The WhatsNext verdict
For Pairs of local players looking for an intense, asymmetrical VR-versus-PC stealth showdown.: Panoptic turns a VR headset into an ominous panopticon where an overseer hunts an infiltrator hiding among identical civilian drones. The resulting cat-and-mouse tension makes every micro-movement and hesitation a thrilling mind game. Tradeoff: Without online matchmaking or meaningful single-player modes, the game relies entirely on having a local partner and a VR setup, while a modest map pool can cause familiarity to set in quickly.
What it does best
A brilliantly asymmetric VR-versus-screen hide-and-seek idea
Hide-and-seek stealth where every twitch can betray you
A miniature dystopia with oppressive scale and mystery
What might put you off
Short-lived without a steady supply of local opponents
Uneven precision and VR usability
The setup
What you are walking into
Panoptic is a local multiplayer VR game that pits you against a friend, where you play as either the giant Overseer or tiny Challenger in a stealthy game of cat and mouse. Will the Challenger slip away undetected through the crowds, or will the Overseer track them down with their powerful laser eye?
Where it lives
Genre
Vibe
Up next
