IMHO.

Crimson Hotel vs Backrooms: The Phobolore

Crimson Hotel and Backrooms: The Phobolore both land in Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Adventure games on Steam. Crimson Hotel (2019) is 5 years older than Backrooms: The Phobolore (2024). Backrooms: The Phobolore is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Crimson Hotel (1.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.

Which should you pick?

Choose Crimson Hotel

Choose Crimson Hotel if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Crimson Hotel launched in 2019.

Choose Backrooms: The Phobolore

Choose Backrooms: The Phobolore if you want an Indie and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 60% cheaper on the Steam Store. Backrooms: The Phobolore launched in 2024.

Both Crimson Hotel and Backrooms: The Phobolore sit in Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.

Side-by-side comparison

Crimson Hotel vs Backrooms: The Phobolore — Steam metadata comparison
Crimson Hotel — Steam game coverCrimson HotelBackrooms: The Phobolore — Steam game coverBackrooms: The Phobolore
Released20192024
GenresAdventureIndie, Adventure, Early Access
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckUnratedUnrated
Price4.99 USD1.99 USD
Steam reviews50% positive (12 reviews)6 reviews
MultiplayerMulti-player, Online Co-op, Co-opMulti-player, Online Co-op, Co-op
DevelopersSpire InteractiveSUDT Games

Side by side

Crimson Hotel vs Backrooms: The Phobolore — FAQ

Should I play Crimson Hotel or Backrooms: The Phobolore first?
If you want chronology, Crimson Hotel (2019) came out before Backrooms: The Phobolore (2024). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
Are Crimson Hotel and Backrooms: The Phobolore similar?
They overlap on Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
Do both Crimson Hotel and Backrooms: The Phobolore have co-op?
Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Crimson Hotel ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Backrooms: The Phobolore ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
Crimson Hotel vs Backrooms: The Phobolore (2026) · imho.run