‘Paranormal Cleanup’ is a 1 – 4 Player, Online COOP, Survival Horror Game from Developer Manic Mice, an independent video games developer based in Berlin, Germany. With a handful of titles under their belt, they are most known for ‘Lunch Lady’, and if you are active in Discord, you will see the Developer is going to be working on a sequel in the future.

As a fan of Horror Survival and Simulation games, this title appealed to me. You are tasked with cleaning up paranormal locations across five maps. You will be doing things such as unclogging toilets, painting over satanic symbols and washing ectoplasm. While you are doing this, you are being haunted by entities that are trying to hunt you. There is a different entity in each map with its own backstory, but with three more in the works. It launched in Early Access on 15th February, back in 2023, and this is now my chance to see what it now has to offer as it enters full release.

For some, you will see similarities when going into the lobby of ‘Phasmaphobia’. You are in an abandoned garage/unit on an industrial estate. From here, you can do several things before entering the mission/map of your choice, which is chosen from the computer.

Next to the computer is a usable telephone, which is used to invite friends to join you; up to three can accompany you on your missions. You have a locker area for changing between four characters and their skins. The skins are a new part of the full release, which are earned from another new feature. The prestige system, which is on the laptop and can be actioned once you reach level 50.

There is a whiteboard where you can trace and complete Daily and Weekly tasks as well as achievements, which tie in with the Steam 155 Achievements available. With every completion, you gain money and experience points. These are used at the workbench, with 16 perks to upgrade with their own amount of ranking within them.

These can be used to increase attributes such as stamina and movement speed, and some are designed to start missions with tools already in hand, rather than requiring players to locate them on a map. You can have up to three perks equipped at one time and six inventory slots. These are for equipment that can be collected as you start the mission in your starting base, like flashlights, plungers, sponges and more. These can also be upgraded through the workbench, allowing quicker usage speeds and a wider area of effects.

When you begin missions, you are greeted with a short narrative backstory for each map. Setting the mood for what is to come and explaining a little why you are there. You are tasked with cleaning the maps; different maps can have extra cleaning goals.

You can also collect items like haunted toys to throw on fire. These weaken and banish the entity once complete. The entity is different for each map; they are well created and do a great job of making you feel creeped out.

They hunt in waves, locking doors to trap you to make their own goal easier to complete. They move furniture, which completely changes the layouts of routes; one example is the first map. If they are agitated enough, they make bookcases block doorways, beds turn upside down, and attach to ceilings and general mayhem. To avoid the entity, you will hide in the closets. You will know they are nearby with footsteps and disturbing noises.

Your character will also begin to shake, and your heartbeat will rise. If they see you, they are relentless and will take you down. If you have a med kit in your inventory, you can self-revive or use it to revive others. These are limited around the map, so use these wisely.

Audio in the game is fantastic and really complements the settings, from sudden shattering of lights to Televisions turning on or radios. In-game voice chat is available, adding to the intensity of teammates wandering off and shouting or screaming in the distance. There is no radio system, so if you are not near one another, there is an in-game text chat. When the entity is wandering the area, which they do constantly!

You will be in use of the 3D Audio, which is so good, with directional sounds and cues for how close they can be. Just on this information, you will need this, and headphones are recommended as the entity can go anywhere, outside and inside.

Graphically, I was taken back, for a one-person studio, you can see the work and effort that has gone into making it as realistic as possible. With different levels of detail available and options like Dynamic Resolution, it just makes it feel even more realistic.

Controls are straightforward; you will pick them up in no time at all. One item, which is the UV Lamp that you can carry to discover ectoplasm marks, is not held in inventory. This is held in front of you while carrying your main equipment. This is where one of the downfalls can come into play. It can get stuck in scenery, behind you as you run, and sometimes get stuck in closets. This also goes for the controls for other items held the same way, toys, trash bags, murder weapons, etc. These are part of the banishing ritual and are more available in different maps.

Overall, I put a lot of time into this title, it is playable in single player too. I highly recommend this title to all, and at the low price it is available, it is one to add to your collection. There are occasional glitches, which can be expected in games with so many elements and changes. But where this game shines, as many do in this genre, is with friends. But with a low player base, it can be a struggle to get randoms for a game.

Written by: Kevin Lal