PANICORE

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,365 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • 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

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,365 reviews
humor164 positive mentions
stability66 negative mentions
  • The game is incredibly fun to play with friends, providing a mix of horror and humor.
  • The sound mechanics, where monsters react to player voices, create a unique and immersive experience.
  • The graphics and atmosphere are impressive for an indie game, enhancing the overall horror experience.
  • The AI can be inconsistent, often camping dead bodies and making it difficult to revive teammates.
  • There are numerous bugs and technical issues, including problems with voice chat and item spawning.
  • The game lacks content, with only three maps available, leading to repetitive gameplay.
  • humor165 mentions

    The humor in the game is predominantly highlighted as a key feature, especially when played with friends, leading to numerous hilarious moments and memorable experiences. Many players find the combination of scary elements and comedic interactions, particularly through voice chat and monster antics, to create a uniquely entertaining atmosphere. While some critiques mention glitches and AI issues, the overall sentiment is that the game excels in delivering laughter and fun, making it a recommended choice for group play.

    • “This is probably the funniest horror game I've ever played, like funny to the point where it's not even scary anymore.”
    • “I never been so scared and laughed so much in my life, when I first joined with my friend we got chased immediately on easy mode and couldn't stop laughing and crying, 100% recommended game it's worth it with friends too much fun and laughter I may get a heart attack.”
    • “Spent a good hour just having a dance party in the lobby before laughing hysterically being chased by spooky boys, 10 out of 10.”
    • “Not funny at all.”
    • “The humor fell flat and felt forced.”
    • “I expected more laughs, but it was just cringeworthy.”
  • gameplay154 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both frustrating and comical, often lacking depth and variety. While some enjoy the intuitive mechanics and cooperative play with friends, others criticize the repetitive nature, poor AI, and inconsistent monster behavior, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, the game offers a fun atmosphere with charming visuals and sound, but it suffers from bugs and a lack of meaningful gameplay elements.

    • “The mechanics are simple yet rewarding, and the charming art style paired with a great soundtrack creates a fun atmosphere.”
    • “The gameplay is intuitive once you get the hang of it, and if things feel too tough, you can adjust the difficulty so there's no stress!”
    • “Gameplay: panicore offers a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and occasional combat that keeps the gameplay fresh.”
    • “Overall gameplay felt too boring and repetitive enough it left me not wanting to play more after the third map.”
    • “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 gameplay is lacking and confusing and even with friends this game was no fun at all.”
  • graphics78 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the impressive visuals and atmospheric art style that enhance the overall experience. However, some players criticize certain monster designs as outdated and lacking detail, while others find the graphics inconsistent, with some elements appearing subpar. Overall, the game's visuals are generally regarded as a strong point, particularly for an indie title, but there are notable discrepancies in quality that affect the overall perception.

    • “The visuals, sound design, and storytelling combine to keep players hooked as they explore, solve puzzles, and evade terrifying monsters.”
    • “The art style combines dark, moody environments with intricate details that enhance the sense of dread.”
    • “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 severely outdated, with textures that look like they belong to a game released over a decade ago.”
    • “The monsters also look pretty outdated, like 2012 graphic horrors, which is not really impressive. Overall experience is a 3 out of 10; just buy Lethal Company, it's better than this but also very similar with a lot more to give and with mods.”
    • “The art style is bland and unimaginative.”
  • music72 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the lobby soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, often describing it as "bangers" and "fire." However, some users criticize the main soundtrack as forgettable and reminiscent of stock music, suggesting that more effort could have been put into its composition. Overall, while the lobby music is celebrated for its fun and engaging atmosphere, the game's broader musical elements leave room for improvement.

    • “This has a bomb soundtrack.”
    • “The mechanics are simple yet rewarding, and the charming art style paired with a great soundtrack creates a fun atmosphere.”
    • “Lobby music hits different (should be added on Spotify).”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable, often feeling like it’s been lifted from a stock music library rather than composed specifically for the game.”
    • “Can not recommend the game, I think they put more time and effort into the music in the lobby rather than the game itself.”
    • “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.”
  • stability68 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs affecting gameplay, including audio issues, mic malfunctions, and AI glitches. Many players experienced game-breaking crashes and navigation problems, leading to frustration and a diminished overall experience. While some acknowledge the game's potential and appreciate recent updates, the consensus is that it remains unpolished and requires significant improvements to be enjoyable.

    • “The game runs great.”
    • “Not buggy, cool music, and the best pool game I've ever played.”
    • “The audio settings being buggy were pretty much game-breaking for my group of friends.”
    • “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.”
    • “This game is one of the most awful buggy games I have ever played.”
  • story54 mentions

    The reviews for the game's story reveal a mixed reception, with some players appreciating the psychological horror elements and character backstories that enhance immersion, while others criticize the narrative as incoherent and lacking depth. Many users express confusion over the plot's structure and the absence of clear storytelling, leading to a sense of disconnection from the gameplay experience. Overall, while there are glimpses of potential in the narrative, significant improvements are needed for it to resonate more effectively with players.

    • “Panicore is a gripping indie game that expertly blends psychological horror with immersive storytelling, creating a captivating experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “It tackles complex themes related to mental health and emotional struggle, and your choices significantly influence the story's progression.”
    • “The story unfolds through a series of clues and encounters that kept me engaged and on edge throughout.”
    • “The story is an incoherent mess, cobbled together with little regard for pacing, structure, or logic.”
    • “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.”
    • “Love playing the game, but I have some questions about the story: where are we? We have a map of the USA, but then the map we pick makes no sense from a lore perspective. Who are we? What are we looking to accomplish besides escape? Why are we the only ones alive? How did the world end up this way?”
  • atmosphere30 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, characterized by eerie environments, effective sound design, and meticulous graphics that enhance the tension and immersion. While some players appreciate the chilling ambiance and engaging gameplay, others criticize the corny jump scares and lack of polish that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its ability to evoke fear and excitement, especially when played with friends.

    • “Set in eerie, atmospheric environments, the game excels at creating a tense and immersive world full of unexpected scares.”
    • “Ztek has managed to craft a surprisingly fun and engaging experience with a brilliantly unnerving atmosphere.”
    • “The game excels in creating a tense atmosphere with its effective use of sound, lighting, and spatial design, providing a genuinely thrilling experience.”
    • “Cheap attempts at jump scares that feel corny and kill any atmosphere this game attempts to create.”
    • “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.”
    • “Game is shit... scary atmosphere but jumpscares from like 2006 maybe.. overhyped af and not worth $5 not even worth $2.”
  • replayability19 mentions

    The reviews on replayability for Panicore are mixed, with some players noting its limited replay value due to a lack of engaging content and confusing map transitions. However, others highlight the potential for replayability through different endings, difficulty levels, and modding support, suggesting that with further development, the game could enhance its replayability significantly. Overall, while some find it lacking, others see promise in its gameplay mechanics for future enjoyment.

    • “This game is extremely fun and replayable.”
    • “The gameplay loop is entertaining and replayable for different endings to play on different difficulties.”
    • “It's a must-play for gamers craving thrills and strategic depth, promising enduring enjoyment and replayability.”
    • “While Panicore offers a thrilling experience, its replayability is somewhat limited.”
    • “This game is nothing like either of those, and I see it having little to no replay value.”
    • “Panicore offers nothing in the way of replayability.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, often requiring excessive time to locate items due to repetitive and poorly designed mechanics. The need to gather resources and solve puzzles can feel pointless, especially when the outcomes are random and unfulfilling. While some enjoy the challenge, many find the experience overly time-consuming and lacking in reward.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The game is praised for its haunting atmosphere and emotional depth, effectively exploring complex themes of mental health and personal struggle, with player choices impacting the narrative significantly. While some moments may feel slow, they contribute to the overall emotional weight of the story, and well-developed characters enhance the experience. However, a few reviews criticize the plot for lacking stakes, contrasting with others who found it deeply moving, even leading to tears during gameplay.

    • “Set in a hauntingly atmospheric environment, the game throws you into a world filled with tension, puzzles, and emotional depth.”
    • “It tackles complex themes related to mental health and emotional struggle, and your choices significantly influence the story's progression.”
    • “The characters are well-developed, their plights and fears adding layers of emotional depth to the chilling proceedings.”
  • optimization11 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users noting glaring issues that hinder performance and lead to random crashes. While it can run smoothly on mid-range PCs, the game requires better optimization to prevent overheating and improve stability. Despite some positive remarks about graphics and potential, the consensus is that the game was not ready for release due to its optimization shortcomings.

    • “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.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with users labeling it a "cash grab" due to locked content that requires additional money or high levels to access. Many reviewers express disappointment in the game's lack of substance and gameplay, suggesting that players should avoid purchasing it in favor of more worthwhile options.

    • “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.”
    • “Buy other games; this just looks and plays like a cash grab.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is notably lacking, with users highlighting the absence of a compelling story or character progression, which contributes to an overall sense of blandness.

    • “There's also no story or character development, which adds to the game's blandness.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in character arcs; they felt static and unengaging.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
5-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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