A 2019 4chan post about unsettling empty spaces spawned the Backrooms phenomenon, which has now become a major inspiration for video game developers exploring the concept of 'noclip' glitches and liminal spaces.
The Backrooms originated in May 2019 on 4chan's 'unsettling images' thread, featuring a photo of an empty room with distinctive yellow wallpaper and cryptic architecture. The concept evolved into a collaborative creepypasta exploring the idea of falling out of reality into vast, empty institutional spaces.
Video game developers have become fascinated with this aesthetic, using it to explore 'noclip'—a cheat code that removes collision detection, allowing players to phase through walls and discover hidden areas within game environments. These liminal spaces—eerily empty, recognizable yet wrong—have become a staple of indie horror games.
The Backrooms' rise to mainstream cultural relevance culminated in a 2026 horror film adaptation. Developers credit the concept's appeal to its intersection of gaming culture and internet folklore, offering a framework for exploring the unsettling possibilities hidden within digital worlds. The phenomenon demonstrates how gaming communities transform obscure internet posts into significant creative touchstones.
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