The Backrooms 1998
- May 25, 2022
- Steelkrill Studio
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"The Backrooms 1998" is a found-footage survival horror game where you explore the ominous, infinite Backrooms, a maze of endless yellow, windowless rooms. Armed with only a camera, you must uncover the mysteries of this place while avoiding deadly entities. With limited resources and a sense of isolation, players must navigate through the labyrinth and survive.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a genuinely creepy atmosphere and effective jump scares that keep players on edge.
- For a solo developer, the game showcases impressive graphics and a unique narrative twist that adds depth to the horror experience.
- The microphone mechanic adds an interesting layer of gameplay, enhancing the tension as the monster can hear player sounds.
- The game relies heavily on jump scares, which can become repetitive and detract from the overall immersion.
- There are significant issues with save points, as players can lose substantial progress due to a lack of checkpoints.
- The story feels disjointed and not fully connected to the Backrooms concept, leading to confusion about the game's premise.
- story44 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as dark and intriguing, with unexpected twists that leave players pondering its implications. While some reviewers appreciate the creepy atmosphere and plot development, others criticize the story for feeling hastily written or disconnected from the backrooms setting. Overall, the narrative is seen as a mix of captivating elements and poorly executed horror tropes, leading to a varied reception among players.
“Genuine dark story, and terrifying atmosphere.”
“The story, however, took a turn I was not expecting and actually caught me off guard, leaving me pondering the implications and overarching narrative during the credits.”
“Full of jumpscares and horror, the story is captivating and has an amazing twist at the end.”
“Overall, disgusting feeling to be involved in what's happening in the storyline.”
“It throws liminal horror out the window in favor of a poorly delivered plot about a little boy and how humans are monsters, which is painfully obvious and shoved in your face as soon as you start the game.”
“Also, the story doesn't make much sense in correlation to the backrooms; instead, it just uses the backrooms as set dressing to convey an overall story that takes place in reality without ever making some sort of sense as to why this has to be a backrooms game.”
- gameplay29 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the exploration and chase elements, while others find it formulaic and lacking innovation. The microphone mechanic is noted as a unique feature, but many feel it doesn't significantly enhance the experience. Overall, the gameplay is described as decent but repetitive, with a desire for more engaging mechanics and a deeper narrative.
“I love the voice mechanic in this game where things can hear you.”
“Finally, a game that added a realistic old-camera and cool gameplay!”
“As a newcomer to the backrooms games, I had a wonderful and tense experience throughout. I like the found footage style; though the monster design could be improved upon, it still looks okay and creepy. It's a short game I recently beat, clocking in at 118 minutes of total gameplay.”
“The gameplay isn't too memorable, though I wish it had more gameplay to it than just walking back and forth solving puzzles and whatnot.”
“The gameplay is unfortunately your formulaic horror walking sim stuff.”
“So aside from the boring, railroaded gameplay, terribly ineffective horror, bloated and useless mechanics, uninspired and repetitive objective design, total lack of story, and the way the game assaults your senses whenever you look at it, it seems like it's just a trend-chasing project that was rushed out the door for clicks.”
- atmosphere28 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creepy, tense, and immersive qualities, effectively utilizing sound and visual elements to create a sense of dread. However, some players feel that random jumpscares detract from the overall experience, undermining the carefully built tension. Despite these criticisms, many agree that the game successfully captures a horrifying ambiance, making it a standout in the indie horror genre.
“Grim, sinister and sombre atmosphere.”
“One of the few (indie) horror games that successfully creates a terrifying and eerie atmosphere.”
“Overall, I can't recommend this latest iteration of the backrooms enough for fans of atmospheric, tension-filled, VHS-style survival horror.”
“Random jumpscares ruin the atmosphere of this game and come off as incredibly lazy.”
“[spoiler] I'm not overstating when I say 'abundance' because if you choose to play on normal mode, you'll be jumpscared approximately every 2-3 minutes by random scary things along scripted sequences you encounter, ruining the tense and suffocating atmosphere.”
“I know you want to scare the player, but Jesus Christ, let the atmosphere and our imagination do the work for you to build up our paranoia before you plaster another naked man on the screen.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive a mixed but generally positive reception. Many players appreciate the beautiful visuals and unique aesthetic, particularly the VHS style that enhances the horror experience, while some express frustration over the lack of graphics settings and occasional performance issues. Despite these drawbacks, the game's graphics are often described as soothing and well-suited to its theme, making it a commendable effort for an indie title.
“Beautiful graphics”
“The graphics are phenomenal and I got really spooked a few moments (especially the legless, really long-armed doll thing lol)”
“The game has great graphics that are soothing to the eyes - the controls in the game are very nice and easy - playing such a good game at such a low price has given me more confidence from Steam - I must say I love this game - great experience highly recommended”
“The visuals and controls - you can tell there was a lot of work put into these (except the sprinting) but it all has to come together when the game is played, and that's where it fell short.”
“There are no options in the graphics settings, so I couldn't tinker with those.”
“Every 6 to 7 seconds or after doing something so basic such as turning around, sprinting, inventory etc., the game freezes up or pauses (whilst background noise of the game still running) and it is very, very frustrating... I have messed with graphics settings and the video effects just in case it was that.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as freezing during basic actions and glitches affecting visual elements. While these problems are frustrating, players remain hopeful for future fixes and generally appreciate the game's potential.
“Unfortunately, it is very buggy right now, and any noise from the computer causes the gauge to be in an area that the monster can hear - it makes the feature unusable.”
“Every 6 to 7 seconds, or after doing something as basic as turning around, sprinting, or accessing the inventory, the game freezes or pauses (while the background noise of the game still runs), and it is very frustrating. I have messed with graphics settings and video effects just in case it was that.”
“What I realized was that the save file was very buggy.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, often likening it to needing a "second life" to manage the demands. This sentiment highlights a significant concern regarding the game's pacing and the potential for player burnout.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its unique blend of scary and funny elements, with players appreciating the unsettling yet amusing audio cues, such as the juxtaposition of a monster's grotesque sounds with the laughter or cries of babies. This combination enhances the overall experience, making it stand out among similar titles.
“Better than any other scary/funny game out there.”
“It's not that huge of an issue since you can hear more things from the monster the closer it is to you, like blood gushing from its stomach or laughing/crying babies.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant replayability, with players expressing that once completed, there is little incentive to return.
“I don't find any replay value in this game, so once it's finished, adios!”
“After completing the game, I felt no urge to play it again; it just lacks replayability.”
“The game is fun, but once you finish it, there's really nothing left to draw you back in.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers emphasize the importance of a disturbing soundtrack in horror games, noting that it enhances the overall atmosphere and contributes to the sense of fear and unpredictability. They suggest that developers should focus on creating unsettling music to complement the game's visual and environmental elements.
“The music in this game perfectly complements the eerie atmosphere, enhancing the overall sense of dread and suspense.”
“The haunting soundtrack adds a layer of depth to the gameplay, making every moment feel more intense and immersive.”
“I love how the music shifts dynamically with the gameplay, creating a truly engaging experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
“The music in this game feels repetitive and lacks the depth needed to enhance the overall experience.”
“I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and not fitting for the game's atmosphere.”
“The audio design, particularly the music, detracts from the immersion rather than adding to it.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that larger development teams often have dedicated personnel focused on optimization, which can lead to improved performance and efficiency in the game.
“Big teams have dedicated personnel focusing on optimization.”
“The game's optimization allows for smooth performance even on lower-end hardware.”
“I appreciate how the developers continuously improve optimization with each update.”
“Big teams have people who work on the optimization side.”
“The game runs poorly on mid-range hardware, making it frustrating to play.”
“There are frequent frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end systems.”
