Terminal 81 is a survival video game that features work simulation, mystery investigation, and psychological horror. It is set in 2008 in a virtual São Paulo neighborhood in Brazil and revolves around the life of Lorena, a woman who migrated here in search of employment because of the financial crisis across the globe. Reveal the details now.
Note: Don’t forget to check out some other interesting indie games on our website such as LISA: The Painful or Pine: A Story of Loss.
Introduce about Terminal 81
Released in 2023, Terminal 81 is an indie game that combines work simulation and psychological horror. The game takes players back to the 2008 setting in São Paulo, Brazil. At this time, the main character named Lorena – an immigrant woman is trying to rebuild her life after the global financial crisis. She finds a job at a small supermarket located in the Terminal 81 area.
During the game, the player will be performing plenty of mundane actions such as reading product codes, purchasing items, and noticing suspicious behavior at the supermarket. But as the game progresses, strange and foreboding events happen, and tension builds more and more. With classic 3D graphics and carefully crafted sounds, the game creates a world that is both realistic and creepy.
Setting and plot
The setting of Terminal 81 takes place in a fictional neighborhood located in São Paulo, Brazil, during the year 2008 – a time when the financial crisis is affecting the lives of many people. The main protagonist, Lorena, is an immigrant woman who moves to the city to find work to regularize her life. She works at a small shop in the neighborhood of Terminal 81, which may seem like any other but holds a lot of strange things inside.
Every day, Lorena faces unusual situations and strange guests. When she begins to suspect what is happening around her, she decides to investigate further. The more she investigates, the more she discovers signs of hidden crimes, from disappearances to signs of human trafficking. From small clues, the story unfolds in an increasingly dark and suspenseful direction.
Work simulation
In Terminal 81, the work simulation element is built in a simple style but still retains authenticity. Players will play the role of Lorena – a supermarket employee with daily tasks such as scanning barcodes of goods, processing payments for customers and arranging products on shelves. This is a daily repetitive job but contributes to the rhythm of everyday life in the game.
Besides, sometimes players need to observe suspicious behaviors from customers. Sometimes you have to face unexpected situations such as thieves intentionally stealing things or customers causing trouble. They are circumstances that require to be acted upon immediately and with rational thinking.
The seemingly mundane work rate is the backdrop for the surreal details to gradually reveal themselves. During shifts, players are able to get further into Lorena’s reality and the reality around her.
Making decisions
Participating in Terminal 81, making decisions plays a very important role and directly affects the development of the plot. Throughout the game, players will often be put in situations where they are forced to make choices. It could be when Lorena encounters someone with strange behavior or stands before a conversation containing many hidden meanings. Each choice opens up a separate direction, sometimes leading to unexpected results.
Depending on how they behave, players can discover hidden secrets or miss important clues. Sometimes, a seemingly simple decision like ignoring a conversation can cause the whole story to go in a different direction. These choices are not rushed but are logically integrated, making players feel that their every action has weight.
Thanks to this mechanism, the game creates a natural interaction between the player and the main character. When each decision has clear consequences, players will have to consider carefully before acting.
Impressive retro graphic style
The graphic style in Terminal 81 makes a strong impression on players from the very first minutes. The game uses retro-oriented image design, reminiscent of the early days of 3D games on the PlayStation. Every detail in the scene is built with simple blocks, but creates a sense of life thanks to the delicately processed light and color.
As soon as the players enter Terminal 81’s environment, they can simply feel the darkness and asphyxia of Lorena’s neighborhood. The yellow streetlights, dimly lit alleys and worn-down buildings are clearly visible, contributing to the creepy atmosphere of the entire game.
Although not using modern techniques, the graphics of Terminal 81 still bring special visual effects. Thanks to that, players feel like they are living in a familiar world but full of potential dangers. This nostalgic image presentation helps the game retain its own personality and create a different experience compared to modern games.
Overall, Terminal 81 is an experience unique for the lovers of the psychological horror genre and exploring profound storylines. Though there are some limitations in graphics and gameplay, the game is still a compelling story and a peculiar atmosphere, which is worth experiencing.