- Games
- Escape the Backrooms
Escape the Backrooms
You solve escape puzzles with up to three friends while creatures hunt through strange, empty places.
Online co-op for up to 4 players, with crossplay.
- 4 online
- Crossplay
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op4 players
- Local co-opNot confirmed
- YesPC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch 2Friends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- YesA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckPlayableValve's own rating
About the game
You search yellow corridors, silent pools and empty buildings for a way out. Each level gives you a different escape problem, from reading clues to finding the right door. Creatures patrol these spaces with rules you need to learn. You hide, run and look for supplies as your sanity falls. A familiar room can become dangerous before you understand what changed.
Up to four of you explore together online. Everyone needs to reach the exit alive, so leaving a lost friend behind holds the group back. Proximity voice chat helps you find each other, but nearby creatures can hear your conversations too. You work through the levels toward several endings, then return for hidden areas or another attempt at a harder difficulty.
How it feels
Kind of game
A group of friends, loose goals and a lot of messing around. Failing is part of the fun, and the best moments are the ones nobody planned.
- At its heart
- A big part
- Now and then
- Story
- Time to hang out
- Unlocks and progress
- Planning ahead
- Sessions
- Campaign to finish
- About
- Monsters
Rated on our own feel scale. 7 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked Escape the Backrooms
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
Zort
Why it scores 91%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Chaotic friend hangout
- About
- Monsters
- Notable in both
- Fear, Laughter and chaos, Puzzles and figuring out, Working in sync, Exploring, Tension and danger
- Sessions
- Campaign to finish
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
- Early access
- 4 online
Both are chaotic hangouts for a group of friends. Both are about monsters that hunt you. Both are often scary.
No big difference from Escape the Backrooms.
Inside the Backrooms
Why it scores 90%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Chaotic friend hangout
- About
- Monsters
- Notable in both
- Fear, Puzzles and figuring out, Working in sync, Exploring, Tension and danger, Getting better
- Sessions
- Campaign to finish
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
- Early access
- 4 online
Both are chaotic hangouts for a group of friends. Both make you work things out together. Both are about monsters that hunt you.
No big difference from Escape the Backrooms.
LIVING HELL
Why it scores 88%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Chaotic friend hangout
- Core to both
- Fear
- About
- Monsters
- Notable in both
- Laughter and chaos, Working in sync, Exploring, Tension and danger
- Sessions
- Campaign to finish
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
- Coming 2027
- 4 online
Both are chaotic hangouts for a group of friends. Both get loud and silly when plans go wrong. Both are often scary.
No big difference from Escape the Backrooms.
All co-op facts
Last checked 24 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Local co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Not confirmed
- Split or shared screen
- Not confirmed
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The publisher launch announcement dated July 7, 2026 states the paid Switch 2 base model. The store purchase widget did not independently establish an amount.
- 6101112
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
Sources
12 pages
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online, Voice chat by distance, About, Fear, Working in sync, Getting better, Genres.
- Online co-op: The feature list and maker text describe online cooperative exploration.
- Most players online: The maker gives a four person team cap. Every player needs to reach the exit alive.
- Voice chat by distance: The maker names proximity voice chat and warns that hostile entities hear speech.
- About: Hostile creatures hunt the team across the levels.
- Fear: Displayed tags include Horror, Psychological Horror and Survival Horror.
- Working in sync: Everyone must reach the exit alive, while players can become separated.
- Getting better: Different entities have different rules that the group must learn.
- Genres: The maker calls this a horror exploration game.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID, Platforms, Release status.
- Steam app ID: The returned app identity is Escape the Backrooms.
- Platforms: The PC build is Windows. Released console versions come from publisher launch news.
- Release status: The current product is released. Its old Early Access user tag does not change that status.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 23 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Playable on Steam Deck.
wearesecretmode.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Release date, Kind of game, Laughter and chaos, Story.
- Release date: The publisher announces the PC 1.0 launch on 23 October 2025. The 2022 date belongs to Early Access.
- Kind of game: The publisher describes group horror with chaotic escapes.
- Laughter and chaos: The launch news frames the group experience around chaotic horror.
- Story: Several endings give the escape a small narrative thread.
wearesecretmode.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Crossplay, Crossplay between, Most players online, Unlocks and progress.
- Platforms: The May 2026 launch names released PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and Windows versions.
- Crossplay: The publisher explicitly states full crossplay between PC and both console versions.
- Crossplay between: The launch connects Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series. July news adds Switch 2.
- Most players online: The console launch also gives a total of four players. No larger official mode was found.
- Unlocks and progress: Secret levels, additional endings and cosmetics provide reasons to return.
wearesecretmode.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Crossplay, Crossplay between, Planning ahead, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: Switch 2 is available from 7 July 2026.
- Crossplay: The Switch 2 release connects with Xbox, PlayStation and PC.
- Crossplay between: Switch 2 joins the Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series group.
- Planning ahead: The group needs to watch sanity and consume supplies while seeking exits.
- Free base co-op: The publisher launch announcement dated July 7, 2026 states the paid Switch 2 base model. The store purchase widget did not independently establish an amount.
wearesecretmode.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Friends can join mid-game, Sessions, Crossplay.
- Friends can join mid-game: The shipped August 27, 2026 patch 1.4 fixes late joins during gameplay and entry into an already-running level. It does not promise entry at every transition.
- Sessions: The notes distinguish saved Story Mode and Hub lobbies. Campaign is the main through-level structure, with a hub for returns.
- Crossplay: The patch fixes Switch 2 joining a Steam-hosted lobby and cross-platform lobby codes, corroborating implemented console/PC play.
thexboxhub.comPress, read 23 October 2026
Backs Exploring, Puzzles and figuring out, Tension and danger, Getting better.
- Exploring: TheXboxHub, 2026-06-23, describes searching mazes and doors throughout each stage.
- Puzzles and figuring out: TheXboxHub, 2026-06-23, discusses clue reading and coloured keypad puzzles.
- Tension and danger: TheXboxHub, 2026-06-23, describes pursuit and falling sanity during searches.
- Getting better: TheXboxHub, 2026-06-23, says understanding enemy behaviour reduces the threat.
gaming.netPress, read 23 October 2026
Backs Working in sync, Time to hang out, Kind of game.
- Working in sync: Gaming.net, 2026-05-30, describes the team suffering when one player falls behind.
- Time to hang out: Gaming.net, 2026-05-30, describes focused group navigation and pursuit. Casual conversation fits only between threats.
- Kind of game: Gaming.net, 2026-05-30, finds the social experience stronger with friends than alone.
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
store.playstation.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked PlayStation full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
xbox.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked Xbox full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.