Inside the Backrooms similar games & best alternatives

Inside the Backrooms

PC (Microsoft Windows), SteamVR • 2022

Should you play it?

Inside the Backrooms is a horror multiplayer game mixed with different mechanics that will make you spend an intense night with friends. Explore, think, interact, but be careful, it is rumored that there are several entities wishing to find you...

What works
  • Engaging cooperative gameplay
  • Challenging and satisfying puzzles
  • Strong horror atmosphere and scares
  • Good value for price
  • Supports social bonding and teamwork
Things to keep in mind
  • Some bugs and technical issues
  • Motion sickness reported by some players
  • No checkpoint system causing repetition
  • Inventory management can be tedious
  • Certain levels or puzzles can be frustratingly difficult

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • The Devourer: Hunted Souls

  • Backrooms: Escape Together

  • Lethal Company

  • Bureau of Contacts

  • Granny: Escape Together

  • Nuclear Nightmare

  • PILGRIM

  • Ghost Exorcism INC.

  • Backrooms: Extractions
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Bureau of Contacts

  • Forsaken Frontiers

  • EXOME
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Cooperation

    Space Food Truck
  • Fellowship

    Sketchy's Contract
  • Competence

    Unboxing the Cryptic Killer

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Inside the Backrooms: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression, Relaxation.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players have freedom to explore, choose actions, and solve puzzles with some emergent gameplay, though objectives are preset."

    Capsule for Pacify Pacify

    "Players can choose characters, worlds, and approach puzzles with some freedom, but the game has structured levels and objectives."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Challenging puzzles that require logical thinking and communication provide a strong sense of skill and accomplishment."

    Capsule for Unboxing the Cryptic Killer Unboxing the Cryptic Killer

    "Challenging puzzles requiring significant brain usage and skillful avoidance of entities provide a strong sense of competence."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on cooperative play and personal progress rather than competing against others or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Degrees of Separation Degrees of Separation

    "Focus is on cooperative play and personal progress rather than competing against others or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report long play sessions, habitual engagement, and high attachment especially with friends and community."

    Capsule for Unturned Unturned

    "Players report long sessions, repeated playthroughs, and strong attachment, especially when playing with friends."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    5

    "Strong cooperative gameplay with distinct roles requiring teamwork and communication to succeed."

    Capsule for Space Food Truck Space Food Truck

    "Highly cooperative gameplay with emphasis on teamwork, communication, and shared problem solving."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Some creativity in puzzle solving and character ability use, but mostly within predefined game structures."

    Capsule for The Devourer: Hunted Souls The Devourer: Hunted Souls

    "Some creativity in puzzle solving and player strategies, but mostly within predefined level designs and mechanics."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Interactions emphasize shared survival and mutual support rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for PILGRIM PILGRIM

    "Interactions emphasize mutual support and shared survival rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a fun, scary distraction and social experience to escape real life stress."

    Capsule for Anomaly Exit Anomaly Exit

    "Players use the game as a fun, scary distraction and a way to bond with friends, escaping real-life stress."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not due to obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Bakso Simulator Bakso Simulator

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, not due to obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players explore different classes, weapons, and puzzle solutions, experimenting with strategies and item usage."

    Capsule for HeXen II HeXen II

    "Players explore puzzles and entity behaviors, experimenting with strategies and item usage."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Game involves discovering new areas and interacting with environment to solve puzzles."

    Capsule for Unmechanical Unmechanical

    "Game involves discovering new areas, secrets, and puzzle solutions within varied backrooms environments."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization; players mostly use default character and environment without personalization."

    Capsule for Aurora Hills: Chapter 1 Aurora Hills: Chapter 1

    "Limited customization; players mostly use default characters and environments without much personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Game is set in surreal, fictional backrooms with horror and supernatural elements; strong imaginative fiction."

    Capsule for Escape the Backrooms Escape the Backrooms

    "Strongly based on fictional backrooms lore with imaginative monsters and surreal settings."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    5

    "Strong community feeling with cooperative play, shared goals, and social interaction."

    Capsule for Sketchy's Contract Sketchy's Contract

    "Strong community feeling through cooperative play and shared experiences with friends."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and learn new mechanics, showing personal development."

    Capsule for I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine I Expect You To Die 3: Cog in the Machine

    "Players develop puzzle-solving skills and learn entity patterns, showing clear personal development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with some reports of motion sickness; no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for ANTONBLAST ANTONBLAST

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with some reports of motion sickness and physical discomfort."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement to solve puzzles and survive threats."

    Capsule for Lakeview Cabin 2 Lakeview Cabin 2

    "Requires continuous attention and focus due to challenging puzzles and threat of entities."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    3

    "Close social interactions and friendships form through voice chat and cooperative play."

    Capsule for OrbusVR: Reborn OrbusVR: Reborn

    "Close social interactions occur through cooperative play and voice chat, fostering friendships."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    2

    "Some players take lead in coordinating team efforts and puzzle solving; generally collaborative with shared roles."

    Capsule for Escape the Backrooms Escape the Backrooms

    "Some players take guiding roles in puzzle solving and team coordination, but overall shared decision-making."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players collect items and unlock new areas as they solve puzzles."

    Capsule for Gordian Rooms 1: A curious heritage Gordian Rooms 1: A curious heritage

    "Players collect items and unlock new levels, progressing through increasingly difficult puzzles."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -3

    "Sustained tension and anxiety from horror elements dominate the experience."

    Capsule for Saiko no sutoka Saiko no sutoka

    "Sustained tension and anxiety from horror elements and challenging gameplay dominate the experience."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Atmospheric audio and visuals provide sensory stimulation and emotional excitement."

    Capsule for Hello Neighbor Pre-Alpha Hello Neighbor Pre-Alpha

    "Atmospheric audio and visual effects create sensory stimulation and emotional excitement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "Little emphasis on social recognition or ranking; focus is on personal and cooperative enjoyment."

    Capsule for Bang-On Balls: Chronicles Bang-On Balls: Chronicles

    "Little emphasis on social recognition or ranking; focus is on cooperative enjoyment."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Some lore and narrative elements exist but story is not the main focus; gameplay-driven experience."

    Capsule for Deadzone: Rogue Deadzone: Rogue

    "Some narrative elements and lore exist but story is not the main focus; gameplay is puzzle and horror driven."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning, problem solving, and strategic decision making to succeed."

    Capsule for Restaurant Empire II Restaurant Empire II

    "Requires planning, problem solving, and strategic avoidance of entities to succeed."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "High suspense and jump scares create thrilling and tense moments."

    Capsule for Dread Flats Dread Flats

    "High suspense and jump scares provide thrilling and tense moments."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players feel the game offers good value for its price with substantial content and replayability."

    Capsule for Passant: A Chess Roguelike Passant: A Chess Roguelike

    "Players feel the game offers good value for its price with substantial content and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat is present but limited; focus on evasion and survival rather than destruction."

    Capsule for Subterror Subterror

    "Combat is minimal but avoidance of hostile entities and survival elements involve threat and danger."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Strong survival elements with resource management, avoiding death, and overcoming threats."

    Capsule for EVERSPACE™ EVERSPACE™

    "Strong survival elements with resource management, avoiding death, and strategic hiding."

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Last update: 01/06/2026