- Image of Backrooms Level X courtesy of Jose Manuel Conesa Hernandez and Firenut Games

3D survival horror game Backrooms Level X is now available on Steam. Developed by solo dev José Manuel Conesa Hernández in collaboration with publisher Firenut Games, PC players can take advantage of a 20% launch discount available on Steam for a limited time. For a taste of the game without the immediate financial commitment, gamers can also play the Backrooms Level X demo for free. 

Those who prefer to play on console can look forward to the game’s release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, coming soon.

From Lost VHS Tape to Liminal Horror

Image of Backrooms Level X courtesy of Jose Manuel Conesa Hernandez and Firenut Games

The story of Backrooms Level X is strange and off-putting; perfect for the genre it’s found a home in. It begins with a cryptic incident set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, back in October of 1986 that was fully captured on a VHS tape. Years later, that mysterious footage resurfaces, and a freak accident leaves the player trapped in the Backrooms, a place where logic and reality are mere suggestions to be ignored. 

The muted yellow carpet and walls of the corridors are deceptively neutral as the environment teems with secrets and otherworldly entities, and happenings. Trapped inside a seemingly endless labyrinth with flickering lights and rooms that feel much too empty, players must navigate the Backrooms for a chance to survive.

Navigating Dread and Strategy Across 13 Levels

The gameplay of Backrooms Level X features 13 unsettling levels, all with various puzzles to solve and riddles to decipher. Players are encouraged to be stealthy and avoid contact or confrontation with unknown creatures and massive boss enemies. The game stands out for its unique atmosphere; while many horror games feature decrepit buildings or run-down, murky spaces, Backrooms Level X features a setting that could almost feel normal.

There’s an uncanny sense of ordinariness interrupted by supernatural encounters and mechanics only possible in a world with no means of logistic control. It manages to capture feelings of dread and uncertainty between an endless maze of rooms that, sometimes, aren’t too dissimilar to ones we’d see in everyday life.

A perfect fit for the psychological horror genre, Backrooms Level X intertwines atmospheric horror with interesting puzzles, strategy, and survival horror gameplay. 

Perfect for Those Who. . .

Backrooms Level X is a fantastic choice for those who enjoy games with a first-person perspective and a focus on atmospheric tension. It leans into the liminal aesthetic, presenting players with spaces that feel wrong, often in ways that might be hard to put your finger on. The horror isn’t given on a silver platter; it’s etched into the eerily yellow walls.

With each level, it emphasizes the vulnerability of the player, forcing you to outsmart your foes rather than face them head-on in a losing battle. Step into the Backrooms if you dare, but know survival is never a guarantee.

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