Liminalcore

About

Liminalcore is a single player action game. It was developed by Ashen Studios and was released on October 28, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Descend into the Depths of the UnknownA man gasps for air as he surfaces from water—only to find himself trapped in a room of white tiles and endless pools. This is Level 37, the Poolrooms, a place where the familiar dissolves into the unknown. In this surreal journey, you will explore spaces that exist between worlds—hauntingly empty, disturbingly quiet, and yet strangely familiar. As you traver…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 368 reviews

graphics49 positive mentions

optimization14 negative mentions

Stunning graphics and immersive atmosphere that effectively captures the essence of liminal spaces.
Unique gameplay experience that focuses on exploration without the presence of traditional horror elements like monsters or jump scares.
Engaging sound design that enhances the eerie feeling of isolation and unease throughout the game.

Performance issues, including frame rate drops and optimization problems, especially in certain areas like the ball pits.
Some players found the game too short, averaging around 2-3 hours of gameplay, leading to a desire for more content.
Repetitive environments and a lack of distinct areas can lead to feelings of monotony during exploration.

graphics
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, immersive atmosphere, and unique aesthetic that captures the essence of liminal spaces. However, players have also reported significant optimization issues, leading to performance problems on lower-end systems and crashes when adjusting settings. Overall, while the graphics are considered impressive and contribute to the game's eerie ambiance, the lack of optimization detracts from the experience for some users.
- “First off, this game's aesthetics and atmosphere are definitely top notch, and a must-experience for liminal and surreal environment lovers.”
- “The graphics are incredible, and the game is just amazing quality.”
- “I can't even start about how good the graphics feel; the reflections, the shadows, and the illumination just made me feel so immersive. Amazing job from the devs. Highly recommend the game for anyone looking for an incredible visual experience.”
- “The first time I bought it, I didn’t know about the VHS filter, which made the game’s graphics look bad, so I immediately requested a refund.”
- “The game is absolutely unplayable as it comes by default and with all the graphic options to the maximum. Although it is true that I do not have a great PC, it was always enough for me to run high-end games like Resident Evil 4 Remake or Red Dead Redemption 2 smoothly and with good FPS.”
- “I tried adjusting the graphics settings to be lower, but while the menu gives you the options of 'low, medium, high, ultra', all the options under ultra looked identical and seemed atrocious. Textures were barely even displaying on high, with blurry pixels the size of my fist.”
atmosphere
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
41%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke feelings of unease and disorientation without relying on traditional horror elements like jump scares or monsters. Players appreciate the immersive sound design, distinct environments, and the haunting aesthetics that create a captivating and unsettling experience, particularly for fans of liminal spaces. Overall, the game excels in crafting a unique psychological atmosphere that encourages exploration and reflection, making it a standout in the atmospheric horror genre.
- “It’s an amazing game—I loved it, and I loved the atmosphere and environment of the game, along with the sound effects and music in the strange places, and the locations that create fear and awe because of the unknown and unfamiliar.”
- “Liminalcore is an immersive and deeply unsettling exploration of liminal horror—a psychological experience that trades traditional monsters and scripted scares for atmosphere, disorientation, and dread.”
- “The stunning architecture and eerie atmospheric sounds enhance the experience.”
- “You may get creepy sounds here and there, but there's nothing that makes the atmosphere feel tense or heavy.”
- “Plus, the ending is a lot worse, and the atmosphere outside of the set pieces just feels far more random and less crafted.”
- “The default walking speed is excruciatingly slow, which encourages the player to just run all the time, which also detracts from the atmosphere.”
optimization
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
53%
30%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance even on high-end systems, frequent frame drops, and visual glitches. Despite the impressive graphical fidelity, users express frustration over the lack of effective optimization settings, leading to a subpar experience that detracts from gameplay. While some players noted improvements after updates, the consensus remains that the game requires substantial optimization to run smoothly across various hardware configurations.
- “Liminalcore does have some settings for optimization, but I'd love to see some optimized graphics presets instead of having to fumble around in the settings to make the game run well.”
- “While Unreal Engine 5 makes everything look great, it really hurts the performance and makes the exploration less enjoyable.”
- “The game, however, does need a desperate amount of optimization.”
- “The high level of graphical fidelity can strain performance on lower-end systems, particularly in areas with heavy reflection and water rendering.”
- “Even on the lowest possible visual settings, this game still runs badly, which suggests this game isn't well-optimized.”
- “The performance is just so bad: as much as I wanted to play this all the way through, by the time I got to chapter 3 the game became practically unplayable; I had to refund it.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The gameplay is characterized by minimal interaction and a focus on atmosphere, often described as a walking simulator with sparse puzzle-solving elements. Players have noted performance issues, slow movement, and a lack of narrative clarity, leading to a monotonous experience, especially in water levels. While the sound design enhances the mood, many reviewers suggest that similar games offer better graphics and smoother gameplay, making this title feel less engaging overall.
- “Depending on the gameplay mechanics, whether it involves exploration, puzzle-solving, or simply existing within these spaces, 'liminalcore' excels at creating a specific mood.”
- “The exquisite sound design adds a psychological aspect to the gameplay which makes for an equally unique and interesting experience.”
- “There isn't too much else to review since gameplay centers around walking, but the visual and art design are beautiful to look at.”
- “Those seeking narrative clarity, puzzle-solving, or fast-paced gameplay will likely find it sparse and directionless.”
- “But with the performance issues and boring gameplay, it just doesn't hit like the complex or pools.”
- “The snail walking speed makes this so painful and ruins the exploration fun; you always gotta worry about taking the right path to not repeat the last 15 minutes of gameplay.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
75%
15%
The story in "liminalcore" is characterized by its fragmentary and interpretive nature, relying heavily on environmental storytelling to evoke fear and intrigue rather than traditional narrative methods. Players are encouraged to piece together the narrative from sparse visual clues, leading to various interpretations, though some find the ambiguity frustrating. While the game's short length suits its storytelling style, opinions vary on its coherence and depth, with some appreciating its artistic approach and others feeling it lacks a clear narrative.
- “Ultimately, liminalcore is a haunting exercise in environmental storytelling, a meditation on emptiness and unease that lingers long after it ends.”
- “The game contains a story told through visuals and locations you find, and may require a second or third playthrough to have a better understanding of what's happening.”
- “The storytelling in liminalcore is fragmentary and interpretive, inviting players to piece together their own meaning from environmental clues and sparse visual motifs.”
- “The story of liminalcore is too confusing and doesn't really make sense.”
- “Furthermore, there's an element of intrigue in the sense that there's the odd clue as to what the underlying story may be, but it's ultimately left to the player's imagination.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The music in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its atmospheric and haunting qualities that enhance the eerie environment, while others find certain tracks, like the loud "daisy" fish song, to be jarring and distracting. The use of silence and ambient sound effects effectively contributes to the game's tension, though some areas are criticized for having tedious or grating music. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its ability to create a liminal experience, with players expressing excitement for future chapters and music.
- “It’s an amazing game—I loved it, and I loved the atmosphere and environment of the game, along with the sound effects and music in the strange places, and the locations that create fear and awe because of the unknown and unfamiliar.”
- “I love where random old distant radio music will play in some places, making the game even more liminal in nature.”
- “The absence of music for long stretches makes even silence feel deafening.”
- “Incredibly tedious mazes and massive empty rooms with the most ear-grating ambient music imaginable; turn off your volume here.”
- “Not even putting on music and speedrunning made it salvageable.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively evokes strong emotions without relying on jump scares, creating an immersive experience through impressive graphics and atmosphere. However, some players feel that the emotional impact diminishes with repeated encounters, and technical issues like camera control can detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the game resonates on a deeper level, encouraging players to reflect on their personal narratives during life's transitions.
- “Liminalcore also taps into deep emotional currents.”
- “This emotional depth allows individuals to connect with their personal narratives as they navigate through life’s transitions.”
- “Its visual appeal combined with emotional resonance makes it a compelling movement that encourages reflection and connection among its followers.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and monotonous, with repetitive mazes and empty environments contributing to a lack of engagement. The linear structure and dead-end paths further exacerbate the feeling of drudgery, leading to a desire for more diverse and meaningful gameplay experiences. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the game's potential.
- “Incredibly tedious mazes and massive empty rooms with the most ear-grating ambient music imaginable; turn off your volume here.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I expected so much more diversity in environments, but the pools get tedious when you expect more.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while it performs well at 4K and 60fps on lower graphics settings and is generally polished, players have reported technical issues such as visual glitches, frame drops even on high-end hardware, and poor optimization. Additionally, some areas suffer from overly dark lighting and shadows, contributing to the occasional minor glitches and freezes.
- “The game is extremely polished and runs great.”
- “Pools run great in 4K and 60fps with low or medium graphics presets.”
- “More objectively, the game's most notable flaws are the technical issues - visual glitches and hiccups here and there, frame drops even on a 4090, and what others have described as poor optimization.”
- “The lighting and shadows: I don't know if they were programmed incorrectly or if they're buggy, but the game looks very, very dark in many parts.”
- “There were a few minor glitches and game freezes, but nothing too major.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of comedic and unsettling elements, with players noting that the initial character, Pepe, evokes both laughter and a sense of creepiness.
- “The first Pepe was both funny and creepy.”
- “The humor in this game is spot on, with clever jokes that keep you laughing.”
- “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments.”