Critical Setting: Remove the Fog
Make sure this is actually the step you are on. If an item or prompt is missing, backtrack one room and check the inventory first.
Part 1: The Flooded Room & The Hub Warning
You enter via a door from Level 6.
WARNING: At the top of the stairs, there is a door leading to "The Hub." Do NOT enter this door if you want to continue the level progression, as you may not be able to return. Instead, go through the door that leads to the flooded living room with the floating couch.
Part 2: The Ocean & The Fog Exploit
Once you exit the house, you are in the open ocean. There are two main threats: the distance and the fish.
Critical Setting: Remove the Fog
Normally, this level becomes covered in a thick, blinding fog halfway through your swim. However, you can remove this entirely:
- The Trick: Go to your Settings -> Graphics -> set Shadow Quality to "Low" or "Off".
- Result: The fog will vanish, allowing you to see the lighthouse and underwater obstacles clearly. This makes the level significantly easier.
Transport: Boat vs. Swimming
- The Boat: There is a small boat nearby. Standing on it makes you 100% safe from the fish in the water.
- Swimming: Swimming is faster but dangerous. One bite from a fish is instant death.
- Speed Bug: As shown in the video, pressing Shift the moment you dive into the water can sometimes trigger a speed boost bug, allowing you to swim incredibly fast.
Part 3: The Flare Gun (Optional)
Straight ahead from the start, there is a house on stilts. On the second floor, you can find a Flare Gun.
- Purpose: It is used to signal lost teammates. Firing it into the sky creates a visual marker even through the fog.
- Necessity: It is not required to beat the level. If you are playing solo or know the way, you can skip this to save time.
Part 4: The Lighthouse
Your main objective is the massive Lighthouse visible in the distance (especially clear with shadows turned off). Swim or boat towards it.
- Arrival: The lighthouse light will activate when you get close.
- The Diving Helmet: Walk to the end of the pier. You will find a heavy diving helmet. Hold Left Click to put it on.
- The Cage: Step into the metal cage at the end of the pier. With the helmet equipped, the cage will automatically descend into the dark water. Without the helmet, it will not move.
Part 5: The Depths & The Angler Fish
As the cage lowers, look to your left. You will see a massive Angler Fish (resembling the bacteria/worm entities) circling the area.
- The Entity: Do not touch it. It patrols the area.
- Exit the Cage: Once the cage reaches the bottom, the door opens. Swim out immediately.
Part 6: Finding the Cave Exit
Navigation here is tricky due to the darkness.
- Orientation: Exit the cage facing straight ahead.
- Turn Left: Turn approximately 15 to 20 degrees to the left.
- Visual Aid: Turn up your Gamma settings if it is too dark to see. The diving helmet has a built-in light, which helps.
- The Cave: Swim forward until you see a cave entrance in the rock wall.
- Ascend: Enter the cave and swim upwards through the tunnel to surface in the next area.
Surfacing in the cave pool will lead you directly to Level 8.
Escape the Backrooms: Level 7 Walkthrough Video
Video chapters
Player route notes
Things we check before pushing ahead
We use this as the quick “don’t make the same mistake twice” checklist. If your room, spawn, or prompt does not match the video, stop and check the normal route first—patches and co-op timing can make an old shortcut look tempting when it simply will not work.
Transport: Boat vs. Swimming
Look around slowly before guessing. Props can hide chairs, switches, notes, and pickups; a second camera angle is usually faster than brute force.
Multiplayer tips
For Thalassophobia, decide whether the group is using the boat or swimming before leaving shore. Keep the diving-helmet objective with the group and do not send one player into the deep section without a return landmark.