The Backrooms Deluxe 2 just landed on Steam and is already climbing the free-to-play charts but not for reasons most developers would want. Released on December 24, 2025, this co-op horror roguelite quickly drew in thousands of curious players. Yet it’s now sitting at a “Mostly Negative” rating, with only 30% of early reviews marked positive.
Interest is high, but so is frustration
The game’s visibility is undeniable. According to SteamDB, The Backrooms Deluxe 2 hit a peak of 2,805 concurrent players just one day after launch. That spike seems to have overwhelmed the servers, and that’s where the trouble started.
On Steam’s community hub, the developer acknowledged the scaling problems, noting that online play “might not work as intended” during the early rollout. An emergency fix has been applied, but many players are still reporting failed connections, broken matchmaking, and game-breaking lag.
Operation: Outbreak is a free Unreal Engine 5 zombie FPS on Steam with 80% positive reviews and a short, gritty survival run.
Deluxe 2 remixes the original formula, on paper
The Backrooms Deluxe 2 reimagines the first game with more roguelite structure. Each run is affected by Modifiers that add positive or negative effects and tweak how many Deluxe Coins you earn. The game also introduces permadeath, a larger achievement list, and promises improved multiplayer replication though early reviews suggest those improvements haven’t landed smoothly.
Core additions in Deluxe 2:
- Modifiers that change each run
- Permadeath for higher stakes
- Deluxe Coins as progression currency
- Achievement support
- Optional Founder’s Edition DLC (paid)
Monetization, platform support, and early perception
The base game is free, but Steam prominently recommends the Founder’s Edition DLC on the store page. Some users have flagged this as early monetization layered onto a barely stable release. Additionally, Steam shows the “Steam is learning about this game” status, meaning Steam Deck and controller support remain unverified.
A viral hit or a cautionary tale?
Deluxe 2 may not be “ready,” but it is undeniably visible. The game trended because it’s free, not because it’s polished. Players hoping for a smooth horror co-op session are finding themselves stuck in loading screens or dropped mid-run.
Whether The Backrooms Deluxe 2 bounces back will depend on how quickly the developer can shore up its backend and whether early adopters are willing to return after a rocky first impression. For now, the game’s chart position tells one story. The reviews tell another.
