Backrooms: The Breathing Factory

In this academy project, we were tasked to create a playable open-ended level in one month in UE5. We were divided in groups of three and had to follow these mandates:

MUST HAVES:

Open Ended/Non-Linear Level of one Map
Third Person
Basic Navigation Mechanic

MUST NOTS:

No Jump
Max one additional mechanic
Max one asset pack

Concept

Since two of us had recently played several horror games, we took heavy inspiration from them when designing our level. Our primary influences were The Backrooms, as the name suggests, and the Silent Hill 2 remake, which had just been released shortly before we began development.

We started by creating a detailed Level Design Document (LDD) outlining everything we wanted to include. Our process began with defining the 3Cs: Camera, Character, and Controls, before moving on to designing the core mechanic and selecting the asset pack that best suited our vision.

LDD

After we were happy with the document, we started to gather some references to start laying out the level. We gathered all the references in the following moodboard.

Layout

We decided to divide the level into three main hubs, connected by four traversal zones. To reinforce the open-ended structure, we designed a system of interconnected paths and implemented a simple door-button mechanic that required players to explore all areas in search of buttons while still allowing them the freedom to choose their own traversal order.

Since the gameplay primarily follows a walking simulator structure, a key design challenge was maintaining player engagement during traversal. To address this, we focused on refining three core aspects:

Verticality: We introduced elevation changes and varied height levels to make movement feel dynamic and layered.

Spatial Variation: The environment constantly shifts in scale and proportion, from tight corridors to open areas, ensuring a sense of progression and unpredictability.

Shape & Atmosphere: To reinforce the horror tone, we incorporated sharp 90-degree turns that encourage caution and tension. Each area was also given a distinct identity and mood through careful use of environmental storytelling.

Scripting and Greyboxing

From this point, we began to divide our tasks. For this project, I wanted to refine skills I hadn’t focused on much at that point, specifically Blueprint Scripting. I took on the responsibility of creating the Blueprints for the door-button system. Initially, it seemed like a straightforward task, but as I delved deeper, I realized the complexity of Blueprints. However, I was able to achieve the desired functionality without major issues.

In addition to the door-button system, I was responsible for implementing all trigger volumes that activated SFXs, ambient sounds, flickering lights, a simple UI tutorial, the main menu, the end screen and integrating a custom character model and animation we sourced online.

In this project, I also worked with level streaming for the first time, implementing it to ensure smooth gameplay and eliminate stutters, particularly in areas where we noticed significant frame drops.

I was also responsible for designing the three main hubs, ensuring that both level design and environmental art guided the player toward the key buttons while maintaining the surreal, disorienting atmosphere true to the Backrooms’ aesthetic.

Application of Level Design Theory and Result

This is the player’s first view upon spawning into the level. First impressions are crucial, so our goal was to avoid disorientation and immediately provide a clear objective. To achieve this, we used blood trails on the ground as subtle visual guides leading toward the main goal: opening the locked door ahead. Each red light above it corresponds to a button that must be pressed, turning green once activated, offering clear visual feedback on progression.

To the right of the player's starting position, we placed the level's main landmark. This structure was designed to remain visible from multiple key hub areas, serving as a constant point of reference. It provides a sense of direction and distance traveled, even within a surreal and disorienting environment.

The landmark also functions as a visual occluder, intentionally blocking the player's view of the right side of the room and drawing their attention toward that space. In contrast, we darkened the left side of the room to reduce its visual appeal, despite it leading to an accessible corridor. This approach subtly manipulates the player's curiosity.

We aimed to maintain this balance of subtle guidance and visual storytelling throughout the experience, experimenting with carefully composed vistas, and using surreal architecture to evoke a sense of wonder and scale as the player progresses.

Postmortem

What Went Well:

Scope Management: We successfully avoided overscoping, allowing us to deliver a complete and functional experience within the given timeframe.

Technical Growth: I had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of Blueprint Scripting and apply it effectively throughout the project.

Optimization & Streaming: I gained valuable experience with optimization techniques and level streaming, which helped improve overall performance.

Atmosphere & Tone: I'm particularly proud of how we captured the eerie, unsettling mood of the Backrooms, it resonated well with the intended theme.

What Could Be Improved:

Polish & Finish: The project would have benefited from additional time dedicated to refinement, audio and visual polish.

Backtracking Design: Some areas felt repetitive due to a lack of environmental evolution during gameplay, making backtracking less engaging than intended.

Performance Consistency: Although we made solid progress in optimization, certain sections of the level still suffered from unstable framerate, highlighting room for improvement.

Simone Lazzarotto

Level Designer