The best Backrooms games are what happens when you unleash Franz Kafka on a modern American office park and ask him to report on the culture of corporate drudgery.
For the uninitiated, Backrooms is a viral online storytelling sensation, videos and PC games based on the concept of accidentally not cutting through the walls of our reality and stepping into an infinite, labyrinthine hellscape of deserted, corporate-style office rooms. . Adorned with musty, dated yellow wallpaper, an incessant hum of fluorescent lighting, and uncomfortably damp carpeting, the Backrooms have spread through the collective consciousness of a growing number of masochistic internet denizens.
Not all Backrooms games are created equal, and there is debate online about what is canon and what is not. Are you being persecuted by some entity? Are you all alone with your feelings of isolation projected into the labyrinth you find yourself trapped in? Is there only one true Backrooms aesthetic?
Who can say, but there are all sorts of Backrooms games that explore and innovate on the essential premise of Backrooms to create some truly compelling and even disturbing experiences. They are easily some of the best free games you can get now and are rapidly rising through the ranks of the best games on steam also.
Backrooms are approaching mainstream appeal now for reasons that sociologists and psychologists must explain. All I know is that the idea of walking alone through endless, empty, windowless rooms and corridors looking for a way out (which may or may not exist) is exactly the kind of existential dread I crave, despite my therapist’s protests.
So I’ve roamed the aisles of five of the best Backrooms games you can find online right now, and came back to say that if real-life corporate rage hasn’t already crushed your spirit to your satisfaction, go ahead and no-clip yourself. in these games and finish the job. And be careful when you don’t-clip. If you can hear him, he’s definitely heard you.
go behind the scenes
Absolutely one of the best Backrooms experiences you can find anywhere. Enter the Backrooms is a very lo-fi game that reminds me of one of those old shareware games on a CD included in your local PC gaming magazine in the 1990s. Fortunately, that also means it doesn’t need the best gaming pc money can buy to play it.
The developers, Cosmic Cow Creations SP, put some real creative thought into making this game as it has all the hallmarks of Backrooms lore. While some purists may have issues with the fact that their levels after the first one feature Liminal Spaces rather than actual Backrooms, rest assured, the general concept doesn’t change. Each level (and sublevel) has its own distinct character and challenges.
To progress, you’ll need to adapt your approach from one level to the next, as you fight increasingly difficult “entities”. Fortunately, it has a basic save system to track your progress. The only criticism is that there is a bit of a learning curve in the game and some levels have no real exits (just survive as long as possible!). Not many Backrooms games can offer so many hours of unique gameplay, and for the price, it’s a steal and a lot of fun.
You can find Go behind the scenes on Steamavailable now for $4.99.
the backstage project
The Backroom Project is one of the most visually stunning Backrooms experiences, thanks to the Unreal Engine. Production credit goes to its developer, Patrik Nagy, and it looks like a lot of effort has gone into this game. It’s playable, at the time of writing, as an “Early Access” game, as it’s still being updated, but I’ve only noticed a bug or two during my playthroughs. However, these bugs shouldn’t have much or no effect on your enjoyment.
Critics aside, The Backroom Project hits the mood and atmosphere of the Backrooms. The game has one of the best graphics of any Backrooms game and its amazing art design and lighting effects make this entry really stand out. There are no sanity level mechanics to worry about like there are in Enter the Backrooms, and this gives you more freedom to explore (or panic) without having to refill your sanity level every few seconds. You get to go through the level and just soak up the experience. Just don’t forget that you may not be alone.
Levels one and three are the highlights in this game as far as I’m concerned, and even though it’s moderately long, you can beat it in one go. We hope the developer sees this game to its fullest potential.
You can find The Backroom Project on Steamavailable now in Early Access for $9.99.
Behind the scenes 1998
I debated whether or not this game deserved to be on this list. It’s an amazing survival horror game that has more in common with Resident Evil II than it does with Backrooms. However, I had to be honest with myself, The Backrooms 1998 is one of the best Backrooms games out there.
Developed by Steelkrill Studio, The Backrooms 1998 combines a very scary horror atmosphere, challenging gameplay and an interesting story that unfolds as you play. This title is really amazing. Many of the spooky touches work well, and this game can really crank up the intensity as you’re looking for an escape. You can even disable jumpscares if you want a slightly less terrifying experience, but don’t worry, the real scares are still in the game.
With just a few save points, expect to be challenged. However, you can beat the game in a single playthrough without much difficulty. The Backrooms 1998 is dark, scary, and compelling, and definitely worth a look for any Backrooms fan.
You can find The Backrooms 1998 on Steamavailable now for $9.99 as well as Itch.io and other independent online gaming marketplaces.
no clipping
One of the best Backrooms games available on Itch.io is Noclipped, developed by MateussDev. It’s a truly polished game that offers one of the most authentic Backrooms experiences in the world.
This title is a much more immersive and interesting game than most Backrooms titles. As with most games, you run around looking for doors and collecting items, but where Noclipped really shines is the introduction of an item and weapon crafting system similar to those found in best survival games. The fact that this game expands your options as a player, allowing you to interact with your environment to craft the items you need in a progressively complex way, really enriches the gameplay experience. This allows you to approach the game in an innovative way, like fighting entities as you move up through the levels.
The art design and graphics are great, although the sound design could be a little better. Noclipped is a unique and fantastic Backrooms game that really draws you in once you get the hang of it.
You can pick up Noclipped on Itch.io now, and while you can set your purchase price, indie game developers spend a lot of time and money bringing these games to you for free, so definitely consider buying the game or tipping to help the developers continue to make these types of games. accessible.
bathrooms
I felt compelled to put at least one entry on this list that was completely different from the others and Toiletrooms makes the list just for its pleasant weirdness. It deviates from the Backrooms aesthetic quite liberally, but I think most people won’t mind. It can be completed very quickly (less than an hour on the first playthrough). Even so, it’s still worth your brief time and lots of fun.
I personally enjoyed the creative environment and gameplay, and while Toiletrooms features lo-fi graphics, its basic art and sound design still manages to work well in a game that brings a lot of genuine emotions. There’s a uniqueness to the game that I think everyone would appreciate, but there’s not much to say without spoiling such a short game, so I’ll leave it to the reader to explore.
Produced by developer KenForest, you can find Bathrooms at Itch.io free now, but it’s always good to pay what you can or tip the developer to encourage this type of indie title in the future.
Can’t get enough of the backstage?
The Backrooms phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down, and there are new Backrooms games being released every week, so it’s hard to keep track of them all. However, there are plenty of Backrooms games to suit all tastes, including Minecraft and Roblox offerings, and I encourage you to explore them all. Or, you can always try no-clip for real and see if you have what it takes to get back to reality.
