To the Basement. Before

About

To the Basement. Before is a single player action game. It was developed by HugePixel and was released on January 13, 2026. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

You are one of the few flying drones that have not been affected by the virus. Your mission is quiet, but crucial: to penetrate the depths of the infected bunker and find what remains hidden in its sections. Something that will later play a key role in the fate of the entire complex. With each level, the corridors become more dangerous: unstable mechanisms, security system traps, hidden blocks …

Genres & Tags

Adventure

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 12 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Engaging and challenging 2D action platformer with precise controls and dynamic levels.
Strong atmosphere with retro pixel art, chiptune-inspired music, and a 90s vibe that enhances immersion.
Well-paced gameplay featuring intense boss fights, clever puzzle elements, and rewarding skill mastery.

Minimal story and limited narrative depth might not appeal to players seeking rich storytelling.
High difficulty with punishing mechanics and randomness in boss fights can cause frustration.
Checkpoint and save system can be unforgiving, requiring frequent restarts and precise performance.

gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
62%
The gameplay is characterized by precise flying controls, energy management, and challenging obstacle stages with a minimalist, 90s-inspired aesthetic. While it offers little story, the mechanics stay consistent with earlier entries, incorporating tense yet fair drone navigation and strategic elements like a special vision mechanic. Overall, gameplay is lively, thoughtful, and maintains a retro vibe with detailed pixel art and straightforward, engaging challenges.
- “Minimalist game with precise flying controls, energy management, and obstacle stages, offering little story but challenging gameplay.”
- “Flying the drone through dark, broken corridors feels tense but fair, and the special vision mechanic adds a cool twist instead of cheap difficulty.”
- “The gameplay is very lively, pixel two-dimensional but with a bunch of details where it's important not just to jump, but to think about how to get further, where to fly, where to maneuver and where to punch the boss in the face.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The story is minimal or subtle in these games, with one focusing more on atmosphere and tension through smart pacing and emotional engagement, while the other offers little narrative but sets up backstory through fast-paced, action-driven gameplay. Overall, the storytelling is understated, serving to complement challenging gameplay rather than being the main focus.
- “Before is a gripping indie horror experience with strong atmosphere, smart pacing, and subtle storytelling that constantly builds tension, making every moment feel uneasy, mysterious, and emotionally engaging from start to finish.”
- “The pacing is solid, bosses are fun to figure out, and the atmosphere does a great job setting up the story.”
- “Minimalist game with precise flying controls, energy management, and obstacle stages, offering little story but challenging gameplay.”
- “However, since both titles have very little story, you do not need to play the first one beforehand.”
- “Before serves as a fast-paced side-scrolling action platformer prequel, unveiling backstory events before the original game through intense runs dodging flying enemies and hazards.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game offers a strong and unique atmosphere that evolves from initial skepticism to recognition of its distinct style. It creates a gripping, tense, and emotionally engaging experience through smart pacing and subtle storytelling, effectively setting up the story and maintaining a mysterious, uneasy mood throughout.
- “Before is a gripping indie horror experience with strong atmosphere, smart pacing, and subtle storytelling that constantly builds tension, making every moment feel uneasy, mysterious, and emotionally engaging from start to finish.”
- “The pacing is solid, bosses are fun to figure out, and the atmosphere does a great job setting up the story.”
- “At first, it seemed like some kind of garbage and a copy of Undertale, but the game has its own style and atmosphere.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a gripping and emotionally engaging experience through its tense atmosphere, subtle storytelling, and carefully paced horror elements. The fragile nature of the robot character heightens the emotional stakes, making each moment feel uneasy and immersive.
- “Before is a gripping indie horror experience with strong atmosphere, smart pacing, and subtle storytelling that constantly builds tension, making every moment feel uneasy, mysterious, and emotionally engaging from start to finish.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features retro pixel graphics with a 2D black-and-white aesthetic that effectively enhances the horror atmosphere. Flickering lights and sound design contribute to a sense of paranoia without relying on jump scares.
- “Retro pixel graphics with flickering lights and sound design heighten paranoia perfectly - without screamers, pure horror.”
- “2D black and white aesthetic throughout.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Replayability is praised for its branching paths, hidden secrets, and skill-based challenges, with short, fluid levels that encourage speed and precision mastery. Users appreciate the clear controls that support repeated playthroughs focused on improving performance.
- “The controls are clear, and replayability is high thanks to branches and secrets.”
- “Expect precision jumps, combat, and fluid controls in short, replayable levels emphasizing speed and skill mastery from developer hugepixel.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music is characterized by decent, chiptune-inspired tracks that complement the games' minimalistic art style and straightforward gameplay.
- “Both games feature minimalistic art and limited use of color, along with decent chiptune inspired music and easy to understand gameplay.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

To the Basement. Before is a action game.

To the Basement. Before is available on PC and Windows.

To the Basement. Before was released on January 13, 2026.

To the Basement. Before was developed by HugePixel.

To the Basement. Before has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

To the Basement. Before is a single player game.

Similar games include Primal Light, Dark Light, Unworthy, Immortal Planet, Winds Of Arcana: Ruination and others.

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