Stage Fright co-op adventure gets first

Ghost Town Games has released the first proper gameplay trailer for Stage Fright, its upcoming co-op adventure. The game is scheduled to launch in spring next year.

Developed by the studio behind Overcooked, Stage Fright is a two-player action-adventure with a spooky theme. It draws inspiration from Luigi's Mansion and coming-of-age stories like The Goonies and Stranger Things. Players will control protagonists Drew, Blake, and Charlie to solve an ancient mystery.

Co-op gameplay and design philosophy

The game is built from the ground up for communication-driven cooperation. It supports both online play and local couch co-op. Players work together to solve escape room-style puzzles and handle chaotic scenarios.

Ghost Town Games emphasizes accessibility in its design. "The challenge is in the mind, not the finger-tips!" the studio stated. The team aimed to protect the one-button accessibility of Overcooked while moving players into a larger adventure. "We wanted to take those Overcooked players out of the confines of the kitchen and off an adventure into a larger, more involving saga," the developers explained.

Story structure and perspectives

Stage Fright features three protagonists but is designed for two players. The solution is a dynamic character-swapping system. Players will switch between different pairs of characters as the story progresses, experiencing the mystery from two distinct perspectives.

The developers contrast it with their previous work. "In contrast to the fraught urgency of time-based levels, in Stage Fright, players can immerse themselves in a long-form mystery," they said. The game requires players to combine mental agility to figure out the secrets of a strange town filled with odd characters.

Release platforms and publishing

The game will be published by Hello Games, the studio known for No Man's Sky. Confirmed platforms currently include Steam for PC and Mac, as well as the Nintendo Switch family of consoles. The studio specifically mentioned support for both the current Switch and its successor.

Development on Stage Fright has been ongoing for approximately five years. The new gameplay trailer provides the clearest look yet at its atmospheric, puzzle-solving action. The footage suggests a charming and spooky tone, aligning with the studio's description of an "adorably spooky" adventure.