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Liminalcore
Liminalcore is a psychological horror walking simulator inspired by the Backrooms and Jared Pike's Poolrooms. Explore surreal, eerily empty liminal spaces as a soul descends through memory and regret. No combat - pure atmosphere, exploration, and dread.
TIMELINE
Chapter 1 — Level 37 - The Poolrooms
Developer
Shadow Owl Studios
Released
Oct 28, 2024
Platform
Windows
1.5h
Main Story
1.5h
Main+Extra
2.5h
Completionist
A 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, where the familiar dissolves into the unknown. Wade through puddles, traverse sterile walkways, and confront echoes of a forgotten past.
Chapter 2 — Faded Memories
Developer
Shadow Owl Studios
Released
Oct 28, 2024
Platform
Windows
An in-between space serving as a bridge between levels, filled with fragmented memories of a life once lived. Encounter glimpses of a home, an old neighborhood, and key locations from the protagonist's past.
Chapter 3 — The Infinite Stairs
Developer
Shadow Owl Studios
Released
Oct 28, 2024
Platform
Windows
An endless descent into the dark. The further down you go, the heavier the air becomes and the more claustrophobic the space feels. Each step takes you deeper into the unknown.
Chapter 5 — Expansion
Developer
Shadow Owl Studios
Released
Jan 30, 2025
Platform
Windows
A free expansion chapter unlocked after completing Chapter 3, introducing new environments and unsettling encounters deeper into the liminal spaces. Play order: Ch3 leads directly into Ch5 before proceeding to Ch4.
Chapter 4 — Hell
Developer
Shadow Owl Studios
Released
Oct 28, 2024
Platform
Windows
The final destination, where twisted visions of the past collide with the horrors of the afterlife. Dark, fleshy walls pulsate, the air is thick with despair, and shadows watch your every move.
FAQ
Does Liminalcore have jumpscares?
Liminalcore has minimal jumpscares. It relies on atmospheric dread, environmental tension, and surreal liminal spaces rather than traditional jump scares. The horror comes from isolation, eerie silence, and the uncanny feeling of being somewhere familiar yet wrong.
How do you unlock Chapter 5 in Liminalcore?
To unlock Chapter 5, you must start from Chapter 3. The game requires completing Chapter 3 to trigger the Chapter 5 storyline. A November 2025 update also added an Unlock All Chapters option for players who want to skip ahead.
What is the story of Liminalcore?
Liminalcore follows a soul descending through surreal, water-filled liminal spaces. Starting in Level 37 (The Poolrooms), the protagonist moves through faded memories, infinite staircases, and eventually reaches Hell. The narrative explores themes of memory, regret, and the afterlife through environmental storytelling with no dialogue.
What feelings does Liminalcore create?
Liminalcore creates feelings of unease, nostalgia, and existential dread. The empty poolrooms, sterile corridors, and impossible architecture evoke the uncanny valley of familiar spaces stripped of life. Players report a mix of calm exploration and creeping anxiety as environments become increasingly distorted.