The Backrooms Effect: Why Horror, Nostalgia and Indie Games Are Surging Again

In case you missed it, a new wave of titles is building momentum across XBOX Game Pass Ultimate, each connecting to broader cultural conversations happening outside of gaming itself. From viral horror to nostalgic sci-fi and coming-of-age storytelling, the current lineup reflects just how closely gaming now tracks what people are watching, sharing and talking about.
One of the clearest examples is Escape the Backrooms. The Backrooms phenomenon began as a creepypasta — a simple internet hor