Layers of Fear

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 170 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 100 out of 170
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 170
  3. Negative: 26 out of 170

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  1. shearer333
    Feb 16, 2016
    10
    Fanstastic game ! I want more !!! The best horror game this year! This game is amazing !!!!

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  2. Bensonzim92
    Feb 18, 2016
    10
    A truly horrifying experience. Played alone, in the dark with a head set on, this game can bring about some extremely intense heart pounding moments. Layers of Fear doesn't just rely on jump scares, but manages to borough deep into your mind as you find out the tragedy that has befallen our protagonist and how he has reacted to it. As he desperately tries create his 'Magnum Opus', hisA truly horrifying experience. Played alone, in the dark with a head set on, this game can bring about some extremely intense heart pounding moments. Layers of Fear doesn't just rely on jump scares, but manages to borough deep into your mind as you find out the tragedy that has befallen our protagonist and how he has reacted to it. As he desperately tries create his 'Magnum Opus', his sanity tearing away from him at every seam, you will find yourself drawn into his dark and twisted mind, wishing that he, and yourself, find a way back to normality.

    While the game-play is never much more than walking around a large, ever changing house, opening door after door, this game is more about the narrative and the evolutionary nature of creating of artistic work. Plus it's always fund to be terrified to your very core... Right?    … Expand
  3. SuperkenGaming
    Feb 16, 2016
    9
    Layers of Fear
    A story of obsession and loss
    There’s a lot to wrap your head around in layers of fear I’m still not even sure exactly what happened This is an adventure horror game where you play as an obsessed artist working on finishing his latest painting The game start out with you in your home, after walking around a bit you notice notes that set you on a journey of uncovering    Layers of Fear
    A story of obsession and loss
    There’s a lot to wrap your head around in layers of fear
    I’m still not even sure exactly what happened
    This is an adventure horror game where you play as an obsessed artist working on finishing his latest painting
    The game start out with you in your home, after walking around a bit you notice notes that set you on a journey of uncovering just exactly what’s going on or what went on
    This game is about 4 hours long if you take your time to uncover all of the mysteries, I even missed some.
    You’ll get a vague idea of the story if you did choose to rush through, but you’ll have a much better overall experience if you open all the drawers and read all of the letters and newspaper clippings... at least story wise...gameplay wise I’m not all too sure
    this game is creepy, exploring this house is unsettling, but I wouldn’t necessarily call this game scary
    There are plenty of jump scares, and it is possible to die, but it all feels inconsequential, I was never afraid to progress, maybe this is a personal courage thing, but I felt no anxiety while pushing through, it could be that I felt unthreatened while playing or it could actually come down to how the developers chose to deliver the story … Like I said earlier, if you want the full story you have to look through all the drawers and all of the cabinets, this kind of takes your attention away from the creepy experience going on around you.. instead of being immersed in the fancy tricks, and constantly changing rooms… you find yourself immersed in a drawer and looking for non-story doors to interact with
    I feel like this could’ve been fixed by telling the story with brief flashback style cutcenes attached to mandatory collectibles instead of optional collectibles…
    Or keeping them more as a well-hidden interactive secret, which they actually did for a handful of them...
    But ultimately I feel like the story and experience is delivered from eye level, so it’s such a massive design flaw to have interactive items below or above your line sight... you can’t really interact with objects in layers of fear, so having china cabinets to go through around every corner was unnecessary, and hurt the experience more than it helped,
    Especially for the ocd type that have to check everything
    Another complaint with collectibles is that the chapter select doesn’t tell you if you missed any, so if you want to uncover more of the story, you have to replay sections you might have scrubbed clean
    The overall story delivery is just a small hiccup though, because it’s still good
    but everything else layers of fear has going on for it in comparison is great
    I was really impressed with how frequently things would change around me out of nowhere, I would turn around and there would be a door that wasn’t there before, or a hallway I just walked down is now a wall, maybe a creepy painting or a doll, every time you walked through a door you would be somewhere new, there is no back tracking in this game, its constantly taking you forward which is very appreciated and is ultimately what will get its hooks in you
    the constant switching is hands down the highlight of the entire game for me, I’ve never seen anything like it, at least not at the level that its at here
    While I could’ve done without feeling like I’m Sherlock Holmes the whole time,
    I still feel like layers of fear delivers a creepily impressive and immersive experience well worth your time
    and maybe some of your hair, and blood, perhaps an eye
    I give Layers of Fear an 8.5/10    … Expand
  4. noahbruhh
    Feb 19, 2016
    10
    I made an account on metacritic just to review this game! First of all this game is obviously made by an indie developer so it is relatively short, to me though it is completely worth the money (20 euro) i completed it once and instantly completed it again, the atmosphere in this game is absolutely horrific (in a good way!), the scares are top notch except a few where they just made meI made an account on metacritic just to review this game! First of all this game is obviously made by an indie developer so it is relatively short, to me though it is completely worth the money (20 euro) i completed it once and instantly completed it again, the atmosphere in this game is absolutely horrific (in a good way!), the scares are top notch except a few where they just made me sigh. The story in this game is very twisted with some truly disturbing moments, without spoiling it the ending is also very well executed. If you enjoyed P.T. this is the game for you. The level design in this game is weird as hell and very atmospheric and foreboding. If you love scary games and a short experience is ok by you ( took me about 3 hors) then i would infinitely recommend you pick up this game.… Expand
  5. seba2323
    Feb 18, 2016
    10
    I love this game! Was planning to wait, sleep, and stream it later today. But heck - once I tested out the opening scene I had to finish it.

    Ends out the story is rather complex and requires the pieces to fit in order to fully understand. Without giving away too much spoiler - I'd assume the game is a run down of the mental anguish the artist endures with each painting. Even if he    I love this game! Was planning to wait, sleep, and stream it later today. But heck - once I tested out the opening scene I had to finish it.

    Ends out the story is rather complex and requires the pieces to fit in order to fully understand. Without giving away too much spoiler - I'd assume the game is a run down of the mental anguish the artist endures with each painting. Even if he captures a lost beauty in each painting he can not recreate anything as good as what he lost. Given what I found at the end in the kitchen, and the letter in the desk of the office, along with the items you collect throughout the game trying to recreate that beauty lost to a perfection. I assume he needed a sample of the original to attempt painting it from more than just memory.

    The story reminds me of Exmortis. Graphics similar to Silent Hill. Jump scares of Dead Space 2. And some scenes either FEAR 2 or Among the Sleep.

    Either way - This is the long awaited game I desired ever since Slender New Arrival was too short and easily completed with minimal effort. Great job overall. Left the story do be decided by the player based around clues uncovered along the way.    … Expand
  6. wesker2012
    Aug 1, 2016
    10
    One of the scariest games I've ever played, if not the scariest. I played with surround sound late at night. The sound design is top notch and the littlest strange sound or effect made me so scared to move in the game. I felt so scared I almost wanted to quit, but I pushed myself to finish the game in one sitting. I actually liked that there was no combat in the game, so the horror wasOne of the scariest games I've ever played, if not the scariest. I played with surround sound late at night. The sound design is top notch and the littlest strange sound or effect made me so scared to move in the game. I felt so scared I almost wanted to quit, but I pushed myself to finish the game in one sitting. I actually liked that there was no combat in the game, so the horror was more focused. The story and voice acting was also very creepy. Only minor faults was the control could have been a little sharper, but I got used to it eventually. Also towards the end, the puzzles were a bit ambiguous and it was annoying to figure out what to do. I'd say the first 95% of the game flows nicely though and even though you are incredibly scared, the game is so addicting, you want to continue to see what's next. I also love all the effects and tricks they use during the game. I was really impressed and wowed with all ideas that were used in the game. If I ever recommend a horror game to anyone, this will be at the top of my list!… Expand
  7. Pendalf
    Feb 28, 2016
    10
    Madness+LSDTrip+Greatness=Layers of fear
    This is one of the best games I've ever played. It's definitely the best horror. I suffered that P.T (new SH) was canceled, but after this masterpiece - i'm not!
  8. SILVERBACK6153
    May 12, 2016
    8
    Great game overall but the jumpscares don't feel scary seeing as you can't die. The storytelling is very good and the graphics are superb however, the anti-aliasing in this game is pretty poor which leads to everything looking jaggy. If you loved Outlast then this is the game for you.
  9. NationFusion
    May 18, 2016
    8
    Layers of Fear has been out for a while, and there have been plenty of reviews on the game. Most don’t care for it, however there are some who haven’t heard of it; let alone played it. I want you to take everything you’ve read or heard about this game; good or bad, and those reviews from IGN and Metacritic, and various others need to be thrown out the window for a moment. I’m notLayers of Fear has been out for a while, and there have been plenty of reviews on the game. Most don’t care for it, however there are some who haven’t heard of it; let alone played it. I want you to take everything you’ve read or heard about this game; good or bad, and those reviews from IGN and Metacritic, and various others need to be thrown out the window for a moment. I’m not discrediting their work by any means. I’m simply stating that those who’ve reviewed it and weren’t phased by this game just didn’t give it a solid chance, nor immerse themselves into it. I’ve never played a game in my life that’s given me anxiety the way this one does, and I’ve played them all; from the very first Resident Evil as a kid, to Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro’s P.T. (The Playable Teaser for Silent Hills) back in 2014. Let it be known right now that I haven’t finished the game. I can’t. I am mentally having a hard time moving the protagonist any further. It’s not because I don’t want to, no, it’s because my mind won’t let me. To me that says this game has done its job. Layers of Fear is a psychological horror that, without you realizing it, plays on your innermost fears, and in a weird sort of way it brings them to life. I’ve spent the most of an entire month attempting to make it through this game. I never finished it, now here we are in May, and I still can’t finish. I walk around that corridor in what seems to be an endless loop, over and over again. Until finally I make it around the wall and notice that everything’s changed. Books are scattered all across the floor as I keep moving, and I make it around that bend again, and this time there’s a bloody couch which has the words “Going in Circles” written on it. The light goes dark, and the door to my left opens up. I see a silhouette moving from inside the room that I haven’t walked in front of yet. Whatever it is is in a rocking chair, and the maddening squeak only confirms my fear. The game wants me to see what’s inside. But I don’t want to see what’s inside. So I pause the game. I take a few deep breaths and try to move toward the door. I still can’t. I pause the game again, take a sip of my coffee, and try once more. I inch forward ever slightly, looking around the room in the game, hoping that when I turn around, something will be in front of me to kill me and just end it. It doesn’t happen.I have to face that fear and move forward. Nothing still. I decide it’s time to get up and write a review on the game because I’m too afraid to actually keep playing. Layers of Fear has done its job. Layers of Fear is about an artist; more specifically an anonymous painter who has seemingly lost his mind trying to create the perfect masterpiece. Only this masterpiece is done with more than just paint. The story itself is gripping enough to keep you playing, or at the very least, keep you trying to play. You want to continue to know what happens next in the game most people would label “Walking Simulator”. That is, if you can keep walking. The atmosphere in the game is enough to stress you out if you’re not careful, and if you let yourself be immersed into the game, the psychedelic nature of the horror triggers will get to you the way they did me. I still want to finish the game, and eventually I’m sure that I will. For me, there isn’t a single horror film out there that I’m afraid of; and that’s because I can’t immerse myself into the film. When it comes to a video game, that’s a whole different story. I can become whoever the game is about, and easily put myself in their shoes. You must do this in Layers of Fear. Don’t sit there and tell yourself “Oh, it’s just another stupid horror game”, because it’s not. There’s quite a lot to be experienced in Layers of Fear, and fear is just the beginning. Bloober Team nailed it with this game despite popular belief, and I feel that they should be proud of their work.

    This game provides no combat similar to games like Outlast, SOMA, or Amnesia: The Dark Descent; so that means no monsters to fight, and the few ghosts, and ghoulies that you may encounter only serve in giving you death without the possibility to escape. In fact, the only real monster in the game is the one holding the controller. It’s because of you that certain events take place. What door do you go through? Which drawer do you open? How long does it take before you make it back to the painter’s room? All of the triggered events depend on you. However, it all leads to the same outcome in the end. Or does it? A game that plays on your fear so well, that it knows when to trigger some event to scare you, and most of it is anxiety as we’re all very familiar with, you get that overwhelming sense that something is wrong in your own world and that is what’ll stop you from moving forward.
    One of the only things I can say negatively about this game is the frame rate drop that on the PS4 version, can be a bit unbearable at times.    … Expand
  10. Artemyster
    Jan 14, 2017
    10
    Отличная игра, просто невозможно оторваться, геймплей, музыкальное сопровождение, сюжетная линия - всё на высоте. 10/10
  11. KayVen17
    Apr 6, 2020
    10
    Für mich das beste Horrorspiel aller Zeiten! Ich hatte wirklich 3 -4 Stunden pure Unterhaltung und hatte zu oft die Angst davor mich einfach umzudrehen. Finde es super wie sich Veränderungen in einem Raum im Hintergrund laden. Verdammt geniale Technik.
  12. rAFFAELE171100
    Dec 27, 2017
    10
    Gioco Fantastico,riesce a suscitarti emozioni pur non avendo molto Gameplay.
    Ottimo lavoro veramente.uno dei giochi horror migliori mai visti
  13. Dandan2212
    Mar 23, 2018
    8
    achei esse jogo quase perfeito! assustador,misterioso, gráfico ótimo! mas o que me incomodou foi as leves travadas durante a game play alem de que as vezes a interação com objetos era falha! pois era uma tarefa difícil abrir uma simples porta ou gaveta(as vezes). mas ainda sim foi uma surpresa nessa geração!
  14. Bakoluk
    Aug 31, 2021
    8
    Graphics 7/10
    Playability 7/10
    Entertainment 9/10
    Story 7/10
    Overall 8/10
  15. Nienh
    Jun 15, 2019
    9
    Great atmosphere, one of my favorite games of this genre.
    The visuals are great, and so is the voice acting.
    If you like paintings from the 17th/18th century, you will enjoy it even more.
  16. Felix_taskete
    Jun 7, 2020
    8
    The story in the game is really interesting, but gameplay is slow, and the game itself isn't scary at all. So 8 out of 10.
  17. Menni
    Apr 27, 2020
    8
    Titolo davvero ottimo, unico nelle sue peculiarità. Un mix fra horror e arte che di certo non fa mancare momenti da brividi. Sonoro top. Da giocare con calma... Punti deboli, e forse di troppo, longevità e trama. Ma assolutamente da provare

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
91
#91 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Impulsegamer
    Oct 18, 2018
    50
    From a visual and story point of view, the Layers of fear masterpiece edition is indeed a masterpiece, but it is a game, and sadly the entire gameplay side of things is extremely disappointing and turns what could have been a very impressive and cutting edge psychological horror title up there with the likes of Silent Hill, into nothing more than another boring and generic indie horror, so short that even the $30 its in the PlayStation store for is a stretch.
    Read full review
  2. Games Master UK
    Apr 25, 2016
    91
    Some exceptionally clever misdirection means that this indie delight delivers more terrifying surprises than a cupboard full of haunted Kinder eggs. [Apr 2016, p.81]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 12, 2016
    60
    Horror game with a great mood and beautiful environment, which would need a larger number of puzzles. But still it is an interesting option for fans of horror stories. [Issue#262]
See all critic reviews »