Within the Backrooms

About

Within the Backrooms is a single player open world simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by Shattered Display and was released on January 12, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

You don't know how you got here, and you don't know how you'll leave. Wander the depths of the Backrooms in hopes of finding something more.

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95%Audience ScoreBased on 148 reviews

music13 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Excellent atmospheric and liminal experience capturing the true essence of the Backrooms with eerie and nostalgic PS1-style graphics.
Multiple endings, secrets, and varied environments encourage exploration and replayability, supported by a haunting and well-composed soundtrack.
Unique approach avoiding typical jump scares or hostile entities, focusing on isolation and unsettling ambience that deeply resonates with fans of surreal and dreamlike games.

Game is relatively short with limited content, leading to repetitiveness when replaying multiple endings due to lack of a proper load/save system.
Presence of bugs and glitches including softlocks, inventory issues, and frustrating progression traps that sometimes break immersion.
Some UI and control design choices, such as slow movement speed and unintuitive ending selection system, reduce overall gameplay convenience.

music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The music in this game is widely praised for its atmospheric, eerie, and melancholic qualities that deeply enhance the liminal and unsettling experience. While the soundtrack is often described as immersive and emotionally evocative, some users note the repetitive and short loops can detract from its impact. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly elevates the game's unique ambiance.
- “The music is incredible and very melancholy; I've never expected a backrooms game to have a soundtrack, let alone one that evokes emotion from an otherwise very stoic person.”
- “The music is amazingly atmospheric, the level design and puzzles are strange and eerie, invoking a feeling of dream logic, while also having a curious layout that urges the player forward.”
- “Absolute fever dream of a game with a stellar soundtrack, dipping between eerie and downright beautiful at times as your character trips between dimensions.”
- “My only criticism is the music does get repetitive in certain areas and loops poorly.”
- “I thought a lot about death and being alone while playing... the sombre music did not help.”
- “The constant 1-minute music loops are mainly at fault for this (simply our own footsteps and an occasional unnerving background noise would have done just fine).”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
50%
11%
The game’s graphics feature a distinctive PS1/early 3D retro aesthetic that effectively evokes a nostalgic and eerie atmosphere, setting it apart through a dreamlike, liminal space vibe. While some note glitches and simplicity in menus, the low-poly, low-res visuals combined with surreal level design and haunting soundtrack create an immersive, unsettling experience that resonates well with fans of atmospheric, non-realistic styles. Overall, the graphics are praised for capturing the uncanny, nostalgic feel of the Backrooms rather than focusing on high fidelity.
- “The visuals are surprisingly beautiful in their retro style, and the sound design really adds to the feeling of unease while still keeping it oddly cozy.”
- “Rather than like most other backrooms games that go for a 'super realistic camera view,' this game uses old PS1 style graphics to really make the game feel old yet familiar.”
- “The fantastic (albeit singular) musical track in conjunction with the surreal level design and lo-fi graphics set this backrooms game apart as one of the most atmospheric liminal experiences one can acquire right now.”
- “The graphical style of the game is not incredible, but not bad either - the level designs are devoid of anything interesting.”
- “The low-poly, low-res graphics combined with the level layout makes this very much more akin to a Yume Nikki-type game or LSD Dream Emulator.”
- “Rather than like most other backrooms games that go for a super realistic camera view, this game uses old PS1 style graphics to really make the game feel old yet familiar.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The game excels in creating a deeply immersive and unsettling atmosphere that blends eerie, liminal spaces with a haunting soundtrack, fostering a surreal and nostalgic experience without relying on jump scares or monsters. Its minimalistic design and ambient tension evoke a calm yet oppressive mood, making it a standout atmospheric backrooms exploration. Overall, the atmosphere is widely praised as the game's strongest and most captivating element.
- “The fantastic musical track in conjunction with the surreal level design and lofi graphics set this backrooms game apart as one of the most atmospheric liminal experiences available right now.”
- “Amazing atmosphere and aesthetic, unnerving without cheap jumpscares or chases, and absolutely dripping with the forgotten nostalgia that made liminal spaces so intriguing.”
- “You know nothing should happen to you, but in the back of your mind, the music and the atmosphere make you think, 'what if?' That is what makes this game frightening yet beautiful.”
- “Only has unsettling and creepy elements from time to time, but it's mostly just being isolated and alone or the atmosphere/ambience sounds a bit 'off.' That's pretty much the rundown of the 'horror' feel.”
- “Most modern backroom games tend to sacrifice atmosphere for gamey mechanics involving monsters and resource management.”
- “However, the simple gameplay and the repetitiveness don't detract from the experience, as the main appeal of this game is the atmosphere that is set up for you to explore rather than the riveting gameplay.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The gameplay is simple and somewhat repetitive, with standard puzzles and occasional entities, lacking intense or varied mechanics. Its main strength lies in creating an eerie, nostalgic atmosphere rather than offering deep or tense gameplay. Players generally find it a short, atmospheric experience best appreciated on sale.
- “It’s not particularly tense or gameplay-heavy, but it nails that eerie, nostalgic vibe the backrooms are known for.”
- “Neat little atmospheric experience packaged into 2-3 hours of gameplay, really enjoyed the droning ambience of the soundtrack too.”
- “The game boasts 11 different endings, which require finding corresponding tapes throughout the gameplay to unlock.”
- “An overusage of entities and subpar gameplay.”
- “The gameplay itself is pretty standard, with some puzzles here and there.”
- “However, the simple gameplay and the repetitiveness don't detract from the experience, as the main appeal of this game is the atmosphere that is set up for you to explore rather than the riveting gameplay.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story is praised for its subtle, atmospheric approach that avoids typical horror clichés, creating a tense and unsettling experience through eerie ambiance, intriguing easter eggs, and multiple endings. This masterful storytelling effectively induces fear and anxiety without relying on overt threats.
- “Unlike other popular backrooms media, this game does not try to shove uninspired ravenous monsters or silly plot points in your face; instead it's a masterclass in how to make a game feel ominous and anxiety-inducing without any real present threat.”
- “The easter eggs, the multiple endings, the soundtrack, and even the story you follow are interesting, and all of this is done in such a way where I can't help but feel afraid and uneasy.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently has noticeable glitches affecting stability, which may detract from the experience for some players. However, fans of the PS1-style graphics may still enjoy exploring the backrooms. Stability improvements through future updates could enhance its appeal.
- “If you don't mind the glitches and just want to see the backrooms with PS1 graphics, go right ahead. I think you'll enjoy it, but this isn't for me, sorry.”
- “If this game gets updated with the glitches patched, leave a comment so I can try it out again.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers strong replayability with multiple endings and a manageable playthrough length, encouraging players to experience different outcomes.
- “Great vibes, replayable for all the endings!”
- “Not too long to finish one playthrough, but the game has more than one ending, so it offers good replay value!”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users found the game "Within the Backrooms" to evoke strong and meaningful emotional responses, creating a compelling experience despite its flaws. The emotional impact was noted as a standout aspect, contributing to the game's overall appeal.
- “I do not know if this had to do with my headspace while playing, but I found 'Within the Backrooms' to be really effective on me emotionally.”
- “Even with its flaw, I still liked 'Within the Backrooms' because it made me feel something interesting.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Grinding is noted as somewhat tedious, requiring careful control inputs, but does not demand highly skilled parkour maneuvers. Additionally, players may need extra lives to manage the grinding challenges effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor is subtle and occasional, contributing to a unique and immersive atmosphere. It enhances the experience without overpowering the overall tone.

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Within the Backrooms
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3h Median play time

3h Average play time

3-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Within the Backrooms is a open world simulation game with horror theme.

Within the Backrooms is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Within the Backrooms.

Within the Backrooms was released on January 12, 2023.

Within the Backrooms was developed by Shattered Display.

Within the Backrooms has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Within the Backrooms for its music but disliked it for its stability.

Within the Backrooms is a single player game.

Similar games include The Complex: Found Footage, POOLS, The Complex: Expedition, Interior Worlds, DREAM LOGIC and others.

Within the Backrooms

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music

graphics

atmosphere

gameplay

story

stability

replayability

emotional

grinding

humor

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