Panoptic
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| Panoptic | |
|---|---|
| |
| Information | |
| VR/AR | VR |
| Developer | Team Panoptes |
| Publisher | Team Panoptes |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Device | HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Type | Full Game |
| Genre | Action, Indie, Early Access, Early Access, VR |
| Input Device | Tracked motion controllers |
| Play Area | Room-Scale |
| Game Mode | Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer |
| Language | English, French, Dutch |
| Review | N/A |
| Release Date | 8 October 2020 |
| Price | US$16.99 |
| App Store | Steam |
| Website | https://panopticgame.com |
| Infobox Updated | 11/21/2016 |
Panoptic is an asymmetric local multiplayer game in which one player uses a SteamVR headset and the other plays on a flat PC screen. It was developed and published by Team Panoptes, a Belgium-based indie studio, and began as a prototype made at the IGJam16 game jam held during Gamescom 2016.[1][2] A free demo appeared on Steam in 2016, the game entered Steam Early Access in 2019, and it left Early Access with a full release on 8 October 2020.[2][3] A sequel, Panoptic II, was announced in January 2026.[4]
Overview
One player wears the headset as the giant Overseer, and the other plays on the PC as the much smaller Challenger. The Challenger must destroy energy sources while hiding among crowds of non-player characters. The Overseer searches for the Challenger and can focus a laser to incinerate a suspected enemy.[3][2] The Challenger uses a keyboard and mouse, according to Road to VR, and the itch.io page also lists gamepad support.[2][1]
Both players share one PC for local play. During Early Access the developer added new maps, and the full release supports online matches through Steam Remote Play, which Road to VR said is nearly indistinguishable from face-to-face play because the game is not latency intensive.[2] Steam lists a room-scale area of at least 2 m by 1.5 m, and the itch.io page also mentions seated and standing play.[3][1] The game runs on SteamVR headsets, including the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets, and Oculus Quest through Link, according to Road to VR.[2]
Reception
Steam user reviews were rated Very Positive as of October 2026.[5] The developer's website lists awards for the game that include International Game Jam awards, the Bit XR award, IGF7 Public Choice and Creative awards, and the GDC Experimental Gameplay award.[6]
Sequel
Road to VR reported in January 2026 that Team Panoptes planned Panoptic II, expanding the format to one VR player against up to four non-VR players. The sequel is planned for PC VR and Quest 3, with non-VR players joining from mobile devices, and the studio was funding it through Patreon with a first test build expected in the first quarter of 2026.[4]
Features
System Requirements
Windows
Minimum
- OS: Windows 7 SP1 or newer
- Processor: Intel Core i5 4590 or AMD FX 8350 or greater
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 or better
- Storage:
Setup Instructions
This VR game requires a play area of at least 2m x 1.5m.
Images and Videos
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Panoptic". itch.io (Team Panoptes). https://teampanoptes.itch.io/panoptic. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Asymmetric Hide-and-seek Game 'Panoptic' Leaves Steam Early Access Today". Road to VR. 2020-10-08. https://roadtovr.com/panoptic-early-access-release-vr/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Panoptic on Steam". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/541930/Panoptic/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Asymmetric PC vs. VR Game 'Panoptic' is Getting a Sequel with 1v4 Multiplayer and Quest Support". Road to VR. 2026-01-05. https://roadtovr.com/panoptic-2-announcement-pc-vs-vr-quest/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ "Panoptic user reviews (Steam reviews API)". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/appreviews/541930?json=1&language=all. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ "Panoptic". Panoptic official website (Team Panoptes). https://panopticgame.com. Retrieved 2026-10-09.