Steam is home to hundreds of Best horror games, many of which offer multiplayer modes for an extra dose of fright with friends. For horror fans looking for a scare without spending a dime, here are 10 of the best multiplayer horror games available on Steam.
Top 10 Multiplayer Horror Games on Steam
1. Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight is arguably the most popular multiplayer horror game on Steam right now. Up to five players can join a match, with four survivors trying to evade a player-controlled killer hunting them down to sacrifice them to a malevolent entity.
The survivors must work together to start generators, open exit gates, and avoid the killer long enough to escape. Meanwhile, the killer uses their unique powers and abilities to catch and hook survivors before they flee. With dozens of killers and survivors to choose from, no two matches are ever quite the same.
With over 25 million players to date, Dead by Daylight has struck a chord with horror fans looking for an asymmetric multiplayer experience. Reviews praise the variety of playable killers, the tense cat-and-mouse gameplay, and the regular updates with new characters and maps. While the learning curve can be steep for new players, Dead by Daylight offers endless replayability and scare factor.
2. Pacify
Up to 4 players must work together in Pacify as they explore a haunted house with only one flashlight between them. The goal is to find keys to unlock the doors, but a terrifying ghost girl stalks the halls trying to find you.
Once spotted, you must run and hide quickly before she catches you. With only one flashlight to light the way, players must stick together or risk getting lost in the darkness. But make too much noise, and the ghost girl will quickly descend upon your location.
Pacify delivers nonstop scares through its atmosphere, sound design, and the ever-present threat of the ghost girl chasing you down. Reviews talk about the genuine tension and panic they feel trying to escape each area. This co-op horror game is short, but delivers an intense ghost house experience that’s perfect for streaming with friends.
3. Phasmophobia
For paranormal investigators, Phasmophobia lets 4 players team up to take on various ghost hunting assignments. You’ll use equipment like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and thermometers to gather evidence and determine the type of ghost haunting the location.
Once you have identified the ghost, you can attempt to get photo evidence, witness paranormal events, or even talk to the ghost through a spirit box. But the ghost can hunt you down and kill your character, so you’ll need to hide when things get dangerous.
Immersive VR support makes Phasmophobia incredibly terrifying, but it’s chilling even in non-VR. Reviews praise the communication-driven co-op gameplay and the nerve-wracking tension when the ghost starts hunting you. While still in Early Access, Phasmophobia already delivers an addictive and scary ghost hunting experience.
4. Kindred Spirits
Kindred Spirits flips the script by putting two players in control of ghosts trying to scare away a team of paranormal investigators exploring their haunted location. The ghosts can manipulate objects, create sounds, leave creepy messages, and even manifest to terrify the investigators.
Meanwhile, the investigators must determine if the location is actually haunted using tools to identify ghost activity. But the more evidence they find, the more aggressive the ghost players can become, even able to directly attack the investigators when ready.
Asymmetric multiplayer with one team scaring and the other getting scared provides a wholly unique experience. Reviews for Kindred Spirits praise the cat-and-mouse gameplay as both sides try to outwit their opponents. Simple controls mixed with cool ghost abilities makes this a quick, spooky party game for Steam.
5. Overkill
Overkill throws 4 players into a haunted location with the goal of finding keys, equipment, and tools to help investigate and ultimately escape the area alive. All the while, an intense butcher stalks the area trying to slaughter the players before they can flee.
Players must sneak around and work together to find the items they need while avoiding the butcher, setting traps, and hiding when in danger. With a day and night cycle, the butcher becomes even deadlier at night, so you’ll need to seek shelter when things go dark.
As a multiplayer cat-and-mouse style horror game, Overkill creates an atmosphere of terror and tension as you never know when the butcher will suddenly appear. Various playable characters and the day/night cycle help keep replayability high. It’s a simple yet fun co-op horror game that’s sure to provide loads of scares.
6. Slender: The Arrival
The classic Slender Man horror mythos arrives on Steam with Slender: The Arrival. Multiplayer support lets you bring along a friend as you explore creepy locales trying to collect clues while avoiding the deadly grip of the faceless Slender Man.
With Slender Man able to teleport anywhere in an instant, you’ll need your buddy’s help spotting him and keeping your sanity in check. But stick together too long, and Slender Man will catch you both. Find all 8 pages before the Slender Man gets you in this terrifying adaptation.
Slender: The Arrival lives up to the legacy of the Slender Man online horror stories. Reviewers praise the true scares from being pursued by Slender Man himself across immersive environments. Just don’t play this one alone if you can help it!
7. Cry of Fear
As a classic-style psychological horror game, Cry of Fear sees you awakening alone in a dark and deserted town that seems abandoned for a reason. Monstrous creatures roam the streets, but the real horror comes from the mysteries surrounding your character’s past.
Multiplayer support means you can unravel the story in co-op mode, which is recommended given the intense scares found in Cry of Fear. Strange occurrences and chilling set pieces ensures you’re always on edge, even before the monsters arrive. With over 8 hours of gameplay, Cry of Fear delivers an unsettling horror plot on Steam.
Fan reviews praise Cry of Fear not only for its legitimately frightening scenes, but also for the dark themes of mental illness, trauma, and suicide that pervade the story. While certainly not for younger audiences, mature gamers will find a gripping psychological thriller in Cry of Fear.
8. No More Room in Hell
It is one of the best free multiplyer horror games on steam. A classic-style zombie apocalypse breaks out in No More Room in Hell, with up to 8 players supporting each other to survive. Scavenge weapons and ammo, fortify safe houses, maintain your health and exhaustion levels, and work together to battle the endless hordes of undead.
With large open neighborhood maps and advanced zombie AI, tension runs high as the zombies can easily overwhelm your position. Teamwork becomes vital as each player focuses on different survival tasks like maintaining barricades, watching flanks, resupplying at caches, and more.
Zombie invasion fans praise No More Room in Hell for delivering tactical co-op survival horror at its finest. The zombies themselves are legitimately threatening, while limited resources force you to take risks if you hope to last until rescue. If you’re a fan of Left 4 Dead but want something tougher, No More Room in Hell is a must-play.
9. SCP: Secret Laboratory
Dedicated fans of the SCP wiki lore can experience their favorite anomalies and creatures through SCP: Secret Laboratory. Up to 32 players split into different roles inhabiting a highly secured facility overrun by Keter and Euclid class SCP objects running amok.
Play as security forces trying to contain the objects, D-Class personnel just trying to survive, scientists studying the objects, and more – all while avoiding or containing the escaped SCPs like the deadly 173 statue creature. But one player in each match controls the almighty SCP-106, able to terrorize the facility however they wish.
It’s a thrilling adaptation of the SCP mythos that wiki fans rave about in reviews. The different roles, classes, and SCPs help every match feel unique. Approach with some background knowledge of SCP items and you’ll get the most scare factor out of this one!
10. Obscure VR
For VR owners, Obscure VR offers an utterly terrifying experience through the power of virtual reality. You and 2 other players must work together as students exploring a nightmarish version of your high school where a viral outbreak has turned students and teachers into deadly mutants.
Armed only with basic weapons like wooden planks and tennis rackets, you’ll need to sneak through the halls, distract enemies, and reach the basement to escape the school. Hide in lockers or under desks when mutants draw near and make every hit count, as death can come quick.
Bringing atmospheric horror environments to VR pays off tremendously for Obscure VR. User reviews praise just how immersive and downright scary the game becomes when experienced in a virtual space. If you own a VR headset, Obscure VR is a free must-download.
Conclusion
For horror fans without money to spare, Steam luckily offers a killer selection of co-op and multiplayer horror games to enjoy with friends. From the tense cat-and-mouse thrills of Dead by Daylight to the psychological horror of Cry of Fear to the heart-pounding dread of Obscure VR, scary experiences await across all types of horror gameplay.
Just be sure to bring some comrades along, as few of these games are recommended to brave solo. But with communication and teamwork, these 10 picks offer screams and chills without spending a dime. So rally your friends, turn down the lights, and prepare for a fright with these best multiplayer horror games on Steam!
