Above everything else, terminal 81 is a passion project, and it shows. There’s a lot of love and detail put into this game, which is what makes playing through it bearable (and occasionally fun).
Terminal 81 is essentially a Brazilian life sim with a creepy tone, and a lackluster horror game stitched onto its end. I can’t attest to how well written the dialogue is in Portuguese, but the English dialogue/writing is pretty terrible, clearly translated by someone who doesn’t know how to speak English very well. Despite that, making your way around town and seeing what all the residents of Terminal 81 have to say is pretty fun, as is making money and exploring the various shops/events.
I believe the graphics are stylized in a way meant to reflect PS1 era graphics, but it’s poorly homaged and unfortunately doesn’t look great. The gameplay itself is very lackluster, and the shifts at the supermarket are boringly long. The mystery you’re investigating throughout the game doesn’t go anywhere interesting, either.
Don’t go into this game excepting a good story, good writing, or good gameplay, and you might just have a good time.
Is It Worth Playing ?
I’d say it is.