Beginner's Guide to Escape the Backrooms

Everything you need to know before starting Escape the Backrooms: basic mechanics, stamina management, entity types, co-op strategy, and essential items.

Getting Started

Escape the Backrooms is a co-op horror exploration game for 1-4 players. You navigate through a series of interconnected levels — each a different "Backrooms" dimension — solving puzzles, avoiding entities, and searching for a way out.

The game is available on Steam and supports cross-platform play between Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Core Mechanics

Stamina Management

Your character has a stamina bar that depletes when sprinting and recovers when walking or standing still:

  • Sprint in short bursts — 2-3 seconds of sprinting, then walk to recover.
  • Walking recovers stamina faster than standing still.
  • Running out of stamina leaves you vulnerable — many entities are faster than walking speed.
  • In chase sequences, keep ~25% stamina in reserve for emergency dodges.

Flashlight Usage

  • Always carry a flashlight when available.
  • Shining a flashlight at certain entities (Hounds, Smilers) stuns or repels them.
  • In dark levels, the flashlight is your primary survival tool.
  • Some entities are attracted to light — turn it off near Deathmoths.

Doors Are Your Best Friend

  • Most entities cannot open doors. Closing a door behind you is the simplest and most effective defense.
  • This is especially critical against Skin-Stealers.
  • Some doors require keys, codes, or puzzles to unlock.

Entity Types

  • Chasers (Howler, Spider Smiler): Pursue on sight. Run, close doors, use obstacles.
  • Stealth Hunters (Skin-Stealer): Blend in, stalk silently. Close doors, verify identities.
  • Darkness Entities (Smiler): Only exist in darkness. Keep your light on.
  • Environmental Threats (Window Monster, Hydrolitis): Tied to specific areas. Learn safe zones.
  • Area Denial (Partygoer): Overwhelming numbers in specific levels. Stealth and hiding mandatory.

Co-op Tips

  • Voice chat is ESSENTIAL — calling out entity locations and verifying identities is critical.
  • Entities scale with player count — more players = more entities.
  • Assign roles: one player on flashlight duty, one on objective tracking.
  • Stick together but spread out enough to cover more ground when searching.
  • In The End (Library), tape collection requirements increase with players: 24 (solo), 32 (duo), 48 (3-4 players).

Essential Items

  • Flashlight: Found in Level 0 and Level 2. Your most important tool.
  • Bug Spray: Level 5 Lobby. Kills Deathmoths.
  • Thermometer: Level 5 Boiler Room. Detects hot/cold zones.
  • Camera: Level 55.1. Required for the final level.
  • Almond Water: Restores health/sanity. Found in Level 94 and other locations.