Getting a non-gamer partner into video games may not be an easy feat. As people who may not be accustomed to controls or have raised anxiety levels when gaming, the experience can be a huge turn-off for non-gaming partners. If not handled properly, it can even evolve into an activity that they dislike.
However, by adopting a kind and encouraging disposition coupled with copious amounts of patience, partners can come around and even enjoy the experience provided they are introduced to games that are easy to pick up and to their taste. Horror games can potentially make or break a couple but if it works the couple that plays together stays together.
Updated on March 1, 2023, by Amy Cowley: While this list does indeed include essential multiplayer horror titles non-gamers could find enjoyment in such as Left 4 Dead 2 and Dead by Daylight, there are a plethora of multiplayer horror games that deserve some recognition and a place on this list, especially since there have been new releases since the time this article was first published. As such, this article has been updated to include older titles that were originally overlooked and some newer games that are now available on the market to provide a more comprehensive list of games to try with partners.
13 GTFO
Horrifying monsters, bloody gore, and fast-past actions are the main ingredients of GTFO. Up to four players must work together to fight through the horde while managing their limited resources and strategizing how to make it through each level alive.
It's a simple premise and a simple enough game most people could pick up and play. With no overarching story and not much lore to learn, players can dive in and out of the game to casually enjoy the gameplay. It is certain to be a fun experience for gamers to bring their partners along.
12 Left 4 Dead 2
One cannot go wrong with the classics. Left 4 Dead 2 has been a staple in zombie-bashing and shooting for more than a decade. With adjustable difficulty and a solid co-op experience that seems to stand the test of time, partners can easily and quickly understand its concepts and get the gist of gameplay.
Relatively not scary and fast-paced, Left 4 Dead 2 is a great gateway game for players who want their partners to get accustomed to an FPS. This game could also be an excellent idea for a double date.
11 Killing Floor 2
Another sequel on this list, Killing Floor 2 is very similar to Left 4 Dead 2 in that players are mowing down the dead. To those unfamiliar with Killing Floor 2, it introduces a concept similar to COD Zombies where players eliminate waves of the undead. After each round, players will head to the shop to gather more equipment or purchase better guns.
The game is said to incorporate better gunplay and tactics as each round introduces increasingly difficult monsters. All in all, the game is a fun experience for couples should they want a different undead shooter to Left 4 Dead.
10 Resident Evil 6
While the fifth and sixth installments of this famed horror franchise haven't always proved the most popular among fans, they still stand out as enjoyable games if players go into them expecting a greater emphasis on action than horror.
Resident Evil 6 is designed with cooperative multiplayer in mind, split into multiple chapters with two different playable characters, each chapter features its own separate challenges in its own unique locations. While there are certainly horror elements, gameplay mechanics and teamwork are the main priorities here, and the perfect game to play with a partner.
9 Dead By Daylight
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Some partners may feel disoriented by FPS games, which can limit options. Fortunately, some great games stray away from the first-person perspective. Dead By Daylight has maintained itself as one of the most popular multiplayer horror games out there. A simple 4 vs. 1 where one player who acts as the killer must hunt down 4 survivors who are hiding throughout the map and must repair 5 generators to trigger the final escape.
The game has a very easy learning curve and is accessible to new players. It also features some very intense and memorable chase sequences making it possible for a partner to get hooked on this game. Players should note that playing as the killer has them play in the first person.
8 Propnight
An alternative to Dead By Daylight, this recent edition of "killer chasing non-combative survivors" plays very similarly to its predecessor but has a major twist. Survivors can transform into everyday objects and try to blend in with their environment. Though this may appear to make things difficult for the killer, the killer may attack these objects in the hopes of discovering players attempting to evade capture. Killers also have their unique abilities to level the playing field.
Whimsical, intense, and at times ridiculous, the game is a great entry point for non-gaming partners who are sensitive to horror, as the game isn’t very terrifying. That is until one is being chased, of course.
7 V/H/S
Inspired by 80s tropes, horror movies, and Dead by Daylight, V/H/S is another contender to enter the realm of asymmetrical horror games. One player takes on the role of a monster, and four others play the teens. The job of each role is simple: kill the other first.
Similar to other asymmetrical horrors, teens must navigate to the multiple objective points scattered throughout the map and perform frequent skill checks in order to complete them. In V/H/S, these objectives are places teens can craft a weapon to vanquish the monster; all the while the monster will hunt the teens down and use their unique powers to try and kill them. It's deceptively fun and is constantly receiving quality-of-life updates and new content from developers.
6 Phasmophobia
An indie game that took the video gaming community by storm back in mid-2020, Phasmophobia has players take on the role of ghost hunters investigating paranormal activity in certain locations. Armed with an array of ghost-hunting equipment, players must work together to locate and deduce what type of ghost it is.
However, players need to be mindful of the ‘haunting’ phase when the ghost will materialize temporarily and stalk the players with those caught by the ghost winding up dead. Deeply atmospheric and terrifying at times, Phasmophobia is a game a non-gaming partner can easily dive into but with ease comes potential psychological scarring.
5 Forewarned
Not for the faint of heart, Forewarned is a title similar to Phasmophobia with its oppressively darkened locations, terrifying creatures to identify and avoid, just given with an Egyptian flair to its aesthetics, and some traps added to further endanger the intrepid explorers.
Instead of ghost hunters, players assume the role of archeologists who delve into forgotten ruins to plunder the treasures within, as well as investigate the strange phenomena that occur, and correctly identify what supernatural creature haunts the caverns, all the while threats lurk at every corner. It offers plenty of moments of terror that are more fun when shared, and with its simple controls, even non-gamers can quickly master the mechanics.
4 Devour
What does one get when ex-cultists need to clean up their act and conduct rituals to save everything from becoming disastrous? Well, Devour. Up to 4 players will run across a large map and collect items (usually 10) needed for a ritual. As this happens, the main monster and its minions will attempt to capture and incapacitate the players. Players can eliminate the minions with their UV flashlight and disorientate the monster temporarily.
The graphics and maps are distinct and very atmospheric, allowing players and their partners to feel fully immersed and slightly on edge. Note that the maps are huge making it easy to lose one's way and the monster on each map is terrifyingly fast. Good luck.
3 Deceit
Deceit is a 6-player survival game that will test each player’s instincts, deception, and ability to trust. Players find themselves in a twisted game where one of their own is infected with a virus that transforms them into a monster when the lights go out. The game provides opportunities for players to deduce the identity of the wolf in sheep's clothing whilst the monsters must find ways to cover their identities and acts of sabotage.
A game that will test a partner’s resolve and ability to trust, Deceit is an action-packed horror thriller that will probably make partners hate each other forever. That or shatter their trust in one another in the best ways possible.
2 The Forest
Another popular entry on this list, The Forest has players marooned on a deserted island after a devastating plane crash. Here, players must forage for supplies, craft, and explore the island to uncover what secrets it might have, and boy, does it have some secrets. Cannibals will eventually start stalking players and become increasingly violent as players delve deeper into the island.
A different sort of horror experience, The Forest has some breathing room for players whose partners aren’t regular gamers and offers the opportunity for players to craft bases within the game whilst uncovering more of the story.
1 Midnight Ghost Hunt
Despite being in early access, Midnight Ghost Hunt shows great promise as a fun multiplayer experience. A deathmatch between 4 ghost hunters and 4 poltergeists, the game is divided into 3 phases. The first phase has poltergeists roaming through the map and disguising themselves as everyday objects whilst the hunters select their loadout. In the second phase, hunters will use their weapons and gear to track and gun down the ghosts with a 5-minute timer. Once that timer runs out, the tables flip and any surviving ghosts will become powerful entities capable of overpowering the hunters.
The game has strong ghostbuster vibes and takes inspiration from several other ghost-hunting games. This game could be an ideal choice for players looking to give their partners the fun and whimsical, team-based ‘horror’ experience they never knew they needed.