Layers of Fear (2015)

 PC
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 445 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 260 out of 445
  2. Mixed: 120 out of 445
  3. Negative: 65 out of 445

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  1. nik_balani
    Dec 24, 2017
    4
    Not really a game, but a interactive horror story. Unfortunately the progress is unilateral with no choice/decisions as to how the game progresses. Spend most of your time opening doors and trying to work out what has changed. After about 15 mins it becomes repetitive and uninteresting.
  2. danield80
    Jul 11, 2020
    2
    In this game you just go forward through corridors, open doors, turn around. Rinse and repeat. Almost no puzzles, nothing. Sometimes, the game's so dark you'll find yourself turning up the brightness just to later turn it down. Wasted 4 hours.
  3. IntotheCosmo
    Jan 15, 2020
    2
    Let's cut the crap and get straight to it: this game is massively overvalued.

    The story is cookie-cutter and predictable. The atmosphere becomes dull within the first half-hour. The game play is stale. I'm not entirely sure why the larger gaming community looks favorably upon this game. To start, "Walking simulators" are games which I have always tried to give the benefit of the    Let's cut the crap and get straight to it: this game is massively overvalued.

    The story is cookie-cutter and predictable. The atmosphere becomes dull within the first half-hour. The game play is stale. I'm not entirely sure why the larger gaming community looks favorably upon this game.

    To start, "Walking simulators" are games which I have always tried to give the benefit of the doubt. That is because they often evoke a strong mood or rely on robust writing to make-up for their lacking game play. Some manage this formula to great effect and successfully immerse the player in the game world -- e.g. What Remains of Edith Finch. Yet, Layers of Fear has none of these qualities.

    It is a haunted house affair that wants you to mindlessly enter room after room, gasping "OH MY GOD THAT LOOKS SO WEIRD!" in your best Twitch streamer voice about a hundred times. I'm not even joking with that number. It is the same game play loop: enter a room, be unsettled by something, repeat. This goes on for a mind-numbingly long time. It was as if the developers consisted of about 50 artists and animators that each wanted to showcase their skills and one part-time writer. I'm sorry, but that is not stimulating game play.

    It honestly seems like an incoherent, jumbled mess of a "horror" tech demo more than a game.    … Expand
  4. Razor66
    Feb 22, 2016
    4
    I'm sorry, but this game is a real letdown.
    While it is great under a visual point of view, the game is just the umpteenth "walking simulator", with some artificial and forced jump scares here and there (loud sounds, flash, falling stuff...). It's all about opening doors - one after the other, on a rigid, track - and opening drawers and cupboard where you find nothing except from some    I'm sorry, but this game is a real letdown.
    While it is great under a visual point of view, the game is just the umpteenth "walking simulator", with some artificial and forced jump scares here and there (loud sounds, flash, falling stuff...). It's all about opening doors - one after the other, on a rigid, track - and opening drawers and cupboard where you find nothing except from some sparse piece of paper with some hints on the story.Story that is copy-pasted from Oscar Wilde and H.P. Lovecraft.

    Nothing to do, no choice to make, not a single one, ever. You just walk, walk, walk, looking at psychedelic effects all around you, waiting for you next door you MUST open to unlock.Two puzzles throughout the whole game: some numbers to put into a lock and to phone to.
    While I truly appreciate the atmosphere and the visuals, that's all to it: there is nothing else in this "game". A game, in the game, would have been truly appreciated.

    Let's clear it out. I'm not a "COD gamer", i truly appreciate slow paced, insightful and intimate gaming, story and atmosphere heavy. Still I think this is just the kind game you make when you are short of ideas and developers, and high in visual artists and art directors, and you want just to leverage on an engine graphic library.

    This "game" is lazy, that's the truth. The deranged mind of the main character (actually the only one) is just an excuse for tons of nonsensical stylistic choices: if you are narrating the story of a mad man, any kind of room swirling around, flashes, melting, popping, moving object, crying, ringing, it's ok. Just throw in something that sounds and look crazy, and it's done. Lazy, the game is just lazy.

    The game is lazy even about the horror. There is nothing horrific in the game, there is nothing scary, not even vaguely disturbing. The game is all about CHEAP scary jumps. So cheap to the point of getting pathetic. You close a door behind you and suddenly a loud bang goes out: nothing happened, no reason for a bang, nothing caused it, but you just jump... like when a friend of yours (usually the most stupid and resourceless one) fill a plastic bag with air and the smash it just behind you. Again, you are in a silent room looking around, and the very second you give your shoulder to a picture on the wall, the picture falls down with a loud boom. And you jump. Or you are walking in a corridor and suddenly a rat cross it... Cheap, cheap, cheap.

    The game is even more of a letdown if - given the gorgeous graphics - you think to what it could have been with some sort of gameplay in it - any kind of gameplay. Someone to interact with, some adventuring (finding stuff, combining items, discovering the secret, having a part in the story...you know, that sort of stuff), some roleplaying (in the strict sense of playing a role)... anything. Such a wasted opportunity.

    A "game" (visual book?) for those who appreciated "To the moon", "Firewatch", "The Park", "The Beginner's Guide", "Homesick", "The Vanishing of Ethan Carter" (this one has at least a minimum of gameplay) or the infamous Dear "Esther".

    Anyone else should avoid.    … Expand
  5. ThecriticGoD
    Mar 10, 2016
    2
    It's basically a 1,5hr gameplay predictable walking-simulator for 20 bucks. You can't even die, old movie trick kind of fear, with things falling to the ground, hearing a baby or a girl crying, etc, etc. Basically : a waste of time, and just watch a walkthrough on youtube anyways, why would you pay for a game where the only thing u can do is walk... I've seen 1000 movies like this,It's basically a 1,5hr gameplay predictable walking-simulator for 20 bucks. You can't even die, old movie trick kind of fear, with things falling to the ground, hearing a baby or a girl crying, etc, etc. Basically : a waste of time, and just watch a walkthrough on youtube anyways, why would you pay for a game where the only thing u can do is walk... I've seen 1000 movies like this, absolutely nothing new and definetely a waste of money for such a short, bad game.… Expand
  6. TRMSGnick
    Mar 11, 2016
    2
    Layers of fear is one of the most overrated games of 2016 so far this game is being praised and I even saw someone calling it a masterpiece layers of fear is predictable cliche horror game that tries to hard to be a mixture of P.T and Amnesia. In the whole experience of the game I was somewhat creeped out or scared was once and that was only because my volume was too loud I don't see whyLayers of fear is one of the most overrated games of 2016 so far this game is being praised and I even saw someone calling it a masterpiece layers of fear is predictable cliche horror game that tries to hard to be a mixture of P.T and Amnesia. In the whole experience of the game I was somewhat creeped out or scared was once and that was only because my volume was too loud I don't see why people are giving this game a 10 thats just silly same as giving it a 0. My final verdict is that I give it a 2 as I laughed a couple times after parts when supposed "creepy" things happened fell flat on its arse and made me piss myself in laughter such as the part when your chasing a "ghost" baby and the scene ends with it running head first into a wall. Its your choice if you want to buy the game of course but don't be surprised if your let down. Almost forgot to add this bit but don't expect a steam refund from this as it just brings itself past the 2 hour marker and that's a problem for refunds because if you want a steam refund you need to have played the game less than 2 hours and owned it less than 2 weeks and thats something the game relies on you buying their overpriced game and not being able to get a refund so they can keep your money.… Expand
  7. dmack0823
    Jun 13, 2016
    0
    It isn't scary, at all. Its just weird images, and jump scares. It lacks atmosphere, it lacks mood. It also rips of off better, scarier, horror games, such as PT and Amnesia.
  8. EptaEpt
    Sep 13, 2022
    1
    Sorry, but positive feedback is not available in your region. At least until your leadership changes the two-faced policy in their actions and statements.
  9. PatrykPolewiak
    Aug 17, 2016
    4
    In short: Layers of Fear is building whole tension around jump scares. And it's good for youtubers but not for a player who's need real tension. The mood is great but the way that developers are building whole tension... I was not scared the whole game.
  10. gerryrobinson78
    Aug 17, 2016
    4
    Walking simulator with no scary things in it! Is this a horror game? Adventure maybe, but not horror. Graphics is nice, but in the contrary story in the contrary is not going with it. I regret buying...
  11. AlexKVideos1
    Feb 20, 2021
    3
    There is a reason why I don't play games like this, and I know why now.

    All it really is, is a walking simulator. Exploring is not really a part of the game. You explore, and hit a dead end. Then, you go to where the game wants you to go. You do interact with objects, and other parts of the world, but you just head in one linear direction. The game is not even that scary. I jumped    There is a reason why I don't play games like this, and I know why now.

    All it really is, is a walking simulator. Exploring is not really a part of the game. You explore, and hit a dead end. Then, you go to where the game wants you to go. You do interact with objects, and other parts of the world, but you just head in one linear direction.

    The game is not even that scary. I jumped more in Rainbow Six Siege, than this game. I guess you could say it was creepy, but that's about it.

    The ending was just not satisfying as the game never comes out to explain the story either, you can only gather hints while playing through. I guess it makes sense for a game like this, but I was completely lost at what happened to this guy.

    I am glad I got this for free, paying for this walking simulator is a rip off.    … Expand
  12. Lumic
    Mar 3, 2022
    0
    don't mix politics and games, how do you treat us the way we treat you, now I know what kind of company you are and how you deal with players, I will never buy your games again
  13. Nikitos_Sen
    Mar 3, 2022
    0
    Всегда считал, что игры вне политики! Не ожидал от игровой студии, которая должна ориентироваться на обычных игроков и то, чтобы дарить людям хорошие эмоции…что студия будет наказывать обычных людей за решения принятые правительством! Раз игровая студия решила вмешаться в политику, то и оценку она получит не за игру!Всегда считал, что игры вне политики! Не ожидал от игровой студии, которая должна ориентироваться на обычных игроков и то, чтобы дарить людям хорошие эмоции…что студия будет наказывать обычных людей за решения принятые правительством! Раз игровая студия решила вмешаться в политику, то и оценку она получит не за игру!
  14. Silhouette
    Aug 16, 2020
    2
    Унылый хоррор, с постоянными скримерами. Атмосферы в игре 0, хотя игра якобы пытается дать ее с помощью записок, внимания к деталям(нет). Жаль, что дизайн всей игры одинаковый и унылый. Игра может испугать только скримерами. Одна из худших хоррор игр.Унылый хоррор, с постоянными скримерами. Атмосферы в игре 0, хотя игра якобы пытается дать ее с помощью записок, внимания к деталям(нет). Жаль, что дизайн всей игры одинаковый и унылый. Игра может испугать только скримерами. Одна из худших хоррор игр.
  15. vgolev
    Mar 5, 2022
    1
    Don't understand the hype about this game. Terrible game. I like walking simulators, but this one is far away from being interesting.
  16. Septone
    Oct 25, 2020
    4
    pros:
    - looks good
    - decent soundtrack cons: - even though it looks good, there are glitches - confusing plotline - relying too much of jumpscares - no puzzles whatsoever - got too lost many times - most boring gameplay but if you ever got scared one of the sequences in this game, kudos to you but i just had an emotionless experience within this game so thank you, Layers of    pros:
    - looks good
    - decent soundtrack

    cons:
    - even though it looks good, there are glitches
    - confusing plotline
    - relying too much of jumpscares
    - no puzzles whatsoever
    - got too lost many times
    - most boring gameplay

    but if you ever got scared one of the sequences in this game, kudos to you but i just had an emotionless experience within this game so thank you, Layers of Fear for not giving me an adrenaline rush xoxo    … Expand
  17. Fikk
    Mar 4, 2022
    0
    Appeal to the Bloober Team. It is necessary to separate people and their creations, so here - I liked the game, but for populist, hype and most stupid choice of position Bloober Team put a disliked. And as you know, every choice has consequences. If you think you'll come back and you'll be expected here, no.
  18. Devius
    Oct 20, 2022
    4
    An effort in emulating P. T. that ultimately ends up being a walking simulator with average or below average scares. Of course P. T. was a walking simulator, too, but it was way more original... and also it was meant to be a playable teaser, not a published game you actually had to pay in order to play.

    Putting this aside, the game offers nothing aside a decent ambient/atmosphere and an    An effort in emulating P. T. that ultimately ends up being a walking simulator with average or below average scares. Of course P. T. was a walking simulator, too, but it was way more original... and also it was meant to be a playable teaser, not a published game you actually had to pay in order to play.

    Putting this aside, the game offers nothing aside a decent ambient/atmosphere and an over-the-top, pretentious narration. This game is nothing special but thinks it is. The main form of narration is through flashback voices, documents, paintings, drawings and sketches, but sometimes it forces the narration through these means. The result is that some of the sketches and letters appear to be far-fetched and cringe. I don't even know if this can be considered to be a game since all you have to do is to walk. It is an interactive experience -- and not a particularly brilliant or compelling one. Also the depiction of mental illness leaves much to be desired: that's not what actual mental illness is... trust me on this, I'm a psychologist. All things considered, a forgettable experience. Not horrible but surely nothing worth of mentioning.    … Expand
  19. denoons
    Nov 29, 2022
    1
    O jogo em sí é horrível, não possui nem um tipo de amedrontamento e não faz sentido, se você trabalha e não tem 40 anos de tempo pra investir lendo folhetos e abrindo gavetas (que por sinal não possuem conteúdo), é altamente recomendado que não jogue. Podre.
  20. Estev0n
    Nov 29, 2022
    1
    O jogo é muito fraco e não tem terror nenhum, ficar reproduzindo som alto no meu ouvido não é botar susto mas sim perca de audição cognitiva, fiquei revoltado por ter perdido 2 horas e 45 minutos da minha tarde OLHANDO para esse jogo que tenta ser o P.T. era falha miseravelmente, sinceramente, que decepção, obrigado pela atenção.

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
38
#38 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 46
  3. Negative: 2 out of 46
  1. Adventure Gamers
    Jul 23, 2016
    40
    More an incoherent collection of jump scares than a horror game, Layers of Fear occasionally spooks but doesn’t make much of a lasting impression.
    Read full review
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    May 9, 2016
    86
    Gothic horror with a beautiful, strange setting and a strong embedded story. Linear, with a lot of hidden details. [May 2016]
  3. CD-Action
    May 1, 2016
    55
    Layers of Fear can send shivers down your spine, but it lacks a good story and moderation. It looks like developers could not decide which favourite horror motifs to use, so they used all of them and although the game started really well, after two hours I was already tired by the throng of predictable clichés and jump scares. [04/2016, p.57]
See all critic reviews »