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The Backrooms 1998 - Found Footage Survival Horror Game similar games & best alternatives

The Backrooms 1998 - Found Footage Survival Horror Game

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2025

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Quick resume

The Backrooms: 1998 is a first-person found footage psychological horror survival game where it tells the story of a young teen after accidentally falling into the depths of The Backrooms in 1998. Roam freely, mark, explore and try unravel the story - however you are not alone. Don't scream.

Global score

85/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Strong horror atmosphere and tension
    • Effective jump scares and sound design
    • Unique microphone noise mechanic
    • Engaging story with plot twist
    • Well-crafted found footage visual style

    Cons

    • Frequent and repetitive jump scares can be annoying
    • Short game length with limited content
    • Some bugs affecting saves and item pickups
    • Limited replay value and exploration variety
    • Occasional control and performance issues

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

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

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • 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.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players have freedom to explore the maze-like environment and choose how to approach stealth and item collection, though some scripted sequences and jump scares limit full control."

    • Competence
      2

      "Game involves some skill in stealth, hiding, and managing noise to avoid the monster, but overall gameplay is straightforward and accessible."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No evidence of competitive elements; focus is on solo survival and personal experience."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Players report short play sessions with some replay interest due to story and scares, but limited content and bugs reduce long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Allows some creative expression such as spray painting on walls and player-driven exploration, but within a fixed environment and objectives."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No social dominance or power over others; solo survival focus."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong immersion in a tense, scary atmosphere provides escape from reality and stress relief through horror experience."

    • Expectation
      -3

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in horror and backrooms lore, not due to obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      1

      "Some exploration and experimentation with stealth and microphone mechanics, but largely follows established survival horror routines."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Game emphasizes navigating maze-like, unfamiliar environments with item hunting and discovery."

    • Expression
      2

      "Spray paint feature allows some personal expression, though limited customization overall."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Strongly rooted in imaginative horror fiction and surreal backrooms mythology, with supernatural elements."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community gameplay elements; solo experience."

    • Growth
      1

      "Some learning curve in stealth and puzzle solving, but limited depth for long-term skill development."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity involved; sedentary gameplay."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention due to tension and stealth mechanics; not suitable for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building; solitary gameplay."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through collecting items and advancing story, though limited by short game length."

    • Relaxation
      -4

      "Sustained tension and anxiety dominate; game is designed to induce fear rather than relaxation."

    • Sensation
      4

      "Strong sensory stimulation through eerie visuals, audio effects, and jump scares."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems."

    • Story
      3

      "Narrative immersion with a disturbing story and plot twist, though some players find it limited or confusing."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Requires some planning and problem solving to avoid monster and find items, but overall straightforward."

    • Thrill
      5

      "High suspense and thrill from jump scares, monster encounters, and tense atmosphere."

    • Value
      1

      "Generally considered worth the price for a short, well-made horror experience, though some feel content is limited."

    • Violence
      3

      "Includes horror violence and monster threat, though no player combat; emphasis on survival from hostile entity."

    • Survival
      4

      "Core gameplay revolves around avoiding monster, managing stealth and noise to survive."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026