Aaron “Gearsnakes” Juarez

CEO and Creator of Backrooms TCG, LLC

Born in Norwalk, California in 1978, Aaron “Gearsnakes” Juarez grew up immersed in the vibrant culture of the 80s, indulging in cartoons and Dungeons and Dragons. Witnessing the rise of the Pokémon TCG during his teenage years sparked a lifelong passion for collecting trading cards. Before embarking on his TCG journey, Aaron worked in various roles at supermarkets and drug stores, gaining diverse life experiences.

Aaron’s academic journey began with an AA degree in anthropology, driven by his deep fascination with human culture, myths, and legends. As a father of two, he temporarily paused his studies to focus on parenthood, later returning to college to earn another AA degree in film production. His love for cinema, from classic musicals to 80s sci-fi, fueled his passion for storytelling.

Combining his love for solitaire card games with the intriguing concept of the Backrooms phenomenon, Aaron conceived the idea for Backrooms TCG. He was inspired by the challenge of creating a collectible card game designed for solo play. Over two years, he meticulously crafted the game mechanics and characters, seamlessly integrating them into the captivating backdrop of the Backrooms.

In his role at Backrooms TCG, Aaron oversees all aspects of the company’s operations, from website management to card design. He is personally involved in fulfilling every order, ensuring that each customer receives a personalized experience. Aaron’s dedication to providing a unique and engaging gaming experience shines through in his commitment to storytelling, skill-building, and fun in card games.

Aaron invites you to join him in the world of Backrooms TCG, where solo adventures and captivating narratives await.

Corey “The Red Tide” Ward

Co-Owner and Chief Operations Officer

Corey is a dedicated dad, husband, cook, musician, and creative person. His TCG journey traces back to the fond memories of his youth, where Pokémon captured his imagination. However, it wasn't until 2016, during Pokémon's 20th anniversary, that Corey rediscovered his passion for TCGs, setting the stage for an exciting resurgence.

In 2022, fate led Corey to stumble upon Backrooms TCG, a game that seamlessly melds solitary gameplay with intriguing thematic elements. Initially a fervent admirer, Corey's involvement deepened when he reached out to Aaron, the game's creator, offering assistance with card typos and engaging in spirited discussions about mechanics.
By February 2023, Corey's role had evolved from enthusiast to collaborator, as he joined forces with Aaron to shape the game's future. From rewriting the rule book to refining gameplay mechanics, Corey played a pivotal role in elevating Backrooms TCG.

When the call came to lead the Kickstarter campaign, Corey stepped up, leveraging his skills to propel the game forward. And when unforeseen circumstances demanded action, Corey seamlessly transitioned into the role of Chief Operations Officer, ensuring the game's smooth operation during Aaron's absence.

Today, Corey stands side by side with Aaron as Co-Owner, his influence evident in every aspect of the game's development. His unwavering commitment and creative vision continue to drive the success of Backrooms TCG, leaving an indelible mark on its journey

Ryan “Hass Thrift” Hasselkus

Backrooms TCG Social Media Manager and Content Creator

Ryan is a Scientist at a biotech company in Boston, MA working with stem cells to develop medicines that will improve the lives of patients. He grew up during the inception of Pokémon and Yu-gi-oh!, playing both of them casually with his friends on the school bus. Unfortunately, he gave away his entire card collection as a kid and it wasn’t until 2019 that he restarted his collection once again. As a result of this endeavor, Hass Thrift & Collectibles was formed.

As Hass Thrift, Ryan has a passion for buying, selling, and trading collectibles including indie TCGs. One of his main goals as a collector is to collect one card from every card game ever produced. He currently has over 300 card games in his TCG museum. His passion for indie TCGs lead to his discovery of Backrooms TCG on Kickstarter, which caught his immediate interest as a solitaire trading card game. Ryan quickly became involved in the Discord community and posted gameplay videos on YouTube.

As a result, Ryan was asked to join the Backrooms TCG development team as social media manager and content creator. This was a perfect opportunity to combine his passion for indie TCGs, Backrooms lore, and his experience in graphic design. When Ryan isn’t playing Backrooms TCG or creating content, he enjoys outdoor activities with his family and playing soccer.

Lead Artist

Game Development Assistant/YouTube Content Creator
Hello! I am Noway Artemus from Las Vegas. I've been playing and designing games forever, probably since I was like 9 or 10. I collected Pokémon like most other kids around the early 2000s, 2000 and 2001 I'd say, then switched to YuGiOh which I actually collected and played a fair bit. I wanted to play magic but grew up Christian and my mom was not down with that games' look and theme. She didn't like Harry potter either! I started playing board games pretty heavily around 2012 I believe, found a friend who was really into them and he opened that world to me. I've been pretty heavily invested in board and card games now for at least the last like 10 years or so, and have collected around 200 of them. I've done design work for years, tried many different games, even have one pretty close to being done though Backrooms TCG took my attention. Great game as it is, that's not surprising.

I actually got pretty big into Tomb raider CCG though it's very luck based, which I found not very fun after a while. I like the idea but the dice rolling to beat skill checks is aggravating because there is very little way to mitigate that luck without the right cards, but it being a solo card game made it so you can actually play it by yourself and have a decent time. If only the luck wasn't so mean. But the game looks really cool, feels very thematic.

Ive always wanted to be part of a game design team and think my avid experience with board and card games from the last 15 years brings a somewhat unique perspective to my abilities as a game designer.