Choose Explore The Backrooms
Choose Explore The Backrooms if you want an Action experience. Explore The Backrooms launched in 2023.
Explore The Backrooms vs Pool Protocol: Loop
Explore The Backrooms and Pool Protocol: Loop both land in Adventure, Simulation 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 Adventure, Simulation on Steam. Explore The Backrooms (2023) is 2 years older than Pool Protocol: Loop (2025). Pool Protocol: Loop is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Explore The Backrooms (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 Pool Protocol: Loop
Choose Pool Protocol: Loop if you want an Indie and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 60% cheaper on the Steam Store. Pool Protocol: Loop launched in 2025.
Both Explore The Backrooms and Pool Protocol: Loop sit in Adventure and Simulation on Steam, 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
 Explore The Backrooms |  Pool Protocol: Loop | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Simulation | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 1.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 3 reviews | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | DarkDreadEntertainment | orange老李 |
Side by side
- Both share Adventure, Simulation on Steam.
- Explore The Backrooms (2023) is 2 years older than Pool Protocol: Loop (2025).
- Pool Protocol: Loop is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Explore The Backrooms (1.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
Explore The Backrooms vs Pool Protocol: Loop — FAQ
- Should I play Explore The Backrooms or Pool Protocol: Loop first?
- If you want chronology, Explore The Backrooms (2023) came out before Pool Protocol: Loop (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 Explore The Backrooms and Pool Protocol: Loop similar?
- They overlap on Adventure, Simulation 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.