The horror genre in games has evolved far beyond haunted houses and jump scares. Kiosk, a first-person horror experience developed by indie creator Vivi, takes a minimalist approach that is no less disturbing. Released on January 29, 2025, this short but impactful game blends mundane food service mechanics with a creeping psychological dread — all wrapped in a beautifully lo-fi aesthetic.
Available on Steam for PC, macOS, and Linux, Kiosk has quickly become a cult favorite in the indie horror scene.
The Setup: A Rainy Shift in Solitude
In Kiosk, you play as the night-shift worker at a lonely roadside kiosk. Rain pours steadily outside, and the world feels empty save for the occasional faceless customer who steps up to your window. The objective? Take their orders. Fry their chicken. Toast their buns. Serve them quickly. Repeat.
At first, the game seems like a peaceful slice-of-life simulation. You have a fryer, a toaster, a counter, and some ingredients. Orders are displayed on a monitor, and each dish requires a simple sequence of steps. The game lulls you into a meditative rhythm — but that’s exactly when the strangeness starts to leak in.
The Descent Into Horror
What begins as routine customer service gradually shifts into something much darker. The customers become less normal. The orders don’t make sense. Glitches in reality occur. You might swear you saw something move in the shadows — or hear whispers behind the rain.
Vivi masterfully uses silence, pacing, and slight visual/audio anomalies to unsettle the player. There are no traditional monsters or gore, but the creeping dread is palpable. The horror in Kiosk is psychological, playing with repetition, isolation, and the player’s expectations. It evokes the disquieting tone of David Lynch’s work, or the uncanny realism of Chilla’s Art titles.
Atmosphere: Cozy Meets Claustrophobic
The game’s visual style is intentionally low-fidelity, with pixelated textures and simple 3D environments that give it an almost dreamlike quality. Despite its simplicity, the world of Kiosk feels richly atmospheric. The constant rain and the warm glow of your kiosk lights create a false sense of comfort — one that slowly crumbles.
The audio design is subtle but brilliant. Ambient rain, sizzling food, and the occasional faint noises that don’t belong build a sense of unease without ever resorting to loud stingers or cheap scares. It’s horror for those who enjoy slow burns and psychological tension.
Gameplay: Simple Mechanics, Complex Emotions
You won’t find combat, inventory puzzles, or multiple endings here. Kiosk is linear and lasts about 30–60 minutes depending on your pace. The gameplay loop is extremely simple: take orders, cook food, serve customers.
But this simplicity is deliberate. It allows the player to focus on the details — the way the camera lingers on empty spaces, the strange things customers say (or don’t say), and the subtle shifts in lighting or behavior. You begin to question what’s real, both in the game and beyond the screen.
Reception and Reviews
Kiosk has received an overwhelmingly positive reception from players. With over 1,100 user reviews on Steam and a “Very Positive” rating, the game has struck a chord with horror fans looking for something different.
Players praise the game for its:
- Unique concept: a horror game about working a fast food kiosk at night.
- Tight design: no filler, just atmosphere and storytelling.
- Unexpected dread: a perfect example of how to make the ordinary feel terrifying.
Some have even compared it to other standout horror indies like The Exit 8, Mouthwashing, or The Convenience Store.
Conclusion: A Short Horror Gem Worth Your Night
Kiosk is not a blockbuster, and it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a short, experimental title that excels in what it sets out to do: immerse you in a routine job and then slowly warp that reality until you’re second-guessing everything. It’s perfect for fans of atmospheric horror who enjoy subtle storytelling and creepy vibes without over-the-top scares.
Whether you’re a horror veteran or a curious newcomer, Kiosk is worth the hour it asks of you. It’ll stick in your mind far longer.
Play it on Steam:
👉 https://store.steampowered.com/app/3126330/Kiosk/
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