The 6 Best Horror Games in Multiplayer for PC, PS5, and Xbox 2023

Experiencing horror together is great. We show you the 6 best horror games for multiplayer on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X. Where can you get the best scares in multiplayer mode?

There are horror games everywhere these days, but truly good, long-engaging games are a rarity – especially if you want to get a few friends hooked on the games. We present our top 6 horror games that you can play in multiplayer – some of them cooperatively, some of them against each other.

Update: This article was originally published in June 2018 and was updated on April 19, 2023. We have added “Sons of the Forest” to the list.

Dead by Daylight

What is Dead by Daylight? Four “survivors” are trapped together with a killer on a map and there is only one way to escape: 5 out of 7 generators must be repaired, which takes time. At the same time, the killer, also controlled by a player, tries to sacrifice the survivors to the demonic entity and hang them on butcher hooks until they are consumed by the creature.

The survivors cannot hurt the killer, but they are in the majority and can help each other to escape together – or they sacrifice one survivor deliberately to repair the generators in the meantime.

Dead by Daylight is regularly expanded with new patches that bring fresh killers and survivors.

Dead by Daylight is ideal for: Solo players but also groups. Essentially, Dead by Daylight is a double game, as it plays out completely differently as a survivor than from the killer’s point of view. If no friends are available, you take on the role of the killer and make the survivors’ lives hell.

What makes the horror of Dead by Daylight? The killers have different abilities and some create real shock moments. For instance, “Michael Myers” (Halloween film series) does not announce himself with ominous music like other killers and can suddenly be right behind you. Panic screams and loud shrieks in Discord are guaranteed.

Moreover, Dead by Daylight unites many strong licenses. Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, SAW, and even Ghostface (Scream) are included – there are now a whopping 31 killers.

For a while now, Dead by Daylight also offers crossplay for PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One – but this can also be turned off.

Hunt Showdown

What is Hunt Showdown? In Hunt Showdown, you take on the role of a bounty hunter, either alone or with a friend. The world is infested with zombies and monsters, and you have been hired to find a particularly large beast.

However, you first need to search for clues to find the monster – and avoid the other players who are pursuing the same goal and don’t want to share their loot. In this PvPvE horror survival shooter, everyone is your enemy – except for the one or two friends you are playing with.

Hunt: Showdown was released in summer 2019, but continues to receive improvements and new content through DLCs and patches.

Hunt Showdown is ideal for: Those who want to compete in pairs or trios against other players and NPC monsters at the same time. Constant communication is necessary to defeat the monsters and avoid or successfully overwhelm other players.

What makes the horror of Hunt Showdown? Every match is pure adrenaline from the first to the last second. The fear of possible defeat only increases. Because even if you find and eliminate the monster first, you still have to escort the loot to a safe place. Other players can be lurking here to snatch victory for themselves. Drama and exciting twists until the last moment are guaranteed.

Don’t Starve Together

What is Don’t Starve Together? The multiplayer spin-off of Don’t Starve includes basically all the features the single-player original has – just in a shared environment. As a small comic character, you wake up in a dark world and must fight for survival. Hunger is the first problem, so berries and other food are gathered.

But you also need a fire for the night, weapons for protection, and other devices. The materials must be found in the game world, because when darkness reaches you, it may already be too late. Planned action and constant adventure drive are the focus of this cooperative game.

Don’t Starve Together is ideal for: Anyone who wants a bit of horror without explicit, gruesome representations. Despite the comic graphics, the environment and the game are quite threatening, without being truly scary or intimidating.

What makes the horror of Don’t Starve Together? The real horror in Don’t Starve Together is rather minimal. The only fear that sits on your neck is the worry of losing what you have achieved when the hunger meter dangerously drops into the abyss or you suddenly get overwhelmed by creatures from the darkness. The horror is only lightly present, making it suitable for younger players.

On the next page, you will find 3 more exciting horror multiplayer titles.