Getting into the Halloween spirit (a bit early) and pulling out some enjoyable horror games to play with pals is always an excellent idea. The greatest co-op horror games should be able to keep you and your buddies entertained and terrified.
Whether they are searching for survival experiences, shoot-em-ups, or gameplay where you have to build to fend off the adversary, let us have a look at some of these games for a heart-pounding adventure!
Resident Evil 5
Action-packed survival horror thriller Resident Evil 5 transports players on a harrowing safari through Africa. You take on the role of Chris Redfield, a tenacious BSAA agent on a mission to halt the spread of bio-organic weapons. You will work with Sheva Alomar, a similarly skilled partner, to overcome armies of diseased opponents and tricky riddles.
Along the way, you’ll encounter horrifying boss fights, tense encounters, and a variety of upgrades and weaponry to aid you in your fight for survival. The game’s inventory system adds a strategic element by further forcing you to manage your resources wisely.
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Resident Evil 5 - Standard Edition - PlayStation 4 |
$19.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
The action-packed adventure Resident Evil 5 blends conventional survival horror elements with heart-pounding action to keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. Whether you’re a series enthusiast or a novice to the genre, this game promises a fantastic gaming experience. In fact, it’s one of the best Resident Evil games you can play today!
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: March 5, 2009
Platforms Available: PS3, PS4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android TV, and Nintendo Switch.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
The eagerly awaited follow-up to the well-known open-world zombie survival game is Dying Light 2: Stay Human. You take on the role of Aiden Caldwell, a nimble and knowledgeable survivor looking for his sister in the plague-ravaged metropolis of Villedor.
While competing groups struggle for dominance, players must navigate moral quandaries, alliances, and betrayals. A wide range of parkour maneuvers, original weapons, and cutting-edge battle strategies has enhanced the gameplay.
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Dying Light 2 Stay Human - PlayStation 5 |
$29.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
After dusk, the infected become deadlier and more ruthless than they are during the day. But don’t worry; Aiden has a handy grappling hook to help with battle and movement. With seamless drop-in and drop-out gaming with pals, cooperative multiplayer ups the thrill factor. So buckle up and get ready for adventure!
Developer: Techland
Publisher: Techland
Release Date: February 4, 2022
Platforms Available: PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch.
GTFO
If you haven’t heard of GTFO before this, get ready to have your socks knocked off. This is a horrifying and tense FPS game that forces you and up to three other friends to think strategically and eliminate monsters in a secret research facility.
While this may sound like an oversimplification, it’s not. If you’ve played the likes of Alien: Isolation, then you know how terrifying the monsters can be. In GTFO, the creatures react to any sound you make, light you emit, or areas you touch. So, you’ll have to be extra silent and deadly as you spot them and take them out with melee weapons.
However, if you’re caught, you’ll have to defend yourself and your team against a horde of these monstrosities. Fortunately for you, you can use guns and other combat weapons to save yourself. Unfortunately for you, however, that’s when the game notches up the difficulty tenfold.
While the game was released in 2021, very few developers since then have been able to replicate the tense gameplay of GTFO. If you think that this is something you and your friends can handle, give it a try!
Developers: 10 Chambers
Publishers: 10 Chambers
Release Date: December 10, 2021
Platforms Available: Microsoft Windows.
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
The Outlast Trials
If you loved the two Outlast games, then you should bring a friend to experience The Outlast Trials. While the game is still in early access, it’s already proving to be a formidable horror co-op experience. In fact, the game is a prequel to the other games in the series, and is set during the Cold War.
What’s interesting here is that developer Red Barrels has decided to go for a multiplayer experience, especially after the first two games were completely single-player in nature. Thankfully, they’ve managed it well, and the game has received some great reviews online from users who’ve played it during early access.
Of course, since this is a multiplayer horror game, the scares will be doubled as well. Murkoff’s therapy won’t be easy to complete. If you want to get back into the society, you’ll need to prove your worth. Just remember that this game isn’t for the faint-hearted!
Developers: Red Barrels
Publishers: Red Barrels
Release Date: May 18, 2023
Platforms Available: Microsoft Windows
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Friday The 13th: The Game
The spine-chilling game, Friday The 13th, is a third-person horror and survival game in which players can either play as Jason Voorhees or as an adolescent counselor. Jason has unique, time-limited skills, including traveling anywhere on the map and sensing nearby counselors.
The counselors, controlled by the remaining players, have a variety of projectile and melee weapons scattered throughout the map, including bear traps, firecrackers, and other devices that can briefly stun Jason. The main goal of playing as a counselor is to escape the map alive. By fulfilling the map’s side objectives, counselors can leave the map more quickly or survive long enough for the session to end.
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Friday The 13th: Game Ultimate Slasher Edition - Nintendo Switch | $29.87 | Buy on Amazon |
The game catches the eye of many OG gamers who love this genre of games beyond imagination. So, buckle up, roll up your sleeves, and get ready for some thrilling fun. Gather your buddies and beware of the environment around you while you play together!
Developer: IIIFonic and Black Tower Studios
Publisher: Gun Media
Release Date: May 26, 2017
Platforms Available: PS4, Xbox One, Windows, Nintendo Switch.
DayZ
DayZ, an open-world zombie survival game, immerses the OGs in a post-apocalyptic environment. The game’s purpose is to maintain physical and mental health while also dealing with the effects of the zombie outbreak on the game’s virtual environment.
Various landscapes, including dense forests and deserted cities, are featured on the game’s enormous maps, which helps create a realistic and engaging experience. Taking care of your health is also essential because you’ll experience hunger, thirst, and illness in the game. Cooperation and trust are crucial as you can build alliances, but treachery is also a continual danger.
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Dayz - PlayStation 4 | 1,427 Reviews |
$25.90 |
Buy on Amazon |
You may trade goods, equipment, and prisoners in DayZ’s player-driven economy. DayZ is a game that fans of intense PvP action and extreme survival should not miss out on because of its consistent updates and devoted player base.
Developer: Bohemia Interactive
Publisher: Bohemia Interactive
Release Date: December 13, 2018
Platforms Available: Windows, Xbox One, and PS4.
Dead By Daylight
The heart-pounding thrills of the 4v1 asymmetrical horror game Dead by Daylight are guaranteed! Select between playing as a fearless Survivor who collaborates with allies to escape a nightmare arena or letting loose your inner ravager and hunting them down as the chilling Killer.
Each Survivor can outwit the unrelenting Killer, who uses dreadful powers and a dark variety of strategies. Survival requires stealth, cooperation, and communication because one wrong move could mean certain death. Every match is a nail-biting experience because of the game’s constantly shifting surroundings and a variety of Killers, each with dark backstories.
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The game is sure to keep the OGs etched into the screen. Moreover, unlocked benefits, objects, and cosmetic adjustments add a fulfilling sense of advancement. Therefore, assemble your pals or play by yourself and be ready for a challenging gaming experience with Dead by Daylight!
Developer: Behaviour Interactive
Publisher: Behaviour Interactive and 505 Games
Release Date: June 14, 2016
Platforms Available: Windows, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, Android, & iOS.
Left 4 Dead 2
First-person shooter Left 4 Dead 2 places a strong focus on team play. Five action-packed campaigns are featured in a post-apocalyptic world as you and your three pals fight through hordes of infected in varied settings like marshes, cities, and amusement parks.
The distinct challenges and assortment of sick enemies found in each mission will keep you on your toes the entire game. Work together to survive as teamwork is essential for survival. Choose from lethal weapons, including shotguns, assault rifles, and melee weapons. From Savannah to New Orleans, you will decide your fate.
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Left 4 Dead 2 | 1,793 Reviews | $75.97 | Buy on Amazon |
The game also provides a thrilling Versus mode where you can play as the infected and compete against the survivors in addition to the four-player cooperative mode. So roll up your sleeves because you are in for some real adventure! Gather up your brave pals, as when you start to play, you will realize the game is no joke!
Developer: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Release Date: November 17, 2009
Platforms Available: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Xbox 360.
Dead Space 2
In Dead Space 2, Isaac Clarke, an engineer, continues his arduous adventure in a thrilling survival horror game. Players are placed on the Sprawl, a vast space station that has been taken over by terrifying Necromorphs three years after the first game’s events.
Along with the terrifying beasts, Isaac must also battle his own demons. Players must carefully dismember adversaries while using new weapons and suits to survive the grisly onslaught. The game expertly combines thrilling action with an eerie ambiance and an engaging plot.
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Dead Space 2 Classics Edition (Xbox 360) | 29 Reviews | $49.91 | Buy on Amazon |
Players in Dead Space 2 are successfully kept on the tip of their seats as they navigate gloomy hallways and work out riddles while attempting to escape the deadly threat. The game is a must-play for horror and action fans because of its challenging gameplay, horrifying foes, and gripping story.
Developer: Visceral Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Platforms Available: Windows, PS3, and Xbox 360
World War Z
You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you play the action-packed, heart-pounding video game World War Z about the zombie apocalypse. With a wide variety of lethal weapons and potent equipment, you’ll fight swarms of aggressive zombies in this post-apocalyptic environment.
Select a character from a wide variety, each with a particular skill, and work with friends to survive the undead’s unrelenting assault. The game transports you to famous locales worldwide, from New York to Tokyo, while unleashing the undead mayhem.
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World War Z - PlayStation 4 | $24.98 | Buy on Amazon |
Whether you fly solo or work with friends, the frantic gameplay, including co-op and solo modes, guarantees an immersive experience. World War Z takes you right into the middle of the zombie apocalypse with its excellent graphics and authentic surroundings.
Developer: Saber Interactive
Publisher: Saber Interactive
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Platforms Available: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia, and Nintendo Switch.
State Of Decay 2
The epic zombie survival game State of Decay 2 lets you take control of a group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic setting. The game’s enormous open world requires you to gather resources, construct a base, and defend it from legions of flesh-eating zombies. Furthermore, each survivor’s unique abilities and traits complicate gameplay and judgment calls.
Managing your community’s connections, resources, and morale is the actual task. Tough decisions must be made regarding who to save, who to leave behind, and how to manage limited resources. To further strengthen your ranks and improve your chances of survival, teamwork is crucial. You can do this by recruiting new members.
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State of Decay 2 | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
But be careful; every action counts because death is irreversible for your character. There are surprises around every corner in the game’s dynamic and emergent world, guaranteeing that no two playthroughs are the same. So arm yourself, form a strong bond with your survivors, and take the necessary steps to survive in this exciting and challenging world of State of Decay 2!
Developer: Undead Labs
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: May 22, 2018
Platforms Available: Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Co-op Horror Gameplay Challenges
The idea of shared resources is one of the co-op horror genre’s most compelling difficulties. You’ll need to work well with your friends to make the most of scarce resources like ammunition, first aid kits, and flashlights. This is unlike single-player horror adventures. Knowing that you all depend on one another to survive the darkness together heightens the suspense!
This suspense is increased by split objectives as well. Each player may have a specific duty to complete, which can create nerve-wracking circumstances where you’re separated, dealing with your tragedies, and trying to rejoin while being hunted. You better believe that’s when the real panic sets in as your sense of vulnerability and isolation grows.
In cooperative horror games, coordination is crucial for survival! The immersion and sense of community will be strengthened as you learn to rely on one another for help and skills. You’ll shout, laugh, and yell together to eliminate worries and solve puzzles.
Thrills and Adventures of Co-op Horror Games
As the ominous atmosphere envelops you, you and your buddies are crowded around the television, hearts racing. The shared surge from adrenaline and the unbreakable relationship it forges between players are what make cooperative horror so beautiful.
Every creak and whisper turns into a collective gasp as you go through the eerie corridors or investigate the haunting forest, and every jump scare sets off a cacophony of laughs and screams. Moreover, the ultimate test of friendship is tested as you depend on one another to survive terrible encounters. The cooperation needed to overcome these atrocities strengthens your bonds and friendships.
Ensure that you team up with the bravest of your friends to play these games and go on an adventure that will terrify you to your wit’s end. Every win will feel even more satisfying as a combined unit, whether solving terrifying riddles or devising escape plans in desperate circumstances. Although the fears may send chills down your spine, there is no greater delight than facing them together!
Final Words
It can be thrilling and engaging for gamers to play horror co-op games. Gamers develop a particular link because of their common anxiety and tension, which improves collaboration and communication. The spirit of camaraderie and accomplishment is fostered when people work together to conquer daunting obstacles.
In the end, playing horror co-op games with friends may be an exciting way to make memorable memories, so long as everyone is relaxed and eager to embark on the terrifying journey together. So get your gaming equipment, team up with buddies, and head on for some exciting gameplay ahead!
If you still want to play a few co-op games but horror isn’t your forte, take a look at our list of the best co-op games for PS5!
