Escape the Backrooms
A cooperative horror game set in the Backrooms liminal space.
Escape the Backrooms is a cooperative horror game from developers Fancy Games and Blackbird Interactive, published by Secret Mode. It first entered early access on 11 August 2022, before its full Windows release on 23 October 2025. Console versions arrived later: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series on 28 May 2026, and Nintendo Switch 2 on 7 July 2026. The game takes place in the Backrooms, a fictional liminal space. Up to four players explore more than 30 levels, some original to the game and others adapted from sources such as Kane Parsons’ "The Backrooms (Found Footage)" and his web series, as well as Jared Pike’s "The Poolrooms." Players start in the yellow level 0 and search for exits through subsequent areas. They can sprint and collect items like flashlights and food, which help manage a sanity stat. When sanity falls below 15%, hallucinations occur; at zero, the player dies. Threats include entities like smilers (found in darkness), skin stealers (which mimic player characters), and hounds (dog-like creatures with human faces). Most entities can be avoided or fought. Difficulty settings range from easy to nightmare. Upon its full Windows release, the game surpassed 30,000 concurrent players within two days. It received largely positive feedback for its content volume, sound design, and multiplayer experience. Luiz H. C. of Bloody Disgusting named it one of the six best horror games players may have missed in 2022. Mark Delaney of GameSpot gave it a 6/10, calling the gameplay loop sparse but praising the discovery of new levels. The game launched on all tiers of Xbox Game Pass upon its console release.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Escape the Backrooms
- Developer
- Fancy Games / Blackbird Interactive
- Publisher
- Secret Mode
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5 / Windows / Xbox Series / Nintendo Switch 2
- Released
- 23 October 2025
- Genre
- Horror
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Composer
- Oliver "InsOmic" Kauzlaric
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Escape the Backrooms places players in the yellow-colored level 0 of the Backrooms, where they must explore to find exits to subsequent levels. Players can sprint and collect items such as flashlights and food, with food used to manage a sanity stat that causes hallucinations when below 15% and death if it reaches zero. The game features entities including smilers, found in the dark; skin stealers, which can resemble a player character; and hounds, dog-like creatures with human faces. Most entities can be avoided or fought off. Difficulty settings range from easy to nightmare. The levels include original creations and adaptations from other sources, notably recreating shots and aesthetics from Kane Parsons' 'The Backrooms (Found Footage)' and his subsequent web series, including the Async organization whose workers players portray, as well as shots and aesthetics from Jared Pike's 'The Poolrooms'.
Reader's Guide
Escape the Backrooms received a largely positive reception from players, praised for its amount of content, sound design, and enjoyable multiplayer experience. Luiz H. C. of Bloody Disgusting described it as one of the six best horror games that may have been missed by players in 2022. After the full Windows release, the game surpassed 30,000 concurrent players in under two days. Mark Delaney of GameSpot rated the game 6/10, describing the gameplay loop as sparse while enjoying the appearance and experience of finding new levels. The game debuted on all tiers of Xbox Game Pass upon its console release. Its significance lies in its expansion of the Backrooms mythos through cooperative play and its adaptation of iconic visual elements from popular found-footage and liminal-space media.
Did You Know?
- The game was in early access from 11 August 2022 until its full release on 23 October 2025.
- It was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series on 28 May 2026, and for Nintendo Switch 2 on 7 July 2026.
- Players manage a sanity stat that causes hallucinations below 15% and death at zero.
- The game features entities called smilers, skin stealers, and hounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Escape the Backrooms and who made it?
It is a cooperative horror game built by Fancy Games and Blackbird Interactive and released through publisher Secret Mode. The title lets players navigate the Backrooms, a fictional liminal space, together as a small team.
How many players can play Escape the Backrooms at once?
The game supports up to four people in a single shared session. It is designed around co-op survival rather than a solo experience.
When did Escape the Backrooms launch and on which platforms is it available?
Early access opened on 11 August 2022, and the full Windows build shipped on 23 October 2025. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series versions arrived on 28 May 2026, with Nintendo Switch 2 following on 7 July 2026.
What does the gameplay in Escape the Backrooms actually involve?
Players work together to explore more than 30 distinct levels, some designed from scratch for the game and others adapted from Kane Parsons' 'The Backrooms (Found Footage)' and his related web series. The core loop centers on cooperative navigation and survival through the liminal environment.
Why is Escape the Backrooms considered a notable entry in 2020s horror gaming?
It was one of the first major titles to translate the widely shared Backrooms internet lore into a dedicated multi-player survival experience. By blending original levels with adaptations of Parsons' footage, it gave the liminal-space concept a full co-op game structure that had not existed before.
More in Horror Games of the 2020s 1-24
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