PANICORE

About

PANICORE is a single player and multiplayer action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by outlaw69 and was released on May 31, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"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.

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76%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,981 reviews

gameplay66 positive mentions

stability86 negative mentions

Panicore is a fun and unique co-op horror game that excels in creating a tense atmosphere, especially when played with friends.
The game features a unique mechanic where monsters react to players' voices, adding an extra layer of strategy and tension.
The graphics and sound design are impressive for an indie title, contributing to the overall immersive experience.

The AI behavior is inconsistent, often leading to frustrating gameplay where monsters can detect players even when they are being quiet.
There are significant issues with the voice chat functionality, making it difficult for players to communicate effectively during gameplay.
The game lacks content, with only a few maps and monsters, leading to repetitive gameplay after a short time.

gameplay
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with players highlighting both innovative sound-based mechanics and significant flaws. While some enjoy the cooperative and immersive aspects, many criticize the AI's sensitivity to noise, repetitive gameplay loops, and lack of depth in mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game is seen as fun in short bursts, particularly with friends, but it may not offer enough variety or polish for extended play.
- “The gameplay is intuitive once you get the hang of it, and if things feel too tough, you can adjust the difficulty so no stress!”
- “The mechanics are simple yet rewarding, and the charming art style paired with a great soundtrack creates a fun atmosphere.”
- “This innovative mechanic has not only redefined my understanding of immersion but also heightened the sense of dread to unparalleled levels.”
- “The AI in the game barely interacts with the main mechanic (sound), and they instead just lurk near you most of the time to add 'risk'.”
- “The gameplay is bland, the monsters are too sensitive to noise (making the gameplay boring), and if there is any form of noise from the microphone, it counts as shouting.”
- “The gameplay loop isn't bad, but it lacks variety.”
humor
227 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is widely praised, particularly when played with friends, as it combines scary moments with hilarious interactions, often amplified by proximity chat. Players report nonstop laughter from funny voiceovers, unexpected monster encounters, and the chaotic antics of friends, making it a memorable experience. While some find the humor to stem from the game's flaws, the overall consensus is that it provides a fun and entertaining time, especially in a group setting.
- “If you got a couple of pals who are into spooky games and have a good sense of humor, then for 5 bucks, it's not a bad way to spend an evening for some laughs and scares.”
- “This is one of the funniest games I have ever played, and if you have many friends, you will die laughing.”
- “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!”
- “Not funny.”
- “Not funny at all.”
- “The humor falls flat.”
graphics
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
44%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric and detailed visuals that enhance the horror experience, while others criticize them as outdated or poorly optimized. Some players highlight the impressive quality for an indie title, noting that the graphics contribute significantly to the game's eerie ambiance, though a few feel they lack originality. Overall, the graphics are generally regarded as a strong point, but there are calls for improvements in optimization and design consistency.
- “The graphics are stunning, and the sound design really enhances the overall atmosphere, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
- “The first thing you'll notice is the great graphics—they set the perfect eerie atmosphere, drawing you into the dark and twisted world.”
- “An actually good game with good mechanics, and pretty incredible graphics for an indie game.”
- “The graphics are severely outdated, with textures that look like they belong to a game released over a decade ago.”
- “The game has the graphics of a potato sack and they have still managed to pull crappier optimization than the first Warzone game on PC.”
- “This game looks like one of those high graphic games you'd find on Roblox.”
music
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly for its energetic and engaging lobby tracks, which many players describe as "bangers" that enhance the overall experience. While some critiques mention that the soundtrack can overshadow gameplay audio, the fun and lively atmosphere created by the music, especially during multiplayer sessions, is a highlight for most players. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyment.
- “The music in the main lobby is the hardest music in any game ever to exist.”
- “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.”
stability
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and issues with AI behavior that detract from the overall experience. While some players find enjoyment in the chaos and humor of these bugs, many express frustration over game-breaking issues, particularly with voice chat and monster interactions. Overall, the game is seen as unpolished and in need of substantial fixes to improve stability and gameplay.
- “The game runs great.”
- “Not buggy, cool music, and the best pool game I've ever played.”
- “Overall this game just isn't worth your time with how buggy and unfun it is.”
- “This game is not good, buggy, unpolished, and a huge pain in the neck to play.”
- “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.”
story
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
71%
16%
The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the game's story, with many players noting a lack of coherent narrative and character development. While some appreciate the immersive gameplay and the potential for emotional engagement, others criticize the story as confusing, poorly structured, and often an afterthought. Overall, the game seems to offer engaging mechanics and fun multiplayer experiences, but it falls short in delivering a compelling and well-defined storyline.
- “The game offers a unique blend of intense gameplay and immersive storytelling that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “You really get to connect with the characters as you progress through the story, which adds an emotional layer to the experience.”
- “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 or what you have to do other than the guy over the radio telling you your objective is to escape with 2 options on how to do it.”
- “I feel like this game really needed to have more direction with its general story and worldbuilding.”
atmosphere
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
49%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its chilling and immersive environments, effective sound design, and unique entity designs that enhance the horror experience. However, some critiques highlight repetitiveness and jankiness that detract from immersion, while others find the atmosphere lacking in certain areas, such as lighting and overall engagement. Overall, the game succeeds in creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere, though opinions vary on its execution and impact on gameplay.
- “Really underrated, the entities are all perfectly unique, good and detailed explanations on how to escape, amazing atmosphere on every level, and overall, actually scary.”
- “The atmosphere makes the game horrifying and just knowing there's a monster lurking in the same building as you is anxiety-inducing (good kind of anxiety).”
- “The game excels in creating a tense atmosphere with its effective use of sound, lighting, and spatial design, providing a genuinely thrilling experience.”
- “Very janky and the atmosphere was boring; the hub and music is the best part of this game.”
- “Cheap attempts at jump scares that feel corny and kill any atmosphere this game attempts to create.”
- “The game itself does offer a spooky atmosphere, but they don't give you a tutorial on how to play it or what the goal is.”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, with players often feeling that they need excessive time to progress. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of searching for items and completing objectives, which can lead to frustration rather than enjoyment. While some players appreciate the fun moments shared with friends, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a chore rather than a rewarding experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This game blows, awful monster balancing, tedious levels, and broken voice chat combine to make this game annoying and a chore to play.”
- “It becomes so tedious and annoying plus items are so damn rare and hard to find that it takes years to finish one map.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
43%
22%
The reviews on replayability for the game are mixed; while some players appreciate the randomized item placements and variety in gameplay that enhance replay value, others find it limited and lacking in long-term engagement. Many agree that it can be enjoyable for a one-time experience, particularly in a group setting, but ultimately, the game may not hold players' interest beyond a few sessions. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, especially with modding support, but significant improvements are needed for it to be truly enduring.
- “One of the more enjoyable features is the variety in how each round unfolds—different puzzles and escape methods give the game replayability, especially in a group.”
- “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.”
- “After some rounds, there is no fun to be had with it; no replayability, and you will start noticing things that are just bad.”
- “Fun for a one-time experience, but it doesn't have a lot of replay value.”
- “Panicore offers nothing in the way of replayability.”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
35%
40%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting subpar performance, frequent crashes, and a lack of immersion due to technical issues. Despite some updates aimed at improving the situation, many feel the game launched in a poorly optimized state, making it difficult to enjoy fully. While there are moments of good performance, particularly on lower-end PCs, the overall experience is marred by glaring optimization flaws.
- “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 performance is also subpar.”
- “Poor optimization, terrible new player experience, and a completely broken multiplayer system!”
- “The lack of optimization is glaring, and it’s a wonder how this game was allowed to launch in such a poor state.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players reporting deep connections to the characters and experiences that evoke strong feelings, including tears and intense emotional responses. The narrative explores complex themes such as mental health and emotional struggle, with player choices significantly impacting the story's progression. However, some critiques mention a lack of real stakes in the plot, suggesting that while the emotional depth is present, it may not resonate with all players equally.
- “You really get to connect with the characters as you progress through the story, which adds an emotional layer to the experience.”
- “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.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with users labeling it a "cash grab" due to its limited content and reliance on locked maps and monsters that require additional investment. Many reviewers express disappointment in the game's quality and substance, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over player experience.
- “Probably just a cheap, AI-made cash grab...”
- “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.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development in the game is notably impressive, showcasing depth and growth; however, some players feel that the lack of story and character development in certain areas contributes to an overall sense of blandness.
- “Additionally, the character development is impressive.”
- “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.”