Some games are too scary for one person to handle solo, and that’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Game developers became aware of this at some point, and began making horror experiences that could terrify an entire team instead of focusing on bullying one poor soul. The ensuing games are some of the best you can play with your friends, so we came up with a ranking of the best horror games you can play during the spooky season.
8. Deceit
This is a social horror game based on the old werewolf/Salem/Mafia formula, meaning that the monster is other people, and sometimes even yourself. It’s like playing John Carpenter’s The Thing. No, not the game, which is also good, but the movie, which is amazing.
You’ll have a lot of fun either doubting your friends or instilling doubt in the group. It gets repetitive after a while, but it’s excellent until it does.
7. Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight is the biggest game in the cooperative horror gaming scene. It’s like the MCU or Super Smash Bros. of horror. That, however, comes with both perks and problems. It rocks because you get to play as or against many of your favorite monsters, and even Nicolas Cage. Yes, just Nicolas Cage, not one of the many Nicolas Cage characters that would easily fit the bill.
The downsides are that well, the game gets old fast. The constantly added new characters and maps can add novelty, but not actually breathe new life into it.
6. Silent Hill Book Of Memories
The weirdest Silent Hill game of them actually provides quite a decent cooperative horror experience. Book Of Memories wasn’t merely a PlayStation Vita exclusive, but also a game that would perfectly adapt to this particular piece of hardware. The result is a bizarre isometric four-player cooperative war against the entire town of Silent Hill.
Don’t go in expecting horror of the psychological or even of the survival kind. Go in expecting to get revenge on that evil town for having brought you to the verge of peeing on your pants one too many times.
5. Amnesia, The Dark Descent
They didn’t make this one with cooperation in mind, but friendship finds a way!
Get a bunch of friends and have one play Amnesia, The Dark Descent‘s campaign until he gets tired or can’t stand the horror anymore. I honestly think the game is not that scary, but that kind of thing does happen, and it’s okay. Once your friend throws in the possibly pee-drenched towel, just have him pass the controller to the next friend. Rinse and repeat until you finish the entire series. That’s how I played Amnesia, and how I recommend you at least try playing it, Soma, or any similar first-person horror game.
I promise that your friend group will grow much tighter after such an adventure.
4. The Dark Pictures games
Are you tired of how linear movies are, but you also can’t deal with the idea of having to escape monsters yourself? Worry not! The games from The Dark Pictures series offer you a nice middle ground.
The Dark Pictures games are like watching a movie where you get to act only when the characters are about to make important decisions. They’re a cool revival to the choose-your-adventure books of old that provide an interesting experiment in democracy for you and your friends. Go for a vote, make the decisions as a group, and possibly pay for your mistakes together! That’s great horror!
Even if you end up not enjoying the games themselves, you’ll at least know whether your current group of friends is one you’d like to have around when up against a horde of demons.
3. Phasmophobia
I think Phasmophobia is great. I have a hard time admitting that as I can’t help laughing my ass off at every other kind of ghost media out there.
Ghost-based reality shows are always ridiculous, straight-up scammy, or both. Phasmophobia isn’t like that. It’s not trying to sell you on the idea that ghosts are real, but rather on the idea that they can actually make for pretty scary enemies even when you know they aren’t real.
Also, Phasmophobia doesn’t put you in the shoes of a hero capable of making even ghosts bleed, but in those of a random person who can do little more than record ghosts and hope not to get killed.
2. Resident Evil 5
The solo campaign of Resident Evil 5 pales in comparison to the one in Resident Evil 4. I know that, and you know that. Still, scientists who are not with Tricell, I promise, have discovered a life hack that changes everything.
If you get a friend to go through the campaign on co-op, the whole thing skyrockets in quality. Bye awful AI-powered Sheva, hi friendship-powered Sheva who’ll help me punch boulders and destroy Albert Wesker with you.
There are other Resident Evil games with co-op and online capabilities, but this is the one that features the best campaign of the bunch. I’d risk saying co-op RE5 becomes nearly as fun as RE4. It’s sad that it’s the only game in the mainline series to feature such an option.
Oh, wait. Are you saying that Resident Evil 6 also features a single-player co-op? Sorry, but any recollection you might have of that game existing is just the result of a successful Umbrella psy-op.
1. Left 4 Dead 2
Sadly, I didn’t find a shocking and jumpscare-worthy pick for number one. There is just no competing with Left 4 Dead 2.
Even nearly fifteen years later, Left 4 Dead 2 remains the best bloody time you can have with your friends. In my head-canon, the reason why Left 4 Dead 3 never came is because Valve concluded that you can’t improve upon this one.
Also, I can’t go without recommending you not to fall for the allure of more modern copycats. Back 4 Blood isn’t the spiritual successor you’re looking for. If you want something similar but fresh, consider giving The Anacrusis a shot. It’s already pretty cool — and still getting better.
