Layers of Fear (2023) Reviews
Layers of Fear really brings a lot of improvements that amplify the game's strongest aspect: its immersive atmosphere. Audio and visuals are almost impeccable in this release, and they're truly worth experiencing. That said, playing through all of the content on offer in this remake/remaster collection does stretch the gameplay a bit too thin over its runtime, and it slowly wears out its welcome. What remains is a repetitive and sometimes tame horror adventure game that's worth experiencing for its presentation alone.
I wanted to like Layers of Fear (2023). I leisurely traversed the haunted house (and ship) for around fifteen hours, but its horror elements never truly left the realm of abstraction. I walked away fascinated by the spaces and objects left behind by the game’s characters. They left a residue of horror. But I left frustrated by how little this residue manifested in truly terrifying, concrete, or meaningful ways.
If you're a fan of slower horror movies with an exciting story that will stick in your head for a week after finishing it, this is the one for you. It took me about 14 hours to complete the base game with the added chapters, and I think any psychological horror fan will enjoy it. Of course, provided you know that the game is primarily a walking simulator. But he can handle it really well.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Layers of Fear (2023) is the definitive way to experience this series. The new narrative content helps tie together these previously released titles more effectively, the Unreal Engine 5 visual overhaul is very impressive, and the sound design is top notch.
With Layers of Fear, Bloober Team reworks their previous horror releases into a single package that’s worth revisiting and getting spooked over again.
Thankfully, its sequel is a calmer affair. Set aboard an ocean liner, it relies on a more subtle creepiness and is much less reliant on clichéd tropes such as thunderstorms, dolls and toy clowns. Away from the constraints of the first game’s mansion, it presents a more imaginative mise en scène and the path forward is mercifully clearer. Overall, this is a good package with plenty of scares, although at times it can feel a bit much, like being bludgeoned by a haunted fairground ride.
Layers of Fear is a fine choice if you haven't played the first two games, but if you did, it doesn't really offer anything too interesting apart from the two new stories.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
This is the definitive version of the game and it brings all the previous Layers of Fear content together in a cohesive whole. Fans of the original game will enjoy revisiting these games in this tightened and polished version. New players who are horror fans should also find this a worthy experience.
Layers of Fear is easy to recommend to new players with an affinity for psychological experiences.
'Layers of Fear' is an improved version of the previously released games. All stories are bundled into one whole and have even more depth than before.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
The definitive Layers of Fear experience revamped for PlayStation 5
It's a good game that everyone who doesn't hate jumpscare and loves psychological horror should give it a chance.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
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.
Layers of Fear is truly a disturbing experience that even players of the previous titles need to check out. With the gorgeous Unreal Engine 5 graphics and the amazing binaural sound, this is a game that has to be played.
Layers of Fear is an enticing package for any horror game fan. With several very interesting narratives about the disturbing and neurotic aspects of different artists' lives, visual and sound directions so well achieved, there are not many games that manage to instil a sense of tension as well as this remake. It's just a shame some aspects of the gameplay continue to leave something to be desired. But don't be fooled: Layers of Fear is one of the best horror series on the market.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Layers of Fear is an enjoyable walk through a hall of mirrors that reflects your inner nightmares, but there isn't much to hold on to outside of the cheap thrills and flashing lights.
The changes made in Layers of Fear 2023 have mostly damaged the overall experience of the original games. And the new additional content does not add anything meaningful to this package, whether story-wise or gameplay-wise. We recommend that instead of this buggy remake, you would play the original Layers of Fear 1 & Layers of Fear 2.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Layers of Fear is a psychological horror game that is really scary, but as time goes by you start to miss something. That doesn't make it bad, mainly because it contains extra stories to entertain the player. However, a little more action here wouldn't hurt anyone.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Layers of Fear is a very fun experience for fans of the survival horror genre. It is also an improvement from either of the two original games and the DLCs. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t quite live up to other remakes of late such as Resident Evil 4 Remake or Dead Space. Although, the addition of an entirely new story is a welcome one in the story. If you have never played the originals this version of the game is the version you should pick up. It is graphically fantastic and the combat adds a welcome change to the gameplay.
Layer of Fear looks great visually and the way it plays with the environments and lighting makes use of that graphical presentation. It adds new content and a few new mechanisms but maintains the same mistakes the original games made.
Review in Arabic | Read full review