Escape the Backrooms

I jumped into Escape the Backrooms expecting meme‑energy and got proper liminal dread instead. It’s the kind of indie horror that shines in short bursts: some levels are absolute masterclasses, others feel cobbled together — but the co‑op chaos keeps pulling me back.

Core loop is simple: explore eerie, familiar spaces, solve environmental puzzles and avoid hostile entities while trying to shepherd your squad to the exit. Up to four players can play together with proximity voice chat — which is brilliant for tense whispers and absolutely brilliant for accidental yelling that attracts monsters. There are 30+ unique areas inspired by Backrooms lore (think hotel chases, flooded poolrooms, overgrown halls) and a handful of standout maps that justify playing through the weaker ones. The UI is minimal and the ambience leans hard into dreary, realistic graphics and unsettling sound design. Expect stealth, resource moments and puzzle checks that sometimes lean on trial‑and‑error — which can be satisfying or annoying depending on your patience. The game rewards teamwork and communication, but developer polish varies: you’ll run into glitches (players clipping, stuck in walls, audio/mic issues) and some mechanics feel tacked on. Solo play is genuinely scary; with friends it swings toward goofy panic and memorable moments. If you like cooperative horror in the vein of other Backrooms titles, this one offers the biggest sandbox so far — just don’t expect a perfectly smooth ride.

Escape the Backrooms is a messy, funny and occasionally brilliant co‑op horror that’s best experienced with friends. Buy it on sale if you want a long, atmospheric Backrooms sandbox and can forgive the bugs.