Garten of Banban 4 is the fourth major installment in the increasingly surreal horror series developed and published by Euphoric Brothers, continuing the descent into the twisted depths of Banban’s Kindergarten. Building directly on the events of earlier chapters, this entry pushes the series further into psychological unease, abstract storytelling, and environmental tension, leaning harder into atmosphere and mystery rather than traditional survival horror mechanics. It is a game that thrives on discomfort, curiosity, and the slow realization that the deeper you go, the less the world obeys any recognizable logic.

The narrative once again places the player inside the abandoned kindergarten, but this time the focus is on descending into areas that feel intentionally hidden, forgotten, or sealed away for reasons long erased. The concept of vertical progression is used effectively as both a gameplay and thematic device, reinforcing the idea that each level downward represents a deeper layer of corruption and secrecy. Instead of offering answers, the story fragments itself into visual clues, strange encounters, and unsettling revelations that invite interpretation rather than explanation. The absence of clear exposition is deliberate, encouraging players to piece together meaning from environmental storytelling, character behavior, and recurring symbols scattered throughout the facility.

Gameplay remains rooted in first-person exploration with light puzzle-solving and evasion elements. Players navigate a maze-like collection of corridors, rooms, and experimental spaces while interacting with switches, mechanisms, and simple logic-based challenges. The puzzles are generally straightforward, serving more as pacing tools than mental roadblocks, allowing the focus to remain on atmosphere and progression. Enemy encounters are designed to be tense rather than mechanically complex, often relying on sudden appearances, unpredictable movement, or forced proximity to create discomfort rather than sustained chase sequences or combat.

The mascot-like creatures that populate the game continue to be one of the series’ most distinctive features. Their designs walk an unsettling line between cartoonish and grotesque, drawing unease from their exaggerated shapes, unnatural animations, and ambiguous behavior. In Garten of Banban 4, the cast expands further, introducing new figures that feel less like traditional monsters and more like distorted remnants of something that was never meant to survive this long. Some encounters feel deliberately confusing, blurring the line between ally, threat, and narrative device, which adds to the dreamlike logic that governs the game’s world.

Visually, the game maintains its signature contrast between bright, childlike aesthetics and oppressive horror. Colors are often vivid, but lighting and spatial design twist these cheerful palettes into something deeply uncanny. Familiar kindergarten imagery—hallways, play areas, murals—feels warped and hostile, as if the environment itself is resisting the player’s presence. While the visual fidelity is not high-end, the art direction is consistent and purposeful, using simplicity to heighten the unnatural feeling rather than relying on graphical realism.

Sound design plays a crucial role in sustaining tension. Ambient noise, distant echoes, mechanical hums, and sudden audio cues create an atmosphere where silence feels just as threatening as noise. The game often withholds musical guidance, leaving players alone with environmental sounds that make every movement feel exposed. When audio spikes do occur, they are used sparingly, making them more effective and preventing desensitization. This restraint helps maintain a constant sense of unease rather than relying solely on jump scares.

Pacing is uneven by design, alternating between quiet exploration and moments of abrupt tension. Some sections encourage slow observation and curiosity, while others funnel the player through tighter spaces where danger feels unavoidable. This rhythm can feel disorienting, but it aligns well with the game’s themes of confusion and loss of control. However, the similarity between environments can occasionally make navigation feel repetitive, and players may find themselves retracing steps or struggling to orient themselves without clear landmarks.

Community reception reflects the game’s divisive approach. Fans of the series often praise Garten of Banban 4 for expanding the lore, deepening the atmosphere, and committing fully to its bizarre identity. They appreciate how the game leans into mystery rather than explanation, rewarding those willing to engage with ambiguity. Critics, on the other hand, point to unclear storytelling, simple puzzles, and occasional pacing issues as drawbacks, particularly for players seeking more traditional horror structure or mechanical depth.

Taken as a whole, Garten of Banban 4 is a bold continuation of a series that refuses to conform to conventional horror expectations. It prioritizes mood, symbolism, and unsettling exploration over action or clarity, creating an experience that feels more like navigating a living nightmare than playing a structured game. While it may not satisfy players looking for clear answers or complex gameplay systems, it succeeds in delivering an eerie, memorable descent into a world where childhood imagery is stripped of innocence and replaced with something deeply wrong. For fans of experimental indie horror and surreal narrative design, it stands as one of the more ambitious chapters in the Banban saga.

Rating: 7/10

garten of peakpeak

After playing the third installment, I was worried about this one, but so far, this has to be the greatest installment of Garten of Banban, at least up until this installment. This installment fleshes out all of the characters, giving them actual personalities and a little more depth. The puzzles were also decently fun, introducing new puzzle types rather than just using the button. The pacing was also good, and I actually was well surprised with the story in this one. This game is genuinely a good game. 8.5/10
Banban 0 - 7.6/10
Banban 1 - 5.5/10
Banban 2 - 6.8/10
Banban 3 - 4.8/10
Banban 4 - 8.5/10