PANICORE

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,704 reviews
  • gameplay
  • humor
  • graphics
PANICORE Game Cover
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"PANICORE" is a horror action game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes for up to 2 players in co-op. As urban explorers, you'll delve into ominous abandoned places, only to become trapped with unknown forces blocking your way out. Solve puzzles, navigate dangers, and overcome fear as you search for a means of escape on this immersive adventure, complete with stunning graphics, perfect music, and a healthy dose of humor - despite some bugs.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,704 reviews
gameplay50 positive mentions
stability73 negative mentions
  • gameplay196 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth, particularly criticizing the inconsistent monster mechanics and poorly designed enemies. While some enjoy the cooperative aspects and sound-based mechanics, others feel the game suffers from artificial difficulty spikes and a lack of clear instructions. Overall, the gameplay loop is seen as entertaining in short bursts, especially with friends, but fails to provide lasting engagement or variety.

    • “Blends intense roguelike gameplay with strategic shooting mechanics.”
    • “But what really makes this game shine is its addictive gameplay, especially when played with friends.”
    • “The gameplay loop is entertaining and replayable for different endings to play on different difficulties.”
    • “The gameplay consists of no one speaking and only walking through this labyrinth map finding randomly placed objects.”
    • “Instead of offering a sense of challenge or accomplishment, it punishes players with artificial difficulty spikes and poorly designed enemies that feel more like obstacles in a bad tech demo than actual gameplay elements.”
    • “The lack of variety in gameplay and the overall poor quality means that once you’ve suffered through it, there’s no incentive to do it again.”
  • humor184 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, particularly when played with friends, leading to numerous hilarious moments and chaotic interactions. Players enjoy the combination of funny voice chat, unexpected monster antics, and the ability to troll each other, creating a lighthearted atmosphere even amidst the scares. Overall, the game is considered a fun experience that thrives on social play, making it a recommended choice for those looking to share laughs while navigating its challenges.

    • “Awesome and funny game, especially when playing with that one friend who puts the microphone in their throat and makes sounds like a gigantic tanker.”
    • “Almost pissed myself from the monsters and from laughing so hard. 10/10 would recommend.”
    • “This game is hilarious when played with friends, even when the AI is dumb it makes for funnier moments.”
    • “Not funny at all.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
    • “I expected more laughs, but it just didn't deliver.”
  • graphics94 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the impressive visuals and smooth performance that effectively create an eerie atmosphere, particularly for an indie title. However, others criticize the graphics as outdated and uninspired, likening them to those of games released over a decade ago, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the art style appealing and fitting for the game's theme, others feel it lacks creativity and coherence.

    • “The first thing you'll notice is the great graphics—they set the perfect eerie atmosphere, drawing you into the dark and twisted world.”
    • “The graphics are impressive for an indie title of this scope.”
    • “Panicore is a fantastic game with beautiful graphics, interesting gameplay and an intriguing story.”
    • “Graphics: outdated and uninspired”
    • “The graphics are severely outdated, with textures that look like they belong to a game released over a decade ago.”
    • “The art style is bland and unimaginative.”
  • music80 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising the lively and engaging lobby music, often described as "fire" and perfect for dancing with friends. However, the overall soundtrack is criticized for being forgettable and reminiscent of stock music, lacking a unique composition. While the sound quality is noted as top-notch, some players feel the lobby music overshadows important in-game audio, impacting gameplay.

    • “The sound quality is top-notch too, with creepy sound effects and music that really enhance the experience—especially that fire song in the lobby!”
    • “Lobby music hits different (should be added on Spotify).”
    • “Really love this game for what it is - a game that just came out and is $5 made by 2 devs. Lobby music is nothing but bangers, emotes are silly, lobby games are fun to de-stress from a rough game, plus the joy of juking monsters and getting the doppelgangers to say dumb things is unmatched.”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable, often feeling like it’s been lifted from a stock music library rather than composed specifically for the game.”
    • “Spawning into the lobby, you have to immediately turn off the music because it completely overpowers any audio being picked up by players and their mics.”
    • “The music should not overpower a game that’s extremely based around proximity chat.”
  • stability74 mentions

    The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including minor glitches and significant issues that can lead to game-breaking crashes, making it frustrating to play. While some players find it enjoyable and see potential for improvement, the overall consensus is that the game is currently unpolished and requires substantial fixes to enhance stability. Many users report frequent crashes and problematic features, such as unreliable voice chat and erratic AI behavior, contributing to a janky gameplay experience.

    • “Not buggy, cool music, and the best pool game I've ever played.”
    • “Bugs are rampant, ranging from minor glitches like clipping through walls to major issues like game-breaking crashes that force you to restart entire levels.”
    • “The game seems pretty cool, but it is so bug-ridden that it crashes 5 times before you can actually play a game.”
    • “This game is one of the most awful buggy games I have ever played.”
  • story62 mentions

    The game's story is widely criticized for being incoherent and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels like an afterthought. Players express frustration over the absence of character development and a clear narrative, leading to a repetitive and confusing experience. While some mention potential in the game's concept and collectibles that hint at a backstory, the overall consensus is that significant improvements are needed for the story to enhance the gameplay.

    • “Panicore is a fantastic game with beautiful graphics, interesting gameplay, and an intriguing story.”
    • “The story unfolds through a series of clues and encounters that kept me engaged and on edge throughout.”
    • “In summary, Panicore is a groundbreaking achievement in the horror genre, seamlessly blending advanced technology with masterful storytelling to create an experience that is as terrifying as it is unforgettable.”
    • “The story is an incoherent mess, cobbled together with little regard for pacing, structure, or logic.”
    • “There’s also no story or character development, which adds to the game’s blandness.”
    • “There's 0 story and no obvious instructions on how to play, other than the guy over the radio telling you your objective is to escape with 2 options on how to do it.”
  • replayability32 mentions

    The reviews for replayability in this game are mixed, with some players praising its high replay value due to multiple endings, mod support, and engaging gameplay, while others criticize it for having little to no replayability. Overall, the game's potential for replayability seems to hinge on future updates and community-driven content, as some players find it entertaining but lacking in depth.

    • “This game is extremely fun and replayable.”
    • “This adds significant replay value and maintains the game's suspense.”
    • “The gameplay loop is entertaining and replayable for different endings to play on different difficulties.”
    • “Replayability: nonexistent”
    • “Panicore offers nothing in the way of replayability.”
    • “Not scary at all and there is 0 replayability.”
  • atmosphere21 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its impressive graphics and effective sound design, which together create a chilling and immersive experience filled with tension and jump scares. However, some players feel that certain elements can detract from the overall atmosphere due to repetitiveness or a lack of engagement. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements successfully draws players into a dark and twisted world, enhancing the horror experience.

    • “The first thing you'll notice is the great graphics—they set the perfect eerie atmosphere, drawing you into the dark and twisted world.”
    • “The game excels in creating a tense atmosphere with its effective use of sound, lighting, and spatial design, providing a genuinely thrilling experience.”
    • “The visual and auditory design work in perfect harmony to create an atmosphere thick with tension.”
    • “It doesn’t add anything to the atmosphere and, in many cases, detracts from it by being repetitive or ill-suited to the on-screen action.”
    • “The maps and atmosphere work fine, but for now this game only kills about 2 hours of playtime before your friend group drops the game.”
    • “From spine-chilling atmospheres to relentless jump scares, I believed I was well-versed in the language of fear.”
  • optimization19 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on mid-range PCs with at least 8GB of RAM, many users report significant issues, including overheating and crashes. Despite impressive graphics and performance, the overall lack of optimization at launch has led to frustration among players, suggesting that the game was not fully ready for release. Some users see potential for improvement, indicating that performance tweaks are necessary for a better experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly without needing a high-end PC, though you'll want at least 8GB of RAM to ensure everything runs without a hitch.”
    • “Crazy graphics and great performance.”
    • “Performance: 10/10 no issues.”
    • “The lack of optimization is glaring, and it’s a wonder how this game was allowed to launch in such a poor state.”
    • “It definitely needs some changes and fixes though, but that's normal as it just came out; it also needs - please, for the love of god - a much better optimization because such a game making my PC hit 70°C on lowest settings should not be a thing!”
    • “If you're looking for a fun hour or so then go for it, but personally I would say this game was not ready to be released because of the boring gameplay loop and lack of optimization.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring extensive time spent searching for randomly generated items and solving puzzles that may not yield meaningful rewards. The reliance on random codes and the unpredictability of item locations contribute to a frustrating experience, overshadowing the game's potential enjoyment. Overall, while some appreciate the game's elements, the grinding process is widely criticized for its lack of engagement and reward.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “In this game, you just run around for ages until you find items; it is such a tedious process.”
    • “Gathering items for the exits is tedious and does not feel that rewarding.”
    • “It became deeply too tedious when there was a door that needed to be unlocked by a randomly generated code using 3 resources (also randomly generated), and there may not even be a reason to unlock the door. The location of spawned items is so random that you may do a whole puzzle for nothing.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    Reviews on the emotional aspect of the game are mixed; while some players found the characters well-developed and their struggles impactful, leading to strong emotional reactions, others criticized the plot for lacking stakes and depth. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from fear to catharsis, particularly highlighted by memorable moments in specific levels.

    • “I cried, laughed, and felt a whirlwind of emotions; this game truly resonates on a personal level.”
    • “Best horror game ever! I cried after playing the asylum level.”
    • “The characters are well-developed, their plights and fears adding layers of emotional depth to the chilling proceedings.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with essential content locked behind levels and monetary barriers, leading many users to recommend against purchasing it due to its perceived lack of substance and quality.

    • “Other maps are locked behind levels and money, making this more like a cash grab ticking down for a Steam refund.”
    • “The game is just a low-quality cash grab that does not have any actual substance or gameplay. I would very much recommend not buying this game.”
    • “Cash grab for sure.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game has been criticized for a lack of story and character development, contributing to an overall sense of blandness and disengagement for players.

    • “There’s also no story or character development, which adds to the game’s blandness.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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