The Exit 8 Explained

The Exit 8
Developer:Kotake Create
Publisher:Kotake Create
Playism (Switch, PS4, PS5 versions)
MyDearest Inc. (VR version)
Engine:Unreal Engine 5
Platform:Microsoft Windows, Meta Quest, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre:Walking sim
Modes:Single-player

is a 2023 walking simulator video game developed and published by Japanese indie developer Kotake Create. The game revolves around the player walking through a Japanese metro station passageway, trying to spot inaccuracies to reach the exit of the station. The game was released on Steam on 29 November 2023 and was later released for Nintendo Switch on 17 April 2024 and for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 8 August 2024 under the publisher Playism. A virtual reality version co-developed and published by MyDearest Inc., dubbed The Exit 8 VR, released on 11 July 2024 for the Meta Quest 2, Pro and 3.

The Exit 8 took nine months to develop and was designed to be made in a short amount of time and on a low budget. The game was inspired by the "surreal" atmosphere of underground passageways as well as the Japanese horror game I'm on Observation Duty which inspired the game's looping mechanic. The setting was modelled after several Japanese metro stations, including the Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station in Koto, Tokyo.

The Exit 8 received positive reviews with many critics praising the game for its psychological horror and realistic environment, although critiqued the game for its short length and lack of replayability. In the wake of the game's release, many games released that took heavy inspiration from Exit 8 and were subsequently dubbed "Exit 8-likes". A sequel to the game called Platform 8 was released on 31 May 2024.

Gameplay

The Exit 8 is a first-person three-dimensional (3D) walking simulator type game with elements of puzzle and psychological horror. Inspired by the concept of liminal spaces such as the Backrooms, the game is set in a passageway of the Japanese metro.[1] Every time the player exits the passageway, the passageway seems to repeat seemingly forever with even a passer-by appearing to be caught in the loop.[2] The core gameplay of The Exit 8 is similar to games like spot the difference, where the player must look out for and identify anomalies in the room's layout.[3] If there are no anomalies, the player should proceed down the corridor; whereas if there is an anomaly, the player should turn around and walk the way they came.[4] The player needs to be correct eight times in a row to reach the end of the station.[5] Should the player be incorrect with the assessment of a given room layout, their progress will reset back to Exit 0. Additionally, the aforementioned passer-by acts as a timer. If the passer-by makes it to the end of the passageway before the player leaves, the passageway will automatically loop regardless if the player is right in their assessment or not.[6]

Anomalies in the game can range from subtle differences such as different messages on signs, repeating poster designs, proportion differences with the passer-by or power outages.[7] Certain anomalies can actually reset the player's progress should they not turn back quick enough such as a flood of red water or a man camouflaged as the wall tiles that will chase after the player if they get too close.[8]

Development and release

Development

The Exit 8 was developed by Japanese indie developer Kotake Create, also known as Kotakenotokeke, who developed the game in Unreal Engine 5. The game was created during Kotake Create's years-long development of another game without releasing anything, which makes them upset. In an interview with Japanese website Game Makers, Kotake Create stated that the game took over nine months to develop, split between six months of planning and prototyping and three months of final development.[9] Kotake Create stated that they love the surreal atmosphere of underground passageways, which inspires them to created a game based on loops. Another influence for the looping mechanic during development was the 2021 adventure game Twelve Minutes, which featured a mechanic where the events of the game would loop after twelve minutes. One of the main inspirations for The Exit 8 came from I'm on Observation Duty, a horror game based on surveillance cameras and finding anomalies, which makes them realize that spot the difference could integrate well with horror themes. Additionally the mechanic of security camera footage reminded them of a looping video, another influence for the looping mechanic.[9]

When making the anomalies for the game, Kotake Create stated they wanted to keep the anomalies at "borderline horror" and "unsettling", citing anomaly inspiration stemming from works such as P.T. and The Shining. During development of the game, early concepts on how to deal with the anomalies included taking pictures of the anomalies using a camera or shooting the anomalies with a gun, which Kotake Create believed didn't match the game's setting. Additionally, due to wanting to keep the development of the game short and low budget, they opted instead to incorporate the "proceed or turn back" mechanic.

Following questions made by BuzzFeed Japan and Game Makers, Kotake Create mentioned that the hallway the game is set in was modelled after a real location although declined to name the station in question to avoid causing the station trouble. Speaking further, they mentioned that an art installation in Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station directly inspired one of the anomalies in the game.[10] The art installation in-question are diagonal ceiling lights randomly scattered across the ceiling of a hallway which is meant to "resemble the hustle and bustle going on above the ground".[11] [12]

Release

The game was first announced on 3 November 2023 with a trailer posted on the developer's twitter account, with the release planned for later that month in both Japanese and English.[13] The Exit 8 would release worldwide on Steam on 29 November 2023.[14] A few days after release, Kotake Create would release a patch for the game to fix an exploit that allowed the player to glitch to the end of the game in under one minute.[15] During the Japanese broadcast of a Nintendo Indie World presentation on 17 April 2024, the game was subsequently released on the same day worldwide for the Nintendo Switch.[16] [17] This version of the game was published by Japanese publishing company Playism.[18] Playism would later announce and release versions of the game for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 8 August 2024.[19] [20] In early June 2024, Japanese virtual reality developer and publisher MyDearest Inc. announced a VR version of the game for the Meta Quest line of headsets. Called The Exit 8 VR, the game released on 11 July 2024 for the Meta Quest 2, Pro and 3.[21] [22]

Future

Following the success of the game, Kotake Create became a freelance developer after quitting their job as 3D artist at an undisclosed video game developer.[9] In an interview with Japanese website Game*Spark following the release of The Exit 8, Kotake Create mentioned the possibility of creating a sequel to the game, stating that they would rather make a new game instead of updating the original with new anomalies.[23] [24] In a subsequent interview with Game Makers, Kotake Create mentioned that they were considering soliciting real-world advertisements as opposed to the fictional advertisements seen in Exit 8 to "reduce the operating costs".[9] This would later be added upon in late-February 2024, where the developer sent an announcement on their Twitter account that they would be accepting submissions for these guest advertisements to appear in a sequel to The Exit 8.[25] In the following month, Kotake Create launched a Steam page for the sequel under the name Platform 8, with a release window of between "the end of April or beginning of May".[26] Unlike its predecessor, Platform 8 is set on a train that never ends, where the player must spot anomalies to escape the train. The game released on Steam worldwide on 31 May 2024.[27] [28] Following the release of Platform 8, Kotake Create stated that they do not want to make any more sequels in this series, feeling that they are satisfied with the games and wanted to continue working on Strange Shadows, the horror adventure game which Kotake Create paused development on to instead develop The Exit 8, planned for 2025.[29]

Reception

Critical reception

Many critics praised The Exit 8 for its use of psychological horror in both the game's setting and how it could affect the player. Meriel Green from Gamezebo described how the game "effortlessly" connects to fears many people have, being getting lost in a subway, adding on that the passageway gave off an "profoundly unsettling vibe". She further commented on how lifelike the environment was and going as far to claim that the gameplay could be mistaken for real footage, which she mentioned further layered on the game's sense of dread.[30] In his review, Rock Paper Shotguns Ed Thorn mentions how the player's fears are heightened thanks to the passer-by acting as a timer for the player to make a decision, describing the mechanic as a "genius stroke". Jordan Helm from Hardcore Gamer commented on how the game utilises discomfort to create uncertainty and distrust in what the player maybe witnessing. Describing this as the game's "greatest stride", Helm wrote about how the game manages to make binary decision-making stressful due to one wrong decision would cause a reset of the player's entire progress, which would cause paranoia and distrust to seep into the player's judgement.

Conversely, Siliconeras Jenni Lada recounted how the game made her feel comfortable and that the hallway made them feel secure and immersed. Lada commented that because the game made her feel too comfortable it managed to catch her out and make a mistake, adding it can help with replayability saying she found the game "oddly relaxing to take a walk and pick out the 'mistakes'". In Thorn's review, he detailed how the game did an "excellent job" by imitating Japanese comedy and game show humour, adding that some of the anomalies leaned towards the more whacky and fantastical side. He reflected that the game "wouldn't be amiss in a Yakuza".

One drawback critics had with the game was its short length. In Lada's review, she mentioned that if you were good and lucky with the game it would only take the player around "15-30 minutes" to complete, adding further that "once you’ve played it enough times, you’ll have done it all and have no reason to return". Jordan Helm remarked that he hoped that Kotake Create would use the game as a foundation for a more ambitious and bolder project in the future. However, Helm added that Kotake created a "fifteen-minute experience with more warranted involvement and intriguing design" than other games with a longer play time.

Sales

Upon the release of the game, it was announced that the game had sold 30,000 copies within the first day.[31] By April 17, Kotake Create announced that the Steam release of the game sold 500,000 copies.[32] Two days after the release of the game on Nintendo Switch The Exit 8 became the top most downloaded Switch game that week in Japan, beating out games such as Bunny Garden and Suika Game.[33] According to a press release in August 2024, it was announced the game had reached over 1 million downloads, with the suggestion that the Switch version helped significantly push the game to that milestone.

Impact

In an article by TheGamer, Eric Switzer noted how due to the game's short gameplay loop it allowed the game to thrive on social media platforms such as TikTok, which caused the game to gain popularity and success.[34]

Following the release of The Exit 8, an influx of indie games inspired by the premise of the game became available online. Dubbed "Exit 8-like" by both news outlets and the developer themselves,[35] these game feature similar or even identical gameplay to Exit 8 but often set in a different environment and often trying to capture the liminal space aesthetic with examples such a shopping centre, hospital or subway trains.[36] One such game, called "0th Floor -The cursed elevator to Floor 0 -", has the game set in an elevator and has the players looking for anomalies on different floors of a building, all of which has a different setting.[37] Some of these Exit 8-likes leaned more into the more horror aspect of the gameplay, such as adding paranormal entities such as monsters and ghosts.[38] One of the more unique Exit 8-likes is "Track No. 9", a two-dimensional pixelated art-style adventure game where the player searches for 34 anomalies on a subway platform.[39]

In response to the large amount of "copycats", Kotake Create expressed that they do not condone the use of thumbnails or titles on gameplay videos of Exit 8-like games that could be seen as connections to the original game.[40] Additionally the developer shared links to some Exit 8-likes that they were looking forward to and stated that "as a developer, I think it is absolutely ok to make a new game that “puts a new spin on existing games,” as long as it isn’t exactly the same setting or gameplay system etc". One of the most notable examples of this was The Exit 9, which was released on the PlayStation Store in January 2024. Due to the game's strong likeness to The Exit 8, it caused online fans of the game to ask Kotake Create about the copycat to which they denied any involvement with The Exit 9. Verity Townsend from Automaton Media speculated that the developers of the copycat were taking advantage of the fact that the original game was not released on consoles.[41] Following the release of the PlayStation versions of The Exit 8, the copycat was rebranded to Exit 9 Metro.[42]

Automaton Media reported that following the release of the game, fans online had grown affectionate to the NPC passer-by seen in the game and had created works in his image such as fan art or recreating the character in games like Phantasy Star Online 2 or Soulcalibur VI. Described as a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and dressed in work clothes and a briefcase, the passer-by only walks down the hallway and can occasionally be one of the game's many anomalies, but never actually interacts with the player. Speculating as to why some fans felt so passionate towards the character, the article's author, Hideaki Fujiwara, believed that due to the NPC being the only other real person in the game, fans see the passer-by as a "source of security and familiarity for the player" which the feelings would then continue to build. Seeing as the player has to scrutinise every aspect of the game in order to spot anomalies, they add that it would cause players to notice certain qualities of the passer-by, describing the man as having a "sleeper build". Alternatively, Fujiwara also posited the idea the feelings may derive from the "mere-exposure effect", which caused players to like the character just from walking past them over and over. When questioned about the character, Kotake Create mentioned that they had also become attached to the man during development and liked reading comments about the man from players in reviews. They also noted that the man is the largest 3D model in the game at around 140,000 polygons. The character returned in the game's sequel, Platform 8. To celebrate The Exit 8 reaching 1 million downloads, a line of merchandise featuring the passer-by would be sold in Ikebukuro Parco department stores for a limited time between 23 August and 30 September 2024.

In mid-April 2024, Japanese pharmaceutical company launched a web commercial parodying the game to advertise their mouthwash product, Mondamin.[43] [44] Due to a mistake on the company's Twitter account, Kotake Create responded to users stating that the commercial was not done in collaboration and instead merely granted permission for the company to parody the game.[45] [46]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A new liminal horror game has players trying to escape an endless Japanese subway. Scullion. Chris. 6 November 2023. Video Games Chronicle. 2 June 2024. 23 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240523052141/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/a-new-liminal-horror-game-has-players-trying-to-escape-an-endless-japanese-subway/. live.
  2. Web site: The Exit 8 players get thirst trapped by middle-aged NPC man. Fujiwara. Hideaki. 15 December 2023. Automaton Media. 17 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004328/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20231215-24508/. live.
  3. Web site: The Exit 8 dev reveals how he made a top-selling Steam game in UE5 in 9 months. Vjestica. Amber. 14 February 2024. Automaton Media. 2 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004651/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20240214-27192/. live.
  4. Web site: 『8番出口』攻略&レビュー:異変だらけの不気味な地下通路から脱出するためのルール・方法とは?(ネタバレあり)【電撃インディー#514】. ja. 12 December 2023. Dengeki Online. 13 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004740/https://dengekionline.com/articles/213670/. live.
  5. Web site: The Exit 8's Psychological Meddling Offers A Fascinating Proof of Concept. Helm. Jordan. 18 December 2023. Hardcore Gamer. 2 June 2024. 20 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240620150119/https://hardcoregamer.com/the-exit-8s-psychological-meddling-offers-fascinating-proof-of-concept/. live.
  6. Web site: The Exit 8 perfectly captures the surreal horror of navigating a busy tube station. Thorn. Ed. 9 January 2024. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004633/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-exit-8-perfectly-captures-the-surreal-horror-of-navigating-a-busy-tube-station. live.
  7. Web site: The Exit 8: Is the anomaly-spotting horror game so tricky players are mistakenly reporting a bug?. Kawase. Ayuo. 8 December 2023. Automaton Media. 18 June 2024. 8 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240308004659/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20231208-23845/. live.
  8. Web site: The Exit 8: All Possible Anomalies. Roffe. Christina. 22 December 2023. Game Rant. 2 June 2024. 7 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240307011827/https://gamerant.com/the-exit-8-all-anomalies/. live.
  9. Web site: 『8番出口』のおじさんは約14万ポリゴン。モデル=清澄白河駅説の真相は?開発者に制作過程をインタビュー. ja. Kamiyama. Daiki. Sakai. Rie. Iida. Haru. 14 February 2024. Game Makers. 13 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004545/https://gamemakers.jp/article/2024_02_14_60602/. live.
  10. Web site: ゲーム『8番出口』にそっくりすぎる地下通路が発見され「かなり8番出口かも」と話題に。「もうここがモデルでは?」と作者に聞くと…. ja. keitoarai. 28 December 2023. BuzzFeed Japan. 13 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004656/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jp/keitoarai/where-is-the-exit8. live.
  11. Web site: The Exit 8 has been creepily recreated in "live-action" video. Townsend. Verity. 11 January 2024. Automaton Media. 13 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004656/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20240111-25368/. live.
  12. Web site: 【路上感撮】散らばる蛍光灯 地下通路に不思議な空間. ja. 7 November 2016. Sankei. 13 June 2024. 13 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240613164631/https://www.sankei.com/photo/story/news/161107/sty1611070001-n1.html. live.
  13. Web site: Escape the "backrooms" of a Japanese subway station in upcoming UE5 indie game. Sato. Koutaro. 6 November 2023. Automaton Media. 4 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004656/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20231106-22831/. live.
  14. Web site: The Exit 8 now available for Switch. Romano. Sal. 17 April 2024. Gematsu. 4 June 2024. 17 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240417155438/https://www.gematsu.com/2024/04/the-exit-8-now-available-for-switch. live.
  15. Web site: Speedrunners are glitching their way through The Exit 8 in less than a minute. Townsend. Verity. 12 December 2023. Automaton Media. 14 June 2024. 14 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240614015110/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20231212-24281/. live.
  16. Web site: Round Up: All The Games You Missed From Japan's Indie World Showcase (April 2024). Hagues. Alana. 17 April 2024. Nintendo Life. 4 June 2024. 1 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240601235732/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/04/round-up-all-the-games-you-missed-from-japans-indie-world-showcase-april-2024. live.
  17. Web site: 「8番出口」がNintendo Switchで本日配信。異変を見つけたら引き返し,8番出口を目指せ. ja. SKY. 17 April 2024. 4Gamer. 4 June 2024. 19 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240419010042/https://www.4gamer.net/games/792/G079205/20240417073/. live.
  18. Web site: マジか! 人気ゲーム「8番出口」Switch版がいきなりリリース. ja. Okada. Yuka. 18 April 2024. ITmedia. 4 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004218/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2404/18/news101.html. live.
  19. Web site: Highly Rated, P.T.-Like Walking Sim The Exit 8 Has Suddenly Arrived on PS5, PS4. Ramsey. Robert. 8 August 2024. Push Square. 9 August 2024. live. 8 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240808200951/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/08/highly-rated-p-t-like-walking-sim-the-exit-8-has-suddenly-arrived-on-ps5-ps4.
  20. Web site: The Exit 8 tops 1 million downloads and makes debut on PS5 and PS4 . Townsend. Verity. 9 August 2024. Automaton Media. 9 August 2024. live. 9 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240809174849/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-exit-8-tops-1-million-downloads-and-makes-debut-on-ps5-and-ps4/.
  21. Web site: The Exit 8's claustrophobic corridors are coming to VR with Meta Quest release. Takenaka. Kosuke. 6 June 2024. Automaton Media. 26 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626163027/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-exit-8-claustrophobic-corridors-are-coming-to-vr-with-meta-quest-release/. live.
  22. Web site: The Exit 8 VR Adapts The Horror Walking Sim Next Month On Quest. Stockdale. Henry. 6 June 2024. UploadVR. 26 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626163026/https://www.uploadvr.com/the-exit-8-vr-release-date/. live.
  23. Web site: The Exit 8 developer mentions possibility of a sequel. Vjestica. Amber. 12 December 2023. Automaton Media. 3 June 2024. 8 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240308004712/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20231212-24272/. live.
  24. Web site: 一躍ミームに、話題の短編ホラー間違い探しシム『8番出口』地下通路以外が舞台の"続編"可能性も!?【開発者インタビュー】. ja. 11 December 2023. Game*Spark. 3 June 2024. 17 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217105233/https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2023/12/11/136732.html. live.
  25. Web site: The Exit 8 dev is looking for real ads to add realistic vibes to the game's sequel. Yamanaka. Taijiro. 23 February 2024. Automaton Media. 3 June 2024. 8 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240308004705/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20240223-27651/. live.
  26. Web site: The Exit 8's official sequel finally announced. Yokoyama. Keiichi. 1 April 2024. 3 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004217/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-exit-8-official-sequel-announced-platform-8/. live.
  27. Web site: The Exit 8 creator releases official sequel "Platform 8", with similar backroom vibes and new gameplay. Fujiwara. Hideako. 31 May 2024. Automaton Media. 3 June 2024. 2 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240602233526/https://automaton-media.com/en/indie-games/the-exit-8-creator-releases-official-sequel-platform-8/. live.
  28. Web site: The Exit 8 sequel Platform 8 now available for PC. Romano. Sal. 31 May 2024. Gematsu. 3 June 2024. 2 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240602233526/https://www.gematsu.com/2024/05/the-exit-8-sequel-platform-8-now-available-for-pc. live.
  29. Web site: The Exit 8 and Platform 8 will have no further sequels – developer is working on a horror adventure title slated for 2025. Yamanaka. Taijiro. 3 June 2024. Automaton Media. 4 June 2024. 3 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240603230053/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/the-exit-8-and-platform-8-will-have-no-further-sequels-developer-is-working-on-a-horror-adventure-title-slated-for-2025/. live.
  30. Web site: The Exit 8 is a Subway Backrooms Nightmare. Green. Meriel. 22 November 2023. Gamezebo. 24 June 2024. 28 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231128004713/https://www.gamezebo.com/news/the-exit-8/. live.
  31. Web site: Latest Steam hit horror game The Exit 8 sells over 30,000 copies within a day of release. Kawase. Ayuo. 1 December 2023. Automaton Media. 14 June 2024. 8 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240308004703/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20231201-23610/. live.
  32. Switch版『8番出口』が本日(4/17)配信開始。異変を見つけて延々と続く地下通路から脱出せよ。PC版売上50万本超ホラームードの間違い探し。470円【インディーワールド】. ja. 18 April 2024. Famitsu. 8 June 2024. 18 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240418000217/https://www.famitsu.com/article/202404/2437. live.
  33. Web site: SwitchのDLランキングに「8番出口」「バニーガーデン」が1位2位に登場! 「スイカゲーム」を抜く. ja. Nishiwaki. Takeshi. 19 April 2024. Game Impress Watch. 8 June 2024. 3 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240503064433/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1585631.html. live.
  34. Web site: The Exit 8 Is TikTok's First Hit Game. Switzer. Eric. 24 April 2024. TheGamer. 25 June 2024. 7 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240507132903/https://www.thegamer.com/the-exit-8-is-tiktoks-first-hit-game/. live.
  35. Web site: The Exit 8 developer expresses surprising opinion on copycat games. Keiichi. Yokoyama. 25 December 2023. Automaton Media. 9 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004219/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20231225-24850/. live.
  36. Web site: Chilla's Art announces new anomaly-spotting horror game inspired by The Exit 8. Vjestica. Amber. 26 January 2024. Automaton Media. 9 June 2024. 9 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240609140909/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20240126-26226/. live.
    Web site: Exit 8-like horror walking sim has you trapped in the liminal space of a shopping center. Yamanaka. Taijiro. 9 February 2024. Automaton Media. 9 June 2024. 9 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240609140911/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20240209-26983/. live.
    Web site: 8番出口やEscape Roomの影響を受けた「Hospital 666」,Steamで配信開始。最大4人の協力プレイで666階を目指そう. ja. Basho. 6 March 2024. 4Gamer. 9 June 2024. 9 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240609140908/https://www.4gamer.net/games/781/G078104/20240306027/. live.
    Web site: The Exit 8 inspires train-hopping subway escape game Station 5. Yamanaka. Taijiro. 20 December 2023. Automaton Media. 9 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004219/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20231220-24618/. live.
  37. Web site: Keep calm and escape a dodgy elevator in this cursed Exit 8-like. Townsend. Verity. 4 April 2024. Automaton Media. 12 June 2024. 12 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240612223330/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/keep-calm-escape-dodgy-elevator-cursed-exit-8-like/. live.
  38. 『迷央8丁目』恐怖を前にしても絶対に引き返せない『8番出口』ライクホラーゲーム。Steamストアページが公開、2024年6月ごろにリリース. ja. 24 April 2024. Famitsu. 12 June 2024. 30 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430213147/https://www.famitsu.com/article/202404/3155. live.
    Web site: 8番出口ライクのびっくり系ホラーゲーム「霊室」,本日配信開始。プレイヤーを脅かす怖い霊現象を鎮めていこう. ja. Basho. 12 April 2024. 4Gamer. 12 June 2024. 12 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240612223331/https://www.4gamer.net/games/778/G077864/20240412002/. live.
  39. Web site: Escape an Exit 8-like looping train platform in this free-to-play Japanese browser game. Townsend. Verity. 27 March 2024. Automaton Media. 12 June 2024. 12 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240612223329/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/escape-exit-8-like-looping-train-platform-free-to-play-japanese-browser-game/. live.
  40. Web site: 地下道歩きホラー『8番出口』開発者、似たゲームの実況動画に「◯◯版8番出口」などのタイトルをつけないでとお願い。ライクはOKだけど紛らわしいのはダメ. ja. Yamanaka. Taijiro. 11 January 2024. Automaton Media. 12 June 2024. 12 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240612223330/https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20240111-278656/. live.
  41. Web site: The Exit 8 developer denies involvement with "The Exit 9" copycat game. Townsend. Verity. 29 January 2024. Automaton Media. 12 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004351/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20240129-26283/. live.
  42. Web site: The Exit 8 Ripoff Changes Its Name and Logo on PS5 Following Original Game's Release. Ramsey. Robert. 9 August 2024. Push Square. 9 August 2024. live. 9 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240809155216/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/08/the-exit-8-ripoff-changes-its-name-and-logo-on-ps5-following-original-games-release.
  43. Web site: モンダミン、「8番出口」パロディのWEBCMを公開。コピーは「異変のないお口にするために。」. ja. Yasuda. Shunsuke. 12 April 2024. Game Watch Impress. 13 June 2024. 26 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240626004222/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1583759.html. live.
  44. Web site: アース製薬が「8番出口」をパロディ。"お口クチュクチュ"しながら大量のおじさんが迫ってくる新CMを公開. ja. AruTaka. 12 April 2024. 4Gamer. 13 June 2024. 13 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240613162147/https://www.4gamer.net/games/751/G075133/20240412022/. live.
  45. Web site: アース製薬の「モ番出口」、実はコラボではなくパロディだった 「8番出口」開発者が明らかに. ja. 13 April 2024. ITmedia. 13 June 2024. 13 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240613162147/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/2404/13/news073.html. live.
  46. Web site: "異変のない"お口に…アース製薬が『8番出口』と「モンダミン」のパロディCMを公開!おじさんたちがお口クチュクチュ. ja. 13 April 2024. Inside Games. 13 June 2024. 13 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240613162143/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2024/04/13/154499.html. live.