Secret Neighbor

Secret Neighbor is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game set in the Hello Neighbor universe. A group of kids wants to get into the locked basement of a house. One of the supposed teammates, however, is the neighbor, who disguises himself as a child and wants to prevent the rescue.

The tension comes not only from exploring the house, but from mistrust within the group: help may be genuine or a trap.

Secret Neighbor was released on Oct 23, 2019 for Xbox One and on Oct 24, 2019 for Windows PC. The PS4 version followed on Apr 28, 2021 in Germany, and the Nintendo Switch version on Aug 26, 2021. There is also a standalone iPhone and iPad release from 2021.

The release dates of the console versions differ from the PC release. On Xbox Series X|S and PS5, you can each play the version from the previous console generation.

Secret Neighbor was released natively for Windows PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and iOS. Xbox Series X|S uses the Xbox One version, and on PlayStation 5 the PS4 version is backward compatible. This means there are no standalone PS5 or Xbox Series versions.

On PlayStation, online matches require PlayStation Plus and an internet connection. The iOS version is offered via the App Store.

The kids search the house for keys and use them to open the locks on the basement door one after another. They can check rooms together or split up to move faster. The neighbor uses the same situation to deceive the group and stop their progress.

Both sides therefore have to adjust their behavior to their teammates. A kid who goes alone gets to new rooms faster, but can more easily be caught off guard by the disguised opponent.

On PC, Secret Neighbor requires at least an Intel Core i5-3330 or AMD FX-8300, 6 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon R9 270, and 5 GB of free storage. Recommended are an Intel Core i5-4690 or Ryzen 3 1300X, 8 GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580.

The game requires DirectX 11 and a broadband connection. Steam still lists Windows 7 as the original minimum version, but the current Steam client only supports Windows 10 and later. A microphone makes coordinating with your team easier.

The kids have different abilities that help with exploring, finding keys and escaping. Gameplay rewards combining these strengths, although the group does not always have to stick together on their individual routes.

Later content updates added more characters, including Quentin from the Hello Neighbor 2 world. The characters change what is possible in the game, not the main goal of reaching the basement.

The neighbor can take the form of a kid and at first blend in unnoticed among the intruders. They want to interrupt the search for the keys, isolate players and set traps skillfully.

Because it is not immediately clear who is on the other side, the group's decisions often matter more than quick reflexes. Open agreements help the kids but can also give the neighbor information.

Secret Neighbor is designed for online matches with up to six people. Players work against and with each other at the same time: the kids pursue a shared goal, while one participant secretly works against them.

On PS4, PlayStation Plus is required for online matches. For the PC version, Steam lists a broadband connection and recommends a microphone, because agreements between players shape the game.

For the Switch launch in 2021, tinyBuild offered cross-play between Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and iOS. The Xbox and Windows release also uses Microsoft's Play Anywhere offer.

This does not mean every PC and console version can be freely combined. Before playing together on different systems, check which connections each one supports.

The PC version includes a level editor. Players can use it to create new maze paths and rooms and design their own maps for matches with friends. The Steam Workshop adds to what you can do with user-made content.

During its development, Secret Neighbor was expanded with new characters, costumes, emotes and a reworked look. The PlayStation edition lists Quentin and the Stuffer, among others, as additional characters.

Some cosmetic packs and virtual currencies are sold separately. They do not replace the main game and are not the same as new native platform versions.

In August 2026, Hologryph and tinyBuild temporarily shut down the online servers after an attack. An attacker had gained administrator access and deleted player profiles, progress and other game data.

The companies worked with the PlayFab backend service on the recovery. According to them, personal user data was not affected. At the time, no date was given for resuming the game.

The PC version includes German on-screen text, while Steam lists the voice audio as English. The PlayStation version also supports German text and English voices.