of Carcosa
Why this: Shares exploration with POOLS.
Dread Neighbor
Why this: Shares environmental storytelling and exploration with POOLS.
Coincidences?
Why this: Shares puzzle platforming and environmental interaction with POOLS.
Uncanny Tales: The Watcher
Why this: Shares environmental interaction and environmental storytelling with POOLS.
Rise of Insanity
Why this: Shares sound design with POOLS.
DREAM LOGIC
Why this: Shares environmental exploration with POOLS.
Free alternatives
Free games the recommender matches to POOLS, limited to titles with at least 500 Steam reviews and 80% positive.
Off-Peak
Why this: Shares environmental exploration with POOLS.
the static speaks my name
Why this: Shares environmental interaction with POOLS.
Liquidators
Why this: Shares exploration with POOLS.
ENA: Dream BBQ
Why this: Also Surreal and Walking Simulator, like POOLS.
About POOLS
The closest matches to POOLS: Dreamcore, Liminalcore, LIMINAL SHIFT, The Exit 8, and Subliminal. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.
If POOLS is your kind of game, the closest matches are Dreamcore, Liminalcore and LIMINAL SHIFT — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers describe it as anxious, atmospheric and dark, and single out its environmental exploration and environmental interaction. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
POOLS is a 2024 first-person adventure that drops players into liminal poolrooms blending backrooms aesthetics with dark, mysterious horror. Environmental exploration and lighting effects guide navigation through surreal architectural spaces where environmental storytelling drives the experience forward. Players describe the atmosphere as eerie and hypnotic, noting how immersive ambient soundscapes without music build tension through environmental interaction rather than explicit threats. Reviewers highlight that the game explores fears of getting lost and oppressive spaces through spatial design alone, maintaining a chill difficulty despite its unsettling tone. The 96% positive rating from over 3,100 Steam reviews reflects appreciation for atmospheric psychological horror delivered through navigation and discovery. POOLS runs verified on Steam Deck at $9.79.
About POOLS: Walking simulator. Explore, admire and listen. Uncanny. Relaxing. Unnerving. Eerie. Immersive. No monsters chasing you or jumping at your screen, but can feel oppressive at times by invoking fears of getting lost, the dark, tight spaces and liminal space architecture. Inspired by backrooms.
Is POOLS worth buying?
Players recommend it
A summary of what players say, not a promise you'll like it. Every signal is listed below.
- 96% of 3,169 Steam reviews are positive.
- Last 30 days: 95% positive across 83 new reviews, in line with its all-time score.
- Price: $9.79 (checked Nov 8).
- People who recommend it had played a median of 3 h when they wrote their review.
- Steam Deck Verified.
What fans praise · Themes mined from positive reviews
- Builds dread without jumpscares or monsters
- Exploration in mysterious liminal spaces
- Gorgeous lighting and reflections in poolrooms
- Immerses players in liminal spaces
People who play it also play: Dreamcore, Liminalcore, LIMINAL SHIFT
Frequently asked about POOLS
Can I run it?
Is POOLS verified for Steam Deck?
Yes — POOLS is Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve has confirmed it runs well on the Deck with full controller, text legibility, and default configuration support.
How much does POOLS cost?
POOLS is listed on Steam at 9.79 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
What games are most similar to POOLS?
Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside POOLS are Dreamcore, Liminalcore, LIMINAL SHIFT.
Who developed POOLS?
POOLS was developed by Tensori and published by Tensori, UNIKAT Label.