Inside the Backrooms

Those yellow corridors are a better match for an easy walk than a hard run, because Inside the Backrooms keeps asking you to look around, think, and notice what might be coming. I’d play it with friends and keep the belt at a pace where I can still steer without making my thumbs do all the work.

Gameplay

The exploring and puzzle solving sound like a good reason to keep moving, but I think the stop and think parts will make your pace uneven. You’re looking for things, working out what they do, and trying to get through areas without drawing the attention of the entities, so it’s not a game that lets you switch your brain off and chase a marker. I like that the rooms ask you to pay attention, but I wouldn’t choose it for an interval run where you want the game to carry you along. You’ll be doing some of the carrying.

The entities are what give the searching a bit of pressure. A Hound or a Skin-Stealer means you can’t treat every corridor like a quiet trip to the next puzzle, and I think that makes the wandering more interesting than just walking through empty yellow rooms looking for a key. It also means I’d expect to stop, turn, and work out where to go when something shows up, which is a lot to ask while your whole body is gently bouncing around. My brain can only make so many sensible decisions at once, and the treadmill is already in the meeting.

Playing with friends sounds like the way to get the most out of it, since the game is built around multiplayer horror and the pressure is more fun when you can think through things together. I also like that the description promises interacting and exploring instead of just running from one thing to the next. I don’t know how consistently the puzzles will keep everybody involved, though, and that matters when one person is searching while the rest stand around waiting. A little bit of shared confusion sounds fun. A long stretch of watching someone else inspect the same corner less so.

Early Access is worth keeping in mind here, because the experience could change as the game develops, and I wouldn’t buy it expecting a finished, perfectly even set of levels. The horror setup is appealing, but I think its slower searching and puzzle moments are part of the deal, not brief pauses you can always skip. If you want a game that keeps handing you something urgent to do, this may have a few quiet patches. I’d be fine with that on an easy workout.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

A stationary bike gives you a little more room to turn your attention toward the screen, and I think that would make the entity encounters less awkward. On a treadmill, I’d stick to a steady walk and avoid trying to run through the corridors, because looking around, steering, and keeping an eye out are exactly the sort of small jobs that get messy when your hands are bouncing. You can still get a workout in. You just might not feel like you’re winning any races against the room.

Before starting, I’d test a controller and make sure movement, looking, and interacting all feel comfortable from your setup. I can’t promise every control will feel natural just because a game is playable with a controller, and here the looking around matters more than I’d want it to in a fast running session. If you have to keep correcting your view or reaching for awkward buttons, that’s going to get old before the haunted architecture does. Try it at a slow pace first.

I’d also avoid making the workout harder just because the game gets tense. When an entity appears, your instinct is probably to turn quickly and get away, but that’s a moment where I’d rather be on a bike or walking than trying to jog and aim at the same time. Playing with friends should help make the exploring feel less lonely, though it won’t make the controls any less fussy. Take the movement down a notch. There’s enough going on.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum calls for a dedicated graphics card, but it’s an old one, so you don’t need a recent high end gaming machine to give this a try. I’d check your graphics card first, then make sure you have room for the 20 GB install. The computer doesn’t need to be frightening too.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

Worth trying with friends if you want a creepy exploration game and can keep your workout easy. I’d skip it for a run that needs steady intensity, but a careful walk or bike ride sounds like a reasonable fit.

Overall Score: 2.33 out of 3