Netherwatch: Prototype Review. Co-op horror deduction game!
A Unique Blend of Horror and Investigation
Netherwatch isn’t just another co-op game with a horror theme pasted on top. It is built from the ground up as a tense investigation where players take on the roles of Agents, each trained to confront supernatural threats. The game unfolds inside cursed locations, with Ashwood Manor as the core setting in the base game. Unlike many co-ops that rely on straightforward puzzles or repetitive survival tasks, Netherwatch leans heavily on deduction, resource management, and narrative tension.
At the heart of every session is the looming presence of a Demon hidden inside one of several “Vaults.” These Vaults hold not only the identity of the entity but also its unique traits, events, and challenges. Your mission is to survive long enough to investigate its signs, determine what you are up against, and either banish it through a ritual or escape before it consumes you. The result is an experience that feels closer to a horror investigation than a traditional dungeon crawl.
Two Phases That Change the Game Completely
The most striking feature of Netherwatch is its two-phase structure. The Discovery stage is where the Agents creep through the haunted location, gathering clues, scavenging items, and using specialized field equipment to analyze evidence. This stage feels investigative and methodical, with tension growing as time runs out and the Demon’s influence escalates.
Then comes the Confrontation stage. Once players summon the Demon, the atmosphere of the game shifts drastically. Instead of quietly searching for information, you are suddenly hunted by a fully manifested creature. The stakes are higher, your actions are more limited, and the sense of danger becomes palpable. Few co-op games manage to pull off such a dramatic transition in tone, but Netherwatch succeeds, creating a natural escalation from mystery to survival horror.
Agents and Sanity – Characters That Feel Human
Each player controls an Agent with a unique ability, passive skill, and personal limitations. The asymmetry between Agents adds variety to every session. More importantly, the sanity system makes each character feel fragile and human. Beginning a turn in darkness or near the Demon can force sanity checks, slowly breaking down your Agent until they become Frightened or collapse into a Breakdown state.
This mechanic is more than a health bar—it reinforces the theme of horror. It reminds you that these aren’t superheroes, but people struggling against something far beyond human understanding. The mix of abilities, conditions, and sanity thresholds gives players plenty of room for tactical choices while never letting them feel fully safe.
The Demon Vaults – Mystery at the Core
The Demon Vaults are one of Netherwatch’s most innovative ideas. Each Vault is a physical box containing a Demon’s unique set of events, traits, and clues. When you set up the game, you pick one Vault at random without opening it fully, ensuring that the Demon’s identity remains unknown until you piece it together through investigation.
This system adds incredible replayability. Every Demon feels distinct, with its own weaknesses, strengths, and behaviors. The process of slowly working out which traits you’ve encountered and matching them to the correct Demon creates genuine moments of discovery. It’s a clever blend of deduction and mystery that makes each playthrough feel fresh.
The Flow of Play – Agents Against the Darkness
The turn structure alternates between Agent and Demon phases. When the Demon is Dormant, its influence creeps in slowly through event cards, which introduce unsettling narrative elements and environmental changes. When it manifests, the tension spikes: the Demon actively hunts, and players must scramble to survive with fewer actions each turn.
Lighting plays a crucial role. Zones can be lit, dim, or dark, and these states directly affect sanity and safety. Carrying light sources, managing batteries, and deciding whether to risk moving through darkness are constant decisions. Combined with scavenging mechanics and limited item slots, every turn demands meaningful choices.
Items and Equipment – Tools for Survival
Another highlight of Netherwatch is the diversity of equipment. Items are divided into essential tools, HQ gear, scavenged objects, and unique artifacts. They aren’t just bonuses; they are often necessary for survival or for completing the ritual to banish the Demon. Field equipment like detectors, scrying orbs, and projectors tie directly into the deduction process, making gear feel integrated with the theme.
This system adds layers of strategy. Deciding which Agent carries light sources, who takes the more specialized tools, and when to risk dropping items for others to collect creates tension and cooperation. Inventory is tight, forcing difficult trade-offs, but it also reinforces the theme—you’re investigators with limited resources, not adventurers carrying an arsenal.
Event Cards – Storytelling Through Mechanics
Event cards are the heartbeat of Netherwatch. Each one has effects for both Dormant and Manifested states, ensuring that the tone of the story evolves as the game progresses. The flavor text is rich and atmospheric, describing flickering lights, whispering shadows, or sudden surges of supernatural energy.
While the primary role of these cards is to trigger mechanical effects, they also serve as a narrative tool. Reading them aloud feels natural, and they build tension without requiring a scripted storybook. It’s a great balance between emergent storytelling and structured mechanics.
Replayability and Variety
With twelve Demon Vaults, multiple Operations, and modular map layouts, Netherwatch offers a lot of replay value. Each session feels different depending on the Demon, the chosen scenario, and the team composition. Even within the same Operation, the mix of event cards, item draws, and player choices ensures variety.
The replayability is not only mechanical but also thematic. Because the Demon’s identity is hidden until later in the game, players remain engaged with the mystery. And since the banishment ritual or escape objectives differ depending on the entity, the endgame never feels repetitive.
Immersive Atmosphere and Artwork
The visual design of Netherwatch plays a big role in its impact. The artwork leans into gothic horror, with moody tones and unsettling imagery. The maps, tokens, and standees all contribute to a sense of foreboding without overwhelming the table with clutter. The Demon Vaults themselves, with their sealed envelopes and hidden components, feel thematic even before you open them.
Lighting and tokens aren’t just mechanical—they’re atmospheric. A lit zone feels like a safe corner in a hostile environment, while a dark one becomes a source of dread. This integration of mechanics and aesthetics strengthens immersion and keeps players engaged.
A Game That Demands Teamwork
Perhaps more than anything else, Netherwatch shines as a cooperative experience. No single Agent can solve everything. Some will be better at investigation, others at surviving encounters or managing sanity. The game constantly forces players to balance their strengths, share resources, and coordinate actions.
Failures feel collective, and victories are shared. This emphasis on teamwork makes it an excellent choice for groups who enjoy discussing strategies, debating options, and living through tense moments together.
Verdict
Netherwatch delivers a unique blend of deduction, survival, and cooperative strategy wrapped in a chilling horror theme. Its two-phase structure creates natural tension, the Demon Vaults keep replayability high, and the sanity system makes characters feel fragile and human. From the moment you set foot in Ashwood Manor, the game pulls you into its world of creeping dread and desperate survival.
This is not a quick filler or a light horror party game. It’s a detailed, immersive experience that rewards focus, teamwork, and careful planning. For players who enjoy story-driven co-ops with genuine atmosphere, Netherwatch is an excellent addition to the collection.
– David & Greg
Hype & Hopes: 9.0/10
