A Body-Cam Liminal Space Horror Game Where Someone Is There hi - Dreamcore 

Welcome to the HELLO Club how HELLO are ya?

Love when liminal games don't actually have monsters but play with your head. Psychological horror is hard to get right.

manly’s ability to memorize layout is always so impressive to me, if I’m playing a game without an actual map I just accept that I will be lost forever

If there’s one thing the boom in analogue horror has taught me, it’s that owning a camera and/or having an interest in filming is hazardous for one’s health.

at this point if manly went into the backrooms he'd be completely unfazed

Imagine how much work this requied to fill this whole place with tiles.

I'm the weirdo who unironically loves the architecture of these spaces and would love to have some sort of billionaire estate with a whole "public pool wing" that has nonsensical layouts like this. It'd be perfect for lavish parties and lone existential crisis induced panic attacks alike.

this new wave of realistic backrooms games are actually amazing, no jumpscares, just psychological horror walking around in silence for hours exploring beautiful landscapes.

I appreciate this kind of approach to liminal spaces and the overall dream pools/dreamcore aesthetic, because it's more about the environment and its bizarre design generating this feeling of uneasiness than some loud spooky jpg monster lurking in the corner.

Manly the type of guy that finds a way out of the backrooms but sticks around to 100% it.

hey! Thank you so much for playing my game 💙 Im the developer of the game. Sorry about the bug, I wasn't supposed to be there. I will fix it as soon as possible, the game has more variety just the map is too big. But I will tell you that it has two endings, bad and good :D

I feel that "ending", despite it definitely being a bug, is rather fitting for a game like this. Pretty solid demo all in all, strong use of atmosphere and I respect the restraint with the hints of something else being in here.

As a lifeguard for fancy hotels ive literally had nightmares like this

The vast empty space and lack of people and pitch-black areas are all pretty creepy BUT.... the TRUE horror in this game is that filthy camera lens.

20:48 the way these colored things subtly look at you is creepy 21:45 looks like something was creeping out of the entrance, might be the lighting 41:39 creature painting 44:10 creature encounter

I don’t know if it’s just me but it felt like you were more likely to get to new zones if you took the darker routes. Which I really like because it feels like the game is subtly encouraging you to go into the spookier areas to proceed

The subtle way those colored statues eyes follow the player really had me paranoid because i couldnt tell if they were watching me or if it was perspective. They were following you but it was done so well! Props to the dev

I love how they did the water reflection in this game, how it makes the water seem deeper than it actually is. :o

0:17 I love the chain of events, from the fall, Manly saying *ouch* and then the title 😂

As some who has these kind of nightmares i can tell you this can be the level of fear you can experience

I noticed that, with all the slides around the map, the green ones seemed to be shaped one more dangerous ways. I wonder if that was a warning about choosing the green slide at the end… Also totally agree with manly, very effective liminal architecture. Well done.

I would love an hour long story of manly just talking about his past

If I had a nickel for every liminal space game Manly played that had a swimming pool or bathroom tile aesthetic... I don't know how many nickels I'd have, but it's definitely more than two.

I have a neurological condition, which makes me unable to recognize faces (even my own) or places/directions. It's so interesting watching people play liminal space games like this, because to me, this confusing layout/"have I been here?" vibe is what I feel in every video game without a map haha.

I think perhaps the only thing worse than wondering if there's a creature or a threat around is finding out there is one and not knowing where it is

Anyone else notice the sound design? Every time you walk it plays white noise of wind blowing in your ears so that when you stop its extra quiet and gives you a creepy feeling. what a great little addition that makes a world of difference to help set the atmosphere.

I love the fact he missed the eyes following him on the statues at around 20:15-20:22

You know whenever Manly cuts himself off i nervously scan the screen in a panic

There's just something relaxing about liminal spaces. It kinda reminds me of when I just wanted to get away from large crowds of people and start wandering the hallways instead, exploring the building, seeing the sunlight through the windows, enjoying the emptiness and silence. It's hard for me to imagine it as scary, but I guess it's because everyone has different experiences and therefore different associations of it. Also, the slight disappointment in his voice, being unable to ride the slide is very funny to me for some reason.

I love the idea of just wandering around these places. No monsters just quiet atmosphere. I would play that kind of game and just relax

Well, this feels more relaxing than being scary. The place really feels like something straight out from dream.

Wow, that filter and the lighting made everything look... real. I'm not even hyperbolizing. It looks like someone video recorded it. Loving it Manly, ty.

My grandparents old house had a cupboard which was blocked off by furniture, not scary in itself but always had me curious as to what it looked like inside. These days though I think the internet would require me to make a creepypasta out of it.

It's a random thought but just imagine the nightmare that keeping all that water filtered and clean would be, and how moldy and filled with algae it'd end up without a migraine inducing level of effort.

Damn in VR it would be so scary to play

"I'm seeing signs, maybe that's a g-...." I love when Manly is caught off guard. He's usually so chill and calm so you know something's not right if he stops dead in his tracks and just stand there for a beat! EDIT: Also, the "octagon" Manly didn't get a good look at is actually a Roman dodecahedron. In real life we're not actually sure what these objects were used for, which is probably why the developer used it. It's a mysterious object with no known purpose, kinda like these pools and the rest of what I assume is some sort of complex.

That creature encounter at 44:10 gave me a heavy throw back to the shadow monsters from Ico.

I kinda liked that _‘Andy’s Room’_ level. Maybe those floaty guys move & have a pool party whenever you’re not in the room.

"Wait, no, it's actually hostile!" -Manly "Wait, no, it's actually hostile!" -Liminal Space creature before booking it. Honestly I'm not sure I get the horror of this, it is pretty peaceful aside from the loneliness factor.

18:31 the moment he started singing i actually started tearing up. Manly has such a serious voice and hearing him sing “put on a happy face, things are gonna start looking up” actually makes me tear up. that was unexpectedly adorable and comforting

The game is too calming. If it didn’t have the backrooms name on it, it would just be a walking pool labyrinth simulator.

Liminal space horror is always weird to me. 'cause, on the one hand, I really love it and I think it's legitimately scary when done well. On the other hand, I would also sorta love to live in a place that looked like this. (Just, y'know, not an endless labyrinth I could never escape from) EDIT: At 44:00, if I don't miss my guess, that's a "Roman dodecahedron". They're copper alloy objects that Romans made from the 2nd to 4th century AD and no one knows what they are. They're very mysterious, so it's appropriate that they show up in this game completely without any context.

This is the perfect game for Manly to tell a story about his childhood. It's so relaxing

Manly playing liminal games is a blessing for us

For the first ten or so minutes I was so struck by how beautiful the graphical style and architecture were, I kinda forgot to feel any kind of anxiety. It was just so nice to look at, I loved it.

44:00 isn't that the SCP that actually turns any building into a liminal space, twisting and turning it and making it nearly infinite? I can't remember the number but I remember the picture, it was a small metal gizmo like that drawing. Man, I hope. Games referencing SCPs when done right are so cool

i like how the painting of the monster scared him more than the actual monster

Ok. Now I'm going to need to hear the story about the spooky Grandfather house!

If someone were to ever enter the backrooms I feel like they'd be more scared of finding Manly there instead of any other entity. Just the vibe he gives lets the people have the chills immediately

manly's plain "OW." when he fell caught me so off guard 😭 bro feels pain in video games

This has to be the best liminal spaces game yet. You can actually see Manly getting more paranoid as the video progresses, he turns around more often and sometimes SLOWLY backs away from places or through doors just in case something might be coming for him. I was at the edge of my seat, invested in the atmosphere.

I'm really loving the camera effect on this game. The slight condensation on the screen is just chef's kiss.

That hexagonal sketch you saw seems to be a reference to the Architect SCP, which works rather well with the Backrooms in hindsight. The creature seems to be a reference to that one series on RU-vid related to mental illness (I think?), but I can't remember what it was about.

I would love a series where Manly just talks about his scary childhood experiences like the thing with the staircase to nowhere and the other things in that house.

The environments in this one are super uncomfy. Some liminal space games are honestly very pleasant to me but they're is something about the architecture here in particular that makes me get the chills. Im sure someone who knows more than me could explain why exactly that is.

I think that with this filter and the visuals in general it looks more realistic than some game engine trailers I've seen. The only thing bothering me - visual bug near water at 4:08. Level design is much better than other projects on backrooms (from those that I've seen) in a way that is interesting to explore. The absence of jumpscares is also great. I understand that if a person actually ends up in this kind of environment they'd go insane but I feel a weird attraction towards it.

This might actually be one of my favorite liminal space game, it's very well done, the atmosphere is great as well as the fact that the monster is just elusive and you are not sure if it's ever going to come and chase you

I absolutely adore the look of this game! I find the pool spaces with the “sun” shinning through really beautiful and calming. If they’re were spider monsters I would love to be there! :D

The moment these colored blobs with eyes appeared I legit had shivers. Like there was a physical wave of chills that went through me. They are tracking you with their eyes. At first you aren't so sure if you are just seeing things or it's really happening. But then you just can't unsee it - they are following you with their gaze.

"NO!" runs towards it honestly nicely designed areas. the use of the red reflected light off of the spiral slide in that one room was really fun. great vid as always 👍

The way I think it works: It _is_ procedurally generated layout, but then its hand crafted rooms, and hall. How I can tell is because every tile lines up perfectly to match with every other one, which I can respect, so so so much.

I dont know how upset I'd actually be to get stuck here, the water in these liminal spaces seems warm to me?? Like the temp would be just right and I'd never wanna leave 🥺

This is a very smart thing to watch right before going to the pool with some friends

23:06 I love how the doors with the lighting visually mimics the things staring at you in the pool.

I downloaded the demo at the start of this video and decided to give it a play before watching... And I'm really happy I did. I managed to complete the demo and there _is_ an ending that the developer clearly intended and finding the flashlight is pivotal. That said... where you found the flashlight is not where I found it. I'm not sure if that means there are multiple locations where one can be found or if that has changed. I noticed some clear differences from the version I played to what you must have played when you recorded. What's crazy to me beyond that is I wandered around for a solid hour and somehow about 2/3rds of the areas you explored I *never* saw in my playthrough. Similarly about half the places I saw were not in this playthrough. So the map is crafted, but so insanely massive with no dead ends so it (at the very least) _feels_ procedural. I'm extremely excited to see the full release of this game. This is liminal horror done right. I had some critical thoughts about it, but the positives I experienced far outweighed the negatives that I feel like they aren't worth mentioning.

Well, if any of us ever get trapped in the backrooms with Manly, we know we'll survive 😂

Adding to the filter thing: this game also balances the headbobbing super well. A lot of other games overdo it but this one is subtle, but noticeable

For some reason, water parks or pool are often part of my dreams. This game really nails that unsettling atmosphere and dream logic architecture. There's something off about everything.

That video really makes me comfortable. I could fall asleep listening to Manly and watching this endless rooms.

I think it's funny that new horror is just...empty rooms. I always imagine it like walking into an empty house with a realtor and the customer has a panic attack after entering each new empty room.

I wanna get lost in a backrooms level with someone holding my hands; leading me towards the exit. Is that weird?

These kinds of games, especially well done ones like this one, unlock hazy memories of dreams I used to have, and similar places I've been. Far from being creeped out, there's something kind of comforting about them. There's a definite feeling of danger, but also something very enticing.

I do enjoy these Liminal Space videos with you. I also like the stories of your past. The two in combination just make for a strangely relaxing hour. Thank You.

His reaction to the creature was priceless. I feel like of he saw a monster in real life he'd be like "huh, that's interesting"

The floating guys following you with their eyes was kinda cute :)

42:06 That "hmm" is why I love watching Manly. He's so thorough and the decision making is on point. I can't stand it when people do a playthrough and miss half the content.

Finally, a new Manly video to take my mind off of the miserable existence that we all live in on this unfair, godforsaken planet full of depression and existential crisis.

I'm honestly just glad that someone finally made one of these games where something actually happened. Most of these games have a really nice, creepy atmosphere but any chance at actual fear or tension drops starkly when you realise that absolutely nothing is going to happen as you wander around for an hour or more. I will never understand how anyone can be afraid of these games.

This looks really nice, it definitely captures that idea of being lost in nonsensical architecture bordering on the impossible, although I could do without there being an actual monster and just playing with the players mind the whole way through, never letting go of the tension and confusion. The layout is so convoluted that I legit couldn't tell if the building is non euclidean or just very disorienting.

Kinda good actually for being another backrooms game. It’s beautiful enough to feel uneasy if it really is sterile and untouched as it presents itself to be. It’s too quiet, it gets dark sometimes, my god why are there so many blind spots for a big bloody space, and _is that monster or a bush?_ And when it’s over, (except for the big reveal) it’s chill enough that you can add 55mins of manly to fall asleep to 😅 sleep gang here we come

manly doing the sudden stops and slowing down and turning around IMMENSELY adds to how terrifying silent games can be

I love poolrooms. They’re comforting and nostalgic for me.

That hexagonal drawing with little balls on every corner is probably referring to SCP-184. That SCP basically expands the interior of yhe object it's in infinitely with small gradual changes the further you go from the center of expansion. This whole place was probably created via this process.

The graphics are just plain amazing, the metal railings and the tiles look exactly like they would in real life

"Why did I agree to follow the arrow to the spoopy area? That's so stupid" 😂

I've never once felt spooked by anything backrooms-related. This is the one that did it for me. Bravo.

I love when these places have a 'kids area'. Like imagine if it was real, them kids are NEVER getting picked up. "Have fun on the 23rd floor Jimmy, I'm going to the claustrophobia pools on floor 2! See you in a month!"

I love the atmosphere of this game. It's always nice to find a liminal horror that doesn't get so ham-fisted with the 'horror' part that they forget about the 'liminal' part. The scares and creepiness are just right to get under your skin, while still leaving room for the peaceful, nostalgic vibes of the environment.

I could watch several hours of just Manly exploring the poolrooms. Pure ASMR.

Wow... Dreamcore is a perfect name. I have had tons of dreams of being stuck in buildings that look just like this and it always amazes and terrifies me what my brain can make up

This has got to be one of the best backrooms games, really nails the atmosphere

is it only me who is, while watching always thinking about a) actually building such a strange place, like..every tile after the other..then grouting...and b) cleaning the whole place😅

During my childhood in the 90s. I had recurring dreams exactly looks like the backrooms and these liminal spaces game. And yeah there were even large pools. They weren't nightmares though. They were happy dreams. Which is why these "horror games" don't scare me but remind me of those happy dreams. The dreams stopped as I grew older. I kinda miss them actually. My guess is that my child brain wasn't mature enough to subconsciously create more realistic dreams so these liminal spaces which look kinda simply and basic must have been the result. But as I grew up and my brain developed, my dreams started to look more "realistic". But I have to ask. Have anyone else ever experienced dreams like this during their childhood? And were they bad dreams or good dreams?

Wow.... these look waaaay too close to the pools that used to appear in my nightmares as a kid, like.... waaaaay too close. Most of the time they were kind of peaceful, but sometimes something lurked in them. Seeing them in a videogame is... a very weird experience.

What I'm really starting to love is that you're uploading every day and it's all horror too, I like the majority of your games but my favorite ones are the ones where you're house sitting and trying to keep people out or I really liked the 2 you done where you were news reporters, watching your playthroughs late at night actually gives me something to look forward to especially if they're 30 minutes or over, I won't go into why I look forward to it so much because there's too many trolls but please know your horror game playthroughs actually seriously give me something to look forward to so please keep 'em coming

All the poles giving manly the bombastic side eye is hilarious.

Considering my connection to liminal spaces I think it's fitting that this is the earliest I've ever been to a video

the atmosphere of this game is immaculate

This is why i always watch ManlyBadAssHero, he never disappoint us with his great content and his seductive deep voice 👁️👄👁️

good timing, was just thinking I needed a long video to play while doing work. Thanks!