Layers of Fear [Game Review]

The creative process is a hell of a thing. Just when you find your voice or get into an artistic rhythm; that’s when the expectations start. Expectations from consumers, or media–even family members. It takes a tremendous amount of sacrifice to create something worthwhile. But how much is too much? And how much pressure can one person endure before they inevitably crack? That’s the overarching story line of Layers of Fear, but is it one worth playing out? Short answer? Yes.

You play as an unidentified artist who finds himself trapped within the confines of his own home. You’re fairly certain from the beginning that this Victorian monstrosity houses more than just a troubled family. Windows slam shut on their own, rodents dart out of walls only to disappear into thin air, and entire rooms change before your very eyes. There’s something very wrong in this home, but can it be chalked up to the supernatural, or is it a textbook case of mental illness?

Layers of Fear plays a lot like other first-person horror titles. You’re able to open up cabinets, drawers, and doors with triggered precision, you find various letters or newspaper clippings to flesh out the story, and there are a LOT of scares. But what separates Layers of Fear from the pack is its atmosphere. While other horror titles focus on audio-centric jump scares to instill fright in players, Layers has some truly masterful set up. The use of space and direction to keep players confused and off balance is pulled off to perfection. It’s not uncommon to find yourself running into a dead end only to find yourself genuinely frightened at what’s waiting for you when you turn around. Layers capitalizes on these situations at just the right moments, and the developers are careful not to overdo it. As a card-carrying horror nerd I can assure you, this one brings the goods… mostly.

“What separates Layers of Fear from the pack is its atmosphere”.

There are no predefined objectives or progress indicators on screen. This allows each event and story progression to feel incredibly organic. It actually works quite well–except for when it doesn’t. I sometimes found myself checking every nook and cranny of a room in frustration only to realize I was overlooking something somewhat trivial and frankly unimportant. Those same frustrations extended themselves into a few puzzles of the game that turned out to be more time consuming than challenging. But these moments are few and far between. And as infuriating as they can be, they only stand out because the rest of the game is so good.

Layers of Fear is a game that thrives on the unknown. If you allow yourself as a player to get sucked into this world, then I can’t imagine a less than satisfactory experience. There’s no convoluted inventory system or escort missions to be found here–just enigmatic storytelling and good ol’ fashioned horror. Even the ending has just enough ambiguity to warrant a second play through. And I plan on doing just that.

Layers of Fear will be available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on February 16th. This review is in reference to a pre-release (and complete) press build. We expect it to be near identical to the retail release. For all the latest on Layers of Fear, keep it locked right here on Modern Horrors.