Frequently asked questions

Why do these images comfort and unsettle me at the same time?

Because they hit two systems at once: memory (you recognize the place, or think you do → warmth) and alarm (the place is empty or slightly wrong → soft alert). That simultaneous double signal has no name in the brain, so you feel it as "a weird thing". The genre exists precisely because that mix is addictive. Long version in liminal spaces.

Are dreamcore and the Backrooms the same thing?

No. They share material (hallways, carpet, fluorescents, the concept of noclip) but the intent is opposite: the Backrooms want fear (levels, entities, survival); dreamcore wants soft melancholy. If something is chasing you, it's Backrooms. If something is waiting for you, it's dreamcore.

Where do the gallery photos come from?

From the free circulation of the internet: forums, subreddits, collections that have been forwarded for years. Many "famous liminal photos" have a real, unknown author — that loss of origin is part of the phenomenon, but when an author surfaces, they're credited. If a photo is yours: guestbook and it's handled.

Why does the site look like it's from 2002?

A design choice, not laziness. Dreamcore is about memories of the 2000-2010 era, and serving it in a modern interface would be like museum-ing VHS tapes in LED-lit acrylic cases. The bevels, the Comic Sans, the visit counter and the marquee are the native format of memory. Besides, the old web was better at one specific thing: it was made of people, not platforms.

Is this a horror site? Can I show it to my little sister?

It's not horror, and yes. There are no jumpscares, gore or entities here. The target feeling is "missing a place that doesn't exist", which is suitable for everyone (kids, in fact, get it better than anyone). The genre's dark branches (analog horror, traumacore) are mentioned with context and a warning, with no graphic material.

Why is there an eye in the menu?

Her name is Iris and she has her own page. She records nothing; this site has no analytics or cookies. Even the visit counter lives in your browser.

Can I submit my own images?

Yes: for now, via the guestbook (the back office for uploading files is under construction). Read the creation guide first, and the gallery criterion: blurry yes, professional photographer no.

How often is this updated?

Without hurry and without pause. New things are announced in what's new. The old websites had no push notifications and life was better for it.

I have a question that isn't here.

You know the way: the guestbook. Good questions end up on this page, answer and all.