What elements define the cooperative horror game genre?

Cooperative horror games are like playing hide-and-seek with friends, but everyone is scared and has to work together to win.

You're all in it together, like a team of kids trying to escape from a spooky house, if one person gets caught, the whole group might be in trouble. That’s what makes these games cooperative: you have to help each other out or nobody survives.

In cooperative horror games, everyone has their own job, just like when you and your friends take turns being the seeker in hide-and-seek. One person might be the leader who finds clues, while another keeps watch for monsters. You all need to communicate and trust each other, because if someone gets distracted, it could mean trouble for the whole team.

These games are also full of scary surprises, like when you hear a loud thump in the hallway, is it just your friend jumping, or is it something really scary? You have to face these fears together and help each other stay brave. It’s like being in a haunted house with friends, where everyone holds hands and takes turns checking the next room.