Layers of Fear

Bloober Team brings us this soft reboot of the three main games, creating an anthology that automatically becomes a masterpiece. Its gameplay changes fix gameplay problems from original games, especially Layers of Fear 2, and the new stories give more depth to the plot overall. Don't doubt it and finish this Masterpiece once and for all.

Layers of Fear (2023) is a fantastic remake of a much-loved series. Built using Unreal Engine 5, you'll enjoy Ray Tracing, HDR, and 4K resolution. Furthermore, every game in the series runs chronologically to create a seamless and cruel experience.

Layers of Fear is an excellent repackaging of the original games, with a considerable graphical leap, benefitting the atmosphere and the level of immersion. We rediscover, enriched with new content, distressing stories and environments that seem sprung from the mind of a madman, with a gameplay that remains anchored to the narrative adventure mechanics. Even if we don't find major structural improvements, it remains recommended to lovers of the genre.

If you like this kind of entertainment, Layers of Fear is one of the best of its kind. I can't remember the last time I've experienced a game with such an intense atmosphere and that was as unpleasant to play as {Layers of Fear}. And in this context, that should be understood in the most positive way.

In the end, Layers of Fear (2023) is all of that, a place where darkness and enigmas invade everything. The first part of the experience consists of a tunnel of terror with very few mechanics to its credit, in which the setting, light and sound effects are present in each carriage. In the second, we will have to defend ourselves against elements that only inhabit our worst nightmares... a cast that will make it difficult for us and promise a macabre journey into the depths of terror.

Layers of Fear (2023) is a solid compilation of two decent horror titles. It is a massive graphical upgrade that uses a new narrative to tie them together in a satisfying way. Releasing at $30 MSRP if you haven’t played the games before and love to get creeped out then this one is well worth checking out.

Layers of Fear (2023) makes full use of Unreal Engine 5 to elevate its visuals, lighting, and environments to all-new heights, reimagines the original Layers of Fear, and features brand-new DLC content to tie the entire story together. Layers of Fear 2 still struggles to compare, however, and scares often fail to land.

Despite some mistakes, Layers of Fear is a horror game that will remain in the memory of players as one of the most appreciated of this year. Bloober Team delivered exactly what the franchise needed. With some changes in the narrative and the introduction of new details, Layers of Fear solidifies the story, not only with new plot points and mechanics, but also with new animations, collectibles and puzzles . Combining the three games into a single title is an ingenious strategy, with the studio coming out on top of this challenge.

Layers of Fear is an enjoyable horror romp, but fans of the series may be left yearning for a bit more innovation and narrative satisfaction.

Writing this conclusion brings a tear to my eye; on one hand, Layers of Fear looks beautiful, controls well and does give you a sense of horror. But then there is the gameplay loop – as I started playing I noticed more and more that Layers of Fear relies more on walking and looking than traditional horror gameplay. After about 30 minutes of picking notes up to “read” (the voice acting was excellent), I was disappointed. I wanted/thought more would happen. My interest did pick up once we got the lantern, however, that was short-lived. Some of the puzzles were good but overall I was left very short-changed and rather let down by what I got (or didn’t get) out of it.

Layers of Fear (2023) has new gameplay elements that breathe life into the older games, but the new story additions just feel tacked on.

New Layers of Fear tries to fix the shortcomings of previous two games, but at the core it's still the same game, suffering from similar problems. Polish horror has its appeal, but it's a must-have only for the most ardent fans and those impatiently waiting for the remake of Silent Hill 2 from Bloober Team.

Layers of Fear 2023 is an odd remake and is ultimately one we don't really recommend. This new package is beautiful no doubt, but the first game just doesn't really hold up these days, and while the sequel marks a decent improvement in our eyes, the 2019 version is a much better looking game than 2016's Layers of Fear anyway - making the remake feel a bit pointless. If you've never played the series and are interested in a couple of one-time trippy horror experiences this package could be worth a shot once it enters your ideal price range, but the Xbox One versions often go dirt cheap on sale and remain an ideal way to face your fears - especially when you have the option to just grab the superior sequel on its own.