VR has its fair share of niche gaming genres, with developers coming up with some wild and innovative ideas. Asymmetrical games like VR Giants and Carly and the Reaperman are a couple of good examples of this, where players work together to solve puzzles. Head a little further back in time, and you’ll find 2020s Panoptic. Now the folks behind it, Team Panotopes, have announced a sequel, Panoptic II.
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What is Panoptic?
Unlike those cooperative asymmetrical games mentioned, Panoptic worked as a giant form of cat-and-mouse. It’s 1v1 gameplay saw the VR player take the form of a giant Overseer trying to hunt down a tiny challenger. This challenger played locally on the PC monitor, using the environment to hide as they run around trying to destroy the Overseer’s energy sources. If they’re spotted, the Overseer can use a laser to kill the tiny menace.
Born from a gamejam prototype, Panoptic is only available for PCVR headsets on Steam. That’s all about to change with the sequel.
Panoptic II Details
With no updates on Steam since 2020, Team Panotopes suddenly revealed in December 2025 that it was hosting a live stream to announce Panoptic II. The sequel will still retain the core gameplay of the original, with one VR giant acting as the Overseer. However, this time, more players will be able to take on the role of the tiny Challengers, with 4v1 online matches.
Furthermore, Panoptic II will be made even more accessible. Challengers will be able to join via mobile devices – so no more local PC play – and it’ll support Meta Quest 3.
The team isn’t stopping there either. They also have plans for “new gameplay modes and elements” that include “new worlds, abilities, and ways to deceive the all-seeing eye”.
Still in the Early Stages
This does sound very promising, but the team still has a long way to go. The small Belgian indie studio is looking to support development through Patreon support. Supporters will get access to early builds and prototypes as well as a copy of the final game.
Panoptic II is in a very early prototyping stage with a first playable build expected in Q1 2026.
Like the idea of playing hide and seek online with friends? Let us know your impressions of the game in the comments.
