Introduction

The Headliners, developed by KAFI and released on January 30, 2025, for PC via Steam, delivers a thrilling co-op horror experience where players embody reckless journalists capturing photos in a monster-infested city. Supporting teams of 1 to 8 players, the game tasks participants with snapping spectacular footage to make headlines while evading deadly creatures, priced at $7.99 with optional cosmetic DLCs. It garnered significant buzz following its reveal at Gamescom 2024 and early access previews, showcased in player-shared gameplay clips and developer streams. Early feedback praised its dark humor and cooperative chaos, though some noted performance issues and limited content. This review explores its narrative, world, gameplay, and technical execution to assess its standing as a fresh horror title.

Narrative & Storytelling

The Headliners crafts its narrative through a player-driven storyline that emerges through mission outcomes and environmental chaos. Players take on the role of journalists in a city overrun by aliens and monsters, with the story unfolding through mission briefings, photo reviews, and interactions with the press office. The narrative arc centers on surviving to secure headlines, with key moments—such as capturing a dramatic death scene or escaping a horde—adding a sense of adrenaline-fueled triumph. These moments foster a sense of reckless camaraderie, evolving from simple photo hunts to desperate survival tales.

However, the lack of a structured plot might leave some wanting a deeper storyline, as the experience relies on emergent narratives—team decisions, photo choices, or random encounters—that depend on player initiative. The storytelling excels in its chaotic energy and dark humor, though its depth hinges on the participant’s engagement with the high-stakes action, making it a thrilling ride for those who embrace its absurdity.

World & Environments

The world of The Headliners centers on a sprawling, monster-ravaged city, featuring diverse zones like urban streets, abandoned buildings, and new map additions like the White House, rendered with a gritty yet stylized aesthetic. The environments shift with each expedition—collapsing structures, alien ambushes, or stormy skies—enhanced by interactive elements like destructible cover, photo-worthy scenes, and dynamic weather, creating a dynamic backdrop. Sound design, with eerie creature calls, helicopter roars, and proximity chat, builds an immersive atmosphere, while visual effects like gore splashes or fog add tactical variety.

Yet, the focus on fixed maps might limit environmental evolution over time, as the emphasis remains on raid zones rather than a living world. The design prioritizes a tense, evolving setting, which could feel repetitive for players seeking broader exploration. Community feedback celebrates the atmospheric design and monster variety, though some note map reuse, suggesting a world that thrives in intensity but may benefit from expansion to sustain engagement.

Gameplay Mechanics

Core Loop

The core loop revolves around photo hunting and survival, where players explore and extract within 10-15 minute sessions, offering a fast-paced rhythm. The cycle of snapping photos, earning points, and upgrading gear drives a compelling flow, encouraging quick play.

On-Field Mechanics

The gameplay hinges on co-op horror mechanics, where players use cameras, traps, and teamwork to capture footage, with tactical depth added by monster AI and point multipliers. Multiplayer focus introduces variety, though balance issues with scoring consistency can disrupt flow. The mechanics reward coordination and risk-taking, demanding mastery to overcome their intense challenge.

Mode-Specific Features

The primary mode includes Co-op Expeditions, with objectives like reaching point thresholds or surviving three attempts providing goals. Gear upgrades and death scene bonuses add variety, while leaderboards offer competition. The range of activities caters to different playstyles, but balance adjustments for scoring and performance lag, a point raised in early feedback.

Progression & Multiplayer

Progression includes earning press cards, unlocking gear, and upgrading cameras, balancing effort with functional and competitive rewards in a system that feels rewarding based on initial play. The game supports multiplayer with up to 8 players, with real-time combat and voice chat, though server issues limit accessibility. The progression and multiplayer elements thrive on team synergy, requiring refinement to enhance stability.

Technical Execution

The Headliners delivers a visually intense experience with its detailed graphics, fluid animations, and gory effects, optimized across PC with moderate requirements. Post-launch updates have addressed stability, with patches like the June 2025 update adding maps, though occasional glitches like frame drops, crashes, and optimization issues persist. Audio impresses with a suspenseful score and creature sounds, though repetitive loops can detract over long sessions.

Controls are responsive with precise inputs, offering a natural feel across keyboards and controllers, though the lack of touch support limits versatility. Ongoing updates are refining core systems, but initial technical hiccups suggest continued optimization is needed. The execution supports the horror focus, with visuals and audio as strengths amid polish challenges.

Community Feedback

The Headliners has cultivated an enthusiastic community, with early praise for its co-op chaos, dark humor, and monster designs, though concerns about performance, content depth, and bugs surface from player discussions. Excitement for new maps and aliens is widespread, but frustration with frame rates and inconsistent scoring persists. Community feedback drives development, sustaining interest, and player retention remains strong, fueled by its co-op appeal and update cadence.

Criticism centers on technical stability and variety, with players noting frame drops and a desire for more maps, alongside debates over scoring fairness. The community’s active input shapes updates, reflecting a group eager to see the game evolve into a polished horror experience, with initial Steam reviews showing a positive but critical reception.

Final Verdict

The Headliners delivers a thrilling co-op horror adventure with its dark humor and team-based action, celebrating a unique journalistic twist. Its chaos and monster variety shine, though performance issues and content limits pose challenges. It’s a must-play for horror and co-op fans, with patience required as updates refine the experience.