7 Minutes in Hell is an exciting new multiplayer horror game that draws inspiration from various popular titles, including Lethal Company. This game made its surprise debut on Steam today, poised to deliver both chills and laughs as players team up during the Halloween season.
Developed by Gaggle Studios—known for their hit game Goose Goose Duck—this new title promises to offer a unique spin on cooperative horror experiences. Goose Goose Duck itself is a social deduction game that shares similarities with Among Us but includes a wider variety of roles and game modes. Although it first launched in 2021, its popularity surged in 2023 when a member of the popular Korean band BTS gave it a shoutout. Riding this wave of success, Gaggle Studios is now exploring a game concept that mirrors the structure of Lethal Company, much like how Goose Goose Duck was inspired by Among Us.
In 7 Minutes in Hell, players find themselves in a game show of the same name, navigating through unsettling environments teeming with eerie adversaries. Players must collect cash and various items while seeking an escape, all within a tight seven-minute window. Herbert Chan, the game director, shared some insights on what differentiates this game from others in the genre.
“As passionate fans of horror games, we believe 7 Minutes in Hell captures the essence of what makes these games enjoyable. At its heart, cooperative horror games are all about having a blast with friends, enhanced by sudden moments of sheer fright,” Chan told Digital Trends. “While we’ll maintain that classic mix, we’re introducing a distinctive feature: a campy game show host who provides live commentary and narrates player actions for a fictional audience. Although this feature won’t be available during early access, we plan to explore integration with Twitch and other streaming platforms, enabling audiences to vote and influence gameplay, making for a truly interactive and unpredictable experience.”
Before the game’s official announcement, I managed to play a few rounds of 7 Minutes in Hell. The gameplay loop felt satisfying, with each run allowing for accumulated progress, more items, and sponsors based on my previous haul. Although I played solo, the proximity chat feature seems designed to foster memorable moments, particularly when communication is suddenly cut off. Players have the ability to abandon their teammates and escape alone, which is sure to lead to plenty of hilarious situations.
7 Minutes in Hell is currently available on Steam in early access. Gaggle Studios has shared a roadmap detailing exciting future updates, including new enemies, items, interactive elements, arenas, and mod support expected to roll out through January 2025.
