Most survival-horror games are designed for a single player, but a few let you play with a friend. Games like Resident Evil 5 and 6 offer co-op modes, and recently, Outlast Trials successfully brought that series’ scary gameplay to cooperative play. I’ve tried almost every co-op survival-horror game out there, and I think the best ones are still the 2005 PlayStation 2 game Obscure and its sequel, Obscure: The Aftermath.
The album Obscure came out in Australia and Europe in 2004, and was released in North America the following year, in 2005.
I randomly rented Obscure from Movie Gallery years ago and instantly loved it. My brother and I played through the whole game together using the local co-op feature. As a big fan of the original Resident Evil games, the idea of experiencing that kind of scary, survival-horror gameplay with a friend was amazing. It remains the best co-op horror game I’ve ever played, and I really wish more people would give it a chance.
Obscure feels like a classic Resident Evil game, but instead of a mansion, it’s set in a high school. You control typical high school students, and their personalities affect how you play. The rebellious character can open locked doors, while the athlete is faster and stronger. The story and characters aren’t particularly deep, but they serve their purpose.
Obscure Stands Out Thanks to Its Unique Features
The best thing about Obscure is its really enjoyable local co-op mode, where two players can team up for a classic survival-horror experience. The game also offers unique features like combining items to create helpful tools, and a constant sense of danger thanks to permadeath. Once a character dies in Obscure, they’re gone for good, which means players have fewer and fewer allies as they progress towards the end.
You Can Play Both Obscure Games on Steam
- Obscure on Steam
- Obscure: The Aftermath on Steam
If you’re a fan of survival horror and enjoyed the original Obscure, you’ll be happy to know both games have been available on Steam for about ten years. Both versions have received overwhelmingly positive reviews and are quite affordable – the first game costs $6.99, and the sequel is $9.99. These releases are essentially the original games without major additions, so don’t expect new features like online multiplayer. However, the excellent local co-op mode remains a key part of the experience.
I’m glad Obscure and its sequel are available on Steam, but I hope they’ll be released on other platforms too, so more people who enjoy horror games can play them. It’s too bad these games aren’t available on today’s consoles and are limited to older systems.
While it’s a long shot, remaking or remastering the Obscure games would be fantastic. Capcom’s Resident Evil remakes have been hugely successful, and though Obscure isn’t as well-known, there’s a strong fanbase eager for a local co-op survival-horror experience. Adding online co-op would be a bonus, but keeping the local co-op option is essential to preserve what makes Obscure special.
It’s been a long time since we’ve heard anything about the Obscure series, so don’t expect any announcements soon. PC players can still enjoy the games on Steam, while those on consoles might eventually see the classic horror titles updated for newer systems.
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2026-02-05 22:34