Backrooms Craze Hits Hollywood! Get Ready with These Must-Play Liminal Horror Games

Yaar, who would’ve thought a simple forum post from 2019 would blow up into a whole cinematic universe? We’re talking about The Backrooms, those iconic, unsettling yellow corridors that feel like something out of a weird dream. It’s gone from internet lore to a major Hollywood movie adaptation in just seven years – that’s even faster than the Slenderman phenomenon!

The hype is real, especially since A24’s horror flick, directed by the YouTube sensation Kane Parsons (whose Backrooms videos went super viral), is dropping on May 29. But before you hit the cinema, let’s talk about where The Backrooms truly shines for gamers: video games!

It’s not just YouTube that’s obsessed with The Backrooms and liminal spaces. Video games have been exploring this terrifying concept for years. Seriously, search for “Backrooms” on Steam, and you’ll get nearly 600 results! And that doesn’t even count the countless games that capture the vibe without using the exact word in their title.

Naturally, with so many options, the quality varies a lot. What makes a “Backrooms game” can be anything from co-op puzzle adventures to monster-free walking sims, or full-blown survival horror experiences. If you want to get acquainted with this creepy universe before the movie drops, consider this your starter guide to some of the best Backrooms video games out there.

Puppet Combo’s The Backrooms

If you’re into indie horror, especially games with that classic PlayStation 1 aesthetic, you’ve probably heard of Puppet Combo. They’re known for their slasher and grindhouse-style horror, so seeing them tackle a liminal-space game was a pleasant surprise. Their take, simply titled The Backrooms, maintains their signature look and feel while adding a layer of storytelling that really makes the unsettling environment shine. It’s one of the newest and best entries in the genre, and definitely worth a play!

The Complex: Expedition

Here’s a hidden gem that doesn’t even have “Backrooms” in its name! The Complex: Expedition, from pgWave, is a first-person walking-sim horror that perfectly captures the liminal vibe. It’s actually a spiritual successor to their earlier game, The Complex: Found Footage, offering a more polished experience and a different story. The visuals are still intentionally lo-fi, which honestly just adds to the creepy atmosphere. I won’t spoil whether there are monsters or not, as not knowing was half the fun for me, but if you want a good blend of eerie liminality and a subtle story, this one is highly recommended.

Escape The Backrooms

Perhaps the most popular Backrooms game to date, Escape The Backrooms is a chaotic yet enjoyable experience. Sure, the enemy AI can be a bit frustrating, the graphics aren’t top-tier (even for a genre where low-fidelity is often a choice), and some mechanics can feel clunky. However, it makes up for these flaws with an amazing co-op experience that takes you through an encyclopedic range of Backrooms levels. If you’re into the deeper lore of The Backrooms, with its countless rooms, arcane rules, and terrifying creatures, this game is your ultimate guide to that vast, fan-created universe.

Dreamcore

This one is a strong contender for my favorite liminal-space game! What makes Dreamcore stand out is its incredible variety of environments. While you’ll definitely spend time in those iconic yellow labyrinthine halls, you’ll also get to explore other unsettling liminal hits: an abandoned mall, a creepy children’s playground, and even “Eternal Suburbia,” a town of identical homes on rolling green hills. If you love liminal spaces in general, Dreamcore is drenched in that specific, atmospheric dread. With its final update just released, it’s the perfect time to dive in and see it through to the end.

Pools

Okay, this might be “cheating” a bit since it doesn’t feature The Backrooms proper, but Pools is a super popular liminal-space game you absolutely need to try if you’re into this kind of stuff. It’s based on the “Poolrooms” – an alternate dimension within Backrooms lore. This game offers a gorgeous exploration of these water-filled, often unnerving spaces. Like many games in this genre, its main appeal is the unsettling, dreamlike atmosphere, but it also throws in a few subtle yet clever scares. It’s a beautifully polished adventure into a different, but equally haunted, corridor.

Eternal Afternoon

Alright, if Pools was cheating, Eternal Afternoon is probably even more so! It’s quite different from the other games on this list, but it shares one crucial thing: the vibe. Eternal Afternoon is a unique game about the end of the world. You play as a small child with 20 minutes to spend your final moments however you choose, and you can’t see everything in one go, making replays essential for different endings and encounters. Will you sit with your mom as a tidal wave engulfs the city? Explore the disquieting neighborhood? Or just play video games? With its PS1 visuals, a faint sense of longing and nostalgia, and a soundtrack that fits right in with these other liminal titles, Eternal Afternoon delivers its own wonderful, unsettling qualities.

Toh PakGamers, The Backrooms movie aane wali hai aur usse pehle, in games ko try karke aap is unsettling universe ki gehrayi mein doob sakte hain. Har game ka apna alag flavor hai, lekin sab aapko us anjaan aur khamosh darr ka ehsaas dilayenge jo The Backrooms ko itna iconic banata hai. Ready ho jaao us peeli, labyrinthine duniya mein kho jaane ke liye!