Layers of Fear (2023 video game)

Layers of Fear is a 2023 developed and published by Bloober Team. It is a remake of and sequel to the 2016 game Layers of Fear and its sequel Layers of Fear 2 (2019), combining stories from the previous games with new content. The game was released for Windows, macOS, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S in June 2023. It received mixed reviews upon release.

Development
The game was created in Unreal Engine 5. The game was inspired by P.T.

Reception
According to review aggregator Metacritic, the PC version and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game received "mixed or average" reviews, while the PS5 version received generally positive reviews. Critics generally praised the introduction of a new framing story to combine the narratives from the previous games. Its environment and visual design was also praised, although many critics felt that it was not very terrifying.

Dakota Evans, in a review for Game Rant, described it as "a beautiful yet terrifying game that accomplishes being both a remake and a sequel simultaneously." Lewis Parker, writing for PC Gamer, praised the game's storytelling themes, favorably comparing its gameplay to the Amnesia series. Mark Delaney of GameSpot and Ashley Bardhan of Kotaku described the plot as largely disappointing despite the quality of the game's visual design. Delaney and Michael Cripe of The Escapist both described the gameplay as lacking in tension, comparing it to experiences like an amusement park ride or haunted attraction.

Some journalists found the decision to use the same name as the 2016 game confusing and unclear.