What it is
The Closing Shift is a Japanese-indie horror game developed & published by Chilla’s Art. It was released on Steam on March 18, 2022. Steam Store+2Steam Community+2
You play as a young woman working the late/night shift at a local café who begins to suspect that she is being stalked. What starts as a regular closing shift becomes gradually more unsettling. chillas-art.fandom.com+1
Key Features & Gameplay
The game is set during multiple nights/shifts (the “closing shifts”) at the café. With each shift, things become more disturbed. chillas-art.fandom.com+1
You perform fairly mundane tasks: serving drinks, cleaning up, closing the café. The horror element builds by layering in weird events, stalking, and tension. Medium+1
Horror isn’t entirely supernatural; much of the fear comes from an everyday scenario turned unsafe — working alone late, being watched, being vulnerable. Reviewers highlight it as “plausibly unsettling.” Steam Store
There are several possible endings, depending on your actions across the shifts. chillas-art.fandom.com
Visual & aesthetic touches: It uses a VHS-film aesthetic to add to the mood (jitter, analog video effects) making the atmosphere feel gritty and retro. Steam Store
Tone & Atmosphere
This game leans into psychological horror more than outright gore or monsters. The idea of being alone at work, late at night, and feeling that something is wrong is the core.
As the shifts continue, ordinary spaces like the café, parking lot, or alley behind the store start to feel oppressive. The sense of isolation increases, and what should be a safe routine becomes unsafe.
Why It’s Interesting
It taps into everyday fears: working alone, being watched, closing up late. That makes the horror more relatable.
The progression from mundane tasks to survival horror is handled in a way that keeps you on edge, because you don’t know when things shift into danger.
The setting (a café at night) is relatively uncommon as a horror backdrop, which makes the game stand out.
Because tasks are relatively simple, the emphasis isn’t high-action but rather tension, atmosphere, and pacing.
Who Should Play It
If you like:
Indie horror games that focus on mood over blockbuster action
Stories with multiple endings and exploration rather than combat
Titles where the environment and routine become part of the dread
Then The Closing Shift could be for you.
If you prefer fast-paced shooters, heavy combat, or very graphic horror, this may feel slow or subtle by comparison.
A Few Things to Note
The game may be short; many players note that it’s more of a “walking simulation / interactive horror story” with light puzzle elements. The Closing Shift+1
Some players point out the ending(s) are less satisfying than the build-up.
The atmosphere is everything: it’s less about scares every minute, more about creeping dread.
Final Thoughts
The Closing Shift is a clever indie horror game that turns an ordinary job into something eerie and suspenseful. It doesn’t rely on monsters lurking under beds — it makes you question why you’re being watched during a late shift, and what happens when the routine breaks down.
If you’re up for a quieter, psychological horror ride with atmosphere and tension, this one deserves a look.
