Labyrinthine Review: A Chaotic, Creepy Co‑op Crawl on Xbox

Labyrinthine finally makes its way to Xbox, bringing its brand of maze‑driven co‑op horror to console players who love getting lost, screaming together, and occasionally blaming each other for taking the wrong turn. It’s a strange little game that's ambitious in atmosphere, scrappy in execution, and absolutely built for group play.

If you’re looking for polished, cinematic horror, this isn’t it. But if you want a night of unpredictable, sometimes hilarious, sometimes genuinely tense co‑op chaos, Labyrinthine has a charm all its own.

The premise is simple: you and your friends are dropped into sprawling mazes, hedges, fairgrounds, forests, underground tunnels and told to solve puzzles while avoiding whatever lurks inside. There’s no map, no clear path, and barely any light. You rely on glowsticks, spray paint, and your own questionable sense of direction.

The atmosphere is the game’s strongest asset. The sound design is unnervingly effective: distant footsteps, guttural breathing, or a sudden shriek can send the whole group into panic. The environments feel oppressive, and the darkness is almost overwhelming. Sometimes too overwhelming. Even with your flashlight, visibility is extremely limited, and it can cross the line from “tense” to “I literally can’t see what I’m doing.” It’s part of the game’s identity, but it won’t be for everyone.

Each maze features a different creature, and they all behave differently. Some hunt by sound, some by sight, some by proximity. A few have specific weaknesses like being stunned by your flashlight, but the game rarely explains these mechanics outright.

That discovery process is half the fun. The first time you hear something sprinting toward you in the dark, or freeze because you know a blind monster is inches away, Labyrinthine delivers genuine horror. The creature designs are varied enough to keep each chapter feeling distinct, and the unpredictability keeps the tension high.

Labyrinthine splits its content into two main modes:

Story Mode

A linear, chapter‑based campaign that mixes puzzles, exploration, and monster encounters. The narrative is light and mostly serves as a backdrop for the environments, but the pacing is solid and the set‑pieces can be surprisingly effective.

Case Files

Procedurally generated mazes designed for replayability. These are shorter, more chaotic, and perfect for quick co‑op sessions. They also feed into the game’s progression system, unlocking cosmetics and equipment, though the grind can feel steep.

Labyrinthine is absolutely a co‑op-first experience. Solo play is possible, but it strips away much of the charm. With friends, the game becomes a shared panic simulator with you shouting warnings, splitting up to solve puzzles, or laughing hysterically when someone gets jump‑scared by a ghost child. The Xbox version supports online co‑op for up to eight players and cross‑play, making matchmaking easier.

Labyrinthine is slow, unforgiving, and sometimes opaque. You’ll wander in circles. You’ll miss key items because they blend into the environment. You’ll die to monsters you never saw coming. Some of this is intentional; some of it is simply rough design. The game’s jank is part of its identity, it's sometimes charming, sometimes irritating. The darkness, the grindy progression, and the occasionally clumsy puzzle design can wear you down. But if you’re patient, the game rewards you with moments of genuine dread and discovery.

Pros

• Excellent sound design that builds real tension

• Varied and memorable monster encounters

• Co‑op with up to eight players is chaotic fun

• Case Files mode offers strong replayability

Cons

• Extremely dark environments hinder visibility and gameplay

• Story mode is thin and forgettable

• Progression and cosmetics require heavy grinding

Slow, sometimes frustrating pacing

Labyrinthine – Console Edition is a niche horror experience, but one with a clear identity. It’s atmospheric, unpredictable, and often genuinely tense. It’s also clunky, occasionally frustrating, and unapologetically dark, literally and figuratively.

If you’ve got a group of friends who love co‑op horror, this is a wonderfully chaotic night in. If you prefer refined, guided, single‑player scares, you may find the mazes more exhausting than exciting.

XPN Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (SILVER)

Labyrinthine is available now!