Summary
Content Warningis a recent entry in the popular genre ofco-op horror games. This title didn’t take long to gather a significant audience, thanks to its aggressive initial marketing: the studio gave the game away entirely for free in the first 24 hours. Even now, the game’s full price is a meager $7.99.
Content Warningwas made by a group of developers primarily known for their joke simulators, likeTotally Accurate Battle SimulatorandTotally Accurate Battlegrounds, and othersilly, fun physics-based games. As expected from this studio, the game has quite a strong comedy streak, which not every co-op horror game offers.
Inside the Backroomsis one of two very popular cooperative horror games based on the backrooms, endless places with no clear function that seems to exist beyond space itself. In those games, players wander through similar environments, avoiding enemies while looking for an exit.
Even if the backrooms are a relatively new setting, many developers have seen fit to dedicate their games explicitly to them, with countless others being clearly inspired. These inspirations can be found in games such as the co-op megahitLethal Company.Inside the Backroomsmanaged to riseto the very top among a sea of backroom games, and is worth checking out for fans ofContent Warning.
Escape the Backroomsis the most popular backroom game on Steam, and it’sstill in Early Access. For one, it looks quite beautiful, with varied environments that go far beyond the classic backroom, the yellow-wallpapered endless office. It also incorporates important features in the co-op horror genre, such as proximity voice chat, a popular mechanic that still can’t be taken for granted.
Escape the Backroomsis mostly an exploration game. There are no complex puzzles to solve and no loot to amass. Instead, players traverse the many layers of the game in an attempt to get ever deeper into its secrets. While there isn’t a real story to speak of, there is a sense of progression in moving from one environment to another and trying to make sense of the place.
3Labyrinthine
Replayable Story-Driven Horror
Labyrinthineis a co-op survival horror game for one to four players about avoiding dangers and enemies whiletrying to complete puzzles. The game includes two modes, one story-based and with dedicated levels and another featuring procedurally generated maps for enhanced replayability.
Unsurprisingly given its name,Labyrinthineis about navigating and getting lost in complex environments. Teamwork is an important part of the game, too, and the game comes complete with proximity voice chat, which lowers and eventually mutes the sound of players too far away. WhileLabyrinthinehas a story and a campaign with a definite end, it’s important to note that its procedurally generated maps are also based on different cases of increasing difficulty, each with its own different feel.
Phasmophobiapromises a true multiplayer horror experience, although whether it can deliver on its premise might rest more on the players than the game. In this co-op horror game, players take the role of paranormal investigators intent on gathering evidence of supernatural events and leaving the haunted premises before it’s too late.
Just like inContent Warning, players must work together to reach the end of a run unscathed. Cooperation is key to success, as is proper preparation. Before running headfirst into danger, players will equip their ghost-hunting team with the necessary gadgets, from night vision cameras to EVP detectors.
The Outlast Trialsis asequel to theOutlastseries of games. Just like in those titles, the players are completely unable to fight against the enemies that attack them and can, at most, stun them for a few seconds. Players must use stealth, the environment, and their own experience with the game to solve puzzles while dealing with those enemies.
Just like inContent Warning, the bulk of the game is spent either hoping not to run into enemies or running from them. But unlike that game,The Outlast Trialshas detailed character creation, proper progression, missions, and even a story. It is also not a comedy game, although it is often funny in unexpected ways, just like any multiplayer co-op game.
Lethal CompanyisContent Warning’s most obvious inspiration, and for good reason. It might just be the most popular co-op multiplayer game about collecting loot in a hostile environment and then fleeing the scene. Even outside its niche, it’s an extremely popular game, full stop.
The premise ofLethal Companymight sound very similar toContent Warning: an expendable crew of astronauts is sent to various planets to collect valuables. The planets areinhabited by monstersthat can be avoided with a bit of experience, but the road there is paved with silly and hilarious failures.
