So, you’ve probably had your fill of the typical “walking sim” games inspired by the “Backrooms”. ShimStudios is looking to fix that with Backrooms: Lost Runners, a co-op Survival Horror experience inspired by the “Backrooms” mythos coming to Early Access on Steam. You won’t have to wait long to get a chance to check it out, either. Backrooms: Lost Runners will be part of Steam Next Fest with a demo launching October 13.

Far from a “walking sim,” Backrooms: Lost Runners combines high production values, cinematic moments, and systemic challenges across the typical liminal spaces of the Backrooms with unique monsters and an “original interpretation” of player death. Every environment is fraught with danger, mystery, and unexpected twists. Only through seamless teamwork and careful attention to detail can you hope to survive and unravel the secrets of the “Backrooms.”

In regards to the puzzle elements, the challenges are built around electrical circuits, switches, and ciphers. Each challenge adapts to your team’s approach and requires inventive problem-solving.

You’ll need to be on your toes, as every footstep—and every whisper, thanks to the team voice chat—could be your last. You’ll encounter entities that react to sound, light, and movement. Some monsters hone in on your voice; others lurk silently in the dark. You’ll need to their behavior to avoid certain death.

Speaking of death, should you happen to succumb, it’s not the end. Those players will enter a surreal Tesseract realm where teammates can revive you. Or, you can find your own way back to the world of the living.

Death isn’t the only worry, as Backrooms: Lost Runners employs a sanity mechanic. Staying near heat sources or conserving flashlight power slows sanity loss. Should your sanity drain, you’ll start to face hallucinations that turn your survival into a nightmare.