The dreamlike depths of POOLS are about to open on a whole new platform. Developer Tensori has announced that the surreal exploration game POOLS will arrive on PlayStation 5 and PSVR 2 this autumn. For those eager to dip their toes early into the stillness, a free demo is now available to play on the PlayStation Store.
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What is POOLS?
POOLS is an atmospheric, horror-tinged walking simulator created by Finnish developer Tensori. The game debuted in April 2024 for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and was subsequently followed with a PCVR release earlier this year.
The game plunges players into a vast, labyrinthine pool complex that feels uncanny. You’ll explore deserted public swimming spaces and submerged corridors, all the while conscious that someone could be watching you. The game leans heavily into liminal space aesthetics, found‑footage style visuals, and eschews traditional horror tropes like enemies or jump scares. Instead, POOLS aims to evoke unease through space, sound, isolation, and subtle shifts in the environment.
POOLS Demo
Ahead of the launch of the game later this year, a demo has been offered for PlayStation 5 gamers. Available from today, this demo is a flatscreen experience. However, Tensori has stated that a PSVR 2 update to the demo is coming in the near future.
You can download the demo now via the PlayStation Store.
POOLS for PS5 & PSVR 2
The console version of POOLS isn’t a simple port of the base PC version. Instead, PS5 players will be able to play the original POOLS game and the Chapter 0 expansion, both in flatscreen and on the PSVR 2. The PSVR 2 mode will also be included at no additional cost.
POOLS will launch for PS5 and PSVR 2 on 25th November, 2025. Are you interested in a new psychological horror experience? Have you already been playing the game on PC? Let us know in the comments below!
