The Backrooms Craze: New Titles Hit Steam, But Are They Worth Your Time?

This past week, A24 dropped its adaptation of The Backrooms, and honestly, I was expecting a flood of new Backrooms-themed games to hit Steam. But guess what? Only four new titles rolled out! Crazy, right?

If you’ve been following the Backrooms trend, you know it’s been a steady stream of releases on Steam for years. Just type “Backrooms” into the Steam search bar, and you’ll be greeted with over 500 results. Sure, many of those are just “coming soon” titles that may never see the light of day, but if you sort by user reviews, you’ll find around 225 games that have actually released. Even if we filter out the junk, there are probably at least 150 legit Backrooms games out there.

And let’s not even get started on Roblox, mobile, and Itch.io titles that also join the Backrooms bandwagon. It’s a wild scene! One publisher has cranked out a whopping 12 Backrooms games, with five more on the way. The most popular one, “Backrooms: What’s Next,” peaked at just nine concurrent players!

Some of these games take the concept and run with it in bizarre directions. We’ve got titles like “Backrooms Cats and Lava,” which turns into a puzzler starring a cat with lava floors, and “Backroom Warfare II,” a military shooter that’s curiously missing its predecessor. There’s even “Backrooms Santa,” where you have to dodge an evil Santa roaming the endless hallways. And let’s not forget “Skibidi Gyatrooms,” featuring chaotic first-person gameplay and nonsensical elements.

With so many adaptations, it can be hard to sift through the pile and find gems among the cash grabs. Casual gamers, in particular, might struggle to identify which titles are worth their time since many look quite similar and appear to be low-effort.

So, which ones should you check out? “Escape the Backrooms” has gained popularity thanks to its co-op gameplay, where you and your pals navigate a never-ending nightmare of yellow corridors. It also features levels inspired by other eerie places, like endless suburbs and deserted pools. Another co-op option is “Inside the Backrooms,” which focuses on puzzles and even incorporates AI-generated art into its gameplay.

If you’re leaning towards a single-player experience, “The Complex: Expedition” is an enjoyable choice, even if it bends the classic Backrooms lore a bit. It’s atmospheric and definitely captures that unsettling vibe of the film. Plus, I’ve heard good things about “Within the Backrooms,” which gives a nostalgic PS1 aesthetic to its environment.

Now, normally I’m all for Steam’s quirky and random nature, but I can admit that finding a high-quality Backrooms game can feel like a gamble lately. However, there’s a silver lining: Secret Mode is currently hosting a Backrooms-themed event on Steam that helps spotlight some of the better titles while filtering out the trash. So, you might just find a hidden gem among the chaos!

At least one thing is certain: Backrooms games are usually a bit more effortful than your average bizarre indie title. So, keep your eyes peeled for the interesting ones if you want to dive into this surreal world!