Does Hello Neighbor Multiplayer Exist?

The original Hello Neighbor game does not have official multiplayer, but the franchise includes two standalone multiplayer titles: Secret Neighbor and Hello Engineer. Community-made mods also add unofficial multiplayer functionality to the base game.

Hello Neighbor launched in December 2017 as a single-player stealth horror experience. The developers originally considered multiplayer as a Kickstarter stretch goal in 2015, proposing a mode where one player would defend the basement while another attempted to break in. However, the campaign failed to reach its $100,000 funding target, collecting only $12,809 from 510 backers. The multiplayer concept was shelved as the team focused on delivering the core single-player game.

Secret Neighbor: The Official Multiplayer Experience

Released on October 24, 2019, Secret Neighbor transformed the Hello Neighbor concept into a social deception game. Six players work together to rescue their friend from the Neighbor’s basement, but there’s a catch—one player is secretly the Neighbor in disguise.

The gameplay centers on collecting scattered keys while identifying the traitor. Children can choose from six classes with distinct abilities: the Leader buffs nearby teammates and can blind the Neighbor, the Brave can escape the Neighbor’s grip, and the Inventor crafts tools using gears found throughout the house. Meanwhile, the disguised Neighbor must gain trust before betraying the group.

Secret Neighbor supports cross-platform play between PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. The game has maintained an active playerbase with regular content updates including new characters, maps, and seasonal events. Steam reviews show an 85% positive rating from over 4,600 players.

Hello Engineer: Multiplayer Construction

Hello Engineer launched as a Google Stadia exclusive in October 2021 before expanding to all major platforms in August 2023. This multiplayer spin-off shifts from stealth to cooperative construction, supporting up to four players.

Set in the abandoned Golden Apple Amusement Park, players scavenge parts to build vehicles and machines while avoiding the Neighbor’s robot minions. The game emphasizes creative problem-solving with no prescribed solutions—any machine that completes the objective counts as success. Players can construct everything from simple cars to complex mechanized creatures using frames, gears, engines, and electrical circuits.

The game includes both story mode and PvP arena battles where players craft armed vehicles before competing. While it received mixed reviews at launch, ongoing updates have addressed technical issues and added new content areas.

Why the Main Series Stays Single-Player

Hello Neighbor 2, released in December 2022, returned to single-player gameplay despite fan requests for multiplayer. Neither developer Eerie Guest Studios nor publisher tinyBuild has commented on adding multiplayer to the sequel.

This design decision stems from the franchise’s core experience. The original Hello Neighbor built tension through isolation—one person sneaking into a creepy house creates psychological horror that diminishes with multiple players. The AI-driven Neighbor learns from player behavior and sets traps based on previous attempts, a mechanic designed around individual patterns rather than group tactics.

Developer discussions during the 2017 launch emphasized this philosophy. Adding cooperative players would fundamentally alter the game balance, requiring either an overpowered Neighbor or additional AI opponents. Rather than compromise the single-player design, tinyBuild chose to create separate multiplayer titles that reimagined the concept for group play.

Community Multiplayer Mods

Steam Workshop hosts several community-created multiplayer modifications for the original Hello Neighbor. The most prominent mod, “HelloMultiplayer,” adds local two-player functionality where one person controls the protagonist while another plays as the Neighbor using keyboard or controller.

These mods provide basic multiplayer but come with limitations. Most support only local play rather than online connectivity, and they may conflict with game updates or cause technical issues. The mods also lack the balanced gameplay mechanics found in official multiplayer titles since they retrofit multiplayer onto a single-player foundation.

Players interested in mod-based multiplayer should note that Hello Neighbor must be installed through Steam’s PC version, as console and mobile versions don’t support modifications.

Which Multiplayer Option Is Right for You?

Your choice depends on what type of multiplayer experience you want. Secret Neighbor delivers competitive social deception similar to Among Us, where trust and betrayal create tense moments. Games typically last 15-20 minutes as players race to unlock the basement before the Neighbor catches everyone.

Hello Engineer suits players who enjoy creative building and cooperative problem-solving. The sandbox environment encourages experimentation, and the ability to construct unique vehicles adds replay value beyond the structured progression of Secret Neighbor.

For those specifically wanting the original Hello Neighbor experience with friends, community mods offer the closest approximation despite their technical limitations. However, the mods can’t replicate the AI behavior that made the base game compelling, as the learning system was built for single-player interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you play Hello Neighbor 2 with friends?

No, Hello Neighbor 2 is single-player only with no co-op, split-screen, or online multiplayer modes. The game follows journalist Quentin investigating disappearances in Raven Brooks, maintaining the solo stealth gameplay of the original.

Does Secret Neighbor require a microphone?

While not mandatory, Secret Neighbor strongly recommends using a microphone since the game depends on communication between players. Coordinating key searches and identifying the disguised Neighbor becomes significantly harder without voice chat.

Are Hello Neighbor multiplayer games cross-platform?

Secret Neighbor supports cross-play between PC and console platforms, allowing Xbox, PlayStation, and PC players to join the same matches. Hello Engineer also features cross-platform multiplayer across all supported systems.

Will Hello Neighbor 3 have multiplayer?

Hello Neighbor 3 is currently in prototype testing. Early versions were titled “Raven Brooks Online” and featured multiplayer elements with players attempting to steal loot from house protectors. However, the project underwent significant redesign, and current multiplayer plans remain unclear.

The Hello Neighbor franchise demonstrates how developers can expand a single-player concept through specialized multiplayer spin-offs rather than retrofitting co-op into the main series. This approach preserved the original’s tense, isolated horror while creating separate experiences optimized for group play. If you’re looking to experience the Neighbor’s house with friends, Secret Neighbor offers the most polished option, while Hello Engineer provides a completely different take on collaborative gameplay in the same universe.