Goo Deer is a horror gas station simulator like you’ve never played before
This article has been published in partnership with VML Studios
Running a gas station is easy, right? All you need to do is make sure people can refill their cars and buy some snacks for the road. Straightforward, no fuss. Or at least, that’s the impression that you’ve been given from games such as Gas Station Simulator. It turns out there’s a much darker side to running your own gas station, and that’s where Goo Deer comes in. This is gas station management like you’ve never seen before – and thanks to its unique horror elements, it’s completely engrossing.
Goo Deer’s unusual title comes from the product that you’ll primarily be stocking in your gas station. A strange drink that’s flying off the shelves, you’ll quickly learn its name is rather literal. Goo, from deer. Yuck. Well, whatever. You don’t have to drink it; you simply have to sell it. And your punters are rabid for the stuff. Maybe a little too rabid – but as long as you’re making money, you don’t care.
Taking over the gas station from previous owner Don, you’re quickly shown to a hidden room in the basement, one where you can brew Goo Deer from scratch. That means heading out to hunt deer, then feeding the meat through a series of machines to mince, liquify then bottle your product before putting it out on your store shelves. Sorry, vegetarians.
Like most good simulation games, then, Goo Deer has several things for you to keep on top of. There’s the usual elements here, like keeping your gas station tidy, mopping up and throwing away rubbish, serving customers and ensuring your shelves are stocked. But you also need to craft the Goo Deer yourself, which means heading out into the forest to hunt deer.
This is the type of game that you can never get too comfortable with; right from the off, you know something isn’t right. A letter from the mayor tells you how dangerous the forest is, and that under no circumstances should you ever go there. The people in your store don’t seem right, and well, should you really be selling liquified deer meat as a drink anyway?
If you’re a fan of horror and enjoy simulation games, ensure Goo Deer is on your radar. It excellently blends together creepiness with typical simulation tropes, which come together to make something rather unusual. Whether you find the idea of upgrading your gas station compelling, or the draw of the horrors that lurk in the forest are what win you over, it’s well worth checking out.
