Shrek in The Backrooms — Iron Sub & The Airport
Last updated: June 2026
Iron Sub (level 19) is Hard difficulty with standard Shrek patrolling a submarine interior. The objective: photograph 5 marked coordinates shown on the sub map. Navigate tight corridors while tracking Shrek\'s position. Submarine Trophy badge requires finding the Chameleon on the Iron Sub roof — search the roof area during your coordinate photography run.
Iron Sub — Submarine Mission
Iron Sub (level 19) is Hard difficulty with standard Shrek patrolling a submarine interior. The objective: photograph 5 marked coordinates shown on the sub map. Navigate tight corridors while tracking Shrek\'s position.
Submarine Trophy badge requires finding the Chameleon on the Iron Sub roof — search the roof area during your coordinate photography run.
Ray Gun or sprint past Shrek when moving between coordinate markers. Plan your photography route to minimize backtracking through Shrek patrol zones.
The Airport — Terminal Navigation
The Airport (level 20) is Medium difficulty with Shrek in a terminal environment. Navigate to the gate exit through check-in areas, security sections, and boarding corridors.
Airport layout is more open than Iron Sub — use sprint and cover between terminal pillars. Shrek patrols predictable routes once learned.
Less material farming value than Iron Sub or Office — focus on efficient exit routing.
Late-Mid Game Transition
Iron Sub and Airport sit in the late-mid progression before Wooden Kingdom and School content. Confirm Ray Gun loadout before entering. Nuke is optional but simplifies Shrek encounters if overgeared.
Plane Crash (level 22) follows nearby in progression with another Shrek encounter — maintain weapon readiness across this level cluster.
- Iron Sub — photograph 5 coordinates, find roof Chameleon
- Airport — navigate terminal to gate exit
- Entity: Shrek on both levels
- Badge: Submarine Trophy on Iron Sub
Shrek Behavior on These Levels
Iron Sub Shrek patrols tight corridors — audio cues reveal direction before visual contact in submarine lighting. Airport Shrek uses wider patrol loops in terminal open areas — sprint between check-in desks using cover.
Photography and Terminal Strategy
Iron Sub coordinate photography benefits from pre-planning your route through all five markers before starting. Moving efficiently between coordinates reduces total Shrek exposure time compared to reactive wandering.
The Chameleon badge item on the sub roof requires deviating from the standard photography path — allocate extra time for roof exploration during your Iron Sub run rather than requiring a full replay.
Airport terminal navigation follows gate signage once you learn the layout. First attempts feel maze-like; second attempts become speedruns with Ray Gun handling occasional Shrek patrols in open check-in areas.
Submarine Photography and Airport Terminal
Iron Sub combines underwater submarine navigation with a photography objective. Locate five marked coordinates on the sub map and photograph each using the in-game camera mechanic. Shrek patrols the submarine interior — sprint past using Shift and break line of sight through bulkhead doors between photo points.
The Submarine Trophy badge requires finding the Chameleon on the sub roof — a separate objective from the five coordinate photos. Roof access routes through interior stairwells near the conning tower section. Complete mandatory photos first, then attempt roof exploration for the badge.
The Airport follows Iron Sub with Medium difficulty Shrek encounters in a terminal environment. Navigate from check-in areas through security corridors to the departure gate exit. Airport layouts are more linear than submarine interiors, making Compass less critical but still helpful for first-time players.
Both levels reward Ray Gun carriers with confidence — Shrek appears in both but in manageable single-entity encounters rather than swarm situations. Farm any lockers and file cabinets in Airport terminal areas for last-chance Scrap Metal before entering the late-game level chain starting at Level 36.1.
Submarine and Airport Navigation
Iron Sub and The Airport form a paired late-mid section in Shrek in The Backrooms where Shrek patrols open areas requiring sprint discipline. Iron Sub demands photographing five marked coordinates on the submarine map — a unique objective unlike standard exit-finding mechanics on most levels.
The Submarine Trophy badge requires finding the Chameleon on the sub roof — an optional exploration reward beyond the standard exit. Airport navigation follows terminal corridors to the gate exit with Medium difficulty Shrek encounters in open terminal spaces where Shift sprint and wall breaks matter.
Ray Gun tier weapons handle Iron Sub and Airport Shrek encounters reliably. Compass helps navigate Iron Sub coordinate photography routes without backtracking through Shrek patrol zones. Carry Speed Potions for airport terminal sprints when Shrek blocks direct gate paths.