The Backrooms Game may look a bit weird as a game. However, don't judge a book by its cover.
Modern horror in a nutshell
Do normal horror films tire you out with cliché and overused motifs that you have seen hundreds of time? It is understandable in this modern world as film directors may have run out of ideas. The plot is always the same all the times. A certain cursed doll in some abandoned house is actually a devil’ possession with evil power malevolent intent.
The protagonists would most likely run away or find a way to lift the curse before their time runs out. The main attractions of horror films nowadays are just jumpscares or some devilish design of the evil incarnation.
That pretty much sums up horror film genre nowadays. However, if you are patient enough and spend time browsing hidden gems, you may actually find a treasure. Horror games offer many innovative and unique experience you never expected.
Horror in games
The Backrooms Game gives you a unique experience, unlike any other game. It may strike you as a walking simulator title in an open world at first. The game lets you roam around in an endless corridor among many yellow rooms. However, there is more to it than meets the eye. As you dig deeper into it, the game opens a whole new world of experience.
Your open world here is actually a closed area of yellowish walls, lighted by fluorescent bulbs. Each room is separated by a doorway without a door. The rooms are randomly segmented into multiple areas. Your mission is simple, explore the most and find the exit before you black out.
The game has multiple settings to help with the smoothness. You can choose to increase graphics experience over performance if your PC is decent.
In the game, you walk around in a seemingly endless hallway around yellowish walls. Try to keep your eye open and maintain your consciousness. In this lifeless environment, you can acquire the help of the clock to keep track of time. It may be your only good companion (it is?).
The mystery
Eventually, the secret of the game unveils as you play on. Be it your first run or your 10th consecutive run, you will find out something entirely new. The game gives you no tips or direction, just leave you to your own devices. One great feature of the game is the underlying sound. The eerie noise adds a mysterious feeling to the game. As you are alone (maybe?) in this world, what could be even scarier than the intense feeling it creates.
Beware! Every action you take in the game is influential to your outcome. The game has multiple endings. Can you manage to keep yourself together? Sanity is one luxury you cannot afford all the time. Wandering around in this hopeless situation can actually drive you mad in no time.
Resemblance
The game somehow resembles one hidden indie gem – Yume Nikki – The Dream Diary. Both games are horror open world with little to none explanation. The game seems to be open-ended as we are free to interpret the plot. The Backrooms Game is pretty the same. You are on your own to interpret the story and find the way out.
However, The Backrooms Game pays more attention to details as it focuses on the graphics and actions of the player. 3D graphics is the plus point of the game and The Backrooms Game handled it really well. Though free, The Backrooms Game offers a good experience with low playtime. It takes less than 1 hour for you to understand the game and actually complete it. The game even has the potential to get a VR adaption in the future.
Come grab The Backrooms Game when it is free on Steam and enjoy it to your heart’s content. If you feel pleased with the game, you can donate for the developers through the $2 DLC. They devoted their effort into the game to make one such good horror game.