Escape the Backrooms
Not your average walk in the (eerily quiet) park.
Early Access Review
VR Support
last updated Nov 21, 2023
‘Escape the Backrooms’ is the budget-beater that packs a punch, each level a polished slice of spooky pie.
Thrills and Chills in the Infinite Maze
The premise of 'Escape the Backrooms' is deceptively simple: traverse an expanding labyrinth of nondescript, liminal spaces and avoid the lurking horrors therein. The twist? It's a party, best served with a side of friends—two is the sweet spot, three's still a riot, but four is where the party maxes out. The gameplay is a delightful symphony of screams and strategy, with emphasis on cooperation and puzzle-solving. The occasional RNG gremlins can add an unexpected spike to the difficulty, making each playthrough uniquely petrifying. Be warned, solo spelunkers: tackling these backrooms alone is an invitation to dance with madness.
Ears Ringing, Heart Singing
Let's talk cacophony, folks. The audio of 'Escape the Backrooms' is a masterclass in how to use sound to ratchet up the tension. Every distant thump or breathy 'excuse me' from the abyss sends shivers down your spine. Monsters have distinct, unnerving vocal cues, and the soundtrack knows just when to hit the silent beats to make you sweat. There's this one level where the audio cues make you feel every fleeting thread of sanity slip like sand through your fingers. However, keep those cans tight on your ears; a scattered bug here and there might just distort the symphony into a cacophonous mess, but when it works, boy, does it sing.
Pick Your Jaw Up Off the Floor, We're Not Done Yet
Visually, 'Escape the Backrooms' plays out like an eerie, abandoned art gallery. The graphics strike a balance between mundane and macabre that perfectly encapsulates the essence of the Backrooms. Performance is pretty slick too—if you crank up the visuals to 'Ultra,' you'll appreciate how good dread can look. Despite the budget-friendly price tag, the dev team's love for this creepy pasta shines bright—though don't be surprised if your hardware begs for mercy here and there with a stutter or pause. Maybe that's just the skinstealer lurking off-screen, or perhaps it’s time to upgrade from your potato PC.
The Lore Trove
I've got to tip my proverbial hat to 'Escape the Backrooms' for the intricately researched lore. Avid fans will geek out over the accurate creature depictions and level details, and we’re not just talking levels 1, 2, and 3—there's a buffet of backrooms to delve into. The game weaves a tapestry of references with enough depth to make a conspiracy theorist blush. Even so, don't expect a lavish feast for the narrative-hungry; this game keeps its text light, letting the experience speak for itself (and oh, does it whisper darkly).
The Social Horror Experience
Booting up 'Escape the Backrooms' is like opening a door to an alternate dimension where humor and horror have a lovechild named 'Anxiety.' The draw of social play cannot be overstated—in co-op mode, it's half fear festival, half friendship therapy session. Nothing brings people together quite like shared trauma, eh? The game's VR support adds a fistful of immersion to the mix, though for some, the in-your-face terror might be a scale too far on the 'nopeness' meter. Throwing on a headset and diving headfirst into the creepypasta depths could be the most thrilling—or terrifying—thing you do this year.
Not Just Another Brick in the Maze
The indomitable spirit of indie development is the lifeblood of 'Escape the Backrooms.' It’s evident in the developer's commitment to content updates and community engagement. Free updates? New levels? Game modes? Fancy (Games) is goated for this. That indie charm is present even in the occasionally wonky AI and bugs, transforming potential frustrations into moments of unexpected hilarity. Even though some levels might tempt you to Alt+F4 your way to sanity, the sense of achievement upon escaping is like a shot of adrenaline straight to the gamer's heart.
EARLY ACCESS RATING
Developer & Publisher
Fancy Games
Early Accesss Release Date
August 11, 2022
The Verdict
‘Escape the Backrooms’ is nothing short of a small-scale masterpiece in the cryptic corridors of co-op horror. It’s the budget-beater that packs a punch, each level a polished slice of spooky pie. While solo play might have you grinding your teeth, with friends it’s a symphony of giggles and goosebumps. Couple that with stellar sound design and an art style that truly feels like a backroom emerging from the bowels of the internet—this game is a horrific hoot. With new content continuously on the horizon, for a tenner, you're investing in future frights and non-stop laughter. Surviving the backrooms is a rare blend of hilarity and horror, with enough edge-of-your-seat moments to make you cling to your gaming chair for dear life.