Lethal Company is a small indie game that exploded in popularity thanks to streamers, clips and friend groups sharing their funniest and scariest moments. You play as contract workers for a mysterious Company, sent to abandoned moons to collect scrap and meet a profit quota. Fail to meet it, and the consequences are… permanent.
We played Lethal Company with friends over several nights. Here is our review.
The job
Each round, your team lands on a moon with your ship. Some players explore an abandoned facility to find scrap, while others may stay on the ship to guide teammates using cameras and maps. You must return scrap to the ship before the day ends, then sell it to the Company to meet your quota.
As days pass, the quota increases. Choosing which moons to visit, how much risk to take and when to leave becomes a tense balancing act.
Monsters
The facilities are full of dangerous creatures. Some lurk in the dark, some hunt by sound and others only move when you are not looking. Encounters are often sudden and terrifying. Learning how each creature behaves is part of survival, and discovering them for the first time is a memorable experience.
Proximity voice chat
Proximity voice chat is the secret ingredient. You can only hear teammates who are close to you, and their voices fade as they move away. Walkie-talkies let you communicate over distances. When a teammate screams in the distance and their voice suddenly stops, the horror becomes very real. At the same time, panicked conversations and terrible decisions are endlessly funny.
Teamwork and roles
Good teams divide roles. Explorers search for scrap, while a ship operator watches the monitor, opens doors remotely and warns others. Coordinating these roles improves survival and makes the game feel like a real job, with all the comedy of a disorganised workplace.
Store and upgrades
Between missions, you can buy tools like flashlights, shovels, walkie-talkies and ladders. Ship upgrades and decorations add personality. Spending money wisely is important, since you also need profits to meet quotas.
Early access
Lethal Company is in early access. It has rough edges, occasional bugs and limited content compared to a full release. However, the core gameplay is strong, and updates have added new moons, creatures and features. The modding community has also expanded the game, adding more players, cosmetics and content.
Repetition
After many sessions, the loop can become repetitive. Once you understand each monster, some of the fear fades. Mods and new players in your group can refresh the experience.
Performance
Lethal Company runs on modest PCs, which helps whole friend groups play together. Its retro low-resolution style contributes to the eerie atmosphere and keeps hardware requirements low.
Tips for new crews
- Stay together in facilities when learning
- Use walkie-talkies to stay in contact
- Let one player watch the ship monitor
- Leave early if danger rises; scrap is worth less than your life
- Learn monster behaviours to avoid deadly mistakes
Who is it for?
Lethal Company is for friend groups who enjoy horror comedy and chaotic co-op games. It is great for streamers and anyone who loves sharing funny clips. Solo players should look elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
How many players can play? The base game supports up to four players, with mods allowing more.
Is it too scary? It has jump scares, but the comedy keeps it fun for most players.
Is it finished? No, it is in early access.
Why it became a phenomenon
Lethal Company is a perfect example of emergent storytelling. The game provides simple systems, and players create the stories. Every session has a tale: the friend who forgot to close the door, the one who got lost in the dark or the miraculous last-second escape. These stories are what made it explode on social media.
Comparing it to other co-op horror games
Lethal Company inspired many similar games, some with more polish or physics-based comedy. Its strength is the balance between genuine fear and silliness. Other games may be prettier, but few capture the same tense atmosphere.
Mods and community
The modding community has extended Lethal Company with larger lobbies, new cosmetics, extra moons and quality-of-life improvements. Using popular mod managers makes installing mods easier. Just ensure all players in your group use the same mods to avoid connection problems.
Is it good for younger players?
Because of its horror themes, jump scares and creepy creatures, Lethal Company is better suited to teenagers and adults. Younger players who scare easily may find it too intense, even with the comedic moments.
Value
At its low price, Lethal Company offers excellent value for friend groups. Many players spend dozens of hours with friends, and a few sessions are worth the cost alone. It also appears in sales, making it even easier for a group to buy together.
Settings and audio
Audio is crucial in Lethal Company. Using headphones helps you hear monsters approaching and identify where teammates are. Adjusting voice chat volume ensures you hear distant screams, which are both terrifying and hilarious. Push-to-talk can prevent background noise from attracting monsters that react to sound.
Our experience
Our group’s first quota failure ended in complete silence, followed by uncontrollable laughter. That mix of tension and comedy is what makes Lethal Company so special, and it is why we kept coming back night after night.
Picking the right moon
Moons differ in danger, weather and the value of scrap. Early on, safer moons help your crew learn the basics and build a cushion of money. Riskier moons offer better scrap but deadlier threats. Deciding when to take a gamble, especially near the quota deadline, leads to heated debates inside the ship.
Who should skip it?
Solo players and those who dislike jump scares will likely not enjoy it.
Verdict
Lethal Company is a brilliant co-op horror experience that turns fear into comedy. Its proximity voice chat, terrifying monsters and simple yet tense gameplay loop create unforgettable moments with friends. Early-access roughness and repetition are noticeable, but for the price, it is one of the best party games on PC.
