Review: Garten of Banban 0 (Nintendo Switch)

Garten of Banban 0 is a prequel to the popular series of horror titles. I had honestly not heard of this series before, but this seemed as good a place to start as any. Being a prequel, it makes for an interesting introduction to the characters, and, thankfully, my 12-year-old son was on hand to fill me in on the lore as we played together.

Despite being the seventh title in the series, Garten of Banban 0 is actually set before the fifth entry, Garten of Banban V. It tells the story of how the odd characters seen in future outings came to be part of something called Banban’s Kindergarten. 

The plot of this short game is simple. You wake up in a room alone and confused. A television screen gives you instructions, but you have no idea who you are or why you’re here. It comes across as a prison of sorts, full of other child-like inhabitants. There’s an overwhelming sense of foreboding as you await the next set of instructions.

A fellow inmate asks you to join him in the courtyard where you’re tasked with interacting with everyone else trapped within. As you meet the other inmates, it’s clear there’s been some kind of experimentation on them. Let’s just say they’re unbalanced. 

The series is seemingly aimed at a younger audience with its playground approach, but it’s certainly not something I’d recommend for younger kids. Your kids are already likely to be aware of Banban’s existence thanks to YouTube, but don’t be fooled; this one earns its T rating.

Not that it’s super gory. I can’t speak to the entire series, but Garten of Banban 0 doesn’t contain a whole lot of blood. It is scary, though. The setting itself is enough to put you on edge, with moments of quiet that seem to lead to something more dramatic. In fact, there’s no music most of the time, coupled with a claustrophobic feeling of being trapped inside. I’ve never played a more spine-tingling game of hide and seek before.

A lot of the time, the game relies on this feeling of suspense to keep you on your toes. What could be hiding in the dark? Why are those other inmates staring at me? There’s also some creepy dialogue and a giant monster to really hammer the point home. Mix in a few puzzles to solve, and there’s a fair variety of things to do over the couple-of-hours runtime. Unfortunately, it doesn’t lead to a particularly satisfying ending, but that could be because I’m not familiar with the series.

So, maybe Garten of Banban 0 isn’t the best place to start. I’d recommend this odd outing to series fans who would benefit from an origin story for these quirky characters. It delivers chills in its short runtime, and it comes at a cheap price, so fans might find enjoyment. The basic graphics and subpar control scheme, along with a lack of clear direction at times, make it a little more frustrating than fun for someone not invested.