Backrooms: Escape Together: Backrooms: Escape Together (strategic guide)

The first level in Backrooms: Escape Together, also known as Level 0 or The Lobby, is an intense introduction. This level features an endless maze of yellow-tinted rooms resembles the forgotten backrooms of an abandoned building. Every room appears similar but slightly different, featuring old, damp, dirty carpets, flickering fluorescent lights, and a constant unsettling hum that makes navigation nearly impossible. You may think you’re retracing your steps, only to end up somewhere completely unfamiliar, as linear space twists and defies logic.

Alongside the yellow maze, you’ll encounter mysterious square gaps in the floor organized in a grid-like pattern. Although you can walk over the dividers between these gaps, be cautious! Extensive navigation across the dividers will often result in falling into one of the holes…

You’ll start the level in a mysterious elevator that takes you down to The Lobby, with a set of two objectives to complete. After completing the objectives, you’ll need to return to the main elevator where you started. Although entering the elevator for a second may give you hope of escape, but it will dramatically crash into the lower levels—because, let’s face it, nothing is ever that easy. In the lower level of The Lobby, it’s dark and ominous but surprisingly safe. There are no dangerous entities here, so you can navigate freely. Use your flashlight (default ‘T’ key) to locate the exit. Navigation can be tricky, as the entrance to the next sections can be hard to find in the dark. A useful tip: turn off your flashlight occasionally to spot light coming from other sections, which can guide you. Alternatively, hug the walls to locate the path.

To exit Level 0, look for a square noclipping area on the floor marked by yellow-and-black striped tape. This area is often revealed by a low-frequency humming sound or a jittering object. Jump into this square noclipping patch to enter the next level. Congratulations on escaping Level 0!

In the first section of this level, you’ll need to complete two objectives:

1 | Collect six VHS tapes: These tapes are scattered across the level, usually lying on the ground near walls or between sections.

2 | Record certain events: The second objective can vary and involves recording specific events during gameplay:

• Record during a blackout
• Record a smiler 🙂
• Record during an alarm

When the event of interest occurs (e.g., lights go out, a Smiler appears, or an alarm sounds), grab your camera (default ‘C’ key) and start recording. Note thatSmilers are harmless entities that often appear in the dark and are easy to spot using your camera, with their glowing eyes create a glare that’s hard to miss. It might take a while before a specific event occurs. Stay safe in one of the holes in the wall or stand on the dividers between the square gaps (this way the entity cannot get to you ;))

Sounds simple, right? Not quite! A dangerous entity, the Lifeform (or Bacterium), is present in the first section of this level. This black, stringy creature makes a dramatic and loud entrance when it spots you. To avoid instant death, turn around and run when you see it! When being chased by this entity leaves you with two options:

• Hide in one of the many holes in the walls.
• Navigate to the section with floor gaps and stand on the dividers. Be careful not to fall into the gaps when doing this!

While this level isn’t the hardest, careful navigation and quick movement are essential. Here are some tips:

• Remember your path: Keeping track of your general direction will help you find the elevator again after completing the objectives.
• Use the striped tape: Yellow-and-black striped tape on the floor serves as a helpful guide. If you locate it, you should have no trouble finding the elevator.
• Distinguishing features: Other notable landmarks include sections with floor gaps, an abandoned chair (which often holds a VHS tape), and black drawings on the walls.
• Don’t linger too long, as there are not many items to restore your sanity. When your sanity level drops dangerously low, it can cause premature termination of your assignment!

Too scared to face the entity or finish the objectives? There’s a shortcut to the second section!
In the area with floor gaps, some gaps allow you to safely fall through. Look for circular black moldy spots on the ceiling above certain gaps. These are procedurally generated and not always present. If you spot one, jump through that gap—it will lead you safely to the lower level, where you’ll land on a pile of conveniently placed mattresses.