If you want the teamwork and tension of The Outlast Trials, start with GTFO for demanding tactical horror, Phasmophobia for investigation and voice-led teamwork, DEVOUR for a focused ritual objective, or Lethal Company for chaotic scavenging. For slower survival, try Sons of the Forest; for a two-player campaign, consider Resident Evil 5. None is an exact substitute: each delivers a different kind of cooperative pressure.
Which co-op horror game is closest to what you like about The Outlast Trials?
The right alternative depends on which part of The Outlast Trials your group wants to keep: fear under pressure, close communication, a shared objective, or simply a reason to laugh nervously with friends. Use this shortlist to match the game to your group rather than expecting the same trial-based format.
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| Game | Best for | How cooperation works | Session shape | Group and platform notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTFO | Committed groups who want punishing tactical horror | Careful coordination and communication are central to surviving | Runs built around planning, execution, and learning from failure | Confirm current platform availability for everyone before buying; the cited comparison does not establish a complete current crossplay picture. |
| Phasmophobia | Investigation and supernatural problem-solving | Players gather evidence, divide tasks, and communicate as danger escalates | Repeatable investigations rather than a single continuous campaign | A 2026 guide reports four-player online play and crossplay across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S; check the current listing for exact support. |
| DEVOUR | A direct, shared ritual objective | Find ritual items and work together to banish possessed cultists | Focused, frantic rounds | The official site states online co-op for 1–4 players, plus single-player mode and full VR support: DEVOUR official site. |
| Lethal Company | Chaotic scavenging and social scares | Collect scrap while danger, separation, and proximity chat create unpredictable moments | Unpredictable expeditions shaped by a quota | The cited guides describe it as PC-focused; check the current storefront for supported player count and platform. |
| Sons of the Forest | Slower survival and exploration | Explore and build together in a survival sandbox | Longer-form world rather than short repeatable trials | A 2026 guide lists PC online co-op, but the consulted official Steam description did not specify a player limit. |
| Resident Evil 5 | A structured campaign for two friends | A dedicated partner shares a cinematic, action-heavy campaign | Campaign progression | Choose it for a two-player campaign, not as the most horror-focused option in this list; check current platform availability for both players. |
The platform and compatibility notes above reflect a 2026 roundup and an independent comparison, not a complete or permanent crossplay matrix. Listings and support can change, so verify the exact editions and devices your group uses.
Choose by the kind of teamwork you want
GTFO: tactical pressure for a committed squad
GTFO is the strongest fit if your group enjoys planning, communicating, and accepting that a mistake can unravel a run. Its appeal is also its barrier: a casual group looking for an easy first session may find the learning curve frustrating. Games Genie’s 2026 comparison characterizes it as the hardcore pick and emphasizes how essential communication is to survival.
#1 Best Overall
Phasmophobia: solve the haunting together
Choose Phasmophobia when the fun is in investigating a threat rather than simply escaping one. Players gather evidence, split up tasks, and use communication to make sense of what is happening. The 2026 roundup describes voice recognition and team investigation as part of the experience; Games Genie likewise highlights evidence gathering and communication. It suits groups who like piecing together a supernatural mystery while risk builds around them.
DEVOUR: one shared ritual to complete
DEVOUR gives the group a clear common purpose: locate ritual items and banish possessed cultists. Its official site describes it as a “co-op horror survival game for 1-4 players” and confirms online co-op, single-player mode, and full VR support. Pick it when you want a focused objective instead of a sprawling survival world.
Lethal Company: scavenging that turns chaotic
In Lethal Company, a crew searches abandoned moons for scrap while danger and separation from teammates raise the tension. Proximity chat helps make those encounters social as well as scary: losing track of a friend can become part of the story. The quota adds pressure, while the unpredictable sessions leave room for humor. It is a better fit for groups who enjoy emergent chaos than for players seeking a tightly scripted campaign.
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Sons of the Forest: a slower survival sandbox
Sons of the Forest is the slower option: explore, build, and survive together in a longer-form world, with dread that rises more gradually than in a short, objective-driven session. The independent 2026 comparison presents it as a survival sandbox, while the roundup lists PC online co-op. The official Steam description consulted by that roundup did not state a player limit, so do not assume a specific maximum without checking the current listing.
Rank #3
- BECOME A TEAM - Dungeons & Dragons: Trials of Tempus is a cooperative, team-based game for 2-8 players, where rival parties of Heroic adventurers battle to prove their worth and mettle in the ever-changing Battlerealms of Tempus, God of War!
- CONQUER THE TRAIL - To win, you and your party must work together to earn more Victory Points than your rivals by completing Quests and gathering Loot, and finally defeating the Trial Guardian. The party with the most Victory Points wins!
- GREAT FOR GAME NIGHT - Adventurers ages 12+ can team up with up to 8 adventurers around the game table for 30+ minutes, in attempts to defeat the trials laid before them.
- HIGHLY DETAILED MINIATURES - The Standard Edition includes 25 highly detailed, unpainted miniatures. Painted or not, they are ready for the battlefield! Fight mobs of goblins, kobolds, and bugbears. And defend yourself against ogres and constructs!
- GAME INCLUDES - 9 Map Tiles, 4 D20s, 25 Unpainted Miniatures, 1 Rule Book, 344 Cards, 333 Tokens
Resident Evil 5: a campaign for two
Resident Evil 5 makes sense if you have one regular partner and want a cinematic campaign rather than repeatable expeditions. It is more action-oriented than the stronger horror picks here, so it may not deliver the same sustained fear you associate with The Outlast Trials. Its strength is having a clear campaign to play through together.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check your group’s platforms before choosing
Game availability, player limits, and crossplay differ by title and can change. Before anyone buys, check the current official store listing for each person’s platform and edition. Do not assume a console version exists because another game on this list has one, or infer cross-progression from crossplay.
- Count the players. DEVOUR officially supports 1–4 players online. For other titles, confirm the current supported group size on the listing rather than relying on an old guide.
- List everyone’s devices. Make sure the game is available on each person’s PC or console, and check edition details.
- Confirm crossplay explicitly. If your group spans platforms, verify the supported crossplay combination for the exact platforms involved.
- Pick a session style. Decide whether you want short repeatable objectives, investigations, a campaign, or an ongoing survival world.
Set up for games where communication matters
GTFO’s tactical coordination, Phasmophobia’s investigation, and Lethal Company’s proximity chat all make communication part of the experience. A working microphone can help, but no particular headset is required by the evidence here; use the setup your group already has and make sure voice chat works before starting.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor current game descriptions and compatibility, consult the DEVOUR official site and the platform’s live store listing for each title. The shortlist’s style and comparison notes draw on How To Video Game’s 2026 co-op horror roundup and Games Genie’s 2026 comparison; their rankings and impressions are editorial judgments, not controlled tests.
Quick Recap
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