The Classrooms

About

The Classrooms is a single player survival survival game with a horror theme. It was developed by Hillcrest Games and was released on October 28, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

"The Classrooms" is a single-player, narrative-driven psychological horror game set in the eerie and abandoned Hillcrest High School. Uncover the chilling events that led to the sudden disappearance of the students and faculty as you navigate through the ominous classrooms and hallways. Solve puzzles and uncover disturbing secrets while avoiding grotesque creatures that lurk around every corner. Can you escape the horrors of Hillcrest?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,445 reviews

gameplay25 positive mentions

optimization13 negative mentions

The game has a unique and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the eerie vibe of exploring liminal spaces.
The variety of entities and their mechanics add depth to the gameplay, making encounters both challenging and engaging.
The procedural generation of levels ensures that each playthrough feels fresh and unpredictable, enhancing replayability.

The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to low frame rates and crashes on lower-end PCs.
Some levels, particularly the Poolrooms, can feel overly difficult and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
The use of AI-generated assets has been criticized for breaking immersion and detracting from the game's quality.

gameplay
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by engaging mechanics and diverse monster interactions, with many players appreciating the procedural generation of levels that enhances replayability and adds unpredictability. However, some users noted issues with pacing, control consistency, and optimization, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its atmosphere, unique entity designs, and the fun challenge it presents, making it a solid choice for horror game enthusiasts.
- “I love this game, and to be honest, it's one of the best single-player horror games. The game has very good graphics too, and I love the gameplay.”
- “Great horror, great gameplay! I love how interactive everything is and how dynamic the monsters are.”
- “The gameplay is amazing, and the way you enter the different rooms is breathtaking!”
- “A big part of gameplay is looking around for items, but this, in my opinion, bogs down the pacing quite badly and the mouse controls are frustratingly inconsistent.”
- “The gameplay on its own is alright for the most part, but the optimization is awful, so much so that while I have always had minimal to zero problems playing heavy games on ultra, this one has always had FPS drops and even worse, my cooling seems to have been severely damaged coinciding with this game.”
- “Since the levels aren't handcrafted for stealth gameplay and are instead randomly generated, there's a lot of luck and chaos that goes into the way you'll end up navigating the levels and running from monsters.”
graphics
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising its unique aesthetic and immersive visuals that evoke a creepy, nostalgic vibe. However, numerous players report significant performance issues, including low frame rates and graphical bugs, particularly after updates, which detracts from the overall experience. While some commend the game's attention to detail and artistic design, others express frustration over the reliance on AI-generated assets and the need for better optimization to accommodate a wider range of hardware.
- “The aesthetics in this game are great, scratching some 'liminal/nostalgia' video vibes.”
- “Grainy VHS-style visuals, eerie lighting, and ambient sounds all combine to create a heavy sense of unease.”
- “The graphics, controls, and story are solid, and the progression of the story through found pages is effective.”
- “An already mid game that is too reliant on AI-generated assets, and the devs are trying to play it off as 'attempting to get the right aesthetic.'”
- “I should not be struggling to play this game at 90 fps on medium graphics or with depth of field eating up my frames.”
- “Maybe it's my fault and I'm doing something wrong, but I set my graphics preset to high and it was in between 20 and 50 fps and stuttering the whole time. Assuming it is the developers' fault, I cannot recommend this game based on it being terribly optimized.”
optimization
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
62%
25%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting performance issues, particularly in specific levels like the waterpark and restaurant. While some updates have improved performance, many users still experience lag, low frame rates, and long loading times, especially on lower-end systems. Overall, the game is seen as needing further optimization to enhance the experience for a broader range of hardware.
- “The performance aspect has definitely gotten better; there are multiple graphics options whereas before you only had the bare minimum.”
- “After the patches and me getting good, I think that playrooms are way better and I have no other issues with the game now other than optimization.”
- “The game is great; it will definitely be a great game when it's all finished and optimized.”
- “Don't even get me started on the performance issues that occur in the waterpark and restaurant/playspace levels.”
- “The one problem I have with it is that it should be better optimized.”
- “The games itself isn't bad but the performance is just terrible: low FPS and high temps even on low graphics. You'd need a top-tier computer to run this game.”
atmosphere
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
28%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, effectively blending horror elements with engaging sound design and detailed environments. Players appreciate the tension created by the atmospheric settings, which are enhanced by procedural level generation and well-timed jump scares. While some critiques mention issues with gameplay mechanics and performance, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke fear and maintain a captivating ambiance throughout.
- “The atmosphere is where this game really excels.”
- “The audio design is outstanding, with every creak and distant noise adding to the atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is very good so far, has that good nostalgic liminal space feeling and it has some good spoops.”
- “This game is straight atmosphere; it's so creepy all the time and you always feel like you're about to get slam dunked by a monster.”
- “Absolute nightmare fuel... atmosphere was everything.”
- “The atmosphere had me on edge as well as the sounds and music.”
story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique backrooms concept and intriguing lore, while others criticize it for being minimal and relying heavily on generic horror tropes. Many reviews highlight the engaging gameplay and the effective use of found documents to convey the narrative, though some express a desire for a more developed plot and deeper character investment. Overall, while the story may not be the main draw, it adds a layer of interest to the gameplay experience.
- “This game is specifically for people who want to experience true backrooms madness with story. I like the story here despite it being very small, but it's better than just a backrooms game with almost no context at all.”
- “But this game actually has interesting lore, story, and objectives, and the monsters/entities are very unique with their traits and behavior and how you have to use items and strategy to avoid them.”
- “The atmosphere is spooky yet intriguing, and the story and documents found throughout are very interesting.”
- “There is no meaningful sense of intrigue to the barren reshuffled environments, nor investment in the minimalistic filler story; and the world lore is just the concept of the SCP Foundation superimposed onto the concept of the Backrooms with a bunch of generic horror entities thrown in.”
- “There's little to no plot tying the game together besides the very mundane and overused 'oh no, my family member has been kidnapped, gotta go save them!' trope that's quickly discarded 10 minutes in.”
- “The game is still in early access as of this review, but I’d love to see a more developed single-player story instead of relying on notes to convey the narrative.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The game is praised for its high replayability, largely due to its procedural generation and the addition of a randomizer mode in the recent update, which keeps gameplay fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the variety of unique enemies and custom modes that enhance replay value, although some note a current lack of content with only a limited number of scenes. Overall, the combination of random level layouts, community-created content, and ongoing updates promises significant replay potential.
- “But this one is the most replayable by a lot, even more with the new 0.8 update that adds pretty much a randomizer mode.”
- “Unique concept, absolutely worth the price, interesting setting/story, very cool levels, lots of replayability, custom mode offers lots of options after you complete the currently available levels.”
- “A fun custom mode gets added once you beat the current main game which makes the game replayable without feeling stale.”
- “So it's just kind of a lack of content, and the procedural generation does less than you would think for replayability.”
- “The game doesn't have much replayability.”
- “At the moment there's only 6 scenes which should take a bit over an hour to complete, but with more scenes coming in the future and with the game's random generation and custom mode, there's a whole lot of replayable creepypasta here.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both funny and scary, particularly in moments involving unexpected interactions with monsters and absurd scenarios. Fans of liminal spaces and backrooms appreciate the comedic elements that enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable even amidst the horror. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its quirky characters and situations, contributing to a unique blend of thrills and humor.
- “This game is awesome and it's really funny, especially if you're a liminal space or backrooms fan.”
- “Funny scares and overall good vibes.”
- “I love how scary it is and funny, like when you throw objects at the doll it falls over and how entities break down doors; it's really cool.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric and horror elements it brings, while others criticize the use of AI-generated tracks, which can detract from the overall experience. Although there is minimal original soundtrack and some voice acting, players express a desire for more control over audio settings and hope for future improvements from the developers. Overall, the music contributes to the game's eerie atmosphere, but its reliance on AI-generated content has left some fans disappointed.
- “The new soundtrack is awesome.”
- “Very scary and detailed, the soundtrack and everything about it is atmospheric at the same time as it is horrific.”
- “Lore is interesting, monsters are terrifying, music and atmosphere are awesome.”
- “There is no OST in this game, but there is a little bit of voice acting.”
- “It also has a music track that was AI-assisted, giving it a very choppy sound.”
- “With this game being in early access and getting regular updates, I give them the benefit of the doubt... hopefully the devs do commission actual artists and music producers in the future, instead of cheapening out and souring the otherwise pretty good game they've made so far with AI slop.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent bugs, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems. While some players appreciate the game's potential and enjoy certain aspects, the overall experience is marred by technical issues, leading to mixed reviews regarding its early access state.
- “The new 'non-linear' mode is boring and buggy.”
- “There are a lot of FPS glitches and I'm consistently lagging out.”
- “I give it a thumbs up only because it was a fun game for what little I was able to play of it. It has a lot of potential, but the constant issues made me uninstall. If you're on the low end when it comes to graphics for your computer, or even barely over the recommended specs like I was, I don't recommend buying the game as it will plague you with constant glitches, frame rate drops, and crashes no matter how low you turn the game graphics down.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
29%
57%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring multiple attempts to progress. While some improvements have been made to reduce the monotony, early levels can feel overwhelming due to aggressive enemies, while later levels offer a more relaxed experience. Overall, the grinding can detract from the enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I do wish the arcade was less tedious and long.”
- “Played it for the 2nd time recently and man this game is just tedious.”
- “Edit: upon further review, they made it less tedious, but now some levels the monsters are real oppressive and are on you constantly (the early levels) and later levels the monsters seem to mostly leave you alone unless you make a mistake.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report experiencing intense emotional pressure while engaging with the game, largely due to the unsettling presence of its bizarre entities, which evoke strong feelings and a unique psychological impact.
- “It's not often I get that from games, but holy hell, it has made me feel extreme pressure because of these bizarre-looking entities.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making their struggles feel personal and impactful.”
- “I found myself genuinely caring about the outcomes of the story, which is a rare experience in gaming.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is criticized for being misleading, as advertisements suggest a variety of randomly generated levels, while players find only four repetitive levels with minimal variation. Many feel that the game's incomplete state does not justify its price, leading to a perception of poor value for money.
- “The advertising is misleading; it makes you think every level is randomly generated and that every playthrough is different, when in fact it's just the same level with some rooms swapped around. There are only 4 levels in the entire game. You combine this with the fact that the game is not even finished, and it's just not worth the price. You're pretty much paying $10 to walk around in 4 levels, and each time you die, some rooms are swapped around, and that's pretty much it.”