Revolutionary Co-Op Horror Games You Need to Play

In many horror games, players are typically asked to embark on their journey solo, which is often more effective at instilling fear since there’s no one else to provide comfort or assistance during the scary moments. However, not all horror games follow this pattern; some include cooperative gameplay options, allowing a second player to join in the horror experience.

Although these games might continue to provide chilling gameplay, if not outright terrifying, they certainly offer an enjoyable experience that players can remember fondly for years. Some games push boundaries by incorporating distinctive cooperative elements specific to their franchise or even the genre.

9. The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan

Hallucinations May Dupe the Players

In the initial episode of the Dark Pictures Anthology, it was Man of Medan that set the stage. This story revolves around a band of companions embarking on a scuba diving adventure. However, their thrilling journey takes an unexpected turn when they’re abducted by pirates, leaving them stranded aboard the spooky SS Ourang Medan, a ship infamous for carrying Munchurian gold. The gold, contrary to popular belief, isn’t valuable treasure but rather a substance that triggers hallucinations.

In this game, players have the option to tackle it alone or join forces with another person, who will manage one of the other characters in the setting. This results in an engaging cooperative play, where the hallucinations affect both player characters, causing them to perceive their partner as a potential enemy they must confront. This creates a distinctive cooperative horror gameplay experience.

8. Forewarned

Fallen Allies Return as Mummies

Platform(s): PC
Release Date: September 10th, 2021
Developer(s): Dreambyte Games

In the early 2020s, numerous cooperative horror games featuring multiple layers were launched, where teams of up to four players would venture into a location infested with some form of supernatural or ghostly entity. Their mission was either to retrieve an object within or uncover the nature of the entity while steering clear of its grasp. Forewarned, one such game, offered an Egyptian twist by having players explore underground tombs in search of understanding the source of the haunting.

Surely, this mission carries significant risk, as players will find themselves ill-equipped for survival beyond fleeing when they can and relying on their speed. They must also be vigilant for hidden perils that could prove fatal if sprung. Should a player succumb to the hazards, they transform into mummies but retain the ability to converse with others through proximity chat. Interestingly, these mummies can either assist or hinder players; they may continue working together, or turn against their former comrades, joining the ranks of the undead.

7. Deceit

Uncover Who is a Friend and Who is a Foe

Platform(s): PC
Release Date: October 7th, 2016
Developer(s): World Makers

In these deception games, participants can convincingly portray teamwork until the opportune moment to act treacherously arises. Deceit excels at this, placing 5 individuals in a mysterious setting, guided by a supposed Game Master’s voice. While combat and fleeing are aspects of the game, other players have unique objectives.

Transformed into ravenous, bloodthirsty beings reminiscent of the creatures in “Resident Evil”, these cunning players discard their disguises and pursue the uninfected ones, leading to a chaotic yet invigorating spin on cooperative horror gaming experiences. Anticipating games like “Among Us”, it’s possible that “Deceit” could have served as an inspiration for the relationship between the imposters and crewmates.

6. Resident Evil 5

Introduced Co-Op into the Franchise

As a gamer, I’ve always appreciated the single-player focus in the Resident Evil franchise. But that all changed when Resident Evil 5 hit the scene. This time around, instead of the usual claustrophobic horror, they switched things up and put more emphasis on action and cooperative play. I found myself teaming up with Sheva Alomar in the African slums for a mission investigation.

Originally designed to accommodate two players, the game featured Sheva even though an AI option was available. However, AI Sheva sometimes made questionable decisions, leading to a more human player being preferable. Despite mixed fan reactions, this innovation opened up opportunities for other co-op games like Resident Evil 6 and Revelations 2 within the franchise.

5. Content Warning

Friends Can Make Scary Video Content Together

Another engaging horror game, Content Warning, was just as distinctive as it was enjoyable. This game allows up to four players to assume the roles of adorable video creators whose faces are composed of letters or emojis. They then venture out from their vibrant homes to explore a black-and-white horror, aiming to record footage of any creatures they encounter without meeting an untimely end, if feasible.

In this game setup, one player serves as the cameraman, aiming to record high-quality footage of the in-game creatures. The game automatically saves this footage, along with any voice communications made by the players (in-game voice chat), for later viewing. This means that when players return home, they can watch these videos. The objective is to increase the number of subscribers on their channel and boost overall traffic to their content. This concept is quite distinctive since not only does teamwork ensure survival, but it also plays a crucial role in creating high-quality videos, which becomes a significant focus in the gameplay.

4. Phasmophobia

Being Dead Doesn’t Necessarily Prevent Co-Op Play

Phasmophobia was renowned for its bone-chilling multiplayer experience, accommodating up to 4 players as they delve into spooky settings like farmhouses, family homes, and deserted educational institutions or correctional facilities. Armed with ghost-detecting tools such as spirit boxes and electromagnetic field (EMF) readers, the team must gather proof and compare it with a catalog of recognized spirits to ascertain the type of haunting before potentially falling prey to the restless spirit themselves.

In this game, cooperation is crucial as team members must ensure they aren’t duplicating equipment and share any knowledge they acquire. Interestingly, death doesn’t disband the team entirely. Although players can’t communicate after death, they can subtly influence non-investigation items to potentially signal to the living about the ghost that is trying to complete the team’s elimination.

3. Don’t Starve Together

Fight, Farm, and Survive Together

In simpler terms, “Don’t Starve” was an exceptional game featuring graphics reminiscent of Tim Burton. The objective was to endure and survive on a mysterious island teeming with peculiar monsters that would relentlessly attack you. Additionally, ensuring you didn’t succumb to hunger, which is the essence of the title, was crucial for survival.

The focus on survival continues in the multiplayer version of the game, Don’t Starve Together. While fighting, farming, and crafting remain crucial elements, the cooperative mode enables players to combine their resources, thereby enhancing their chances of survival. Players can also divide tasks among themselves, with one player taking on the role of camp defender, another becoming the primary farmer, and a third specializing in crafting. These are merely some examples that make Don’t Starve Together a remarkable cooperative game.

2. Resident Evil: Revelations 2

The Second Player Has Completely Different Gameplay Mechanics

In the gaming world, I found myself diving back into the thrilling saga of Revelations 2, the follow-up to the original game. As a gamer controlling Claire Redfield, I was reunited with old pal Barry Burton and met newcomers Moira Burton and Natalie Korda – my partners in this latest adventure.

A TerraSave bash was abruptly crashed by a ruthless gang of mercs, leading to Claire and Moira’s capture. We woke up on an island, each sporting a mysterious electronic bracelet with a glowing green light, used to keep tabs on the virus we were unwillingly carrying.

On this quest to find his missing daughter, Barry somehow managed to make it to the same island, where he encountered a young girl named Natalie – another carrier of the deadly virus.

As a gamer, I jump between controlling Claire and Barry during combat, while simultaneously managing Moira and Natalie who bring unique abilities to the table. Claire and Barry take charge of our offensive strategies, but it’s Natalie who can momentarily stun enemies with thrown bricks, adding an exciting twist to battles. Meanwhile, Moira illuminates hidden secrets using her flashlight – a feature seldom seen in cooperative games where characters usually share equal fighting prowess.

1. Dead by Daylight

Sometimes Strangers Must Learn to Co-operate

In the game titled Dead by Daylight, four characters assume roles as survivors, whereas one takes on the role of the relentless killer. The mission for the survivors is to collaborate and accomplish objectives to break free via the exit gates, while the killer seeks to track down and sacrifice all the survivors to an unseen entity. Since unity is essential for survival, it’s advantageous for more survivors to be present, as this boosts everyone’s chances of making it out alive.

In a 2v8 game mode, a new layer of cooperative play has been introduced. Here, the two killers need to collaborate to pursue the eight survivors. They can set traps and take turns hitting the survivors to bring them down swiftly. On the contrary, the survivors also work together in various ways, whether it’s working on generators, healing each other, or rescuing teammates from hooks. Therefore, it could be said that Dead by Daylight places a higher emphasis on teamwork compared to many other games.

2025-02-10 17:35