A new co-op horror game on Steam called Species: Unknown has clear Lethal Company vibes, while also drawing heavy inspiration from Alien: Isolation, and this unprecedented blend has already attracted thousands of fans. Both Lethal Company and Alien: Isolation are highly popular titles, with many considering them genre classics, each in its own way. With that in mind, Species: Unknown appears to take the best elements from both games and combine them into a fresh horror experience on Steam.
It is safe to say that co-op horror games like R.E.P.O. and Lethal Company have been some of the biggest phenomena on Steam in recent years, attracting thousands of players and breaking multiple concurrent player count records. While the genre sees dozens of new entries each year, only a few match the standards of top-tier games, making indie titles like Species: Unknown that capture fans’ attention especially rare.
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Species: Unknown Features At a Glance
- 4-player co-op mode (public and private servers)
- Solo mode
- Procedurally selected enemies
- Randomized contracts/missions (recovery, destruction, capture, elimination)
- Character customization
- Permanent upgrades
Species: Unknown Has the Addictive Gameplay Loop of Lethal Company
While Species: Unknown lacks the comical tone of Lethal Company, it can still deliver amusing moments, mostly through its intense jump scares.
Part of Lethal Company‘s success on Steam comes from its addictive gameplay loop that keeps players coming back. Randomized events and a rotating set of unique contracts have helped the game stay active, and according to SteamDB, it still draws nearly ten thousand concurrent players each day. Species: Unknown, one of Steam’s latest co-op horror games, appears to follow in Lethal Company‘s footsteps with a similarly repeatable gameplay loop. Each run centers on entering a map, understanding the mission, overcoming challenges with limited equipment, and escaping in one piece, all while hostile creatures and life-threatening conditions constantly work against the team.
While Species: Unknown lacks the comical tone of Lethal Company, it can still deliver amusing moments, mostly through its intense jump scares. That said, the game leans into a serious, dark, and gory atmosphere, favoring realism over cartoony effects and lighthearted monster encounters. Still, its contract-based missions and strong focus on getting the job done before the deadline make it closely resemble Lethal Company and a solid pick for fans of the co-op horror genre.
Species: Unknown Channels the Same Hide-and-Seek Mechanics of Alien: Isolation
One of the more intriguing aspects of Species: Unknown‘s gameplay is its focus on powerful, dangerous monsters, some of which may remind players of the iconic Xenomorph. While the enemy designs differ and the game features several creature types, most are difficult to defeat, giving Species: Unknown strong Alien: Isolation vibes. Combat is often not an option, forcing players to hide from lurking creatures or run for their lives, a familiar strategy for anyone who has played as Amanda Ripley.
In Species: Unknown, players have gadgets like a Motion Tracker and electromagnetic shields to help fend off the Xenomorph-like creatures. They also have high-tech weapons that can temporarily hold off the powerful bosses. However, as developer WanadevStudio warns, “Guns won’t always save you.”
Species: Unknown’s overall aesthetic and world-building may also remind co-op survival horror fans of Steam’s Nuclear Nightmare.
Species: Unknown Has a Free Playable Demo on Steam
Steam users can try Species: Unknown for free through a demo that showcases key gameplay mechanics. Players who enjoy the demo can buy the full game for around $10 USD, the lowest price it will be. According to the developer, this price will rise both during early access and after the full 1.0 release as more content is added. The game entered early access on October 23, 2025, and has since earned a Very Positive user review score, putting it on par with many successful co-op games on Steam. Over 3,000 players have reviewed it on Valve’s storefront, with 94% recommending the game as of now.
Developer WanadevStudio has not announced an exact release date for Species: Unknown. According to the game’s Steam page, the early-access phase will continue for at least 12 months, allowing the studio to gather player feedback and add new content. For example, a planned update in late January 2026 will introduce a new Lab biome, giving players a completely new area to explore.
