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Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake - Reviews Thread

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Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Game Information

Game Title: Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake

Platforms:
  • PC (Mar 11, 2026)
  • PlayStation 5 (Mar 12, 2026)
  • Xbox Series X/S (Mar 12, 2026)
  • Nintendo Switch 2 (Mar 12, 2026)
Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 78 average - 80% recommended
Metacritic - 75 average - Based on 24 Reviews (PS5 Version)



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Critic Reviews


CGMagazine - Marcus Kenneth - 7 / 10
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a perfect example of what bringing a classic to the modern era can be.


COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 75 / 100
Quote not yet available


Gamer Social Club - Daire Behan - 6.5 / 10
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake indicates that there is still a lot of potential in the series' unique flavour of occult paranormal J-horror. Unfortunately, this experience is marred by tedious combat encounters, inconsistent pacing, and technical issues that keep it from reaching the heights of its modern horror remake contemporaries.


IGN Italy - Alessandra Borgonovo - Italian - 8 / 10
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake successfully resurrects the absolute masterpiece of the franchise. The visual overhaul, the suffocating sound design, and the new side stories deepen an already tragic and unforgettable narrative. While the updated combat system is mostly a step forward, questionable additions like 'enraged' spirits and a slightly unbalanced upgrade economy can artificially slow down the pacing, especially during the first playthrough. Still, these flaws cannot overshadow what remains a phenomenal, chilling, and emotionally devastating J-Horror experience that every genre fan should play.


Mashable - Chance Townsend - 4.5 / 5
'Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE' is a masterclass in Japanese horror that stumbles just enough in its combat to keep it from being a perfect game, but not nearly enough to stop it from being an essential one. Team Ninja built something genuinely beautiful and genuinely terrifying here, and the fact that I'll never touch it again is probably the most honest four-and-a-half stars I've ever given anything.


MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 4 / 5
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a pleasantly anxiety-inducing game that combines the creepy thrills of the horror genre with the sharp satisfaction of taking a good photo. Though there are a couple of bumps in the road when it comes to how smoothly the game plays, the atmosphere and vibes are unparalleled and, when combined with the creative photography-based gameplay, create a remake that is absolutely worth experiencing – so long as you have a bit of extra patience.


Netto's Game Room - Benjamin Bell - Recommended
FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE is a haunting, modernized tribute to the golden age of survival horror. By blending rich Japanese folklore with its signature photography-based combat, the game forces players to confront their fears head on as they unravel the dark mysteries of the Lost Village. Though its steep learning curve isn't for everyone, the game is an unforgettable experience, and those who survive the village may find themselves drawn back to its beautiful, terrifying world time and time again.


NookGaming - Andrew Camac - 9 / 10
FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE has gone the route of the more successful remakes: it keeps everything that made the original game so memorable while adding extra content, changes the visuals, and makes it a little more unique rather than just improving the graphics and calling it a day.

It does a great job of not outright replacing the original but offering a new version of it for fans and newcomers alike, alongside a new level of challenge. This is an absolutely phenomenal jumping-in point for people who may have been curious about the series before, but were intimidated by starting with the fourth or fifth entry. It's still not going to be for everyone, but in this day and age where the survival horror is pulling quite the comeback, FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE is going to once again prove the rule of two remains untouchable.


PS4Blog.net - EdEN - 9 / 10
The definitive way to experience a beloved survival horror classic


PlayStation LifeStyle - Tyler Treese - 9 / 10
A beautiful game that is often chilling, any horror game fan will want to check out Team Ninja's remake.


PlayStation Universe - Timothy Nunes - 8.5 / 10
When people talk about wanting remakes, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake is exactly the quality of remake they have in mind. Overall, this is a fantastic way to experience a beloved classic on modern hardware.


Press Start - James Berich - 8 / 10
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a strong reimagining of a horror classic, smartly expanding on both combat and exploration from the original in clever ways. Despite such a strong and positive change in the fundamentals of the game, the locked and stuttering 30fps mode on consoles is a baffling choice for an otherwise stellar remake. Even so, this is Fatal Frame at its best and well worth any self-respecting horror fan's time.


Prima Games - Ali Hashmi - 8.5 / 10
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a shining example of how to revisit a classic without losing what made it special. From the terrifyingly detailed Minakami Village and superb character models to the refined Camera Obscura combat, which borrows elements from later entries, every update feels purposeful. The sisters' bond remains at the heart of the story, further enhanced by heartfelt gameplay touches, and the combination of organic exploration, plentiful scares, and an evolving mystery makes it an experience just as affecting now as it was on the PS2.


Push Square - Craig Reid - 7 / 10
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake is arguably one of the scariest games we've ever played. Team Ninja has somehow managed to make an already terrifying game even more so, turning Minakami Village into a visually striking and tense playground for fear. The Camera Obscura combat remains novel and unique, but clunky controls and some drawn-out encounters can frustrate.


The Nerd Stash - Sid Natividad - 8 / 10
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake made some bold changes, but despite some dramatic overhauls, it remains faithful to the original. The game continues the trend of good horror-genre remakes and has the quality to satisfy longtime fans and attract newcomers to the franchise.
 
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I am getting it anyway despite the demo being so janky. Wish they inlcuded the fps mode from og xbox, I think may help hidng all the 3rd person camera jank
 
I have this on PS3. Thanks to Sony for porting 1-3 to PSN Classics. I think I've had them all. The last two Mask of the Lunar Eclipse and Maiden of Black Water were pretty good. Maiden of Black Water being a bit better IMO. I am looking forward to this because this is considered the best one out of the lot. They're good while you keep the camera momentum going. The series has been one I wish I liked more than I do. It's got a fantastic concept to it, so I hope this remake drives it home.
 
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