6 Games to Play If You Love Welcome to the Game

Welcome to the Game is one of my all-time favorite horror series. The deep web browsing while being hunted by a variety of killers is such a unique feature that helps it stand out from the rest of the genre.

We’ve compiled a list of games that are inspired by or similar to Welcome to the Game, and that we believe hardcore fans of the series would enjoy playing.

XXX_CYBERRAT_XXX

XXX_CYBERRAT_XXX is a challenging but highly enjoyable Welcome to the Game style game that introduces some fresh mechanics.

The main goal is to regain access to your underground marketplace, which was stolen by former co-workers. To do this, you explore various dark web sites to gather information.

However, your old co-workers have learned about your release from a mental hospital and have started sending hitmen after you. You must uncover as much information as possible about these hitmen before sending out hits on them yourself. You can search their phone numbers, cryptocurrency addresses, and more to stay one step ahead and save yourself.

What sets XXX_CYBERRAT_XXX apart in terms of gameplay is its focus on the character’s mental health. The protagonist was previously institutionalised, and deep web exploration triggers hallucinations that can have fatal consequences. This adds a new layer of challenge, forcing you to order medicine online to manage your condition, which you can afford by scamming other users or running bot networks.

As a bonus, the game provides an explanation of how your character died, something I wish Reflect Studios would include in their games to help players learn and get better at the game without having to speculate what went wrong.

The Black Vault

If you were ever super into Welcome to the Game 2, you might’ve come across a mod called WTTG2 Plus. It added even more killers from across Reflect Studios’ games, introduced new purchasable items, and greatly amped up the difficulty.

Well, after the mod’s success, the developers decided to go one step further and make their own Welcome to the Game style game, The Black Vault.

In The Black Vault, you play as a wannabe hacker trying to gain access to a secretive organisation. To prove yourself, you’ll need to complete a range of tasks across the dark web, including hacking into websites and servers, downloading hidden files, and much more.

While you’re doing all this, you’re also being hunted.

Much like Welcome to the Game, most of the game takes place in your computer chair, but you’ll need to stand up periodically to watch your surroundings and make sure your doors and windows are locked. One standout threat is the Bomb Maker, a killer who sneaks in and plants explosives in your home. If you don’t notice in time and order a bomb defusal kit, then boom, game over.

It’s rough around the edges, for sure, and it doesn’t quite reach the same level of polish as Welcome to the Game 2. But it hits so many of the same notes, tense multitasking and eerie dark web browsing, that fans of the original series should feel right at home.

Dead Signal

This one might be a bit of a cheat since Dead Signal is another game by Reflect Studios, the developers behind Welcome to the Game. But it shares a lot of the same core mechanics that fans will appreciate.

In Dead Signal, you’re tasked with completing surveillance-related duties on your computer while multiple killers stalk you from the shadows. Some familiar faces from Welcome to the Game make a return, including the Hitman, the Breather (on Nightmare difficulty), and the Noir, along with some new terrifying enemies.

The gameplay is reminiscent of I’m on Observation Duty, as you monitor security cameras to spot vulnerabilities like unlocked doors or people showering that could be exploited by criminals targeting your organisation.

Events such as losing signal, or your boss asking you to deliver packages, force you out of your chair to explore the rest of the apartment building, similar to Welcome to the Game 2 but with an elevator instead. This is where you’ll encounter new threats that keep the tension high, including some iconic jumpscares.

Home Safety Hotline

If you enjoy the puzzle elements in Welcome to the Game but aren’t so keen on being chased by killers, Home Safety Hotline might be the perfect fit.

As a Home Safety Hotline operator, you must listen carefully to what the callers are saying and figure out the real cause of their issues. The calls often include red herrings designed to throw you off the scent. You can consult your detailed database of information to help diagnose problems and give your callers the correct answers.

Over the course of seven days, you receive calls reporting everything from typical pest problems to eerie, cryptic threats that hint at something far more sinister.

Even if you don’t like Welcome to the Game, I’d still recommend Home Safety Hotline anyways, as it’s a brilliant game on all levels – I mean, just look at that gorgeous 90s-style software!

Killer Frequency

In Killer Frequency, you take on the role of a late-night radio host broadcasting from a small town terrorized by a serial killer.

Your job is to field calls from frightened locals and help guide them to safety through conversation and careful decision-making. Plus, throughout the night, the killer repeatedly shows up inside your radio station.

The game features a branching narrative where your choices influence who survives and how the story unfolds, leading to multiple possible endings.

Parasocial

Parasocial is a short horror game by the acclaimed Japanese indie studio Chilla’s Art.

Like Welcome to the Game, much of the gameplay takes place at the protagonist’s computer, where you control a live streamer managing her broadcast and interacting with viewers. As the stream progresses, you realize that one of your fans is stalking you, turning your online life into a nightmare.

Beyond the computer, a large part of the game involves navigating the real world as you try to stay safe while being hunted by your stalker. This dual gameplay, balancing the digital and physical threats, adds a tense layer of vulnerability.

If you’re a fan of Welcome to the Game and have played any of these titles, or if you know of other games that capture that same tense mix of dark web mystery and survival horror, we’d love to hear from you. Drop your recommendations and thoughts in the comments below and help fellow horror fans discover their next chilling adventure.