Unveiling Layers of Fear 2023: The Ultimate Guide to Beating the Game

First Playthrough

Players can expect to spend around 10-15 hours completing all five stories in Layers of Fear (2023), depending on how thoroughly they explore and collect notes and story items, as well as which ending they are aiming for. It is highly recommended that players take their time during their first playthrough to get familiar with the twisted hallways in each setting. Since players will not have a map to reference and the environment is constantly changing, exploring during the initial run will reduce time on subsequent playthroughs. Those who explore and read at a casual pace should allocate approximately 5 hours to complete the Painter's Story, 6 hours to complete the Actor's Story, 2 hours to complete the Daughter's Story, and 3 hours to complete the Musician's Story. Additionally, players can expect to spend up to an hour on the segments that comprise the Writer's Story and cutscenes.

Completing the Story

To fully experience all the possible endings and complete the game, players will need to replay certain chapters multiple times. This not only expands the potential completion time but also offers the opportunity to find any remaining collectibles or make different choices to explore alternate endings. Some endings require players to avoid certain rooms, collectibles, or combat encounters. With prior knowledge of puzzles and pathways, players can complete subsequent playthroughs in roughly half the time. With a total of 11 different endings across the four sub-stories, fully completing Layers of Fear (2023) will require players to spend around 30-40 hours in the game's haunting world. Players can enjoy this game on PC, Playstation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series S|X.