Step aside, jump scares—Liminal City is here to haunt your brain, not your reflexes.
Welcome to Level 11: Where Your Mind is the Monster
Imagine waking up in a fluorescent-lit, never-ending office maze that smells like moldy carpet and corporate despair. That’s Liminal City, baby. And thanks to the new demo showcased in IGN’s official gameplay trailer, we finally get a taste of what it’s like to explore this cursed cubicle complex. Spoiler: it’s gloriously unsettling.
What the Trailer Shows Us
The demo trailer opens in familiar “Backrooms” territory—an eerily quiet world of liminal spaces where nothing feels quite real, but everything feels vaguely threatening. Here’s what stood out:
- Gravity-defying architecture: Hallways curve where they shouldn’t. Ceilings become floors. You walk up, down, sideways, and maybe diagonally into madness.
- Physics-based body movement: Arms and torso swing separately from your steps, adding to the weird-body-dream feel.
- Creepy entities: There are glimpses of humanoid figures and static-faced mannequins lurking. They don’t chase you (yet?) but… they’re watching.
- Minimal UI, maximum dread: No health bars. No quest markers. Just you, your flashlight, and that gnawing fear that something’s behind you.
Liminal Horror: A Genre That’s Having Its Moment
Ever since the viral rise of the Backrooms lore (thanks, Reddit and YouTube), indie horror devs have been sprinting to build games that make you question reality. Liminal City seems to be leaning hard into this flavor:
- Environmental storytelling > cheap shocks: Think SOMA, not FNAF.
- Atmospheric anxiety: The sound design alone might make you uninstall out of fear. Echoing steps. Distant humming. Fluorescents buzzing like they’re about to flicker out.
- Puzzle-driven progression: Early impressions suggest a focus on subtle logic challenges woven into exploration, not just “find the key.”
The Demo Is Playable—Here’s Why That Matters
A playable demo is a bold move in horror. It puts your scares on the line. So far, early player feedback on forums and Discord suggests:
- “Legit terrifying without being cheap”
- “Best use of spatial horror since Antichamber“
- “My legs moved one way and my brain another. 10/10.”
It’s not polished AAA. But that’s the point. The roughness makes it feel like you’re not supposed to be here.
Who Should Dive In?
- Backrooms lore junkies: You’ll eat this up. It feels true to the mythos.
- Exploration horror fans: If you loved Anatomy, Paratopic, or Lost in Vivo, you’re gonna vibe.
- Sick of jumpscares? This one’s for you. It’s about slow, creeping dread.
Final Thoughts: A Demo Worth Getting Lost In
Liminal City doesn’t just want to scare you—it wants to unnerve you, confuse you, and maybe make you question how many hallways your house actually has. The demo sets the tone for what could be a genre standout, and if the full release follows through on this unsettling promise, we might have a cult hit in the making.
Your Turn:
Have you tried the Liminal City demo yet? Did it break your brain or just your ankles? Let us know in the comments.
Or better yet:
Would you rather be hunted by a ghost… or endlessly wander the world’s worst office building?
Either way, bring a flashlight. And maybe an adult diaper. 🫣
