The Backrooms is a famous internet urban legend and creepypasta (a short horror tale shared extensively online). It depicts a bizarre, apparently infinite labyrinth of dull, yellowish chambers and passageways, producing a bewildering, unsettling atmosphere. The idea has spawned countless novels, games, and films that appeal to fans of uncomfortable and strange themes.

The Backrooms' Origins: The Backrooms notion came from a 2019 picture on 4chan's /x/ board (paranormal themes). The photograph showed a yellow, poorly lighted corridor with worn flooring and fluorescent lights, providing a dull but eerie vibe. The message that accompanied the photograph stated something like, "If you’re not careful and you noclip out of reality in the wrong areas, you’ll end up in the Backrooms."

In video games, "noclip" means players may go through barriers or inaccessible sections. Here, a person accidentally "noclips" out of our world and into the infinite, eerie Backrooms.

Description of the Backrooms: The Backrooms are often shown as:

The Backrooms' most identifying characteristic is the infinite labyrinth of yellowish, boring hallways. The walls are generally a fading yellow with aged yellow wallpaper. The ancient carpet produces a soft, squishy sound as you walk on it.
Fluorescent Lights: The overhead lighting is generally harsh fluorescent lights, which hum loudly and produce an uncomfortable buzz in the backdrop.
A Sense of Isolation: The area is completely deserted. It's merely a labyrinth of similar, featureless rooms, making one feel alone.
The scent: The air is generally musty or wet, making the place uncomfortable.
The environment is frequently unsettling. The rooms seem endless, making it impossible to tell how long you've been there or how far you've traveled.

Levels of the Backrooms: As the Backrooms notion has expanded, the idea of levels has been a common addition to the mythology. These levels represent regions or zones a person may face while confined in the Backrooms. For example:

Level 0: The Entrance Level

Most folks initially get up here after noclipping into the Backrooms. It's the typical yellow-walled room with fluorescent lights and wet flooring.
The setting is sometimes characterized as enormous and exitless. It’s unsettlingly empty, and the seclusion may make the experience seem forever.
Level 1 (The Darker, More Dangerous Level):

Level 1 is darker and more menacing than Level 0. The rooms are more industrial, with exposed pipes and mechanical noises. The lights flicker and occasionally go off, leaving the area black.
This level is also said to house more dangerous entities, such as hostile creatures that roam the halls, making it much more dangerous than Level 0.
Level 2: The Industrial Maze

Level 2 is often described as being a very industrial area, with long, narrow corridors filled with pipes and large machinery. The temperature is much hotter than in other levels, and the air smells strongly of oil or chemicals.
This level is usually depicted as one where strange and hostile entities become more prevalent, and there are few, if any, places to hide.
Higher Levels (The Unknown):

There are many other levels in the Backrooms, some of which remain unexplored or unknown. These could range from surreal, nightmarish environments to even darker, more terrifying places.
The higher you go, the more distorted and strange the levels can become. Some descriptions include rooms that appear to be from alternate realities, abandoned cities, or places where time doesn’t behave normally.
Entities in the Backrooms:
Many stories and lore around the Backrooms introduce various entities that inhabit the space. Some of the most common ones include:

The Hounds: These are aggressive, wolf-like creatures that stalk the maze, hunting any human who happens to be there.
The Smilers: These are entities with large, unnerving grins or smiles. They often appear as distorted humanoid figures or as things lurking in the shadows.
The Facelings: These creatures resemble humans but have smooth, featureless faces. They are generally harmless but are unsettling to encounter.
The "Shambler": A giant, slow-moving creature that may wander the halls. It's incredibly difficult to avoid because of its sheer size.
Escaping the Backrooms:
One of the key elements of the Backrooms myth is the concept of escaping. While the Backrooms seem to have no clear exit, there are many theories and rumors circulating about how one might escape:

Finding a Door: Some stories suggest that there are hidden doors or exits that may appear unexpectedly, but they are difficult to find.
Level Transitions: It is said that moving between levels may provide the chance of finding an exit, but this can be just as dangerous as staying in one spot. Each transition brings its own challenges.
Staying Calm: Some believe that staying calm and focused might help find a way out, as panic may cause the player to get lost or be stalked by entities.
The Impact and Popularity:
The Backrooms have captured the imagination of internet users, inspiring various forms of media, including short stories, videos, and games. It has become a subject of popular fan art, creepypasta, and indie horror games, with creators trying to visualize or explore the concept in different ways. The sense of being trapped in an endless, mind-numbing space resonates with feelings of isolation, confusion, and dread.

In video games, the Backrooms have often been reimagined as horror experiences where players must explore, survive, and attempt to escape the maze. Some popular games, like "The Backrooms Game," provide a simulation of the unsettling environment, further contributing to its growing lore.

Conclusion:
The Backrooms represent a haunting and fascinating concept—an endless maze where reality distorts and everything feels eerily familiar, yet profoundly wrong. As an internet myth, it plays on the fear of being lost in an impossible place with no escape and no sign of life. The combination of isolation, danger, and the unknown has made the Backrooms a compelling and terrifying topic that continues to captivate horror fans. Whether through stories, games, or fan theories, the mystery of the Backrooms continues to grow and haunt the Backrooms minds of those brave enough to explore it.