Layers of Fear is and will always be highly regarded as one of Bloober Team’s best first-person narrative-driven psychological horror video game series. Given the original game was released way back in 2016, it felt like the appropriate time to bring the series back but with a new creative vision in mind thanks to the full utilization of Unreal Engine 5.
After spending quite some time with Layers of Fear, I’m absolutely astounded by how incredible this game looks and am fully convinced that this is the best way to experience the franchise in all its glory. Here are more of my thoughts on the game and why it’s perfectly suited for those looking for a horrifyingly captivating experience from start to finish.
Layers of Fear could be best described as a psychological horror game that dives deep into the minds of different characters as part of an interconnected storyline. The original Layers of Fear explored the ever-changing mental state of a painter trying to complete his masterpiece and uncovering various secrets about his life while navigating through his spooky Victorian mansion. Layers of Fear: Inheritance focused on his daughter and the aftermath of the first game. Finally, Layers of Fear 2 highlighted the perspective of an actor aboard an ocean liner exploring the ship and why they were chosen for the role.
This edition of Layers of Fear features all three of these games reimagined along with a new DLC chapter titled “The Final Note” and a new storyline where you take on the role of a writer exploring a lighthouse. There are also new puzzles to solve and multiple endings tied to your reactions. All of this content adds even more layers (pun intended) to the overarching world of Layers of Fear and makes this feel like a complete experience worthy of the magnum opus that you are trying to finish in the first game.
In addition to the significant graphical upgrades of Unreal Engine 5, the gameplay mechanics have also been further tweaked thanks to a new lantern tool that illuminates dark environments and helps you uncover more secrets. This lantern also aids in taking out enemies and can come in handy when solving puzzles.
Once you start playing this game, you’ll be able to tell right away that Bloober Team and Anshar Studios really put their all into this project. The impeccable attention to detail and self-awareness to create something new without sacrificing the masterful quality of the previous games is duly noted and makes the atmospheric vibe feel even more authentic.
As I stated at the beginning of this review, Layers of Fear is Bloober Team’s best psychological horror series to date. The recreation of this world within Unreal Engine 5 is a sight to behold and a scary, yet exciting sign of what’s to come in the future.
This review was written based on a digital review copy of Layers of Fear for the Xbox Series X provided Bloober Team.
