Layers of Fear Advancing from Xbox Game Preview to Full Release on February 16

A tragic past. An unfinished painting. And a crumbling psyche. These are the core elements that make up the setting of the psychological horror game Layers of Fear, which is graduating from the Xbox Game Preview program and getting a full release on Xbox One on February 16.

In Layers of Fear you play as an anonymous painter, clearly haunted by his tragic past and fixated on regaining what he has lost. His only solace is to delve deep into madness while trying to finish his life’s work – his Magnum Opus. The game is a psychedelic, atmospheric thriller, with the plot focused on the drive for perfection and where it can lead you as a person.

What helps set Layers of Fear apart in the horror genre is its presentation of madness. The developer of Layers of Fear, Bloober Team, wanted to bring a new perspective to the genre by introducing a lead character whose own world changes around him as he struggles with insanity and loses his grip on reality. The player witnesses this struggle firsthand, watching the painter’s prized possessions and even his home itself deteriorate in front of him. Players are always unsure of what to expect as even the basic layout of the house and its numerous rooms can change with a glance in the wrong (or right…) direction.

Layers of Fear is also unique in that relies heavily on the game’s atmosphere and environment to provide the scares. There are no enemies to battle (or run from) and very few jump scares. Instead, Bloober Team has designed, prototyped and tested the same versions of each location in the game countless times to find players’ patterns in order to find the best spots to build player tension. The result is a horror masterpiece that will keep even the most ardent horror veterans on the edge of their seats.

The game was one of the first to be part of the Game Preview program on Xbox One, and it has received tons of positive feedback and reviews. In fact, Layers of Fear currently enjoys 4.5 star rating on the Xbox Store. For those that want to experience this trip through madness for yourselves, you can purchase the Game Preview version now and receive the full experience once the final version launches on February 16.

In the meantime, don’t forget to pin Layers of Fear to your Xbox One dashboard and follow this Masterpiece of Fear on Xbox to catch all the latest updates!