Fan-Made Community Wiki
Barely Breathing Wiki — Goldfish Puzzle Game, Guides & Demo
Play as Sheen the goldfish in this cozy 3D physics puzzle platformer. Keep her wet, knock over water glasses, splash through puddles and make a mess as she carves a chaotic path to freedom through the owner's house.
Official Trailer
Latest Updates
NEWBarely Breathing Stuck on a Puzzle? Quick Fix Guide
If you are Barely Breathing stuck on a puzzle, this guide unblocks you fast. Covers every living-room brain-teaser and spinner tricks that keep Sheen moving.
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NEWBarely Breathing Bathroom Walkthrough: Coming Soon
A Barely Breathing bathroom walkthrough preview based on official announcements. Find out what the coming bathroom level may hold and what players expect.
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NEWBarely Breathing Flowing Gutters: New Section Guide
Master the Barely Breathing flowing gutters section added in the demo update. Route the water, dodge the spider, and cross the swinging pots safely.
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NEWBarely Breathing Levels List 2026: Complete Section Guide
Full Barely Breathing levels list 2026 with every known section — living room, kitchen, bathroom, backyard, gutters and the mystery area, plus release status.
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NEWBarely Breathing Hidden Puzzle: All Secrets Uncovered
Discover the Barely Breathing hidden puzzle and the secret teaser at the end of the demo. Official updates promise a surprise, and here is what players found.
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Barely Breathing Puddle Mechanics: Reactive Puddles
How Barely Breathing puddle mechanics work — dynamic puddles, tea and coffee spills, and surface spill direction. A technical look at the physics water system.
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Barely Breathing Time of Day: Dynamic Lighting Guide
Barely Breathing time of day changes shift the mood of the house as you go. Learn how dynamic lighting and the day-night cycle affect rooms in the demo update.
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Barely Breathing Future Updates: What Comes Next in 2027
Barely Breathing future updates and the 2027 roadmap — kitchen, bathroom, the mystery redacted area, and Matty the cat as the full game takes shape.
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Barely Breathing Background Art: Visual Style Guide
Admire Barely Breathing background art and visual style — the cozy low-poly living room, warm orange light, and water surfaces captured in Steam screenshots.
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Barely Breathing Movement Guide: Jumping and Momentum
A Barely Breathing movement guide for the physics platformer. Learn jump timing, momentum, surface spills, and the tricks that help Sheen cross tricky rooms.
Read more →NEWBarely Breathing Stuck on a Puzzle? Quick Fix Guide
If you are Barely Breathing stuck on a puzzle, this guide unblocks you fast. Covers every living-room brain-teaser and spinner tricks that keep Sheen moving.
Read more →NEWBarely Breathing Bathroom Walkthrough: Coming Soon
A Barely Breathing bathroom walkthrough preview based on official announcements. Find out what the coming bathroom level may hold and what players expect.
Read more →NEWBarely Breathing Flowing Gutters: New Section Guide
Master the Barely Breathing flowing gutters section added in the demo update. Route the water, dodge the spider, and cross the swinging pots safely.
Read more →NEWBarely Breathing Levels List 2026: Complete Section Guide
Full Barely Breathing levels list 2026 with every known section — living room, kitchen, bathroom, backyard, gutters and the mystery area, plus release status.
Read more →NEWBarely Breathing Hidden Puzzle: All Secrets Uncovered
Discover the Barely Breathing hidden puzzle and the secret teaser at the end of the demo. Official updates promise a surprise, and here is what players found.
Read more →Barely Breathing Puddle Mechanics: Reactive Puddles
How Barely Breathing puddle mechanics work — dynamic puddles, tea and coffee spills, and surface spill direction. A technical look at the physics water system.
Read more →Barely Breathing Time of Day: Dynamic Lighting Guide
Barely Breathing time of day changes shift the mood of the house as you go. Learn how dynamic lighting and the day-night cycle affect rooms in the demo update.
Read more →Barely Breathing Future Updates: What Comes Next in 2027
Barely Breathing future updates and the 2027 roadmap — kitchen, bathroom, the mystery redacted area, and Matty the cat as the full game takes shape.
Read more →Barely Breathing Background Art: Visual Style Guide
Admire Barely Breathing background art and visual style — the cozy low-poly living room, warm orange light, and water surfaces captured in Steam screenshots.
Read more →Barely Breathing Movement Guide: Jumping and Momentum
A Barely Breathing movement guide for the physics platformer. Learn jump timing, momentum, surface spills, and the tricks that help Sheen cross tricky rooms.
Read more →Featured Guides
Barely Breathing Beginner Guide: Controls and Water Tips
Master the barely breathing beginner guide for this goldfish puzzle platformer. Learn controls, the water mechanic, and how to keep Sheen wet.
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Barely Breathing Game Guide: Every Mechanic Explained
This Barely Breathing game guide covers core mechanics — water, physics, movement and puzzles — so you understand how the goldfish escape works before playing.
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Barely Breathing Demo How to Play: Full Starter Guide
Everything in this Barely Breathing demo how to play guide: download the free demo, learn the controls, and beat the living room in about twenty minutes.
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Barely Breathing Gameplay Basics: The Goldfish Loop
Understand Barely Breathing gameplay basics: how staying wet fuels movement, why physics puzzles trip Sheen up, and how the make-a-mess sandbox works.
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Barely Breathing All Puzzles Guide: Solved and Explained
Our Barely Breathing all puzzles guide solves every physics brain-teaser in the living room demo — water glasses, pots, gutters and the burning tea challenge.
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Barely Breathing Full Game Guide: 2027 Roadmap & More
This Barely Breathing full game guide collects what we know about the 2027 release — kitchen, bathroom, Matty the cat, and the mystery redacted area.
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Barely Breathing Walkthrough: Demo Escape Route Guide
A complete Barely Breathing walkthrough of the free demo living room. Step-by-step puzzle routes, water management, and every mess to make to escape the house.
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Barely Breathing Completion Guide: Clear the Full Game
This Barely Breathing completion guide covers clearing each demo room plus puzzles and secrets of the full game including the redacted teaser area in one route.
Read more →Barely Breathing Movement Guide: Jumping and Momentum
A Barely Breathing movement guide for the physics platformer. Learn jump timing, momentum, surface spills, and the tricks that help Sheen cross tricky rooms.
Read more →
Barely Breathing Quick Guide: Start in Five Minutes
Short on time? This Barely Breathing quick guide gets you playing in minutes — key controls, the water loop, and what to do first in the free Steam demo.
Read more →Barely Breathing Beginner Guide: Controls and Water Tips
Master the barely breathing beginner guide for this goldfish puzzle platformer. Learn controls, the water mechanic, and how to keep Sheen wet.
Read more →Barely Breathing Game Guide: Every Mechanic Explained
This Barely Breathing game guide covers core mechanics — water, physics, movement and puzzles — so you understand how the goldfish escape works before playing.
Read more →Barely Breathing Demo How to Play: Full Starter Guide
Everything in this Barely Breathing demo how to play guide: download the free demo, learn the controls, and beat the living room in about twenty minutes.
Read more →Barely Breathing Gameplay Basics: The Goldfish Loop
Understand Barely Breathing gameplay basics: how staying wet fuels movement, why physics puzzles trip Sheen up, and how the make-a-mess sandbox works.
Read more →Barely Breathing All Puzzles Guide: Solved and Explained
Our Barely Breathing all puzzles guide solves every physics brain-teaser in the living room demo — water glasses, pots, gutters and the burning tea challenge.
Read more →Barely Breathing Full Game Guide: 2027 Roadmap & More
This Barely Breathing full game guide collects what we know about the 2027 release — kitchen, bathroom, Matty the cat, and the mystery redacted area.
Read more →Barely Breathing Walkthrough: Demo Escape Route Guide
A complete Barely Breathing walkthrough of the free demo living room. Step-by-step puzzle routes, water management, and every mess to make to escape the house.
Read more →Barely Breathing Completion Guide: Clear the Full Game
This Barely Breathing completion guide covers clearing each demo room plus puzzles and secrets of the full game including the redacted teaser area in one route.
Read more →Barely Breathing Movement Guide: Jumping and Momentum
A Barely Breathing movement guide for the physics platformer. Learn jump timing, momentum, surface spills, and the tricks that help Sheen cross tricky rooms.
Read more →Barely Breathing Quick Guide: Start in Five Minutes
Short on time? This Barely Breathing quick guide gets you playing in minutes — key controls, the water loop, and what to do first in the free Steam demo.
Read more →Your Barely Breathing Journey
From your first splash to the full escape plan, these five entry points get a new player up to speed on the cozy physics puzzler.
Beginner Guide
New to Barely Breathing? Learn the controls, the water mechanic, and how to keep Sheen wet as you flip through the owner's house.
Read moreDemo Walkthrough
The complete 10-20 minute living room demo explained step by step — every puzzle, every puddle, every mess.
Read morePuzzle Solutions
Physics puzzles are tricky when your hero has the memory of a goldfish. Get the solutions to every water, pot and gutter puzzle.
Read moreWater Mechanics
Sheen is a fish out of water. Understand how moisture, puddles and splashes keep her moving — the core of the whole game.
Read moreCharacters & Enemies
Meet Sheen, Matty the cat, the spider enemy and the cat boss Matte — plus what we know about the full game's cast.
Read moreExplore Barely Breathing
Everything a new player needs — beginner guides, every level and character, puzzle solutions, mechanics, the demo, updates, news, community and media.
Beginner Guides & Walkthroughs
Everything a new player needs before jumping into the demo: the controls, the water mechanic, and how to keep Sheen wet while she explores the owner's house and makes a mess.
Areas & Levels
A tour of the owner's home — the living room playable in the demo, plus the kitchen, bathroom, backyard and the mysterious redacted area coming in the full game.
Characters & Cast
Meet the cast of the owner's house — Sheen the runaway goldfish, Matty the cat, the spider enemy and the cat boss Matte.
Puzzle Solutions
Step-by-step solutions for every physics puzzle in the demo — the water glasses, pots, swinging pots, flowing gutters and the tea-and-coffee puddles of the new update.
Core Mechanics
How the game actually works under the hood — the water and moisture system, physics interactions, mess-making, time-of-day changes and the accessibility-friendly options.
Demo Guide
The complete guide to the free Steam demo — how to get it, what's inside, how long it takes, and everything that's in the demo versus the full game.
Updates & Patch Notes
Every patch and changelog for the demo — Linux and Steam Deck fixes, ultrawide support, the spider update, time-of-day changes and the wishlist milestones.
News & Announcements
The latest announcements — release plans, the India Games Showcase appearance, the Cat Awareness Feline Sale 2026 and every milestone on the road to launch.
Community & Social
Join the official Discord, follow the developers on X and YouTube, and connect with other players testing the demo and sharing feedback on the physics chaos.
Trailers & Media
Watch the official trailer and alpha gameplay, browse community videos and screenshots, and get a feel for the game's cozy art style before you play.
What is Barely Breathing?
Barely Breathing is a cozy 3D physics-based puzzle platformer from Compiling Shaders Games. You play as Sheen, a goldfish who tries to escape the house — jumping around pots, knocking over water glasses and splashing through puddles while making her own path.
Water Is Life
Stay wet to keep moving — splash through puddles, knock over water glasses and route water across each room as a fish out of water.
Make a Mess
Knock over anything a goldfish could reasonably tip and turn the owner's home upside down — the game's core comedy loop.
Living Rooms at Every Hour
Dynamic day-night lighting added in the Aug 2026 update changes the mood and visibility of every room.
Built for Comfort
Save anytime, camera comfort settings, custom volume and no timed inputs make the demo welcoming for everyone.
Every room of the owner's home is a physics playground: make a mess, stay wet, and solve puzzles that are extra tricky because Sheen literally has the memory of a goldfish. The living room demo is out now on Steam, and the full game arrives in 2027 with the kitchen, the bathroom and a mystery area still to come.
Developer
Compiling Shaders Games
Platform
Steam
Genre
3D Physics Puzzle Platformer
Demo Reviews
32+ (100% Positive)
Wishlists
10K+
Demo Length
10-20 Minutes
Full Release
2027
Characters & Cast
Meet the cast of the owner's house — Sheen the runaway goldfish, Matty the cat, the spider enemy and the cat boss Matte.
Threats & Hazards
Know what can stop Sheen before you jump — running out of water, the spider, the cat boss, locked rooms and burning tea.
Areas & Levels
Tour the owner's home — the living room demo plus the kitchen, bathroom, backyard and a mystery area coming in the full game.
Living Room
The demo's only area — 10-20 minutes of physics puzzles and mess-making.
Kitchen
Coming soon, with tea and coffee that leave reactive puddles.
Bathroom
The wettest room in the house for a fish out of water.
Backyard
Improved in the Apr 2026 update; a glimpse of the outside world.
Redacted Area
A mystery location that might not be soon to come.
Puzzle Type Quick Reference
The signature physics challenges of the living room — water glasses, pots, swinging pots, gutters and reactive puddles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Barely Breathing?+
Barely Breathing is a cozy 3D physics puzzle platformer by Compiling Shaders Games where you play as Sheen, a goldfish trying to escape the owner's house. You jump across pots, knock over water glasses, splash through puddles and make a mess while staying wet. A free demo featuring the living room is available on Steam, and the full game is planned for 2027.
How do I keep Sheen wet?+
Sheen is a fish out of water and needs moisture to keep moving. Splash through water puddles on the floor, knock over full water glasses to create new puddles, and route water from gutters or reactive tea-and-coffee puddles toward where you need to go. Staying wet is the core survival loop, so always scout the nearest water source before committing to a puzzle.
Is there a demo?+
Yes — the Barely Breathing Demo is free on Steam and was released on April 17, 2026. It contains the full living room area, about 10-20 minutes of physics puzzles and mess-making, and it supports keyboard, controller and Steam Deck. The demo has earned 32+ reviews with a 100% positive rating.
How long is the demo?+
The demo takes around 10 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on how much time you spend knocking things over. It covers the living room and received a major update in August 2026 that added swinging pots, flowing gutters, a spider enemy, time-of-day lighting and reactive puddles, so returning players have new content to explore.
When does the full game release?+
The full version of Barely Breathing is planned for 2027. The developers, Compiling Shaders Games, have confirmed the kitchen, the bathroom and a mystery redacted area are on the roadmap, along with the cat Matty who will feature in the full game. Wishlisting the game on Steam is the best way to get notified when a release date is announced.
What platforms are supported?+
Barely Breathing runs on PC via Steam with full keyboard and controller support, and it is verified as Steam Deck playable. The demo also supports ultrawide monitors and native Linux. Future console versions have not been announced yet, so PC and Steam Deck are the confirmed platforms for now.
Is Matty the cat in the demo?+
No — Matty is a fluffy cat who will feature in the full game and was revealed alongside the 10,000 wishlist milestone in June 2026. The demo instead introduces Matte, a recurring cat boss added for the Cat Awareness Feline Sale 2026, as well as a patrolling spider enemy from the August 2026 update.
How do I beat the Matte cat boss?+
Matte is a recurring cat boss who chases Sheen through the house. Use the water puzzles and physical obstacles to your advantage — knock over pots to create blockades, splash through puddles to keep your speed up, and time your jumps to shake him off. Since Matte was introduced for the 2026 Feline Sale event, players report the fight is more about evasion than direct confrontation.
Ready to Help Sheen Escape?
Jump in, keep Sheen wet and flip the owner's house upside down. Grab the beginner guide, crack the physics puzzles and follow the game all the way to its 2027 release.