Lethal Company

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Released back in October 2023 all by one person. This managed to soar to the top of Steam's charts. While the hype seems to have died down, the game remains a must-play in my eyes.

At its core, it's a Co-op survival horror game where you go from planet to planet scavenging for scrap in an attempt to make a profit for the company, all the while avoiding the creatures inhabiting them hunting you down. The tension & atmosphere this creates is masterfully done. Don't be fooled by its appearance, this might be one of the scariest games I've played.

The proximity chat is a big component as to why this works as well as it does. Communication with your team is vital, but you can only hear your team when they are close by. This at times feels very isolating. When one of the friends is unresponsive, you won't know until the end of the round if they've just wandered off or something sinister has snatched them from the shadows. It's terrifying getting lost, every noise in the distance will put you more and more on edge as you desperately call for your friends to be found before something else finds you first. However, this could be risky, as this will attract more than just your team... Now let's talk monsters. There are tons of them in this game. Each with its unique way of killing you. Part of the thrill of this game is to discover these creatures yourself so I won't be going into detail here. But, just know that each creature must be handled and approached differently and all are deadly when provoked.

To get the most from this game it really must be played with friends in a group. The more the better. I don't think it would be nearly as fun without it. With the right people, this game can provide hours of fun.