'The Exit 8', a horror escape game created by Japanese indie developer Kotake Notokeke (KOTAKE CREATE), has surpassed 3 million cumulative copies sold worldwide. Publisher PLAYISM announced the news today (Sept. 7) via its official X account.
'The Exit 8' is a game inspired by concepts like The Backrooms. The objective of the game is singular: escape from an endlessly repeating underground passageway. Although categorized under horror and suspense, traditional horror tropes like jump scares are hard to find in 'The Exit 8'. Instead, it uses "anomalies" to deliver a strange sense of unease, placing tension on players as they search for irregularities.
Players must navigate the repeating underground corridor to investigate and identify anomalies occurring throughout the area. If you find an anomaly, turn back immediately; if not, keep walking forward. Repeating this process to locate the sole way out—the game's namesake, "Exit 8"—and escape is the ultimate goal.
Despite its short playtime and a structure that could feel somewhat monotonous, 'The Exit 8' earned critical acclaim for seamlessly incorporating these elements into its game design, effectively capturing the defining features of the liminal space genre. Following its success, numerous derivative works inspired by 'The Exit 8' emerged—much like with The Backrooms—and it even spawned a movie adaptation in 2025, creating a prominent content trend.
PLAYISM added that it is holding a discount sale to commemorate 'The Exit 8' reaching 3 million cumulative copies sold. The game can currently be purchased on Steam at a 30% discount.
