Free indie horror based on internet culture
The BackRooms S.C.P is a free adventure game from 616 GAMES. This horror experience combines two separate internet phenomena, the Backrooms and the SCP Foundation, to create a short simulation that is twice as weird. You take on the role of an innocent civilian trapped in the otherworldly dimension, filled with a monster The Foundation has failed to contain.
With simple details in a found-footage format and a variety of gameplay mechanics that correspond to the SCP lore, The BackRooms S.C.P is a fun experience. You can also try SCP – Containment Breach or Escape the Backrooms.
A combination of two urban legends
The BackRooms S.C.P is built from two separate internet urban legends. The first one is The Backrooms, which supposedly looks like the back room of a mall or a store. It is characterized by monochromatic yellow walls and is actually an endless maze of randomly generated spaces. On the other hand, the SCP Foundation is a fictional group in charge of keeping mankind safe from various threats.
In this game, you are thrown into a segment of the otherworldly dimension, tasked with finding the way out. On your tail is the creature known as SCP-173, which moves quickly unless you keep an eye on it. This premise is well-executed, posing a unique challenge to players who don’t pay enough attention. With simple and intuitive controls, it’s a matter of keeping your head in the game.
However, with the extensive lore available, the game feels like a demo to a larger game. It has a short playthrough and out of all the SCP creatures available, you only get to face one of them. The game also fails to capitalize on the scale and randomness that has been a defining trait for The Backrooms. Still, it manages to leave an unexpected punch thanks to a surprise development.
Needs more Backrooms and more SCPs
Overall, The BackRooms S.C.P is a well-executed indie project that manages to combine two of the largest online urban legends in modern history. With a gameplay mechanic focused on a popular monster, set in the familiar yellowish environment, this game poses enough psychological tension. With the same approach, the developers behind this game can create additional content without deviating from the central premise.
