Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Review

---

Genre: Survival Horror

Mode: Single-player

Developer: Team Ninja

Publisher: Koei Tecmo

Release Date: March 12, 2026

Price: $69.95 (PS Store), $72.95 (PC via Steam), $74.95 (Xbox), $75.00 (Nintendo eShop)

Available On: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 & PC

Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch 2

---

I have mixed opinions about Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake. It is a deeply unsettling survival horror game with a unique combat system, setting, and narrative. However, the gameplay feels dated, and the controls lack fluidity. As someone who never played the original, I can appreciate its industry influence, but this remake does not fully modernise the cult classic.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake tells the story of Mio and Mayu Amakura, two sisters who find themselves trapped in the ghost-infested Minakami Village. With the use of the Camera Obscura, a device that captures and exorcises the spirits that litter the village, Mio must find her sister and escape the village.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake excels in storytelling. It took me just under ten hours to finish, and the way the story unfolds is its strongest feature. While cutscenes exist, most narrative progression comes from memos and diary entries scattered throughout the world. This type of storytelling reminded me of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, my favourite horror game of all time. These entries offer distinct perspectives on Minakami Village's past and the causes of its downfall. Make sure to read every memo you find; they are what make the story truly memorable.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is available on every modern console. I played the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. In docked mode, the visuals are impressive, maintaining a dark, silent atmosphere even on Switch 2. While the PS5 or PC versions offer more detailed textures, the Switch 2 holds up well. However, the Switch 2 version suffers from a lower, locked 30 fps and occasional stuttering. Gameplay sequences are mostly stable, but cutscenes experience noticeable frame drops. This is distracting when playing on the Switch 2. Considering the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is the most expensive version to purchase, the visual downgrade and frame rate become more of an issue.

As a whole, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a very quiet game. But when the soundtrack comes in during the combat and exploration, it excels in adding tension and anxiety to the gameplay. The music itself is very ambient and never reaches a high enough volume to scare you; it makes combat scenarios a lot more tense. It's not something like Outlast, where the music (as good as it is) is a lot more in your face and adds to the shock value of the chases. I like that the music is never meant to scare you; it merely adds an extra layer of immersion to the beautiful level design. I highly suggest playing the game with a good pair of headphones, preferably ones with 3D audio, as that will greatly enhance the immersion.

While the story, level design, visuals, and soundtrack stand out, my feelings about combat and controls are mixed. Combat centres on the Camera Obscura, which you find early on. It lets you see and fight spirits by photographing them, with clearer pictures inflicting more damage. Various lenses and film types offer advantages for different enemies. For example, the Paraceptual Filter is suited for distant enemies, while the Radiant Filter works better up close. Higher-grade film does more damage but is rarer, while standard film never runs out but does less damage.

The combat system is unique, but I found it lacks fluidity. The new over-the-shoulder perspective is an improvement over fixed camera angles, yet Mio's movement feels heavy and unresponsive, especially when facing multiple ghosts. Manoeuvring around corners is awkward due to the weighty controls.

In combat, the game exhausts most of its mechanics in the first couple of hours. Though there are collectibles, Camera Obscura upgrades, and charms for different types of enemy encounters, the basic gameplay does not change. You wait for an enemy, take a shot, reset, and repeat. While I admire the originality, this repetition can become tiresome. Often, the engaging story was interrupted by another slow enemy encounter, prompting me to withdraw even though I loved the narrative and its unfolding.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Review: Verdict

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a unique survival horror experience with a compelling story, gripping atmosphere, creative level design, and a great soundtrack. However, the gameplay felt too slow and repetitive for a second playthrough. I recommend it for survival horror fans purely for the narrative, though the gameplay does not reach the same heights.

Putting all of this into consideration, I feel confident giving Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake a 6/10.