Review: Before Exit: Gas Station

Before Exit: Gas Station is an indie game that tries to create a striking mix between simulation and psychological horror. The starting point is simple but intriguing: you work ’At night in a remote gas station and keep things running. That means keeping stock, serving customers and keeping the station clean and safe. At the same time there is a oppressive atmosphere about the environment, as if there is more to it than just routine chores. This idea has potential to appeal to both fans of management games and fanciers of horror, but the execution is stuck in mediocreness.

The gameplay is built around seven night shifts. Each shift contains a checklist of tasks: to fill shelves, clean them, make sure everything is all right and help customers. In the base this works well, because it gives you a clear structure. However, it soon becomes clear that the variation is missing. The tasks are constantly returning and barely changing. The result is that after a few hours of playing feeling like you're doing the same thing all the time. There is however a warning system that adds additional voltage: Make three mistakes and you got to start the shift again. This creates pressure, but also strengthens the repetitive character.

What makes the game interesting is the way routine tasks are combined with subtle threats. While you are busy filling shelves or cleaning the floor, you notice small anomalies. A door that's open when you've just closed it, a sound that can't be brought home, or a client who's acting strangely. These are moments when the game manages to build tension without using cheap jumpscares. It is precisely the silence and repetition that evoke a feeling of unease.

Graphically and technically, the game drops. The atmosphere is well placed with dark colours and an abandoned setting, but the finish looks unfinished. Animations are woody, textures are outdated and the environment feels empty. The gas station itself is fairly detailed, but the world around it lacks variation and conviction. This never gives you the idea that you are part of a larger, living environment. For an indiegame with a low price this is partly to be forgiven, but it nevertheless brings down the immersion.

In terms of performance, the game usually runs stable, but there are times when the framerate fails. Especially when there are multiple customers present at the same time or when you move quickly through the station, you notice that optimization is not complete. For a title that essentially pertains to repetitive tasks and a small playing world that is disappointing.

The story and atmosphere could have saved the game, but also here it remains with loose hints. There are small story elements that suggest that there is more to the world of Before Exit: Gas StationBut these never really wear off. You get no clear motivation to continue playing, except to finish the same tasks. This makes the game quickly lose its appeal.

Compare the title to other simulation games like Gas Station Simulator or House Flipper, then you notice that Before Exit: Gas Station offers much less variation and depth. Where those games make you feel like you're really building something and making progress, this title lingers in a repetition of moves. The gas station feels more like a decor than a lively place to develop.

However, there are also positive points. The concept is original and the atmosphere has potential. For short sessions, the game can be entertaining, especially if you like management games with a dark undertones. The idea of keeping a station running in an abandoned environment has something unique. If the developers had added more variation in tasks and a stronger story, this could have been a much better game.

Another point to mention is the price. Before Exit: Gas Station is a cheap niche title. That means you can't expect the same finish as with larger simulation or horror games. For players willing to accept this, the game can still offer an interesting experience. It is a title that essentially pertains to atmosphere and tension, and less to technical perfection or extensive gameplay.