Backrooms: Escape Together
- October 18, 2022
- Triiodide Studios
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Backrooms: Escape Together" is a cooperative horror game where players navigate the endless maze-like environment of the Backrooms, a dangerous and surreal place filled with deadly entities. Players must work together to find exit memos and escape the ever-changing labyrinth while avoiding being caught by the monstrous inhabitants. The game features permadeath, procedural generation, and a focus on stealth and survival strategies.
Reviews
- Incredible graphics and immersive atmosphere that enhance the horror experience.
- Fun and engaging gameplay, especially when played with friends, providing a mix of scares and laughter.
- Unique level designs and mechanics, such as the LIDAR level, that add variety to the gameplay.
- Currently limited content with only a few levels available, leading to a short gameplay experience.
- Some levels lack challenge and can feel repetitive, with certain objectives being tedious to complete.
- Frequent bugs and issues with multiplayer functionality, causing frustration during gameplay.
- graphics276 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many players praising their stunning quality and attention to detail, often comparing them to triple-A titles. The use of Unreal Engine 5 enhances the visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere that effectively captures the eerie essence of the backrooms. While the graphics are a standout feature, some reviews suggest that they may overshadow gameplay elements, which can feel lacking in depth or content.
“The graphics are stunning, especially in the camera mode.”
“The graphics are genuinely beautiful.”
“The graphics look absolutely stunning, and the graphics really help immerse you in the terrifying, yet fascinating world of the backrooms.”
“Just a copy of Escape the Backrooms with worse gameplay and better graphics.”
“The only thing that carries this game is graphics, but that's not enough to save it.”
“This game has great environmental graphics, but the enemies look terrible.”
- gameplay136 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Backrooms: Escape Together" is characterized by a mix of cooperative puzzle-solving and exploration, enhanced by unique mechanics and a strong atmosphere that evokes dread and suspense. While many players appreciate the engaging multiplayer experience and varied level designs, some criticize the repetitive nature of certain sections and the limited content, with gameplay lasting around 2-3 hours. Overall, the game is praised for its graphics and mechanics, though some bugs and a lack of substantial updates have been noted as drawbacks.
“The level design sticks to the original ideas without being too similar to existing games, and the gameplay is enjoyable throughout the entire playthrough.”
“What makes the gameplay so engaging is the way it balances moments of intense action with periods of slow, creeping dread.”
“Backrooms: Escape Together excels in creating fear through its gameplay, combining cooperative puzzle-solving and exploration with intense, unpredictable horror elements.”
“Half of the levels don't have any monsters in them and are just glorified (and simple) mazes with no real gameplay except for wandering around until you find the exit (and some pitiful excuses for 'puzzles').”
“The gameplay itself is simply not fun to experience.”
“Whenever this happens the massive map size and lack of distinction adds to the tedium creating a gameplay loop that I can only describe as the antithesis of enjoyment.”
- atmosphere58 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals and immersive sound design, effectively capturing the eerie and unsettling essence of the backrooms. Players report feeling a constant sense of dread and tension, with each level offering unique yet cohesive experiences that enhance the overall horror. The game's meticulous attention to detail and engaging mechanics contribute to a deeply immersive environment that keeps players on edge throughout their journey.
“From the moment you boot up the game, you can feel the weight of its atmosphere.”
“The attention to detail and immersive visuals create an eerie atmosphere that is both unsettling and exciting at the same time.”
“The oppressive, fluorescent-lit atmosphere makes every corner feel like a potential trap, and the maze-like layout ensures that it’s easy to get lost.”
“There are no cheap jump scares, just a consistent, deeply unsettling atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
“The atmosphere of each level captured that off-putting feeling of liminal spaces that the backrooms is really about.”
- story35 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many users noting that it feels disjointed or non-existent. While some appreciate the graphics and gameplay mechanics, they express a desire for a more structured narrative, additional lore, and meaningful missions. Overall, the consensus is that the game has potential but currently falls short in delivering a compelling story.
“For 2 developers and it only costing 8 dollars, it's probably the best game on the market: fantastic graphics, a good storyline, amazing jumpscares, and levels changing every time you die. I would vote this game for Game of the Year.”
“I am extremely excited to see how the backrooms story will continue to be incorporated into the game: things like async, their various facilities, as well as other parts of the complex like the office areas and street (from the films).”
“Very realistic, but very short story 8/10.”
“Only the first mission feels like the backrooms.”
“Game has potential but has pointless harmless monsters that exist only to annoy; quest descriptions are too sparse to be helpful.”
“I mean the game doesn't really have a story, and it doesn't really make sense; just random stuff happens and it's not even that scary.”
- humor34 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is widely praised, particularly when played with friends, leading to moments of hysterical laughter amidst genuine scares. Players enjoy the combination of jump scares and funny interactions, especially through the proximity chat, which enhances the comedic experience. Overall, the game is described as a hilarious and entertaining cooperative experience, making it a standout for those looking for both thrills and laughs.
“We had a laughing fit playing this game and it is by far and away the best bang for buck I have experienced in a game for a long time.”
“Who knew survival could be this hilarious?”
“The proximity chat is fantastic, hearing my friends singing or screaming in the distance definitely made me laugh.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 47 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the challenge and find it rewarding, many others describe it as tedious and frustrating, particularly in later levels. The need for extensive grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment, with some players feeling that it turns what could be engaging gameplay into a chore.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This game was very very cool for the first half but once I got to around level 4 it stopped being creepy and fun and just became tedious.”
“Most of these objectives feel tedious instead of challenging, which was a bit of a disappointment.”
“Level 5: neat concept, annoying and tedious execution of entity and hard to decipher what the puzzle wants from you.”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent glitches and bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some users managed to enjoy the gameplay despite these issues, many found the game to be a "buggy mess," particularly in early access, leading to frustration with AI behavior and level mechanics. Overall, the game's stability remains a significant concern, overshadowing its potential fun and engaging elements.
“We ran into no glitches while playing, even with some internet dropping issues.”
“The game maintained a smooth performance throughout, with no crashes or bugs.”
“I was impressed by how stable the game felt, even during intense action sequences.”
“This game is currently (edit: still) extremely buggy.”
“Update: 6 months later and an update that releases two new levels that I cannot even play because the ones before are littered with bugs and glitches.”
“What once appeared to be a promising new depiction of the backrooms genre will likely forever exist as an uninspired, buggy mess that's devoid of any actually enjoyable gameplay.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally praised due to its procedurally generated levels, which keep the gameplay fresh and unpredictable, encouraging players to return. However, some users feel that once the puzzles and entities are fully understood, the excitement diminishes, leading to a more speedrun-focused experience. A balance between level variety and content depth is suggested to enhance long-term replay value.
“The random generation of levels is a big plus for replayability and adds more tension with the unknown layout of each game.”
“I really enjoyed this game; it's great for replayability since the game levels are procedurally generated, so you won't find the same exit place every time.”
“This dynamic design keeps the gameplay fresh and unpredictable, adding layers of replayability that are sure to keep players coming back for more.”
“Sadly, the game has no replayability currently as once you know all the entities and puzzles, the thrill is taken out of the game and it becomes more of a speedrun than the initial paranoia-filled hunt to find an escape route.”
“I feel that there needs to be a better balance between the amount of levels and content within them to have a longer, better, replayable experience.”
“The fact that it randomly generates the levels really gives it some replayability and keeps the game fresh and challenging.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players noting smooth performance and a lack of bugs during gameplay. However, some users feel that it still requires significant optimization improvements, particularly for a shorter game. Continuous updates from the developers have also been recognized as a positive sign for future performance enhancements.
“This is a very good experience and also well optimized.”
“This game is polished and runs smoothly.”
“It is very optimized, everything is working as intended; during my playthrough, we didn't encounter any bugs whatsoever.”
“Short game, not worth it; the game needs heavy optimization.”
“I was very disappointed at first, but over a year's time, there's been a lot of content and optimization added.”
“Some things that I think are great signs from a developer, beyond content updates, are if they include performance updates.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is minimal, often enhancing the realism and tension through ambient sounds and eerie cues that contribute to a sense of dread. While some players appreciate the lack of traditional music for its immersive qualities, others find the absence of a more dynamic soundtrack can lead to feelings of monotony, especially in single-player modes. Overall, the use of sound effects and occasional background music effectively heightens the game's unsettling atmosphere.
“My friend played the Goofy Movie Powerline song to the end of the game while we were running away, and it was perfect!”
“There is stressful background music when the bacteria is chasing you.”
“Level 6 - the lidar, this is by far the worst, for anyone playing single player, the map is expansive, the feeling of drowsiness will set in after a while, there is no music, with a bit of ambient sound, so that we can better hear the beeps.”
“The game is designed to be dark, eerie, and unsettling, with creepy sound effects and music that add to the overall sense of dread.”
“❌️ Not needed / music turned off”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate its high quality and co-op experience, others criticize it as a cash grab that fails to live up to its potential, suggesting it merely capitalizes on current trends without offering substantial value.
“Seems to just be a quick cash grab, which is a shame, because this game certainly had potential to be really good.”
“There are better interactive backroom games out there and this just feels like someone jumping on a bandwagon for a quick cash grab.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game evokes strong emotions, with some experiencing deep feelings of anxiety and sadness, particularly during intense chase sequences.
“Made me cry on the inside while getting chased.”
“The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact on me.”
“I felt a strong connection to the characters, which made their struggles feel incredibly real.”
