Co-op Horror Games Guide for North America: 2010-2023

Co-op Horror 2010-2018 ┃ Co-op Horror 2021-2023

Developers continue to push what players can endure in cooperative fright. Today Steam hosts a wide range of co-op horror games, and sharing the fear with friends or online strangers makes every session feel bigger, louder, and more immersive. This article explores co-op horror titles and jump scares designed for two players and larger groups, offering options for different tastes and play styles.

Scary games and horror

The Blackout Club. very strange things

• Platforms: PC, PS4 and Xbox One
• Multiplayer: Online co-op for up to four players
• In Russian? Yes

The Blackout Club builds an atmosphere inspired by popular thrillers and mysteries. A mysterious, closed town sees residents vanish nightly, and people drift through the streets in a daze. A handful of kids resist the effect and form a crew to uncover the truth. Armed with a crossbow, foam, a smartphone, and other gear, they head out each night to investigate, loot, and level up by earning pump points.

The game draws on survival and mystery legacies, emphasizing slow, deliberate exploration, multiple routes, and randomized objectives. Each mission offers a fresh path, sometimes asking players to gather evidence of strange happenings, sometimes to rescue a friend, and always to stay under the radar of a terrifying figure known as the Figure.

Secret Neighbor: Hello Neighbor Multiplayer. The kids got into trouble

• Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android
• Multiplayer: Online co-op for up to six players
• In Russian? Yes

Secret Neighbor continues the Hello Neighbor universe between Acts 1 and 2. Players become curious kids who land in trouble while trying to rescue a friend from a creepy basement. The Neighbor operates as both captor and obstacle. The group splits into escape artists and captors, then teams must work together to unlock doors, collect keys, and outsmart the Neighbor using clever gadgets and precise timing.

The challenge lies in balancing stealth, teamwork, and quick thinking. The kids must avoid detection while gathering tools and solving puzzles. The Neighbor employs a variety of tricks to thwart players, so cooperation and careful planning are essential to pull off a rescue without getting caught.

The Dark Pictures Anthology. Live again until dawn

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch
• Multiplayer: Online and local co-op for up to two players
• In Russian? Yes

The Dark Pictures Anthology marks a return to interactive horror storytelling. Beginning with a strong entry that rebooted the genre, the series offers a collection of short, cinematic adventures that invite players to shape outcomes through choices and collaboration. The games lean on tension, character dynamics, and moral decisions, all presented with high production quality. Co-op play lets two players guide the narrative together, exchanging opinions, debating choices, and feeling the weight of consequences in real time.

While not every story relies on pure jump scares, fear often comes from the pressure of making the right call under uncertainty. Strong performances, a polished visual style, and meaningful branching paths reward players who explore every option. The second installment expanded the format with more ambitious stories and fresh cast dynamics, keeping co-op at the core of the experience.

Resident Evil: Resistance. Death to the tyrant

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
• Multiplayer: online co-op for up to five players (1 vs 4)
• In Russian? Yes

The remake of Resident Evil 3 introduced a special training ground scenario dropping four heroes into tight, dangerous zones. They race against the clock to locate keys and escape, while one player acts as the mastermind behind traps, zombies, and the classic tyrant. The blend of strategy, teamwork, and fast action delivers a tense, pulse-pounding session as crews navigate preset environments and evolving threats.

Even with some clumsy combat moments, the experience shines when played with friends online. Co-op multiplayer lets a crew stage a desperate defense, coordinate strategies, and keep the Umbrella experiment alive through successive rounds and escalating danger.

Loco Parentis. Gloomy Kazan entrances

• Platforms: PC
• Multiplayer: Online co-op for up to two players
• In Russian? Yes

A project from Kazan studio Fair Games, creators of Protocol, Loco Parentis follows a character who leaves an apartment only to find themselves back at the top after reaching the first floor. Each loop reveals new plot details and introduces threatening monsters, while tight inventory management adds pressure and puzzle design can feel like a precarious house of cards built from quirky glitches rather than bugs.

This title has flaws, yet the atmosphere remains strong enough to deliver scares more than once. Loco Parentis uses a modest budget effectively and deserves attention for delivering on its core promise.

Sign of silence. Escape from the forest

• Platforms: PC
• Multiplayer: Online co-op for up to four players
• In Russian? Yes

A Steam arrival in October 2020, Sign of Silence invites a four-person team to navigate a haunting forest and a rundown village. The online cooperative setup makes it easy to assemble a squad and dive in quickly.

Overall, the experience leaves a positive impression with room for improvement. The map feels expansive yet sometimes empty, the forest scenery is striking but repetitive, and the village environment earns extra charm without fully exploiting its potential. Patches and updates promise continued refinement, and active development keeps the player base engaged.

Phasmophobia. Do not say name aloud

• Platforms: PC
• Multiplayer: Online co-op for up to four players
• In Russian? Yes

Phasmophobia remains a standout choice. Since its launch, it topped streaming charts thanks to tight gameplay, a chilling atmosphere, and smart mechanics. Players act as paranormal investigators sneaking into haunted locations to identify the type of spirit at work. A key mechanic is that ghosts react to spoken names or keywords, encouraging careful, controlled conversation. English is currently the most reliable language for these interactions, making it a natural learning hook for new players.

Phasmophobia stands out as one of the scariest options on the list. Watching a partner react to a spectral presence is often scarier than the ghost itself. The thrill comes from atmosphere, teamwork, and the anticipation built by careful communication. For those who have not tried it yet, the investment is worth it.

Pacify. There is evil in this house

• Platforms: PC
• Multiplayer: Online co-op for up to four players
• In Russian? Yes

A fresh Steam addition, Pacify drops a team into a haunted house with a real estate agent seeking to sell the property. The team hires specialists to document and reveal the supernatural activity. The option to play solo or with up to three friends keeps the pace varied as players gather evidence, interact with objects, and hunt for keys that unlock new areas. The spirit grows more restless as the night progresses, demanding careful teamwork to avoid becoming the next victim.

Pacify emphasizes cooperative problem solving and careful exploration. Fear grows from uncertainty and the sense that every action could trigger a spectral response. The dynamic makes it memorable for a night of stealthy scares with friends.

Hunt confrontation. Monster hunt

• Platforms: PC, PS4 and Xbox One
• Multiplayer: Online battles with support for up to 12 players
• In Russian? Yes

Hunt Showdown blends first-person shooting with horror flavor rather than pure survival. Fans of monster chasing will find plenty to like as crews pursue or defend in a foggy, dangerous landscape. The visuals are striking, and the pace requires constant coordination as teams switch between PvP and PvE encounters.

The developer, Crytek, is known for blockbuster visuals and tight gunplay. The game leans into a brutal, adrenaline-fueled mood where teams navigate hazardous zones, claim rewards, and survive long enough to win.

COMFORTLESS. island survival

• Platforms: PC, PS4 and Xbox One
• Multiplayer: Online co-op for up to four players
• In Russian? Yes

DESOLATE drops players onto Granichny Island where a catastrophe has left the land filled with anomalies and mutated creatures. Teams of four must craft gear, upgrade their characters, and push through brutal environments to uncover the truth behind the disaster. The game supports solo play as well as cooperative runs, offering varied challenges based on group size and strategy.

As the cooperative horror scene grows, players can expect a mix of haunted houses, eerie forests, and perilous urban settings. The genre remains a lively option for group play, with frequent updates and patches driving ongoing participation. Halloween vibes aside, these titles deliver social experiences that hinge on teamwork, timing, and nerve.

Co-op Horror 2010-2018 ┃ Co-op Horror 2021-2023

Are you afraid to play cooperative horror games?

Note: This overview compiles widely discussed co-op horror experiences and reflects ongoing community opinions as cited in game-focused media. [VG Times].