10 Best Co-op Horror Games to Play With Friends in 2026
Going into a horror game alone? Brave. Taking your friends along? That's when things get interesting.
From screaming down a microphone to watching a carefully planned expedition fall apart, the best co-op horror games know how to turn teamwork into terror. Sometimes you're battling monsters. Other times, you're just trying to get your friends to cooperate long enough to make it home alive.
At Wales Interactive, we've spent years creating horror experiences, from Maid of Sker to the round-based co-op shooter Sker Ritual and our latest physics-driven survival horror game, Hazard Levels.
We're an independent, award-winning Welsh studio with more than 200 award nominations since 2012, including BAFTA Cymru Games Awards, TIGA recognition and The Queen's Award for Enterprise.
So, we know a thing or two about building a good scare.
Whether you're after physics-driven chaos, ghost investigations, desperate escapes or hordes of monsters, here are ten co-op horror games worth checking out in 2026.
How We Selected These Co-op Horror Games
Not every multiplayer horror game creates tension in the same way, and what works for one group won't necessarily work for another.
We selected these games based on five considerations:
Cooperative gameplay: Players must be able to work together against threats, environments or shared objectives.
A distinctive experience: Each game offers something recognisable, whether that's physics-driven looting, supernatural investigations or round-based survival.
Player suitability: We considered supported player counts and the different types of gaming groups each title appeals to.
Horror mechanics: We looked at how the games create tension through enemies, atmosphere, limited resources, exploration or communication.
Variety: We wanted to represent different approaches to co-op horror rather than recommend ten games with essentially the same mechanics.
Our selections are based on published game information, features and developer knowledge of the co-op horror genre. This is a guide to different playing experiences, not a ranking based on independently tested review scores or sales.
We've featured our own game, Hazard Levels, first, followed by established favourites and other independent titles. Wales Interactive also develops Sker Ritual, which is identified below.
Best Co-op Horror Games at a Glance
Game | Players | Best for |
Hazard Levels | 1–4 | Physics-driven survival and exploration |
R.E.P.O. | Up to 6 | Chaotic physics-based extraction |
Lethal Company | Up to 4 | Scavenging and survival |
Phasmophobia | Up to 4 | Ghost investigations |
Content Warning | 2–4 | Funny, unpredictable horror |
The Outlast Trials | 1–4 | Intense survival challenges |
Murky Divers | Up to 8 | Underwater recovery missions |
DEVOUR | 1–4 | Supernatural rituals |
Sker Ritual | 1–4 | Round-based horror action |
PANICORE | Up to 5 | Stealth and escape |
Hazard Levels — Our Featured Physics-Driven Co-op Horror Game
Best for: Players who enjoy physics-based looting, unpredictable exploration and surviving chaotic expeditions with friends.
Welcome to The Fox Hole Arms.
On the surface, it's an ordinary British pub. Hidden beneath it? A secret research facility sending recruits into unstable interdimensional rifts to recover bizarre ingredients.
In Hazard Levels, our physics-driven co-op survival horror game for 1–4 players, the objective is simple enough: get in, recover what you can and make it home alive.
Of course, the rifts have other ideas.
Use the Gravity Gauntlet to grab, carry and throw objects while exploring procedurally generated environments filled with unpredictable creatures and hazards. Proximity voice chat makes communication part of the experience, while physics-driven interactions create plenty of opportunities for things to go horribly wrong.
Successful expeditions feed into the experimental brewing system at The Fox Hole Arms, where recovered ingredients can be turned into perk cocktails with useful, unusual or downright chaotic effects.
Designed Around Cooperative Chaos
During development, our team refined Hazard Levels' direction to place more emphasis on physics-based interactions, creative tools and the unpredictable moments that happen when people play together.
As our development team explained in February 2026:
"We are focusing much more on physics, creative survival tools and unpredictable moments between players, rather than traditional gunplay."
That focus on cooperative unpredictability is a defining part of the game's identity, although combat options have also expanded through Early Access updates.
The setting is equally distinctive.
Dr David Banner MBE, our co-founder, CEO and co-director of Hazard Levels, explained the inspiration behind the game:
"Not only is it made in Wales, but it also reflects our Welsh roots and culture…we do love a pub!"
What Are Players Saying?
The game's physics-driven mechanics have also attracted attention in Steam player feedback.
"It feels fun even just playing around with the physics"
The review was posted in May 2026, during the early stages of Early Access, and also highlighted how much development work remained. Since then, the team has continued introducing new enemies, equipment upgrades, progression features and additions to the brewing system.
For players who enjoy the cooperative recovery mechanics of games such as R.E.P.O. and Lethal Company, Hazard Levels offers another approach, with dimensional exploration, the Gravity Gauntlet and its secret brewery beneath a British pub.
Availability: Steam Early Access on PC, with full release scheduled for 12 November 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
R.E.P.O. — Best for Physics-Based Extraction Horror
Players: Up to six.
Carrying valuable objects through monster-infested environments sounds straightforward. Until your teammates get involved.
R.E.P.O. is an online co-op horror game where physics applies to the objects players must retrieve. Teams explore dangerous locations, handle valuables and attempt to extract them without falling victim to the creatures roaming nearby. The result is a mixture of tension, coordination and chaotic mishaps.
Why choose it? If you love unpredictable interactions, physics-based problem-solving and horror that can turn hilarious in seconds, R.E.P.O. is an obvious choice.
Lethal Company — Best for Scavenging and Survival
Players: Up to four.
You've got a quota to meet, abandoned facilities to explore and creatures that would very much like to stop you.
Lethal Company sends players to dangerous moons to collect scrap for a mysterious employer. Working together, you'll need to gather enough valuable material to meet company demands while managing the risks of each expedition.
Every extra piece of scrap is tempting, but so is making it back alive.
Why choose it? Ideal for players who enjoy resource recovery, risky decisions and survival horror where teamwork is everything.
Phasmophobia — Best for Ghost Investigations
Players: Up to four.
Not every horror game requires fighting monsters. Sometimes figuring out what's haunting you is frightening enough.
Phasmophobia puts players in the role of paranormal investigators working together to identify ghosts in haunted locations. Use specialist equipment, collect evidence and communicate with your team as the investigation becomes increasingly dangerous.
Why choose it? Particularly suited to groups who enjoy psychological horror, problem-solving and carefully coordinated investigations.
Content Warning — Best for Funny Horror Moments
Players: Two to four.
The mission? Film something terrifying, upload the footage and become famous.
Content Warning sends players into the dangerous Old World to capture frightening encounters for their in-game video channel.
The challenge isn't simply surviving. You've also got to return with footage worth watching.
Why choose it? A brilliant option for groups who enjoy unpredictable multiplayer experiences, humour and the sort of chaos that makes for memorable gaming sessions.
The Outlast Trials — Best for Intense Survival Horror
Players: One to four.
The Outlast Trials takes cooperative horror in a considerably darker direction.
Set within disturbing experiments run by the Murkoff Corporation, the game challenges players to complete objectives while avoiding dangerous enemies and surviving hostile environments.
You can tackle the experience alone or with friends, relying on stealth, careful planning and whatever resources you can find.
Why choose it? For groups who want a more intense horror experience focused on survival, tension and escape.
Murky Divers — Best for Underwater Co-op Horror
Players: Up to eight.
Something has gone very wrong beneath the ocean, and apparently you're the cleanup crew.
Murky Divers challenges players to explore abandoned underwater laboratories and recover evidence from dangerous environments. Coordinating equipment, managing the underwater conditions and surviving whatever is lurking in the depths make teamwork essential.
Why choose it? A strong option for larger groups who enjoy unusual extraction missions and environmental horror.
DEVOUR — Best for Supernatural Horror
Players: One to four.
DEVOUR is built around a fairly unpleasant task: stop possessed cultists before they take you with them.
Players explore haunted environments, gather ritual items and complete objectives while avoiding increasingly dangerous supernatural threats.
Surviving depends on communication, coordination and knowing when to run.
Why choose it? Ideal for groups who prefer objective-based supernatural horror with escalating tension.
Sker Ritual — Best for Action-Packed Co-op Horror
Players: One to four.
Sometimes hiding from monsters isn't enough. Sometimes you want to fight back.
Developed by Wales Interactive, Sker Ritual is a round-based co-op horror shooter inspired by the world of Maid of Sker and Welsh folklore.
Players battle waves of supernatural enemies known as the Quiet Ones, upgrade their weapons, unleash Miracle powers and take on powerful bosses. Unlike Hazard Levels' focus on recovering ingredients and physics-driven exploration, Sker Ritual puts combat at the centre of the experience.
Why choose it? For players who love wave-based survival, challenging enemies, weapon upgrades and cooperative action.
PANICORE — Best for Stealth and Escaping Monsters
Players: Up to five.
Exploring abandoned buildings sounds fun. Until you realise something inside doesn't want you to leave.
PANICORE challenges groups of urban explorers to solve puzzles, gather useful items and escape hostile creatures.
The monsters can react to player voices, making staying quiet part of the challenge.
Why choose it? Particularly good for players who enjoy stealth, escape puzzles and horror where one badly timed scream can cause a problem for everyone.
Which Co-op Horror Game Should You Play?
That depends on what you and your friends enjoy most.
If you love physics-based chaos and recovering loot, Hazard Levels and R.E.P.O. are worth exploring.
For scavenging and high-risk expeditions, Lethal Company has become a familiar favourite.
If your group prefers investigations and psychological tension, Phasmophobia offers something different.
For action-heavy survival, Sker Ritual puts weapons and waves of enemies at the centre of the experience.
And if your aim is to laugh, panic and occasionally blame your friends for everything that goes wrong? Content Warning has plenty to offer.
Whatever you choose, one thing's certain: horror games are a whole different experience when your friends are involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best co-op horror games in 2026?
Games worth exploring include Hazard Levels, R.E.P.O., Lethal Company, Phasmophobia, Content Warning and The Outlast Trials. Each offers a different approach to cooperative horror, from physics-driven exploration to ghost investigations and intense survival challenges.
What are the best four-player horror games?
Hazard Levels, Lethal Company, Phasmophobia, DEVOUR and Sker Ritual support groups of up to four players. For larger groups, games such as R.E.P.O., Murky Divers and PANICORE offer additional options.
What games are similar to Lethal Company and R.E.P.O.?
Hazard Levels and Murky Divers are worth investigating if you enjoy cooperative exploration, recovering valuables and surviving dangerous environments. Each introduces its own setting and gameplay systems.
Are there co-op horror games with proximity voice chat?
Yes. Hazard Levels, R.E.P.O. and Lethal Company feature proximity-based communication. This can add tension when teammates become separated, making communication part of the cooperative experience.
Discover More Horror From Wales Interactive
Keep exploring our co-op horror guides to find the right game for your next session:
For scavenging and risky recovery missions, explore our games like Lethal Company. If awkward cargo and physics-driven chaos are your favourite part, try these games like R.E.P.O..
Choosing for a particular group? Compare our best multiplayer horror games, or discover horror games with proximity chat where staying within earshot matters.
From the supernatural action of Sker Ritual to the physics-driven co-op exploration of Hazard Levels, we're always finding new ways to make survival a little more interesting.
Explore our games catalogue, or discover Hazard Levels and see what awaits inside the rifts.
Just make it back before last orders.
About this article
Prepared for Wales Interactive, an award-winning independent games developer and publisher established in 2012. Wales Interactive has received more than 200 award nominations, with recognitions including BAFTA Cymru Games Awards, TIGA awards and The Queen's Award for Enterprise.
The selection is based on publicly documented gameplay features, cooperative mechanics and player suitability, rather than independent hands-on testing or a numerical ranking. Wales Interactive develops Hazard Levels and Sker Ritual; both are identified as studio titles.
Game information and player-review evidence checked: 14 October 2026.
Comments