Layers of Fear (2023) is a Horrifying Haunt Through Familiar Halls

On the surface, Layers of Fear (2023) is a new entry in the landmark horror franchise developed by the talented team of terrifyers at Bloober Team. Both new and familiar, Layers of Fear (2023) attempts to harvest fresh fear from pre-farmed fields, weaving together new and old content into a modern first-person package. It’s not a completely new game, but it’s not exactly a remake either, as it features updated mechanics, new story content, and more. To clear up some confusion, we’re here to explain exactly what Layers of Fear (2023) includes and whether or its scares are successful.

Is Layers of Fear (2023) a Remake?

For those wondering, “is Layers of Fear 2023 a remake?”, the answer isn’t all that simple. Layers of Fear (2023) is, in essence, a reimagined version of the entire franchise that includes the first two Layers of Fear games (released in 2016 and 2019). It also includes the Layers of Fear: Inheritance DLC, as well as a new story section, dubbed The Final Note.

Instead of offering these games piecemeal like some sort of remastered compilation, Layers of Fear (2023) intertwines the narratives of these four experiences into one anthological story mode, with The Final Note tying everything together. Each game can be accessed independently through a “Chapters” menu, but they’re meant to be played back-to-back-to-back-to-back, forming one remarkably unsettling horror adventure.

More Than a New Coat of Paint

That said, Layers of Fear (2023) doesn’t just take old content and apply some fancy textures. It swaps things here and there, refreshing the gameplay with new puzzles, collectibles, cutscenes, and more. Some level layouts have been cleverly rearranged as well, making your mind-bending treks through them feel like an extended episode of deja vu (but in a good way). Everything has been wonderfully recreated with Unreal Engine 5, painting the twisted horrors in stunning 4K resolution and with a silky smooth frame rate of 60FPS.

So, is Layers of Fear (2023) a remake? No, not really. Simply calling it a “remake of Layers of Fear 1 and Layers of Fear 2” doesn’t paint the whole picture (if you’ll excuse the pun). I like to think of it as an updated, extended, “director’s cut” style release, which achieves the original vision that Bloober Team set out to create.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a Layers of Fear expert or an absolute amateur in Bloober Team’s signature style of scares, Layers of Fear (2023) is effectively spooky and invokes the exact type of anxiety that horror fans crave.