Back*space

Back*space is a liminal space exploration game in which you wander through empty corridors, forgotten rooms, strange pools and surreal architecture. You arrive in an unfamiliar place and can explore at your own pace, searching for a way out—or choosing to stay. There are no active entities or monsters, and you are never in real danger, though a few spooky moments occur.

The levels

After an introductory level, you reach Home, a hub connected to 16 levels. Eight are themed around forgotten offices, malls and rooms; the other eight are poolrooms with calm waters. Inspired by backrooms lore, the levels vary in theme and layout: some are maze-like, while others are more linear. You can visit any level at any time and need not follow a set order. A glowing Exit elevator stands in Home beneath a mass of television screens.

Search for tapes

Each main level contains a hidden VHS tape, which can appear in different places on different visits. Some objects are decoys, and audio cues may lead you toward a tape or an exit. Finding a tape adds it to the collection in Home and signals that it has been found in its level; the 16 tapes are not needed to unlock anything except the Hub Exit. You can return to levels to explore again, and tapes may be tucked away or difficult to find.

Exploration and saves

Many rooms are dark, so you can use a flashlight. You can save manually in one of three slots; saves store the tapes you have found, time played and your current level. Reloading after feeling trapped restarts you at the beginning of that level. The game has no music, leaving the focus on its visuals and allowing you to play your own music if you wish.

Visual options

The game starts with a strong analog and VHS look, but you can remove VHS effects in the options for a cleaner image. Other options let you disable head bob, use-icon effects, footsteps and audio, and adjust look sensitivity. Some areas have flickering fluorescent lights.