Xbox Game Pass Welcomes a Landmark Multiplayer Horror Title

Escape the Backrooms made its debut on Xbox Game Pass this weekend, coinciding with the long-awaited console launch from developer Fancy Games and the release of a new film from A24. This marks a significant moment, coming nearly four years after the game first entered early access on Steam, where it quickly built a dedicated fanbase.

The game offers a unique blend of cooperative horror gameplay reminiscent of Phasmophobia, but with a more active approach and plenty of jump scares. The premise is straightforward: you and your friends must navigate through the eerie back rooms and escape before the lurking creatures, known as “entities,” catch up to you. As you explore the various levels, you’ll encounter numerous items to collect while managing your sanity and other vital stats to survive. While it’s designed for multiplayer co-op, you can also tackle the entire experience solo.

The term “back room” might sound innocuous, but the environments in Escape the Backrooms are anything but ordinary. Players traverse a bizarre maze of spaces that include office cubicles, daycare cafeterias, sewers, upscale hotel lounges, and underground rooms filled with fuse boxes, among other strange locations. While many games inspired by Phasmophobia can feel like mere streamer bait, Escape the Backrooms stands out with its depth, even if some aspects can become repetitive over time.

After spending just over three years in early access, Escape the Backrooms officially launched in its 1.0 version in October 2025. Fancy Games celebrated this milestone with a significant update that introduced new endings and entities, addressing some of the common criticisms regarding the game’s repetitiveness. The console release represents the final major milestone planned by Fancy Games, though players can still look forward to smaller updates and fixes in the future.