The Backrooms: Forsaken is a first-person walking simulator that places players in an endless maze of monotonous yellow rooms drawn from backrooms lore. Developed by Fred Grant Studios and released on Xbox Series X|S, the game blends action, strategy, indie, casual, and adventure elements into a compact single-player experience centered on exploration and survival in a nightmarish dimension.
Gameplay
Players navigate from a first-person perspective through procedurally unsettling corridors and identical office-like spaces that stretch without end. Movement focuses on careful observation and route planning to avoid disorientation in the repetitive layout. Puzzle elements require solving environmental challenges that block progress or reveal new paths, while eerie audio cues and sudden visual shifts create tension during extended walks. A companion character joins the journey and participates in key story moments, adding dialogue and shared decision points that heighten the personal stakes beyond simple wandering. The entire campaign unfolds in roughly two hours, emphasizing steady forward momentum mixed with moments of backtracking and careful examination of surroundings.
Game Modes
The game offers only a single-player campaign mode. This linear experience guides players through the full narrative without branching paths or alternative play styles. No multiplayer options, competitive modes, or additional variants appear in the release.
Story and Atmosphere
A complete narrative thread runs through the adventure, expanding the classic backrooms concept with a companion who provides context and emotional weight. The atmosphere relies on stark, unchanging yellow walls, flickering lights, and distant unsettling sounds that reinforce isolation. Strategy comes into play through maze navigation choices that determine how quickly players reach safety or encounter new threats. Casual pacing allows short sessions, yet the constant need to map mental routes keeps engagement high throughout the short runtime.
Is It Worth Playing?
The Backrooms: Forsaken suits players who enjoy short, focused horror experiences built around maze navigation and light puzzle solving. Its two-hour length makes it accessible for a single evening of casual play during the spooky season, especially for those comfortable with deliberate exploration rather than fast action. The addition of a companion and structured story differentiates it from pure walking simulators, delivering a self-contained tale without requiring prior knowledge of the genre. Availability on Xbox Series X|S provides straightforward access for console users seeking an indie horror title with clear start-to-finish progression. Those who prefer longer campaigns or multiplayer features may find the scope limited, while fans of atmospheric single-player adventures will appreciate the tight execution and eerie consistency.
