Top 10 Best Asymmetrical Horror Games of All Time

Asymmetrical gameplay is nothing new. For those not in the know these are games where there are two teams, and each has different gameplay and objectives but are in direct competition with one another. We got some glimpses of the possibilities of this idea with the Gamecube/GBA link cable as well as the Wii U console itself. The idea has since expanded into the mainstream. One reason for this is the emergence of asymmetrical horror titles. These are often based on film licenses from classic scary movie franchises. This isn’t an exclusive concept though and there are many original titles. With that said Halloween is approaching, and I thought it would be fun to get into the spirit. Today we’re going to highlight the top 10 best asymmetrical horror games. Let’s take a look.

#10. – Resident Evil: Resistance

Resident Evil is the most recognizable name in survival horror. It’s also one of the pioneers of the genre. With that it seems like a shoe in for an asymmetrical horror game, right? They tried to make it work with Resident Evil: Resistance, but the results were kind of mixed to be honest. The game has four players taking control of average joes while another tries to impede their progress as a mastermind. This player can set traps, summon enemies, etc. Gameplay can be fun, but it feels a little sloppy and dry to be honest. There was only so much they could do with the zombie concept but this wasn’t what I had in mind. Still I thought it was mildly enjoyable at least. Unfortunately the game was never particularly popular.

#9. – Nintendo Land

The Wii U was made for asymmetrical gameplay. Having one player using the game pad screen while the others play on a television made for some amazing experiences. Nintendo Land itself is a collection of various mini-games based on the company’s franchises. It’s not a horror game per se, but I’m not talking about the package as a whole today. Luigi’s Ghost Mansion is the topic here. This event has four players armed with flashlights hunting down a ghost which is controlled by the player with the game pad. The thing is this lone player can see everyone, whereas the ghost is mostly invisible to the other players. As the apparition you have to sneak up on foes and grab them to take the player out of the game. This one is an absolute blast. I couldn’t rank it higher because it is very limited in options.

#8. – Dead by Daylight

This is by all accounts the only asymmetrical horror game with any staying power. Released in 2016 Dead by Daylight started out popular, and has only grown since then. If I’m being honest I can say that I didn’t enjoy it back then. What really stood out to me at the time was the poor map designs. Upon revisiting the title I discovered the issue has been somewhat corrected. Even the gameplay loop is slightly more interesting. Here four players work together to turn on a series of generators which opens the exit for each stage. The problem is there’s another player actively hunting them down. This player is faster, and their goal is to sacrifice the others to a force known as the entity. What’s interesting is the fact that the game has so many licensed horror icons. They’re mostly DLC, but it’s still awesome.

#7. – Secret Neighbor

Hello Neighbor was a moderate hit when it released on the modern consoles available at the time. It promised a lot of unique ideas and mechanics, but ultimately it didn’t live up to the hype. The developers released a spin-off called Secret Neighbor. This was a departure from the original as it was an asymmetrical online game. In this game you play with five other players breaking into the house of the titular Neighbor character to rescue their friend. The thing is one of these players is the Neighbor in disguise. They can reveal themselves whenever they want and take other players out of the game. Gameplay is pretty similar to the original Hello Neighbor as you solve light puzzles and open more of the home. Secret Neighbor is a pretty decent game overall that’s only dragged down by its younger playerbase. It’s tough to get into a good game.

#6. – Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game

I love Killer Klowns From Outer Space. This cult classic horror film is over the top and cheesy, but in the best ways possible. With that said it’s a weird choice for an asymmetrical horror game. I didn’t think that the concept would lend itself well to the genre, but I stand corrected. Killer Klowns from Outer Space stood out from the pack with its over the top 80s aesthetic. Here seven players take control as the humans, and three as the klowns. As the former you’re trying to simply escape, and the latter wants to kill them. It’s particularly interesting because the human players can fight back. Klowns can be temporarily incapacitated either by damaging them enough or striking them right on the nose. It’s quite different from most asymmetrical horror games in this regard. Killer Klowns From Outer Space is a lot of fun.

#5. – Left 4 Dead 2

This is probably a surprising entry on the list for many. After all Left 4 Dead 2 was a co-op multiplayer game where four players work together to make it through zombie infested cities and other environments. The thing is there’s another mode that allows players to compete with one another. One team is the zombies and the other survivors. It’s surprisingly dynamic. With each of the zombie types you can ambush players in different ways, and teamwork goes a long way here. The infected team play as the special types, and these are randomly assigned as the match begins. What’s also interesting is the fact that players swap teams at specific junctions, and the winner is determined by points. While I prefer the base game the asymmetrical multiplayer mode is nothing to scoff at.

#4. – The Evil Dead: The Game

The Evil Dead is one of the quintessential horror films in my opinion. It’s campy, but ultimately I find it still scary today. When the game was announced based off it I wasn’t sure quite how the developers would pull it off. Capturing the spirit of the film seemed like an impossible feat. Somehow they pulled it off. Here four players take control of the human survivors while another has the abilities of a Kandarian Demon. The latter can summon creatures, set traps, etc. The survivors goal is to defeat the demon. It’s a lot of fun, but there are a few things holding it back. For one thing as the Kandarian Demon gameplay is too complicated. There are far too many aspects of the game to manage. Dealing with the survivors just isn’t very fun because of it. Playing as the heroes however is.

#3. – Left 4 Dead

Why is this one higher rated than the sequel, you may ask? I like the map designs better, and prefer the point scoring system. Also, I like the original special infected types better than the new ones. Regardless Left 4 Dead is a classic. The asymmetrical multiplayer mode is a four vs four match wherein one team plays as the infected and the other as the human survivors. The ability to hide and ambush survivors is what makes this one so fun. Especially when playing such roles as the belcher wherein you vomit on other players to attract hordes of standard zombies. Working together as a team is a ton of fun as you take advantage of each infected’s abilities to find the best method of attack. Heck, even playing as the survivors is fun in this mode because you’re working against more than just the mindless undead.

#2. – Friday the 13th: The Game

It is such a shame that the servers for this game were shut down. Friday the 13th gave me some of the most fun and memorable experiences I’ve ever had in an online game. The franchise has a ton of lore, and this title did an amazing job at tapping into it. It’s a match between seven camp counselors and Jason. Each character has varying stats that help out in different ways which really taps into the teamwork aspect. Jason is of course overpowered. He can warp around stages, break down doors, etc. Basically there’s no escaping him if he wants you dead. There are stealth aspects to the game wherein you can try hiding from him, but some characters are best geared toward slowing his progress by fighting the guy off. You can even kill Jason through an amazing canonical series of events.

#1. – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Game

I was very skeptical of this game pre-release. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of my most favorite horror films of all time. Because of its format I didn’t see how a game could possibly be made that could capture the spirit of the movie. Somehow the developers behind the title figured it out. Texas Chainsaw Massacre has a unique set up with four survivors working together to escape while being hunted by three members of the Sawyer family. Moreso than the other asymmetrical horror games this one is based on stealth gameplay. You can hide in tall grass, inside cabinets, etc. The unique abilities of the survivors, and their skill trees is what really sets this one apart. Oh and of course the excellent map designs help too. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Game is without a doubt the best and most interesting asymmetrical horror game released so far.