The 5 Best Proximity Chat Horror Games Right Now

Over the past half-decade, the horror genre has definitely shifted, with co-op gaming becoming a popular sub-genre. More and more games are being made with this idea in mind, and one game mechanic that makes co -op horror games even better is proximity chat, a voice communication feature that allows players to talk to others nearby.

When players are close enough together, their chat volume becomes louder and clearer, and vice versa. If you move away from players, their chat volume will decrease and sound more distant. It’s a really cool and hilarious mechanic because it creates immersion, and that’s always a good thing in horror games, and you can create some really funny moments with proximity chat. Here are the 5 best horror games that use proximity chat effectively, and in the best ways possible.

1. Lethal Company

Now this game is at the top of my personal list, and I imagine it’s at the top of many other players’ lists. Lethal Company exploded when it was first released in 2023, and the momentum it gained was an incredible sight to behold. When I think of proximity chat, Lethal Company is the game that definitely comes to mind because of the many funny, unscripted, and viral moments that have been captured by players.

2. Phasmophobia

If Lethal Company made co-op horror gaming what it is now, Phasmophobia started the trend of friendslop horror gaming. It’s probably one of the oldest co-op horror games that uses proximity chat, and I’ve definitely seen some pretty wild moments with it. Phasomophobia was released in early access back in 2020; however, it’s making its official launch later this year, marking the end of it’s 6 year early access run. I’m definitely excited to see what Kinetic Games will add or change when it makes its full release.

3. R.E.P.O.

Now, normally, I wouldn’t put this game on the list given its Lethal Company-inspired origins; however, R.E.P.O. definitely earned its place on this list. As I said, R.E.P.O. is Lethal Company-inspired; you go into different locations, loot all you can, and escape before the monsters who roam the map kill you. However, R.E.P.O. has many game mechanics different from Lethal Company that make it stand out on its own.

4. Panicore

Panicore is one of the most interesting horror games I’ve seen yet. It not only uses proximity chat, but it also integrates your mic volume as part of your gameplay. The louder you are, the more monsters you attract, and given that you have certain objectives you need to complete to be able to escape, it makes the game that much more difficult and horrifying. But again, proximity chat helps break up the horror with hilarious moments that make the game entertaining.

5. Escape the Backrooms

The backrooms phenomenon was an instant hit, so it was only a matter of time before a horror game emerged showcasing the backrooms lore that many people grew to love. We got to experience it firsthand through Escape the Backrooms, and it was definitely a terrifying game altogether. You start in the iconic yellow-walled office hallways, trying to find the door that will let you escape into the next area of the nonsensical interdimensional space.

Because the spaces are so large, when you play with teammates, it’s easy to lose track of everyone and get lost yourself, which is where proximity chat comes in handy. It raises the immersion of the game, where you actually have to call out to your teammates to try to find them or run into a monster roaming this dimension. This is one of the few games where proximity chat makes the game more difficult and scary, depending on what you may experience during your time in the backrooms.