Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Game
Game2016
Layers of Fear (2016)
Developer Bloober Team SA
Layers of Fear is a 2016 psychological horror adventure game developed by Bloober Team and published by Aspyr. It was released on Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One worldwide in February 2016. In Layers of Fear, the player controls a psychologically disturbed painter who is trying to complete his magnum opus as he navigates a Victorian mansion revealing secrets about his past. The gameplay,… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
203 reactions from 1 source (Steam reviews) · newest Oct 6, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
82
LovedLoved
166 positive · 37 negative
95% range 76–86%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 166 | 37 | 0 |
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
24,544 of 27,774 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 203 · most liked firstAs a horror fan in general, but not a horror games fan, I did quit this game after 2 hours, but I also did watch a couple YouTube videos about the story and it's really interesting. I do recommend experiencing this game and even the whole franchise, in any way, shape or form you want. But yea, I got scared, if that's what you want me to say.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →---{ Graphics }--- ☐ You forget what reality is ☐ Beautiful ☑ Good ☐ Decent ☐ Bad ☐ Don‘t look too long at it ---{ Gameplay }--- ☐ Very good ☑ Good ☐ It's just gameplay ☐ Mehh ☐ Watch paint dry instead ☐ Just don't ---{ Audio }--- ☐ Very good ☑ Good ☐ Not too bad ☐ Bad ☐ I'm now deaf ---{ Audience }--- ☑ Grandma ☑ Adults ☑ Teens ☐ Kids ---{ PC Requirements }--- ☐ Top tier ☐ Fast ☐ Decent ☑ Potato ---{ Game Size }--- ☐ Floppy Disk ☑ Old Fashioned ☐ Workable ☐ Big ☐ Call of Duty®: Black Ops…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Comparing this game and the 2023 version of the game, I would say this one is better in my opinion, considering it feels more horror, despite being a walking simulator. It is another P.T type of clone for anyone that enjoys these types of genre. I do think the price fits well for this game considering there is replayability for multiple endings, and is definitely one of Bloober's earliest works and a decent one at least.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Layers of Fear’s mechanics are deliberately designed to make fear itself feel like a gameplay system. Rather than relying on jump scares or combat, the game’s core mechanics revolve around environmental interaction, perception manipulation, and context‑sensitive triggers that constantly keep you on edge. The movement and exploration system is simple but precise. Walking, opening doors, and interacting with objects feel weighty and intentional — there’s no sprint button or combat to distract…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The paid bot reviews are out in full force because they are getting ready to release Layers of Fear 3 (there was a second one?). I can’t tell you how sick I am of reading GPT-generated slop about “tight gameplay loops” or the parroted lines about how “X is not just about Y - it’s also about Z!” on every mid game. It’s a walking simulator with jump scares. It was never anything more than that and it’s actually aged pretty poorly. The story is more “creepy” than it is “scary”, in an immature…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You play as a Victorian era painter attempting to finish his masterpiece inside a shifting mansion that actively tries to break your grip on reality. It is less of a traditional survival horror game and more of an interactive descent into madness. Layers of Fear doesn't rely on combat or resource management to keep your heart racing, it simply warps the world around you until you stop trusting your own eyes. If you appreciate atmospheric storytelling and surreal horror over action, it’s an…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Layers of Fear is a visually striking psychological horror game that leans heavily on atmosphere. The constantly shifting environments keep exploration engaging. While it’s more of a walking simulator than a traditional horror game, the tension and storytelling are effective.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →First playthrough review time. Layers of Fear starts slowly, but the creepy atmosphere builds up little by little as the game goes on. The story is told in a good way through the house itself, as the rooms and surroundings keep shifting and changing, along with the strange events happening around you. The sound design is also very good, with quiet music, strange noises, and distant voices making the game tense most of the time. The graphics look really nice and match the dark horror style of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I stuck it out to the end because it was highly rated, but it really is a nothingburger. The story of someone descending into madness is a staple of horror, so original execution is key here, but this fails in most respects, even taking into account it was made in 2016. It has a creepy atmosphere, but the characters and plot are flat and undeveloped, and nothing adds up to anything. You don't care about any of it, nor is there much of a payoff at the end. There are a few interesting scenes, but…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Walking simulation, but not bad.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →𝒮𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 ↠ This game has a deep lore that really forces the player to replay the game to uncover all secrets and discover different outcomes. It definitely pulls you in to discover the mysteries you keep unfolding and trying to piece them together in your head to understand the story. 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒 ↠ The atmosphere is really scary and I have been scared countless times. I am a scaredy-cat overall so it may be different for you. But if you wish to be sucked into a endless loop of scares, lore…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →★☆☆☆☆ Terrible! Horror This game is being praised and I even saw someone calling it a masterpiece: Layers of Fear is predictable cliche horror game that tries too hard to be a mixture of P.T and Amnesia. In the whole experience of the game, I was somewhat creeped out or scared was once and that was only because my volume was too loud. In this game you just go forward through corridors, open doors, turn around. Rinse and repeat. Almost no puzzles, nothing. Sometimes, the game's so dark…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a pure walking simulator where your primary job is, of course, to walk. There is no real threat in this game. You cannot die (well, technically you can, but the game makes it look like you just fainted, and you can continue anyway). The game, unfortunately, relies heavily on numerous jump scares, so be prepared to experience a lot of them. Overall, the game is just: (1) walk, (2) get jump-scared multiple times, and (3) discover what happens (which is pretty easy to guess around the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’ve never written a review before, but this game feels like it deserves a few words. In Layers of Fear, you step into the shoes of a painter trying to complete his magnum opus or his “great work.” As you move through the game, you slowly begin to understand his descent into madness. I won’t say more about the story. It’s something you should experience for yourself. What I will share is a personal realization this game left me with. As an aspiring artist, a writer and a painter, I found…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A super thrilling horror game that gives you a very uneasy feeling every time you hear a noise or enter a room. The sound design is top notch, and the artwork is simply amazing. It's fairly short but definitely worth a buy just to experience it once.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →FR/EN Layers of Fear https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3807365034 ---FR--- Layers of Fear est une aventure angoissante qui réserve quelques jumping square au fil de l'aventure. On arrive dans cette maison sans trop savoir vers quoi on se dirige. Dans un premier temps on a droit à une musique douce et accueillante et des mots doux de notre bien aimée dispersés dans les pièces qui sont accessibles. On progresse et petit à petit les messages retrouvés ici et là révèlent…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →always been one of my favorite horror experiences from when i was younger.. i feel like it scratches the silent hill pt itch that ppl had around that time. for a ~mostly walking sim game it has really good writing and scary moments and the dlc is gut wrenching anyways i would play it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I think playing too many horror games has ruined my ability to enjoy this one. It's basically a walking collector simulator with heavy use of the engine quirks. The story was interesting but not that well developed. Jumpscares felt like a lot of ideas thrown at the wall and I found myself laughing a couple of times. Overall not completely wasted time but I wouldn't recommend it to a friend. Maybe a product of it's time, when it could be appreciated more.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It’s a short horror game (~5h) where you wander around an ever-changing mansion, piecing together the lore through a mix of notes, leftover scenes, visions, and memories. There’s a sense of madness in the senseless visuals, but they eventually got me to the point of dizziness. The sound was OK. The graphics were good, but the rooms felt very repetitive. Apart from one or two jump scares, I quickly found myself feeling nothing but impatience. Definitely not for me!
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hmm... I didn't imagine this game would be so short. It's not that scary. But it's a pretty good game to finish in 2 hours. Still, it's a 10-year-old game and taking that into consideration... I liked it. It's worth playing.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was aight. Just to be clear on what type of horror game it is, it's mostly jumpscare based but several of them didn't land for me. There are barely any puzzles and it's primarily a walking sim where a lot of weird stuff happens. Kind of like a haunted house/fast food/lite version of the horror genre. Not very horror intense but kept me interested to finish the game in 1 sitting. I'd give it about a 6.75 or a 7 out of 10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is a hoot. I really enjoyed exploring and staring at random weird stuff... All the while wishing I could go outside and just frolic in the heavy rain. The game may not have let me go out, but...! It made me laugh really hard. I *especially* love the dolls. They are hilarious. That corridor/room with them running into items? That was the best. Loved it. I also love the rats. Super destructive. Ah and the game reminded me of the "The Room" games... I swear that Null was the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So this whole game rely on jumpscares, but after the first 4 or 5, I just got bored. Towards the end, I turned off the sound and just went through the motions, and got annoyed when the game got slow - which it was a lot towards the end. Or I just got bored. You mostly just walk around and collect memories. No jump, no fight dynamic, nothing to do other than those few point/click moments.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolute cinema, one of my new favorite horror games. Gets so many things right that so many miss the mark on. Great story, pacing, sound design, attention to detail, the whole shebang. Reminded me a lot of Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It’s a walking simulator with a few jump scares. For what it is the game is very well made. I really enjoyed the atmosphere the environments and the way the story was presented. The jump scares were not the scariest part for me. The atmosphere and environments were much more disturbing and that is what really scared me. I found the story very engaging especially later when the DLC focused on the child’s psychology. I still prefer the main game but seeing the story from the child’s perspective…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have been enjoying this psychological horror/walking simulator/interactive narrative/puzzle game a lot so far. There have been plenty of "jump scare"-style spooky moments. The tension builds up well in each "beat" of the game. I'd say it's less scary than Amnesia and Outlast and closer to Silent Hill type scary... twitchy dolls, etc. and prop-based, physics scares. The scripting & game design is very cool in the sense that much changes and/or repeats as you move and look around. That makes…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very haunting ang psychological horror game that is very good at keeping the player engrossed in the setting. This is a must play for horror game fans. 8/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game was gifted to me, I went in blind and was pleasantly surprised. There aren't a lot of great creative psychological horror games that I know of, so getting to experience this story of madness and grief left me craving for more. Am exited to get all endings and the DLC someday. Highly recommend.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I can't believe it. I bought the game because I've seen it's a classic in the genre. I saw it's about art- a topic deeply personal for me so I purhased. I started the game, went inside the house, then the living room. I was impressed by the design of the house and how "lively" it felt, despite the circumstances. But the music... Oh the song... I was looking around, finding and reading notes, already sensing how something is very wrong. Then the descend into hell began. Gameplay wise it's…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Jumpscare simulator with 0 gameplay mechanics. No atmosphere noneuclidian maze. Pretty weak for my taste. outlast in 2013 was miles ahead of this. same with amnesia etc. you cannot interact with the game in any way except opening cupboards/cabinets just to find no interaction inside them/jumpscare. Horror games and movies are meant to make you uneasy and to shiver just from the atmosphere. Jumpscares are just the cherry on top. If done poorly, they are extremely cheap. this is exactly that case…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I shat myself at least 20 times. Fully recommend it. Pretty good graphics for a 2016 game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →✅ Would I recommend this game? ☐ I would like a refund and a written apology ☐ I would recommend it only to someone I mildly dislike ☐ I would recommend it to normal people ☐ I have already forced three friends to buy it ☑ I now distribute copies door to door 🎮 How I feel about the gameplay ☐ I felt like I was doing unpaid admin ☐ I had fun whenever the game briefly allowed it ☐ I kept saying “one more round” like a liar ☐ I forgot to eat, sleep, and acknowledge my family ☑ I am now operating…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bored to tears.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've never played a game like this. Realistically, I've never had the interest. Layers of Fear was on a massive sale so i thought I would try it out. I fell in love. this game is so cool and creepy. It has a ton of cool game mechanics. Even though the game is a little old, Layers of Fear has created a fan of this genera. Looking forward to playing the DLC
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Horrible. Must not count offline play. Love horror games from Visage to REs to Silent Hills, but this was just not a good experience. Its currently $2 and I believe that's too expensive.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's okay to go through once, you won't get the good ending but its an okay ghost ride while it last, you sure wont have the ''inpiration'' to "finish it'', 6/10. blooper team will go on and make better. Hard to recommend the expansion, its very short, or it would be if it did not feel like eternity with the slow pacing and that damn forest.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It starts soooo good. Great music, art and atmosphere. You can get the story pretty quickly as you find clues to what happened to this family and this artist, and if you're familiar with a certain book, well, all the better. Unfortunately, even after that, the game drags you through hallways and stuff instead of just giving you the ending. I think if it was one hour shorter it would've been so much better! The ending was disappointing too, because the ~normal~ one is a boring one and you have…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is almost like a dementia simulator. As the game progresses, you slowly lose your mind and walk through endless hallways and changing rooms. I really enjoyed the art in the game and I think the story was told well. It's not really a scary game, more of a creepy game. Going through the house checking every cabinet and drawer, constantly waiting for the jumpscare, it feels very ominous. I like how there are multiple interesting endings that feel conclusive. It is a little glitchy in chapter…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Layers of Fear offers a strong first impression and an interesting idea but eventually spirals into a dull routine of looping around the sections and collecting the required things to proceed. Every time I seemed to find my flow within the loop, it was interrupted by a puzzle or jumpscares that hardly managed to impress me. Two, maybe three got me really good, but then they became predictable. Long corridors usually indicate an impending jumpscare. However, I got to tip my hat in regard to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The atmosphere is fantastic, the visuals still hold up, and the house constantly changing around you keeps things interesting. There aren't any guns, combat, or monsters chasing you every five minutes—just pure psychological horror and a story that slowly pulls you in. Absolute cinema. Would give it 8/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →its okay, jumpscares get repetitive and very surface level symbolism :/
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A really strong psychological horror game with an incredibly strong atmosphere, an amazing sound design and a good story. It’s basically a walking simulator but despite that it still manages to be extremely scary. I love how the level design feels like it changes every second and you never really know what is going to happen next. The game does a really good job at combining jumpscares with psychological horror and visual horror. Of course you can just rush through the game but in my opinion…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bleh game bleh bleh painting bleh more painting wow room change wow
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →got it for free through Humble Bundle almost 10 years ago, saw the very positive reviews and was cautiously optimistic to try it however it ended up being a huge disappointment. the story itself actually has pretty good writing, is fairly interesting, is the only thing that will make you quite unsettled as it unfolds throughout your time with the game and although it's quite short (a full run taking you about 1h30m to 2h) it makes up by having 3 different endings that differ based on the items…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The story is interesting, and the visuals are beautiful. However, the gameplay is dull.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Layers of Fear is the definition of the walking simulator horror game. I don't think there's anything that can hurt you in the whole game. But it's interesting; the plot is good, the vibes are spooky, and it keeps you engaged. I think it's good for one playthrough if you allow yourself to get lost in the atmosphere.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →For most of the game I felt like I was taken hostage and forced to witness a theatre of jump scares. The game loop is essentially guessing which door you're supposed to open, find an interactable item to progress, go through a trigger fest and solve a simple three number puzzle. What this game does well is environment art and atmosphere. Story is solid, voice acting as well. The story of a mentally ill painter goes perfectly with a dark, unstable and disturbing environment. Game manages subtle…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Layers of fear is a terrifically well crafted psychological horror i haven't had this much immersion in a long while, Some of the most well made illusions being effortlessly horrific transitions of time and place. its so good in what it does, an endless maze of thought rooms. at first i was impressed thinking it was made by an indie creative dev, just to find out a team of 94 people worked on production, kudos to the dev great job! Story and Setting 9/10 Gameplay 8/10 Design,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →yleobaa bozebi viyot 3 kaci suli mogityai suliiii
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game wanted to be PT so so SO bad but it fails to do anything even remotely as scary or memorable as that game and PT was a DEMO. A really bland haunted house jumpscare fest with a story I didn't care for. I laughed more times than I was actually scared it's that bad. It's a shame, because I see the vision, there were some genuinely cool ideas in this, but it just failed to really click with me in any sort of way. This is the kind of game that Spooky's Jump Scare Mansion was made to parody.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Layers of Boring. As many of the other reviews note, you spend most of your time wandering from room to room opening drawers and cabinets, mostly finding nothing. It seems completely linear, there are no stakes, no apparent goals, no way to make a mistake or succeed--you just wander until the game's over. There's no substance to the story; for me, if there's no substance to the story, it's difficult for me to care about the scares. A jump scare without any substantive story context is…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Damn good game for the price , loved it for the story and gameplay ,I was confused at the plot first and when i progressed and got to end it was worth the time and wait .
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →one of the best games i've ever played, and my favourite horror game premise of all time. the voice acting was wonderfully done, and the script writing was impeccable. perfect horror game for people who nerd out over symbolism (me). however, it is unwise to disrespect a well-made game by letting it overstay its welcome in re-releases. just play the 2016 version and pretend the other one didn't happen. a lot of the hype for this game was drowned out by mass disappointment that PT was cancelled.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →They say are is supposed to make you uncomfortable, well this game makes me uncomfortable. So far I've not had to run away from anything, which is nice, it's making me think it's a walking simulator, especially because the "running" is very slow, but the doors being how the dev messes with you, slamming shut behind you, not leading to the place you just came from, and the jump scares: I want to nope the ♥♥♥♥ out, but I want to know what happens with the story because it's seeming like it's an…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →ive replayed this game on multiple platforms and always refall in love after each play through
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Mild story spoilers, no endings. I have a very hard time deciding if I should recommend it or not. The level design is something that I liked. And maybe that's where it starts and where it ends. The story is... ehm... a narcissistic alcoholic causes his wife to take her life and their daughter to be taken into social care, while he obsessively paints his masterpiece. I do not sympathize with these kinds of people, nor do I have mercy upon them. If one of your family members is struck by a…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →so freaking fun. I love the plot, I adore the ideas, i WILL be getting number 2.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →https://steamcommunity.com/groups/AUHorrorGameFans Layers of Fear is a great game with multiple endings. It has lots of jump scares and puzzles to solve. I liked the game enough to buy part two after completing part one. It is a very dark and terrifying game with the dead eyes of dolls watching over you and rodents scurrying in the walls. I give this game a 4 out of 5.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →what can I say scary AF
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honest to God, one of the very few games that has made me jump out of my chair while playing it. My roommates at the time were concerned... Great story and terrifying!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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