Escape the Backrooms

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 25,811 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • humor
Escape the Backrooms Game Cover
Starting at $2.99Buy now
Get on Steam

You've fallen into the backrooms and now need to find a way to escape. Traverse through eerie procedurally generated levels while avoiding entities and other danger.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 25,811 reviews
gameplay269 positive mentions
stability363 negative mentions
  • gameplay918 mentions

    The gameplay of "Escape the Backrooms" is a mixed bag, with players praising its immersive atmosphere and unique level mechanics while criticizing its repetitive and sometimes frustrating design. Many reviews highlight the engaging puzzles and cooperative elements, but also point out issues with clunky controls, unbalanced AI, and a lack of clear objectives, leading to a trial-and-error experience that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the game offers a decent amount of content and potential for fun, it suffers from bugs and gameplay inconsistencies that hinder its full realization.

    • “The combination of horror elements with puzzles makes for a compelling gameplay loop that keeps players engaged.”
    • “Each level has different challenges and puzzles, making the gameplay varied and interesting.”
    • “The gameplay is very nice and has a trial and error vibe to it.”
    • “Every gameplay mechanic, which is a stretch of the phrase, is so extraordinarily primitive or reductive that it is actively frustrating.”
    • “We've played it with friends in multiplayer and even that didn't help it - the gameplay is a bland, badly designed horror slop that would be standard as a free game back in the 2000s with non-existent AI, flipped assets, glitches, and unpolished ideas.”
    • “The gameplay is very formulaic and boring, and some of the levels just straight up suck to play.”
  • graphics791 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received a wide range of feedback, with many players praising the stunning visuals and atmospheric design that effectively capture the eerie essence of the backrooms. While some reviews highlight the impressive detail and high-quality graphics, others point out inconsistencies, such as janky animations and occasional performance issues. Overall, the game's graphics are generally regarded as one of its strongest aspects, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.

    • “The graphics are stunning, the realism is on point.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the levels have so much detail in them, and the game is getting new entities and levels every few months.”
    • “The graphics are incredibly good and the attention to detail in the visuals and audio further intensifies the fear factor.”
    • “Where do I begin? Hmm, maybe here: this game is incredible; the graphics are so bad they look like an Atari game, and the frame rate... wow!!!”
    • “Instead of feeling immersed in a creepy environment, I found myself constantly distracted by the lackluster visuals, making it impossible to suspend disbelief and engage with the intended horror elements.”
    • “The graphics are not only an eyesore but also a blatant demonstration of the developer's utter disregard for putting any effort into crafting a visually appealing experience.”
  • humor680 mentions

    The humor in "Escape the Backrooms" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the game's ability to elicit laughter, especially when played with friends. Many reviews note that the combination of funny character animations, unexpected glitches, and the chaos of multiplayer interactions creates memorable and hilarious moments, often contrasting with the game's horror elements. Overall, the game is described as a fun and entertaining experience that thrives on social play, making it a great choice for those looking to enjoy both scares and laughs.

    • “This game has an amazing blend of funny, goofy, and scary.”
    • “The balance between horror and humor makes the game very enjoyable.”
    • “Playing this game with friends is hilarious.”
    • “It's not funny.”
    • “The red flag comes from the gameplay that sums up to 'go here, take this, return it' but made unfunny.”
    • “Yet another garbage YouTube clickbait game by grifters capitalizing on brain-dead zoomers who are scared of wallpaper and unfunny meme faces.”
  • stability376 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent glitches, bugs, and crashes that detract from the overall experience. Many players noted that these issues can lead to frustrating gameplay moments, such as getting stuck or encountering unresponsive AI. While some found the bugs amusing and part of the fun, the consensus is that the game remains unpolished and in need of substantial fixes to improve stability.

    • “It's a great game, great graphics, runs great in 2160p ultra.”
    • “Very well made with no glitches whatsoever.”
    • “Honestly a very fun and for the most part well put together bug-free experience.”
    • “The game is buggy, it's not complete, and it's not very polished.”
    • “There are countless bugs that break the game such as animation glitches and duplication glitches that ruin the immersion.”
    • “Overall this game is way too buggy and it completely ruins the game experience.”
  • story336 mentions

    The story in "Escape the Backrooms" is often described as minimal or lacking coherence, with many players noting that it relies heavily on environmental storytelling and player interpretation rather than a structured narrative. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the ability to piece together fragments of lore, others criticize the game for its absence of a compelling storyline or character development, leading to a sense of detachment from the experience. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on gameplay mechanics and puzzles than on delivering a rich narrative.

    • “The story unfolds through environmental storytelling, subtle hints, and the player's interactions within the game.”
    • “What truly sets Escape the Backrooms apart, however, is its storytelling.”
    • “The game's creators have done an excellent job of weaving together a compelling story that draws players in and keeps them engaged from start to finish.”
    • “The lack of a coherent plot left me disinterested and detached from the supposed horror unfolding in the backrooms, rendering the entire experience more tedious than terrifying.”
    • “The developers missed a golden opportunity to create a captivating backstory for the backrooms, leaving players without any sense of purpose or direction.”
    • “From its lackluster graphics and gameplay to its nonexistent story and poor audio design, this game left me utterly disappointed and frustrated.”
  • atmosphere323 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Escape the Backrooms" is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, effectively capturing the eerie essence of liminal spaces. Players appreciate the game's haunting sound design, dimly lit environments, and the tension created by unpredictable encounters, which contribute to a genuinely creepy experience. However, some reviews note inconsistencies in atmosphere across different levels, with certain areas feeling less engaging or lacking in creativity. Overall, the game's atmospheric design stands out as one of its strongest features, making it a compelling choice for horror enthusiasts.

    • “From the moment I entered this eerie labyrinth, I was instantly engulfed in an atmosphere that is as unsettling as it is immersive.”
    • “The dimly lit environments, flickering lights, and eerie ambient sounds create an atmosphere that's both immersive and unnerving.”
    • “Escape the backrooms captures the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of the internet urban legend with a masterful touch, offering players an immersive first-person survival horror experience.”
    • “Literally nothing is happening for hours - you run through empty levels without any atmosphere and creativity, and when a monster finally shows up, it's just some stupid gimmicky monster with ugly design and texture that are less scary than my brown shat on ass cheeks on a Monday morning.”
    • “The developers attempted to create an eerie atmosphere within the confined spaces of the backrooms, but the result was a pixelated mess that failed to evoke any genuine sense of fear or tension.”
    • “The biggest problem is that the game has almost no atmosphere, which is crucial in a game like this; I never had a feeling of dread and uneasiness, it just felt like walking through random horror maps.”
  • grinding180 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Escape the Backrooms" is widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with many players noting that levels often feel repetitive and unengaging. While some moments can be enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by bugs, poorly designed puzzles, and a lack of coherent gameplay, leading to a sense of monotony that detracts from the horror elements. Many reviewers suggest that the game is better suited for cooperative play, as it can alleviate some of the grind, but still caution potential players about the significant amount of time required to progress.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grindy (60 - 100 hours).”
    • “Overall, Escape the Backrooms is a tedious, broken game that lacks polish, creativity, and any sense of fun.”
    • “The gameplay itself was a tedious and frustrating ordeal.”
    • “Once the initial mystery and fear is done, it just seems like a buggy mess where some of the puzzles are more tedious than fun.”
  • music151 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its atmospheric and haunting qualities that enhance the overall experience, particularly in levels like "Fun+" and during chase sequences. However, some users express frustration with repetitive tracks, especially in the "Fun" level, which can become grating over time. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as memorable and fitting for the game's eerie ambiance, there are calls for more variety and improvements in certain areas.

    • “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing 🤌🤌”
    • “Some of the art and music in this game will probably stick with me forever ‒ it's worth way more than the few bucks I bought it for.”
    • “The music adds to the liminal feeling that the backrooms stands for.”
    • “The level itself was very boring from start to finish and any enjoyment we got was utterly destroyed by the worst sounding 'children's song made creepy' ever.”
    • “The main menu music is really bad and probably made on a Nokia 3310 music creator.”
    • “Was stuck at the 4th level with the same song playing over and over and over again.”
  • replayability104 mentions

    The replayability of "Escape the Backrooms" is a mixed bag among players. While many appreciate the game's procedural generation and the potential for varied experiences, some feel that once levels are completed, there is limited incentive to replay due to repetitive elements and a lack of new content. Overall, the game shows promise for future updates to enhance replay value, but currently, it varies significantly based on individual play styles and preferences.

    • “In conclusion, 'Escape the Backrooms' stands out as a well-crafted game due to its immersive atmosphere, engaging puzzles, strong community, creative storytelling, and high replay value.”
    • “The game has high replay value, as you can try different strategies and approaches for each level.”
    • “Escape the Backrooms offers substantial replay value, making it a game that players can return to time and time again.”
    • “Not much replayability.”
    • “The main detriment here being that once you complete a level, there is no replay value.”
    • “There is no replay value because the maps are all identical.”
  • optimization79 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, bugs, and crashes, particularly in certain levels and during specific effects. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower-end hardware and commend the graphics, others highlight that the game is still in early access and requires further optimization to enhance the overall experience. Overall, while there are moments of good performance, the consensus is that the game needs substantial improvements in optimization to fully realize its potential.

    • “The game runs smoothly on my PC without major issues.”
    • “This game is amazing, it becomes more and more complete with time, big updates drop from time to time adding many new levels. This game is pretty well optimized, giving you the choice of very low graphics or very high ones.”
    • “Although I have a mid-range PC, it managed to run the game perfectly with the graphics set to 'high' and with low temperatures, no crashes encountered. This is what I call a nice job in terms of optimization.”
    • “Its kinda fun with friends but it is very buggy and pretty unoptimized.”
    • “The game's performance was another issue, with frequent glitches, crashes, and laggy gameplay.”
    • “This is a poorly optimized and badly designed mess of likely store-bought assets using basic unreal settings to create an experience I can't even enjoy ironically.”
  • emotional25 mentions

    Players report a wide range of emotional experiences while engaging with the game, from intense fear and thrill during exploration to moments of laughter and camaraderie when playing with friends. The game's ability to evoke strong reactions, including tears and feelings of nostalgia, highlights its emotional depth, while the multiplayer aspect enhances immersion and shared experiences. Overall, the game successfully combines horror elements with moments of warmth and connection, making it a unique emotional journey.

    • “This leads to a heightened emotional experience that enhances the thrill of exploration.”
    • “Super fun, made me cry the first 5 minutes in.”
    • “This game is really wholesome, it warmed my heart because of how beautiful it is.”
  • monetization23 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing frustration over its reliance on microtransactions and perceived lack of genuine content. While some players acknowledge updates and care from the developers, the overall sentiment leans heavily towards disappointment, labeling the game as poorly designed and primarily aimed at exploiting trends for profit rather than delivering a quality experience.

    • “Microtransactions are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive.”
    • “The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
    • “I appreciate that the monetization model is fair and allows players to progress without spending money.”
    • “It's not just a disappointment; it's a blatant cash grab that preys on unsuspecting gamers who deserve far better for their investment.”
    • “The rest is a cheese-fest cash grab that isn't much of a puzzle or horror thing as much as it is a headache inducing waste of time.”
    • “0/10, shitty asset flip cash grab with zero thought into level design, even with friends it's a slog to play through.”
  • character development11 mentions

    Character development in "Escape the Backrooms" has received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers criticizing the character designs as subpar and lacking coherence in the narrative. While some players appreciate the graphics, the overall sentiment suggests that the game fails to deliver a compelling storyline or meaningful character growth, leaving much to be desired in this aspect.

    • “Additionally, the game's narrative, while intriguing, could benefit from more fleshed-out character development and a deeper exploration of the backrooms' lore.”
    • “Character design is cool in all honesty, and watching the YouTube video of the game's creation, I thought it would be a really cool concept.”
    • “Great graphics and character design.”
    • “Escape the Backrooms failed to deliver a compelling storyline or any semblance of character development.”
    • “Let's dive headfirst into the cesspool of ineptitude that is the character design, an affront to creativity that epitomizes the developer's audacious attempt to profit from their own disregard for quality.”
    • “The character design fails not only in terms of aesthetics but also in contributing to any coherent narrative.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Escape the Backrooms

Play time

8hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
4-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 78 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News