The Complex: Expedition

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 792 reviews
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
  • story
The Complex: Expedition Game Cover
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"The Complex: Expedition" is a psychological horror game set in 1988, where you play as a Magwave researcher exploring a mysterious and infinite maze known as The Complex. The game is inspired by the "Backrooms" urban legend and features a VHS camera perspective, immersive atmosphere, and a harrowing storyline. This game is not affiliated with Kane Pixels' Backrooms or the Backrooms Wiki/Fandom.

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Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 792 reviews
graphics92 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • Incredible graphics and atmosphere that perfectly capture the essence of the Backrooms.
  • The game creates a sense of dread and isolation without relying on jump scares or traditional horror mechanics.
  • Engaging exploration with multiple paths and hidden areas to discover, enhancing replayability.
  • The game is very short, with a playtime of around 1-2 hours, which some players feel does not justify the price.
  • Limited interaction with the environment and lack of puzzles or engaging gameplay elements.
  • Some players experienced bugs, such as falling through the map or issues with camera controls.
  • graphics170 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and immersive atmosphere, often described as some of the best seen in backrooms games. However, many users noted performance issues and optimization challenges, particularly on lower-end systems, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the visuals, including the effective use of a VHS filter, contribute significantly to the game's eerie and engaging ambiance.

    • “The graphics are fantastic and amazingly realistic.”
    • “The visuals in this game are nothing short of phenomenal.”
    • “The graphics are beyond amazing - it feels very realistic!”
    • “Cutting around corners reveals grey, dim walls and floors, and on low graphics, it looks like any other backrooms game with very simple textures.”
    • “However, it seems to be poorly optimized and the graphics options don't work.”
    • “But this game runs the exact same; in fact, the options are completely useless once again. The resolution options are broken, mouse sensitivity doesn't work at all, and graphical changes don't affect performance at all, just make the game uglier.”
  • atmosphere143 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, effectively capturing the essence of liminal spaces and backrooms horror. Reviewers highlight the impressive graphics, sound design, and attention to detail that contribute to a tense and eerie environment, often noting that the game's horror stems more from its atmosphere than from traditional jump scares. While some players find the gameplay repetitive, the overall consensus is that the atmospheric experience is a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.

    • “Absolutely amazing atmosphere and great immersion.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredible and the graphics are perfect.”
    • “The game perfectly captures the atmosphere, the oppressive feeling, the isolation, and the fear of the backrooms!”
    • “The atmosphere is unsettling and I keep getting lost.”
    • “The atmosphere isn't as creepy and scary as it is unsettling, and I think that's exactly what the backrooms represents.”
    • “While I praised the atmosphere, I found myself getting more frustrated and bored than scared when a large chunk of my playtime was spent simply blindly roaming nearly identical looking areas with no clear landmarks looking for some sort of exit.”
  • story84 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its brevity and lack of depth, often completing it in under two hours. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the intriguing premise involving a research expedition, others feel that the narrative is underdeveloped and lacks significant interaction or environmental storytelling. Overall, players express a desire for more content, character interactions, and a more fleshed-out storyline to enhance the experience.

    • “The story part of the game is truly exceptional.”
    • “It combines stunning visuals with engaging storylines and fascinating characters that will captivate your attention from beginning to end.”
    • “The story was well written, not overly focused on dialogue and with enough simplicity to be both curious of the plot yet having a solid understanding of it.”
    • “However, the game is too short and needs some more story elements/cut scenes to happen so that the experience isn't as boring.”
    • “To me, a $10 price tag is too much for the little story/content it has.”
    • “Moving on, a major issue I have is that there really isn't a whole lot of story in a game where the new/continue game button is literally labeled 'story'.”
  • gameplay61 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator set in eerie, liminal spaces, focusing on atmosphere rather than traditional horror mechanics like chase sequences or survival elements. While the graphics and ambiance are praised, many players find the experience repetitive and lacking in engaging gameplay features, leading to disappointment over the short playtime and limited interactivity. Overall, the game appeals to fans of the backrooms concept but may not satisfy those seeking more dynamic gameplay.

    • “Great game, amazing graphics, fun gameplay, good story.”
    • “Fun game to explore, especially if you like liminal spaces / the backrooms, the graphics are crazy good and I just overall enjoyed the gameplay.”
    • “This is an awesome no-frills liminal space walking sim, no survival mechanics, no weapons, no hidden codes to find, no jumpscares or chase sequences, just you and the unshakeable dread, and unsettling ambience of the backrooms.”
    • “No chase sequences, no hiding in lockers, no cheap jumpscares, no survival mechanics, just a walking simulator through strange liminal rooms and hallways.”
    • “The rooms are all copy and pasted with almost no memorable rooms, the gameplay is slow, even for a backrooms walking simulator, the story is full of holes and questions, and the creature--or creatures--aren't even scary.”
    • “I was also surprised at the lack of content/gameplay in general.”
  • music33 mentions

    The music in the game is described as haunting and eerie, effectively enhancing the atmosphere and sense of dread throughout the experience. While some players noted the minimal use of music, those moments that do occur are impactful, often evoking feelings of unease and loneliness. Overall, the sound design, including ambient noises and occasional music, contributes significantly to the game's unsettling vibe, making it a key element of the gameplay experience.

    • “The way this game is made is amazing; the sounds and music, along with the video graphics, make it so terrifying and eerie.”
    • “There are some eerie moments, and the music, when it's present, definitely sets the mood.”
    • “On rare occasions, the sound of music will carry across the dead air, emerging from some uncertain origin.”
    • “Often the source of much joy, in this forbidden place, music is used to goad and unnerve.”
    • “The way your character opens doors and walks stairs looks very good and believable, and my only real complaint is the lack of sound or music in most of the areas.”
  • optimization17 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance and ineffective graphics options. While some players acknowledge the potential for improvement in future updates, the current state is described as heavy and unoptimized, leading to a frustrating experience even on capable hardware. Despite the appealing graphics, the lack of optimization detracts from the overall gameplay experience.

    • “It was said the performance would only be an issue in found footage, the first (free) game, which made sense, and that this one would be much better optimized.”
    • “The optimization is also impressive.”
    • “It runs well enough to be an amazing experience, but more optimization would definitely help the atmosphere reach its full potential.”
    • “Optimization is very, very bad.”
    • “However, it seems to be poorly optimized and the graphics options don't work.”
    • “But this game runs the exact same; in fact, the options are completely useless once again. The resolution options are broken, mouse sensitivity doesn't work at all, and graphical changes don't change performance at all, just make the game uglier.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well and offers an engaging experience, players have reported various issues such as buggy animations, graphical glitches, and occasional save losses. Some users noted that these problems can detract from immersion, particularly on lower-end hardware, but many still find the game atmospheric and recommend it despite its early access status.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any major glitches, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any crashes or significant bugs.”
    • “Overall, the stability of the game enhances my enjoyment, allowing me to focus on the gameplay.”
    • “The only bad thing is the buggy animations for the other explorers.”
    • “A low-end card like that one breaks the immersion; you see graphical glitches a lot.”
    • “This game entered early access recently and it shows a massive ton of potential, but there are some graphical glitches, and if you fall out of bounds in some places, you will fall forever.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The game evokes intense emotions, particularly dread and loneliness, through its immersive visuals and sound design, reminiscent of classic horror titles. Players appreciate the strong opening and the sense of uncanny isolation, which together create a compelling atmosphere that resonates deeply, often eliciting feelings of nostalgia and vulnerability. Overall, it successfully combines aesthetic elements with emotional depth, leaving a lasting impact on players.

    • “Few games have made me feel intense dread quite like this one, which I think is especially impressive for a walking simulator.”
    • “I like the little noises like the mall music and the orchestra sounds; it made the area feel alive and at the same time made me feel a sense of uncanny loneliness.”
    • “The developer not only executed the backrooms and Kane Pixels aesthetics and concepts beautifully, but they also managed to harness this universe to create such a creatively compelling and imaginative sequence of locations and events that made me feel a specific sort of way I haven't felt honestly since playing the original Silent Hill quadrilogy.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the unique environments and engaging atmosphere that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the repetitive areas and lack of multiple endings limit the overall replay value. Despite its strengths, many reviewers agree that it doesn't offer significant incentives for repeated gameplay.

    • “Sometimes the areas in this game can feel repetitive as you'll often travel through similar looking rooms, but each area is vastly different or has something unique about it, which keeps the gameplay from getting stale. The complex is what I consider the best backrooms game out there; it stays true to the original backrooms concept and doesn't turn it into a cat and mouse game with monsters like other backrooms games. The entity here keeps you on your toes but doesn't ruin the experience, which is perfect. It would also be great if multiple endings were added to encourage replayability.”
    • “Replay value all day.”
    • “For 10 euros, it was worth it for me. It has replay value; you can play it more than once and explore while being scared. I recommend this game to any horror and paranormal lovers out there.”
    • “Sometimes the areas in this game can feel repetitive as you'll often travel through the same looking rooms. In found footage, each area is vastly different or has something unique about it, which kept the gameplay from getting stale. Still, though the complex is what I consider the best backrooms game out there. It stays true to the original backrooms concept and doesn't turn it into a cat and mouse game with monsters like other backrooms games. The entity here keeps you on your toes but doesn't ruin the experience, which is perfect. It would also be great if multiple endings were added to encourage replayability.”
    • “Short, great, but no replayability.”
    • “On a final note, I don't think there is any replay value in here.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players overwhelmingly express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic commitment akin to having a "second life." This repetitive and tedious aspect detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game stems from the repetitive and absurd portrayal of a creepy antagonist, which transforms a potentially frightening presence into a tedious and comical nuisance. Players find amusement in the predictable cutscenes that lead to the character's sudden encounters with the oversized figure, often resulting in humorous mishaps like falling through the ground.

    • “The funny part is people think there is only one entity.”
    • “This one replaces any type of anomaly with the creepy doll outfit from the creepy dark web video 'blank room soup,' but it does so repeatedly and with no change between appearances, which turns a potentially creepy antagonist into a tedious/funny nuisance, usually prefacing his appearance with a cutscene that takes away your control and makes you watch as your character turns around suddenly and sees a big figure standing there before your character would no-clip into the ground or fall down a hole or something similar.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that character development is intricately tied to world-building, with a focus on how characters are shaped by their environments rather than solely on their backstories. This suggests a deeper exploration of characters' motivations and growth within the game's setting.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to explore deep backstories and personal growth throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the game focuses on character arcs, making each character feel unique and relatable as they evolve over time.”
    • “The way characters change in response to the player's choices adds a layer of depth that makes the story feel truly immersive.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth for the characters throughout the game.”
    • “The backstory provided for the characters is minimal, leaving them feeling one-dimensional and unengaging.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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