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The Exit 8 Review

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The Exit 8 Brings Psychological Horror to Consoles

Some areas are just better suited for a horror setting; the isolated house on a street, an abandoned theme park or a space station that has lost contact. And after playing The Exit 8, I am throwing ‘underground tube stations’ into the mix as well. 

Sure, it may just be corridor after corridor, but The Exit 8 manages to elevate them from haunting to unsettling with a very simple, but very effective game.

The viral hit game The Exit 8 recently shadow dropped onto consoles after giving PC players goosebumps for the past year or so. Unfortunately for a viral game, it’s one of those that is more enjoyable the less you actually know about it.

The Exit 8 Review 1
Everything looks normal, but look again

In what is essentially a game of spot the difference, The Exit 8 gives you the simple task of getting out of an underground station. It’s sometimes a game of luck, but the signs that lead you to your exit aren’t quite as objective as you would imagine. Allow me to explain.

Spot the Difference

At the start of The Exit 8 there is a corridor in front of you with various twists and turns to walk down. You will see a longer corridor with posters on the left and closed doors on the right. A man walks in the opposite direction. You will need to remember this layout. Walk down the corridor and turn the corners, and you will see the same scene, exactly as before. Commit it to memory, because after this second view, the game begins at The Exit 0.

You will continue to see the same scene with the posters, doors and gentleman. However, it is up to you to now spot an anomaly in the scene. If you believe the scene is complete without an anomaly, you should proceed as normal. If you think you spot something different, you must turn around and walk the other direction. You will only know you are correct if you see the numbers on the big yellow sign at the end of the corridor count up towards 8. If you see it reset to zero, you must start your runthrough again.

Subtle Anomalies and Spine-Chilling Encounters

Your first time playing The Exit 8 will see you encounter all the anomalies once alongside the true version. After that any of the anomalies can appear at any point. Your mileage may vary; however, you may be able to complete an escape before seeing them all; some of them are very obvious, others are incredibly subtle.

The Exit 8 Review 2
Even subtle differences in the posters can be made

For example, you will be unlikely to miss the No Smoking sign splashed all over one of the walls, or the fact that one of the doors is slightly ajar with someone peeking out. However, noticing one of the posters is ever so slightly different or even the floor tiles having a different pattern is much more difficult. But each time you notice something, a shiver is sent up your spine such is the effectiveness of every anomaly.

Some anomalies can also result in a failure. Get caught by the tidal wave or the man sprinting towards you and your progress will be reset back to zero. However, it may be in your best interest to run towards a set of stairs if you get that particular anomaly on the start of a new run…

The Exit 8’s Limited Longevity

As expected though, The Exit 8 offers little in the way of replayability. See all the anomalies and complete a run and you have seen everything it has to offer. It is a short game, and designed to be so, but it can’t help but still feel a bit light. That is reflected in the price though, going for less than £4 on the Xbox Store. And it will manage to leave a lasting impression even with its short duration.

Certain anomalies present ripe opportunities for achievements. Just like the game itself, it is a simple list to complete. The hardest will be completing the game without making a mistake. Your best bet for this one is to firstly witness all the anomalies, and then reset your save data. This will cause the game to restart from the beginning again with the introduction to the ‘perfect’ corridor, and then start to show you the anomalies. As it only shows you each one once before repeating them you should be able to tick them off as you encounter them, meaning fewer to worry about. And if you make a mistake, simply reset your save data again.

The Exit 8 Review 3
Ahhhh, freedom. For now

A Short but Chilling Horror Experience Worth Taking

Even with no music and very little in the way of sound at all, The Exit 8 on Xbox presents a chilling horror puzzle game. Part walking simulator, part puzzle game, and part psychological horror, it is more than worth the entrance fee. It may have very little replayability, but for a few spine-tingling moments over the course of an evening, and the promise of some easy Gamerscore, The Exit 8 should be your next gaming experience.


The Exit 8 on Xbox: Escape the Endless Passageways in This Atmospheric Walking Simulator – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-exit-8-on-xbox-escape-the-endless-passageways-in-this-atmospheric-walking-simulator/

Buy The Exit 8 on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/63700269/9MWLQQK52CPP


SUMMARY

Pros:
  • Few anomalies really do send a shiver down your spine
  • Lots of variety in the anomalies themselves
  • Cheap
Cons:
  • More anomalies would be welcome
  • Little to no need to play through more than once
Info:
  • Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, TXH
  • Formats - Xbox Series X|S (review)
  • Not available on Game Pass Day One
  • Release date | Price - 9 January 2025 | £3.39
Richard Dobson
Richard Dobson
Avid gamer since the days of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Grew up with the PS1 and PS2 but changed allegiances in 2007 with the release of Halo 3.
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<b>Pros:</b> <ul> <li>Few anomalies really do send a shiver down your spine</li> <li>Lots of variety in the anomalies themselves</li> <li>Cheap</li> </ul> <b>Cons:</b> <ul> <li>More anomalies would be welcome</li> <li>Little to no need to play through more than once</li> </ul> <b>Info:</b> <ul> <li>Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, TXH</li> <li>Formats - Xbox Series X|S (review) <li>Not available on Game Pass Day One <li>Release date | Price - 9 January 2025 | £3.39</li> </ul>The Exit 8 Review
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