Choose Desperation
Choose Desperation if you want a Massively Multiplayer game with MMO, Online PvP, and LAN PvP. Desperation launched in 2021.
Desperation vs Backrooms Escape Protocol
Desperation and Backrooms Escape Protocol both land in Action, Indie, Early Access 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 share Action, Indie, Early Access on Steam. Desperation (2021) is 4 years older than Backrooms Escape Protocol (2025). Backrooms Escape Protocol is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Desperation (2.99 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 Backrooms Escape Protocol
Choose Backrooms Escape Protocol if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Backrooms Escape Protocol launched in 2025.
Both Desperation and Backrooms Escape Protocol sit in Action, Indie, and Early Access on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and LAN 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
 Desperation |  Backrooms Escape Protocol | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Massively Multiplayer, Early Access | Action, Indie, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 2 reviews | 6 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | EXBOTS | Alarm Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Early Access on Steam.
- Desperation (2021) is 4 years older than Backrooms Escape Protocol (2025).
- Backrooms Escape Protocol is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Desperation (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
Desperation vs Backrooms Escape Protocol — FAQ
- Should I play Desperation or Backrooms Escape Protocol first?
- If you want chronology, Desperation (2021) came out before Backrooms Escape Protocol (2025). 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 Desperation and Backrooms Escape Protocol similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Early Access 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 Desperation and Backrooms Escape Protocol have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Desperation ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op; Backrooms Escape Protocol ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.