With the emergence and rising popularity of online games, third-party voice-chat systems such as Skype and Discord have become a must as they allow friends to coordinate their gameplay, and enjoy couch-co-op even across long distances. There are games that capitalize on this, allowing players to chat with each other via a built-in game chat.

6:06

Related

7 Immersive Online Co-op Games To Play With Friends

When looking to have some funs with your friends, these immersive online co-op games will do the trick!

There are games that take it a step further with proximity chat. As the name suggests, this mode of voice chat allows players only to hear each other if their avatars are close enough in the game world. It adds a layer of realism that games can take full advantage of.

Updated March 21, 2024, by Mara Cowley: Online games continue to be popular, as they allow friends to communicate and play together when miles apart, or facilitate the means of making new friends. While most people may be tempted to use voice-chat software such as Discord to chat while playing with friends, there are games that utilize an in-game chat system that can enhance the players' experience, as it only works when their game avatars are close enough to hear one another. This article already contained many great games with proximity chat, but with so many more experiences on the market, this article has been updated with a few more fantastic examples.

12 In Silence

The Monster Can Hear The Players, As They Work Together Or Against Each Other

• Platforms: PC, Mac
• Released: 16 October 2020
• Developers: Ravenhood Games
• Genre: Action, Horror

This multiplayer horror game sees one player taking control of the creature, and 2-6 other players take on the role of the hapless survivors who are looking for their means of escape from the woods, and the monster prowling among them.

Almost completely blind, the monster relies on sound to hunt, namely those of the survivors' actions and voices, as this is where the proximity chat comes into play. Players will need to communicate via voice chat to coordinate their efforts if they have any chance to survive, but the player controlling the monster also has access to it, allowing them to hear their chat and even join in themselves to taunt or scare the other players.

11 Forewarned

A Terrifying Multiplayer Horror Experience Set in Ancient Ruins, Coordination Is Key

• Platforms: PC
• Released: 10 September 2021
• Developers: Dreambyte Games
• Genre: Adventure

Similar to Phasmophobia, Forewarned sees a group of intrepid explorers entering haunted premises and using equipment to find evidence in order to diagnose the entity, with an Egyptian theme, unlike the aforementioned game.

Players entering these ancient ruins must use proximity chat in order to corroborate their efforts in gathering evidence and exploring the ruins so they can know what the entity is, and know how to best deal with it while hopefully keeping themselves alive. Should players stray too far, they can use a walkie-talkie to keep in contact, which adds a layer of realism and immersion to this horrifying experience.

10 Hell Let Loose

This WW2 Online Shooter Offers One of the Most in-depth Chat Systems For Clean Conversation

Shooting games set during WW2 are unique by any measure, but Hell Let Loose sets itself apart by being an online experience of impressive scope. 50 players take on another 50, choosing to be part of the American, British, Soviet, or German army, and attempt to win against the opposing side by using all the weapons in their arsenal.

4:36

Related

Games Set In World War 2 (That Aren't Call of Duty: Vanguard)

Call of Duty: Vanguard isn't for everyone. Luckily for history buff gamers, World War 2 is a popular setting for shooters and strategy titles.

Considering the number of players, one would think the proximity chat would be illegible with too many overlapping voices, but developers over at Black Matter cleverly handled this, with one person in charge giving orders and organizing their units via the leadership voice channel, each unit able to communicate with each other in the unit proximity chat, and a party chat also implemented for friends to be able to communicate.

9 Holdfast: Nations at War

A Multi-Faceted Historic Multiplayer With Chaotic In-Game Chat

• Platforms: PC
• Released: 21 September 2017
• Developers: Anvil Game Studio
• Genre: Shooter, Massively Multiplayer

Part multiplayer, part shooter, part RPG, Holdfast: Nations at War is sure to appease to most gamers. Players will immerse themselves in historic battles using the weaponry of the time in servers of up to 150 other players, ensuring tense and thrilling battles down to the last men standing.

Proximity chat is unlimited in the game servers, allowing anyone and everyone to engage in chat, mobilizing allies or antagonizing their enemies. With no limitations, restrictions or organizations, the voice chat can be chaotic, but adds more realism, as everyone would be talking over each other in times of war.

8 V Rising

Many Different and Fun Aspects of this Survival RPG To Forge New Alliances

Vampire enthusiasts haven't been forgotten either with the brilliant V Rising, which sees players don the fangs of a recently awakened vampire that fell into a prolonged slumber. There are many different aspects to the survival RPG, such as drinking different blood types with unique bonuses, building up a castle and shoring up its defenses, and dipping into the PVP mode to take on other vampires.

In PVP mode, players can actually use a built-in proximity chat to converse with the other players, and perhaps find ones who might be willing to team up. This is a great way to make new allies in game who could potentially become a new friend to play more games with.

7 Rust

A Tough, Yet Rewarding Survival Game To Make Alliances Or Rivals

This multiplayer open-world survival game has only one main objective, which is to survive whatever dangers come the players' way, but it will in no way be easy. Everything in this world wants players to die, from the flora and fauna to the other players populating the world.

Players must do whatever it takes to survive this hostile world, such as finding supplies to aid them, killing dangerous enemies, and communicating with allies to coordinate their efforts. Fortunately, proximity chat is built into the game so players can speak with their allies to improve their chances of survival, but they should be wary of what or who might be listening in to their communications.

6 Phasmophobia

A Horrifying Ghost Hunting Game Sure to Terrify the Bravest Souls As Players Collect Evidence On The Ghost Type

Ghost-hunting fans rejoice! There is one excellent ghost game that makes use of proximity chat, and that is Phasmophobia. In this title, players are in the shoes of a group of vastly underpaid ghost hunters who use the tools at their disposal to investigate what sort of ghost is hunting the premises.

Related

Phasmophobia: Scariest Ghosts, Ranked

These are the scariest ghosts in Phasmophobia.

With multiple maps and over 20 total ghosts, players might have a hard time figuring out what ghost they may be dealing with and must work together to lift the mask. With built-in proximity voice chat and a long-distance radio chat, players can easily corroborate their efforts through the trial even when they are far apart, but they should take care, as often lone targets are easily killed by the ghost, especially if they are unaware during a ghost hunt, as the ghost will track their voice.

5 Escape From Tarkov

A Realistic PVP Shooter Where Communication With Friends Is Essential

This PVP shooter brings fast-paced adrenaline-pumping action to players, which the developers herald as being 'realistic'. Players can choose one of three modes: temporary offline, online PMC raids, or Scav, short for scavenger. Players can choose to go it solo or team up with their friends to further their chances of survival.

Proximity chat is just another weapon in the player and their adversaries' arsenal, as it allows them to more effectively cooperate with their friends as they attempt to gun down rival gangs, but the other players will also be coordinating with their teammates, which adds another layer of difficulty. In the end, it will come down to which player is more skilled, and a dash of luck for good measure.

4 Hunt: Showdown

A Fun Monster & Player Hunting Game with a Unique Setting

Step back in time with this rootin-tootin-shootin' game that pits players against players as well as events. Supernatural monsters have been unleashed upon Victorian-era Louisiana, but that's where the hunters come into play, teaming up with other hunters, arming themselves to the teeth, and then hunting down the creatures in question. But, the player and their friends will be in a race against other players and their friends who are tracking the same quarry. Speed, skill, and cooperation are a must.

Thankfully, Hunt: Showdown allows players the use of proximity chat so they can work together to track down their prey before other hunters snipe at them or their hunting target, but other hunters who are close enough could also potentially overhear the words and use them to their advantage.

3 Sea Of Thieves

Boundless Freedom Where Players Communicate As Pirates

For those who want something less horrifying, Sea of Thieves is here to save the day. Sail the seas as a crew of scallywags looting and exploring the world, and even encountering other pirates. With no set roles for players to fight over, they are free to choose what to do which offers a fantastic amount of freedom.

Related

6 Pirate Games To Play Before Skull And Bones Eventually Releases

Skulls and Bones fans could have quite a while to wait for the game's release yet, but there are a lot of other pirate games while players wait.

With proximity voice chat in play, they can make use of this to coordinate gameplay, speak with other crews, or even belt out their favorite sea shanties to immerse themselves in this multiplayer pirate game. There have been multiple hilarious Sea of Thieves videos involving proximity chat. Whether that's a Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired fight or a simple joyous shanty.

2 Lethal Company

A Scary and Challenging Rogue-like Treasure Hunting Game To Help Or Hinder Friends

Despite still being in Early Access, Lethal Company has drawn in a lot of players thanks to its fantastic gameplay that can enjoyed with up to three other players. The players scavenge for scrap on abandoned moons to sell to the Company, but these moons may not be so abandoned after all.

Traps and dangerous creatures both present threats to the players, but thanks to the proximity chat players can warn their friends of any dangers that may be up ahead...or they can have a little fun and prank their friends, hindering their progress.

1 Call Of Duty Warzone 2.0

A Free Battle Royale in The Call of Duty Universe

The Call of Duty series delved into the rich and ripe battle royale mode, releasing Warzone 2.0 back in 2022 to much fanfare and success. Considering its fanbase adores shooter games and the multiplayer aspects of CoD, it made sense for the franchise to move in this direction, allowing players to enjoy a CoD-themed battle royale game for free.

Players will be dropped into a map that continually shrinks as they try to gun each other down to earn the title of being the last one standing. The inclusion of proximity chat makes it all the more chaotic and fun, as the players will bring great energy, jokes, and smack-talk to the voice chat, as well as useful information such as locations of enemies players can use to their advantage.

More

Best Multiplayer FPS Games Of All Time

It's hard to top these legendary multiplayer FPS games for the impact they had on the genre.