Escape the Backrooms (PS5) Review: A Surprisingly Spooky Co-op Gem

At first glance, Escape the Backrooms looks like a quick, low-effort cash-grab designed to ride the coattails of Kane Parson’s viral film. When I picked it up on the PS Store for a tenner, I expected a shallow experience that would lose its luster after ten minutes. I was wrong. Despite some rough edges and budget-tier presentation, this is a genuinely fun and occasionally terrifying horror romp that punches well above its weight class.

A Surprisingly Expansive Horror Loop

The game’s structure is deceptively simple: you and your friends spawn into various themed environments—ranging from the classic office-yellow labyrinth to eerie, liminal pools—with no clear instructions on how to proceed. You are left to explore, solve navigation puzzles, and avoid whatever monstrous entities happen to be stalking the halls.

What impressed me most was the variety. I was over 10 hours deep when the game threw my group into a pitch-black tunnel system, forcing us to use a lidar sensor to navigate while avoiding a horrifying silhouette. Other segments involve downloading keys from PCs in foggy suburbs while being hunted by tripodal creatures, or simply running for our lives through endless, claustrophobic hallways. It keeps the pacing fresh, ensuring that each session offers something new rather than just repeating the same jump scares.

The Co-op Factor

Much like Lethal Company or Content Warning, the game thrives on that fine line between genuine horror and hysterical comedy. The inclusion of proximity chat is a highlight; hearing your friends' voices echo or fade as they scramble away from a monster adds a layer of immersion that makes the scares feel earned. There is nothing quite like the panic of shouting into your mic to see if anyone survived a chase, only to be met with silence.

Rough Edges and Performance

It isn't a polished AAA title, and it doesn't try to be. The movement is arguably the biggest pain point; narrow doorways and tight corridors often lead to awkward character collisions, which can feel stuttery when you are trying to sprint away from danger. Interaction with objects can also feel a bit finicky at times.

Performance-wise, the game isn't hitting 60fps. While I generally prefer higher frame rates, it didn't significantly detract from my enjoyment, as much of the gameplay involves slow-paced exploration and stealth. It is worth noting that while I encountered no connection issues, others have reported some instability when playing online.