Co-Op Horror Games With Better Reviews Than Phasmophobia

One of my absolute favorite subgenres is "horror with laughs," and Phasmophobia is basically the reigning champ in that department – and honestly, it has been for a good few years now.

The psychological horror hit from Kinetic Games won over a massive legion of fans by nailing the co-op investigation loop. It puts up to four players in the shoes of a "Scooby Gang", using specialized tools to identify exactly what kind of entity is haunting a spooky location.

It is simple, effective, and an absolute blast! Its charm relies heavily on how complex (and gloriously clunky) the experience is, filled with millions of tiny hidden rules you have to discover for yourself.

However, despite being the most famous co-op horror title of the last few years, its OpenCritic average sits at a respectable 76. Believe it or not, there are several other horror titles that let you team up with friends to face the dark that are actually better reviewed by critics – and they definitely deserve some love too! Shall we take a look at them?

10 Back 4 Blood

OpenCritic Score: 76

Serving as a spiritual successor to the legendary Left 4 Dead franchise (even being developed by the same creators), Back 4 Blood delivers that classic feeling of screaming, panicking, and laughing while living out the dream of surviving a zombie apocalypse.

Despite having some issues (especially regarding balance) at launch, several FPS fans loved what the team was going for. And it seems that some critics agreed, handing it a 76 score for successfully scratching that specific itch for cooperative carnage.

The downside, though, is that its player base has dwindled since the final DLC River of Blood dropped, so you may find a different experience by playing it now.

9 Hell is Others

OpenCritic Score: 77

If you were looking for an incredible top-down extraction game with a horror touch to play with (or against) friends, your search is finally over. Hell is Others is exactly the kind of moody, intense experience you need!

Following in the footsteps of extraction titles like Escape from Tarkov, but with a more accessible, casual style, this game was designed as a multiplayer noir nightmare. Basically, you have to survive Century City, a place where blood is literally the currency, so it literally pits you against both the environment and other players as you scavenge for survival gear and try to find some friends to trust in the middle of this mess.

However, it is, unfortunately, a game built on momentum (much like Back 4 Blood was), and while the player base is a bit more niche today, meaning you will also find a different experience by playing it now.

8 Dead Rising 3

OpenCritic Score: 78

Dead Rising 3 might be one of the less-talked-about entries in Capcom’s catalogue these days, but it holds a very special place in the hearts of co-op fans – and gaming critics, apparently.

Almost the entire story (save for the prologue) can be played with a buddy, allowing you to team up to completely explore Los Perdidos, tackle chaotic missions, kick some zombies’ butts, and craft some absurd combo of weapons and vehicles together.

Sure, you can go solo for this one, but almost everyone (myself included) recommends bringing a partner for the absolute apocalyptic chaos this game offers. It is pure, unadulterated fun!

7 GTFO

OpenCritic Score: 78

GTFO is often described as the ultimate horror co-op test due to its suffocating atmosphere and mandatory teamwork. But I will admit, its steep learning curve is sometimes scarier than the game itself!

That’s because it offers a unique blend of Left 4 Dead-style action mixed with hardcore, punishing survival elements. So, for dedicated and patient players, it can be a truly unique and incredible experience. Oh, and you also need three friends who are equally dedicated and patient to build a squad that works – which may be the hardest task, after all.

In any case, GTFO is a solid, challenging shooter with complex layers that more than justify its high critical average. If you have three friends who are as masochistic and tactical as you are, this is an absolute must-play.

6 Until Dawn

OpenCritic Score: 79

If Phasmophobia is the king of online co-op nowadays, then Until Dawn is the king of local couch co-op and the old-school tradition of “passing the controller”.

The experience feels very much like playing through a classic slasher movie (so yes, expect "dumb" teenagers making questionable choices), and it is perfect for a "movie night" style session with up to eight players.

Even though you are taking turns, the real fun is in the group shouting matches over which life-or-death decisions to make for me! And don’t forget to grab some pizza, dim the lights, and watch the laughs (and terror) take hold of the moment.

5 The Quarry

OpenCritic Score: 79

Fresh off the success of Until Dawn, we also have its “younger sibling” in the ranking: The Quarry. And its premise is practically identical: gather your friends (either locally or online) to live through a story about a group of camp counselors through a supernatural nightmare at summer camp.

I must confess that, for me, The Quarry feels different from its predecessor because it takes its horror a bit more seriously, featuring enhanced graphics and a deeper choice system. As a B-horror film fan, I find that a bit less interesting.

However, it still remains just as entertaining to play in a group with some rounds of pizza, proving that the Supermassive Games formula is still one of the best ways to experience horror together.

4 The Forest

OpenCritic Score: 81

The Forest is all about being stranded in a world that wants you dead, keeping you perpetually on the edge of your seat thanks to its erratic and genuinely freaky enemies.

And that’s because sometimes they just stare at you from the treeline, and other times they attack with relentless aggression, while running and screaming loudly. That way, you are constantly acting on instinct and under pressure, which is where the game’s primary charm lies.

While it is possible to play with up to eight survivors, playing with a smaller group (or even alone) really intensifies the creepy, isolated atmosphere of the game for me. Either way, The Forest presents a truly unique horror experience.

3 Ready or Not

OpenCritic Score: 82

What I love about Ready or Not is that it proves the horror genre doesn't necessarily need monsters to work its magic. It is its grounded realism that provides a different, more visceral kind of fear.

As part of a SWAT team, you need to tackle intense, realistic missions involving hostage rescues and neutralizing threats, which will often require you to be stealthy and extremely methodical before acting.

So, in Ready or Not, you are not being chased by ghosts or horrible creatures, but fears that are extremely realistic – and the tension of what might be behind the next door sparks a pure horror feeling. It is a high-pressure experience that can be shared with four friends, adding a layer of tactical coordination that is as stressful as it is rewarding.

2 Grounded

OpenCritic Score: 82

Grounded is easily one of the most popular titles on this list, and it earns every bit of that fame by delivering a co-op experience that feels completely fresh and fun.

Think of it as a playable version of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids classic movie, since it literally shrunks you and three friends to the size of ants, forcing all of you to survive the perils of a giant backyard – and yes, exploring grass means encountering giant, frightening insects and arachnids that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

You can play with three other friends, and trust me, you will laugh just as much as you will scream. It is a captivating survival-horror hybrid that critics absolutely adored.

1 Abiotic Factor

OpenCritic Score: 84

You might not have seen this one coming, but Abiotic Factor claims the top spot in the ranking – and it totally deserves it, since it is already a modern survival-horror classic.

Playing with up to six people, you are controlling a new recruit at a mysterious facility that researches some creepy things, meaning it doesn’t take long for things to derail. After that, you have to literally fight for your life, crafting tools and building sanctuaries to survive the spooky anomalies roaming the halls.

In the end, it feels like a brilliant mix of Prey, Half-Life, and deep survival-crafting mechanics. And if that inspired description of the game doesn’t make you want to call up your squad immediately to face this experience, I don’t know what will!