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Layers of Fear 2 (2019) similar games & best alternatives

Layers of Fear 2 (2019)

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2019

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Quick resume

Layers of Fear 2 is a first-person psychological horror game with an emphasis on exploration and story. Players control a Hollywood actor who heeds the call of an enigmatic director to take on the lead role in a film shot aboard an ocean liner. Beware, for all may not truly be what it seems.

Global score

72/100

Genres

Adventure, Casual, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Stunning visuals and art direction
    • Strong atmospheric and psychological horror
    • Complex, symbolic narrative with multiple endings
    • Immersive sound design and voice acting
    • New game+ mode and collectibles enhance replayability

    Cons

    • Short game length
    • Some players find story confusing or pretentious
    • Chase sequences can be repetitive and frustrating
    • Limited gameplay depth and puzzle challenge
    • Some pacing issues and slow early acts

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      3

      "Players have some control over gameplay and exploration, but story progression and endings are fixed and linear."

      Capsule for Break the Game Break the Game

      "Players have some freedom to explore and make choices affecting endings, but gameplay is mostly linear with preset story progression."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      1

      "Gameplay involves simple puzzles and some chase sequences requiring timing and memorization, but overall low skill ceiling."

      Capsule for Close To The Sun Close To The Sun

      "Gameplay involves light puzzles and some chase sequences that require timing, but overall low skill demand."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -5

      "No competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and story exploration."

      Capsule for The Music Machine The Music Machine

      "No competitive elements; focus is on personal experience and story exploration."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      2

      "Multiple endings and new game plus encourage replay, though some find repeated playthroughs frustrating."

      Capsule for Cataegis : The White Wind Cataegis : The White Wind

      "Multiple endings and New Game+ encourage replay, but game length is short and some find pacing slow."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -5

      "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

      Capsule for The Henry Stickmin Collection The Henry Stickmin Collection

      "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer features."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      4

      "Highly creative environment with changing rooms, surreal visuals, and artistic storytelling."

      Capsule for Layers of Fear (2016) Layers of Fear (2016)

      "Highly creative environments, visual effects, and storytelling with cinematic and surreal elements."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; purely individual experience."

      Capsule for Poppy Playtime Poppy Playtime

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; purely individual experience."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Strong psychological horror and surreal environments provide immersive escape from reality."

      Capsule for In Sound Mind In Sound Mind

      "Strong psychological horror and surreal narrative provide immersive escape from reality."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -3

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in horror and story; no obligation or external pressure reported."

      Capsule for Layers of Fear (2016) Layers of Fear (2016)

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in psychological horror and story; no obligation reported."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      2

      "Players explore multiple story routes and endings, experimenting with choices to uncover different narratives."

      Capsule for Riddle Joker Riddle Joker

      "Players explore environments and story paths, including multiple endings and collectibles."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "The semi-open ship environment encourages exploration of different areas and characters to gather clues."

      Capsule for Between Horizons – A Sci-Fi Detective Adventure Between Horizons – A Sci-Fi Detective Adventure

      "Exploration of diverse, shifting environments on a ship with hidden items and story clues."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      -4

      "Limited customization; focus is on experiencing preset environments and narrative"

      Capsule for Homesick Homesick

      "Limited customization; focus on experiencing preset narrative and environments."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      4

      "Psychological horror with surreal and supernatural elements."

      Capsule for The Charnel House Trilogy The Charnel House Trilogy

      "Strong surreal and psychological horror themes with cinematic and supernatural elements."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "Solo game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

      Capsule for The Horror at Highrook The Horror at Highrook

      "Solo game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      2

      "Players learn story details and puzzle solutions, gaining understanding and narrative insight."

      Capsule for Chasing Static Chasing Static

      "Players learn story details and puzzle solutions; some personal insight through narrative."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of walking simulators; no physical activity involved."

      Capsule for Draugen Draugen

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of walking simulators; no physical activity involved."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires focused attention; slow pacing but continuous engagement needed."

      Capsule for Morphopolis Morphopolis

      "Requires focused attention; some slow pacing but continuous engagement needed."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No close social relationships formed; solitary experience."

      Capsule for Obduction Obduction

      "No close social relationships formed; solitary experience."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements."

      Capsule for High On Life High On Life

      "No leadership or group management elements."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      3

      "Progression through story chapters, unlocking endings and collectibles."

      Capsule for Corpse Party Corpse Party

      "Progression through story, unlocking collectibles, and multiple endings."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      -1

      "Atmosphere is tense and suspenseful rather than relaxing."

      Capsule for Still Wakes the Deep Still Wakes the Deep

      "Tense atmosphere with moments of suspense; not primarily relaxing."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      4

      "Strong sensory stimulation through detailed visuals, sound design, and atmospheric effects."

      Capsule for Beyond Hanwell Beyond Hanwell

      "Strong sensory stimulation through visuals, sound design, and atmospheric effects."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social status or recognition mechanics."

      Capsule for What Remains of Edith Finch What Remains of Edith Finch

      "No social status or recognition mechanics."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      4

      "Narrative-driven game with lore, character development, and multiple endings."

      Capsule for Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic

      "Narrative-driven game with complex, symbolic story and multiple endings."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      0

      "Light puzzle elements present but mostly straightforward choices; minimal strategic depth."

      Capsule for Moral Dilemma: The Interview Moral Dilemma: The Interview

      "Light puzzle solving present but minimal strategic or planning depth."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Jump scares and suspenseful chase sequences create moments of tension and relief."

      Capsule for Bloodwash Bloodwash

      "Chase sequences and jump scares provide moments of suspense and tension."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      1

      "Mixed opinions on value; some find price high for short length, others appreciate the artistic effort and replayability."

      Capsule for Pinstripe Pinstripe

      "Mixed opinions on value; short length but good replayability and artistic quality."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      2

      "Includes chase and survival horror elements with implied violence, but no graphic combat or destruction."

      Capsule for Cat in the Box Cat in the Box

      "Includes chase and death sequences but no combat; some violent imagery."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Some chase and avoidance mechanics create survival tension, but overall low risk gameplay."

      Capsule for Layers of Fear Layers of Fear

      "Avoiding death from monster chases adds survival tension to gameplay."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Creativity. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Strategy, Expression.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 30/04/2026