Backrooms Exploration

About

Backrooms Exploration is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Mistcloud Games and was released on March 22, 2023. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Backrooms Exploration" is a 3D psychological horror game with adventure elements, featuring a retro VHS style and atmospheric audio. Players can explore 10 levels of the Backrooms, a series of eerie, interconnected rooms, and uncover the lore behind this mysterious universe. In Horror Mode, players must complete puzzles and traverse through the levels in a traditional horror playstyle, with a VHS filter adding to the game's unsettling atmosphere. Your reality has disintegrated, and it's up to you to discover what the Backrooms are and if you can escape.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

48%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

atmosphere3 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game effectively recreates the eerie atmosphere of the Backrooms, with well-designed levels that evoke a sense of dread.
Puzzles are diverse and challenging, providing a good mix of exploration, lore, and platforming that keeps the gameplay interesting.
The sound design and ambient noises enhance the horror experience, contributing to the unsettling vibe of the game.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues that can hinder progress and lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Many players find the gameplay to be overly linear, lacking in exploration opportunities and optional content that could enhance the Backrooms experience.
The absence of a promised 'Liminal Mode' and the reliance on scripted gameplay elements have left many players disappointed, feeling that the game does not deliver on its potential.

gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay of this game has been criticized for its reliance on generic assets and scripted mechanics, resulting in a shallow experience that lacks originality and coherence. While some players appreciate the variety in exploration, puzzles, and atmosphere, technical issues and clunky mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment, leaving many feeling that the game does not deliver sufficient value for its price.
- “Gameplay variety between exploration, lore, puzzles, and platforming is good enough to keep interest up throughout the experience.”
- “It has good atmosphere and interesting gameplay; however, technical issues and pacing problems drag it back considerably.”
- “The game's mechanics are simple yet effective, with a focus on exploration and survival as you try to find a way out of each level.”
- “This game had a decent amount of potential, but it was completely overshadowed by the complete reliance on Unreal Store assets; with very scripted and shallow gameplay.”
- “Even for $8, this does not provide enough original gameplay or ideas; on top of it not being finished and full of paid assets.”
- “The game mechanics are clunky, the jump scares are unnecessary, and the cut scenes break immersion by taking control away from the player.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it incoherent and lacking depth, while others appreciate its unique take on the backrooms concept, offering a more engaging narrative than similar titles. However, issues such as linear gameplay and poorly executed mechanics detract from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the story. Overall, the narrative elements are seen as a highlight for some, but they are overshadowed by technical flaws and a lack of emotional impact.
- “You are one of them, and your mission is simple: survive this new and mysterious world - with or without the aid of a mysterious stranger.”
- “Aside from the story-related documents, you’ll find more clues in each level that may shed some light on the events.”
- “The story mode isn't 'by the book' as it tells mostly its own story while using the wiki's environments, but it's still done much better, more unique, and more fun than most of the other backrooms games on Steam that are popular.”
- “This is genuinely some of the biggest slop I've ever played. I genuinely can't list a single redeeming aspect about this game; it doesn't run well, the environments don't look good, the gameplay is literally just walking around mazes hunting for objects, there is barely even a coherent story. This game is literally just a quadruple stack nothingburger.”
- “I don't like how linear it felt in the (I'm assuming) story mode.”
- “I realize this is one of those backrooms games with a backstory and entities, but the scares felt a little cheesy, and I didn't really feel much of anything related to the feeling of unsettling.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles like Duke Nukem 3D, with a unique low-res VHS filter that aligns with its backrooms theme. While some players appreciate the detailed visuals and the atmosphere they create, others criticize the lack of graphical options and the potential for clutter and confusion on screen. Overall, the aesthetic is polarizing, appealing to some for its distinct style while leaving others wanting more depth and clarity.
- “The game uses a low-res VHS filter for its visuals, rightly so as the original backrooms footage that started everything was indeed taken with such a medium.”
- “The game's graphics have a very unique aesthetic, with attention to detail that adds to the overall sense of dread.”
- “I can see the effort that went into the game; I really did enjoy the visuals and traveling through some of my favorite levels.”
- “The graphics remind me of the old Duke Nukem 3D made way back in 1996.”
- “Complete lack of graphical options, no FPS lock or VSync either.”
- “You can only increase the graphics resolution, which adds more clutter on screen and leads to more confusion about what you are supposed to do.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is effectively crafted, evoking a strong sense of dread and impending doom across its various levels, enhanced by artistic choices that create an intentionally unclear environment. While the eerie ambiance and intense moments contribute positively to the experience, technical issues and pacing problems can detract from the overall immersion, occasionally leading to dullness during backtracking.
- “The backrooms’ atmosphere is well-recreated: each level gives an eerie sense of impending doom, while scary moments are plentiful and intense.”
- “This artistic decision improves the atmosphere, making everything unclear in a good way, expanding upon the sense of dread and bleakness these same-y, desolate locales already give out on their own.”
- “On one side, the slow pace makes the experience more atmospheric surely; on the other, it makes it dull, especially when you have to backtrack or redo a section because you died.”
- “The backrooms' atmosphere is well-recreated: each level gives an eerie sense of impending doom, while scary moments are plentiful and intense.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report experiencing glitches, particularly in the game's end menu, which negatively impacts overall stability.
- “The game glitches are quite noticeable, especially around the menu at the end.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that made it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt the overall experience and make it feel unstable.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the replayability of the game to be high, citing diverse content and multiple pathways that encourage exploration and experimentation. The variety of choices and outcomes enhances the overall experience, making players eager to revisit the game.
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's music and sound design are highly praised for their superb quality, featuring unsettling melodies and ambient noises that effectively create a chilling atmosphere.
- “The game's sound design is superb, with ambient noises and unsettling music that will send shivers down your spine.”