2X EXP [V 4.0] The Shadow Network — Setup before you start
About
OverviewThe Shadow Network drops you into Level 0 of the Backrooms, a sprawling open-world horror experience where your goal is to explore, uncover mysteries, and push through to later levels. This guide covers how to start well, what each level asks of you, and how to handle the scares along the way.
What is on this page
Contents
Setup before you start
CheckThe game is built around atmosphere, and two quick settings changes let it hit the way the developers intended. Max graphics bring out the Backrooms' eerie details, and headphones make the audio land properly.
- Graphics set to maximum the environments are hand-made by the developers.
- Headphones on for full immersion.
- Loud noises are part of the design, so adjust your volume before pressing play.
Level order and what each one earns you
Table
The Shadow Network moves you through numbered levels plus a handful of named zones. Each completed level awards a badge.
| Level or Zone | Badge you earn |
|---|---|
| Enter the game | A New Journey |
| Level 0 | Dim-lit Dweller |
| The Pool Rooms | Aqua Apprentice |
| Level 1 | Dusty Drifter |
| Level 2 | Shadowed Seeker |
| Level 3 | Wire-Walker |
| The Playrooms | Playtime Prisoner |
| Run for your life! | Terror Sprinter |
| Level 4 Part 1 | Welcome to the Office |
| Level 4 Part 2 | Express Service |
Handling jump scares and loud moments
Warn
The developers flag jump scares and loud noises as deliberate design choices, not glitches.
Free-to-play vs. Premium
Table
The core exploration, all levels, and every badge are available without spending anything. Roblox Premium members receive in-game bonuses.
| Free players | access to all levels, all zones, and all badges. |
| Premium members | receive in-game bonuses on top of the same full access. |
Badges worth chasing
Summary
Ten of the twelve badges have clear unlock conditions tied to finishing a specific level or zone. The remaining two — 'I was always here' and 'One with the Cones' — have no stated requirements.
Glossary
Glossary- Backrooms
- A fictional setting created by online communities, depicting an endless series of strange spaces that exist outside normal reality.
- Level 0
- The starting area of the Backrooms in this game, known for its yellow walls and rows of fluorescent lights.
- Jump scare
- A sudden frightening image or loud sound used to startle the player, present throughout this game by design.
- Pool Rooms
- A named zone separate from the numbered levels, completing which earns the Aqua Apprentice badge.
- Playrooms
- Another named zone in the game, separate from the numbered levels, with its own completion badge.
- No-clipping
- The in-universe concept of accidentally passing through solid reality into the Backrooms, which is how the game explains your character's arrival.
Common questions
FAQDo I need Roblox Premium to finish the game?
No. Premium members receive in-game bonuses, but all levels, zones, and badges are available to every player.
What are the mystery badges 'I was always here' and 'One with the Cones'?
Their unlock conditions are not stated anywhere in the game's official materials.
Is this game too scary for younger players?
Jump scares and loud sounds are present throughout by design.
Does the game have to be played in a set order?
The badge sequence runs from Level 0 through Level 4 Part 2, with named zones like Pool Rooms and Playrooms sitting within that journey.
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