Fears to Fathom: Scratch Creek Breaks Series Sales Records with Coop-Only Design

A New Season, New Rules

Fears to Fathom: Scratch Creek launched on 10 June 2026 and immediately made history for the series. Developed and published by Rayll (Rayll Studios), Scratch Creek marks the beginning of Season 2 of the beloved lo-fi psycho-horror anthology — and it arrives with a bold design decision: for the first time in the franchise's history, the game is built exclusively around 2-player online co-op.

There is no solo option. You need a partner, a microphone, and nerves of steel.

100,000 Copies in Record Time

On 16 June 2026 — just six days after launch — the developers announced via Steam that Fears to Fathom: Scratch Creek had already surpassed 100,000 copies sold, making it the fastest-selling entry in the entire Fears to Fathom lineup. The announcement confirmed what the concurrent player numbers had already hinted at: the co-op gamble had paid off commercially, at least.

Oregon Dread: The Story of Scratch Creek

True to the anthology's signature VHS lo-fi aesthetic, the game follows Tessa Langley and Marcus Reed, a couple from Oregon whose road trip takes a sinister turn when they strand in the unsettling small town of Scratch Creek. The roughly two-hour experience leans hard into environmental dread, slow-burn tension, and the particular horror of facing something terrifying while tethered to another person — whether that adds companionship or catastrophe depends entirely on who you invite.

The built-in Proximity Voice Chat and matchmaking system mean you can play with a stranger if no friend is available, though the game's tension clearly lands hardest when played with someone you actually know.

What Players Are Saying

With over 4,200 user reviews on Steam, Scratch Creek currently sits at a "Mostly Positive" rating of around 74% — solid, but not without reservation. The feedback breaks down fairly clearly:

The good: Co-op amplifies the horror in ways solo play simply cannot. Shared panic, communication breakdowns, and the pressure of keeping each other alive translate the anthology's psychological dread into something genuinely interactive and memorable.

The criticism: Several players report noticeable bugs, and there is a near-universal complaint about the game's finale — a chase sequence described by many reviewers as excessively frustrating and out of step with the otherwise atmospheric pacing of the experience.

A Divisive but Landmark Entry

Fears to Fathom: Scratch Creek represents a genuine turning point for the series. The move to mandatory co-op is a creative risk that clearly resonated with a huge audience — 100,000 sales in less than a week speaks for itself. Yet the 74% approval rating suggests that a meaningful portion of the fanbase, particularly long-time solo players of the anthology, feel left behind by the format shift.

If you have a reliable co-op partner and a taste for lo-fi horror with real tension, Scratch Creek is very much worth your time. Just be prepared for that ending.