Best Horror Video Games to Play with Friends

Best Horror Video Games to Play with Friends

Horror video games are known for creating tense, heart-pounding experiences. But there's something especially thrilling about facing terrifying creatures and eerie environments with friends. Cooperative horror games transform solitary fear into shared adrenaline, laughter, and panic, making them ideal for late-night gaming sessions or weekend marathons.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best horror games to play with friends, spanning different sub-genres—from survival horror to psychological thrillers and action-horror hybrids. Whether you’re into slow-burn atmospheric horror or fast-paced monster chases, there’s something here for every group.

1. Phasmophobia

Developer: Kinetic Games

Platforms: PC

Players: 1–4

Phasmophobia is a standout co-op ghost hunting game that exploded in popularity for good reason. In it, players take on the roles of paranormal investigators, using tools like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and thermometers to identify different types of ghosts haunting various locations.

What makes Phasmophobia terrifying—and incredibly fun—is its use of proximity voice chat and realistic sound design. The game listens to your microphone, meaning spirits can hear you talk and sometimes respond directly, creating unscripted jump scares and panic-inducing moments. The randomness of ghost behavior ensures no two investigations are the same.

Playing with friends adds a layer of strategy (and comedy) as one teammate might be calmly logging evidence while another is screaming and running from a ghost. It’s a brilliant mix of horror, teamwork, and hilarity.

2. Dead by Daylight

Developer: Behaviour Interactive

Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox, Switch, Mobile

Players: 1–5

Dead by Daylight is a multiplayer survival horror game with an asymmetric 4v1 format. Four survivors must escape a map while being hunted by a single killer, who can be a character from a massive roster of original and licensed horror icons—including Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Pyramid Head.

The survivors need to repair generators, avoid detection, and work together to escape. Meanwhile, the killer's job is to hunt them down, using special abilities and cunning. This game thrives on suspense, jump scares, and unpredictability.

With a rotating selection of characters and perks, every match feels different. While it's not strictly co-op in the traditional sense, the teamwork among survivors makes it a top-tier horror experience to share with friends.

3. The Forest

Developer: Endnight Games

Platforms: PC, PS4

Players: 1–4

The Forest combines survival and horror in a unique open-world setting. After surviving a plane crash, you and your friends find yourselves on an island filled with cannibalistic mutants. By day, you gather resources, build shelters, and craft weapons. By night, things get terrifying.

The enemies are brutal, and their behavior is unpredictable—sometimes observing from the tree line, other times launching coordinated attacks. What sets The Forest apart is the eerie tension between calm survival gameplay and sudden, horrifying encounters.

It’s immersive, visually stunning, and deeply unsettling. And building a fortress with your friends while trying to figure out the island’s dark secrets makes for a compelling co-op horror experience.

4. Sons of the Forest

Developer: Endnight Games

Platforms: PC

Players: Up to 8

A spiritual sequel to The Forest, Sons of the Forest improves on its predecessor with larger maps, better AI, and even more disturbing enemies. It keeps the same blend of survival and horror but raises the stakes by adding more complex base-building and a deep narrative involving mysterious underground facilities.

The game supports up to 8 players in co-op, allowing for larger teams and more elaborate constructions. The mutants and monsters are more grotesque than ever, and with the dynamic weather and day-night cycle, tension remains constant.

This is a fantastic option for groups looking for a deeper, more expansive horror experience that rewards teamwork, exploration, and grit.

5. Devour

Develeper: Straight Back Games

Platforms: PC

Players: 1–4

Devour is a fast-paced co-op horror game where players attempt to stop cultists possessed by demons. The game is straightforward: you and your friends must collect items and perform rituals while avoiding the wrath of increasingly aggressive enemies.

What makes Devour fun—and terrifying—is its simplicity and its escalating tension. There are jump scares, frantic chases, and lots of screaming as possessed characters rush your group. The enemies evolve as you progress, making every second feel more dangerous than the last.

It’s ideal for quick sessions and chaotic fun, especially with friends who enjoy screaming together over shared misfortune.

6. GTFO

Developer: 10 Chambers

Platforms: PC

Players: 1–4

GTFO is a hardcore, tactical horror shooter that demands tight coordination and nerves of steel. You and your team play as prisoners forced to explore underground complexes teeming with terrifying creatures in total darkness.

Unlike other co-op horror games, GTFO leans heavily into strategy. Stealth, communication, and precise execution are essential. Ammo and health are scarce, so every move must be calculated. When monsters are alerted, chaos ensues—and mistakes are punished.

This isn’t for the faint-hearted or casual players. But if your group loves tactical challenges with intense horror, GTFO is one of the most rewarding co-op experiences available.

7. Back 4 Blood

Developer: Turtle Rock Studios

Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox

Players: 1–4

From the creators of Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood is a modern, co-op zombie shooter that blends classic horde-slaying fun with new mechanics like a card system for abilities. It’s not as psychologically intense as other horror games, but it delivers an action-packed, blood-soaked experience with terrifyingly fast enemies and grotesque boss creatures.

With a wide range of weapons, character builds, and difficulty levels, the game can be tailored to your group’s preferences. It’s more adrenaline-fueled than nerve-wracking, but still delivers those heart-pounding moments when you’re cornered by a swarm.

It’s a great option if your group prefers teamwork with a side of horror rather than pure terror.

8. Resident Evil 5 & Resident Evil 6 (Co-op Modes)

Developer: Capcom

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Players: 2

While Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 are considered more action than horror compared to earlier entries in the series, their cooperative modes are polished and highly engaging. They’re ideal for duos looking for a story-driven horror experience.

Resident Evil 5 in particular maintains a spooky atmosphere while throwing you into frantic, high-stakes combat. Puzzle-solving and resource management are essential, adding strategic depth to the co-op gameplay. Meanwhile, Resident Evil 6 offers multiple campaigns with different tones and enemies, ranging from bioterrorism to full-blown zombie outbreaks.

Both games are perfect for players who want a balance between horror narrative, character development, and thrilling action with a partner.

9. The Outlast Trials

Developer: Red Barrels

Platforms: PC

Players: 1–4

The Outlast Trials reimagines the terrifying Outlast formula for co-op play. Set in a Cold War-era mind-control experiment facility, players become test subjects forced to complete horrifying trials while evading grotesque enemies.

It retains the core horror of the original games—no weapons, lots of hiding and running—while allowing you to share the terror with friends. Missions are intense and psychologically disturbing, and the sheer helplessness players feel enhances the horror.

This one is for fans of pure terror, with an emphasis on stealth and survival in an extremely hostile environment. It’s a different kind of horror co-op—more about endurance than action.

10. Left 4 Dead 2

Developer: Valve

Platforms: PC, Xbox

Players: 1–4

A classic that still holds up today, Left 4 Dead 2 is one of the most iconic co-op zombie games ever made. It focuses on four survivors making their way through campaigns filled with hordes of undead, special infected with unique abilities, and climactic finale sequences.

The pacing, level design, and AI Director system keep the experience dynamic. It’s fast, fun, and chaotic, with just enough horror to keep things thrilling. Even after more than a decade, mods and community servers keep L4D2 alive and thriving.

If your group wants accessible, action-packed horror with lots of replayability, Left 4 Dead 2 is a must-play.

Conclusion

Horror games become something entirely different when played with friends. Fear becomes laughter, panic turns into camaraderie, and the shared memories are often just as unforgettable as the scares themselves. Whether you're solving paranormal mysteries, running from demonic cultists, or mowing down zombies, co-op horror games create a unique and unforgettable multiplayer experience.

From the tension-filled realism of Phasmophobia to the intense teamwork of GTFO or the action-horror mayhem of Back 4 Blood, there’s a perfect horror game for every type of friend group. So dim the lights, put on your headset, and prepare to scream—together.