Transliminal: Beyond The Backrooms
Release date: Nov 15, 2022
Developers: Corey Jeffries
Publishers: Spatial Quotient
Genres: Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, Simulation, Early Access
Categories: Single-player, Steam Achievements, Family Sharing
Supported languages: English

The year is 1983. After a skydiving accident, you awaken with your cheek pressed against a damp beige carpet. The tacky, off-white wallpaper looks yellow on your video camera's view screen. The fluorescent lights, randomly placed in the drop ceiling above, buzz loudly as they bathe the place in their sickly glow. And what is that smell? Sounds echo through the endless halls from no clear direction. And it feels as if someone, or something, is watching you. You aren't sure where you ended up. But it's clear that you won't be safe until you find a way out of this place. Transliminal's visual language isn't just a retro VHS recording skin. Players will quickly notice that these visual flourishes are indicators of the game character's physical and mental condition. From the opening scene it's clear that the main player character has his own issues to work out. But as you explore the various levels, you may find the threads that weave together several tales that came before you. The concept of procedural liminal spaces that go on forever is a rich subject matter. And gives the opportunity to explore wildly different environments that don't always follow the rules of physics. Players of Transliminal will traverse many strange structures and vistas over the course of their adventure. What's not immediately apparent is that the levels are also watching you. Reacting and changing depending on your character's condition. While exploring, players will soon find that the environment around them is non-linear and seems to form around them. When tracing back to where they came from, players will find that paths they have traveled are no longer as they were. Players will come across various interactive containers such as drawers, cabinets, lockers, etc. Loot these to find cassette tapes, flashlight batteries, and more to increase your character's abilities, or uncover clues. You are not always alone. Many classic entities of internet lore are brought to life in Transliminal's world. While some previously undiscovered entities also make their debut. Learn how to avoid or counteract the effects of these entities to prevent them from hampering your progress. A Big part of Transliminal's design philosophy is that players should be able to play the game how they want. Which is why game features such as entities or survival mode can be toggled off or on at any time. The low resolution grain and bad video tracking effects increase immersion and provide a thematic experience. However, they may not be to every player's liking. Which is why all effects can also be disabled in the Settings menu. Transliminal features a shifting, reactive level design. An engaging narrative, and plenty of scares. If you are a fan of cerebral horror, and enjoy exploration, then this game is for you. 


Notes: Cursing, violence, disturbing imagery