October was an incredibly packed month for multiplayer games. PowerWash Simulator 2, RV There Yet, and even jumping into old gold like Supermarket Together. If you've got a group of friends to play with, or a significant other who is willing to deal with you being a goblin during multiplayer sessions, these are all absolutely fantastic choices. But I'm here today with a hidden gem that I accidentally stumbled on when I was perusing the Steam store. One that combines horror and humor to an incredible degree, and deserves a spot in the Multiplayer MVP section of any Steam Library.

Paranormal Cleanup mixes House Flipper with Phasmophobia, and adds in a bit of absurdity for good measure. It's hilarious. Horrifying, even. But most importantly, it's incredibly unique and offers a satisfying gameplay loop that we just can't get enough of. Plus, the fact that I saw my wife almost hit the ceiling the first time she got jumpscared in the game was something that I hope I never forget. Even when I'm old and gray, I'll be able to look back on that particular memory with immense joy. NOT SO FUNNY WHEN I GET SCARED PLAYING GAMES NOW, IS IT, KATIE?!?!

What in the Actual Hell Were the Folks at Manic Mice Feeding the Ghosts in ‘Paranormal Cleanup’?

I'll be transparent right away: if you're not a fan of jumpscares and toilet humor, look elsewhere for your scares. But if you're a silly little manchild like myself, this is right up your alley. Co-op games have become something that I strive to find during Steam Sales, on the Xbox Marketplace, or on the PlayStation Network. Being on top of the latest trends is always a good thing. Paranormal Cleanup is a game that feels like it was tailor-made for my wife and me. We've both spent... far too long playing House Flipper 2. My Steam account says roughly 104.1 hours, and that's without diving into the new Scooby Doo DLC that just dropped. The same can be said about multiple other horror games, like Dead by Daylight or Phasmophopbia. I'm a sicko for horror, and apparently, also for games that revolve around me cleaning up random stuff inside haunted houses.

Paranormal Cleanup is goofy fun, but it's also genuinely terrifying. Walking into a room, only to have furniture thrown around while you're standing in it? It's enough for you to need a new pair of pants, honestly. But on the complete opposite side of the coin, taking part in these menial house cleaning tasks is hilarious. Why are people so adamant about having their houses cleaned while there's a godforsaken spirit still living inside of it? And what the hell were they fed before they died? They're clogging up all of the toilets in the house with more shit than I've ever seen before in my life.

Maybe the Toilets Represent How the Players Are Feeling in the Real World?

When Katie and I ventured into the first home together, we didn't know what to expect. Sure, the vibes were there. Everything felt spooky enough, but we still didn't fully know the extent of the scares that were going to be dropped our way. Paranormal Cleanup did a good job of making us feel comfortable, like nothing could go wrong. That all started with a wee bit of toilet humor. See, when you start plunging the toilets, it makes the most glorious suction noise. Waterfalls of feces come flying out every which way, making the simple-minded, like myself, laugh with delight. Poop jokes are always funny, and I don't care who says differently.

But that all changed incredibly quickly. See, Paranormal Cleanup doesn't give you much in the way of a tutorial. Really, there's no information at all about what you need to actually do. You just kind of come to the realization that you need to clean things, grab items, and get the hell out. That is, if you can survive through the night. As we wandered through the cold, dark hallways of this home, our screens suddenly started getting fuzzy. Unaware of what was going to happen next, we trekked onward, oblivious to our soon-to-be assailant that was waiting in the next room. Glowing red eyes appear, and a quick jump scare sends both Katie and me screaming into the roof. The perfect storm of poop jokes, cleaning, and horror was solidified into a now nightly experience for both of us to enjoy.

Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Do Your SCARE… Ha Ha, Did I Spook You? No? I Should Just Shut Up? Okay Then.

Look, there are a lot of horror games out there. There are also a lot of multiplayer games out there. But Paranormal Cleanup is something special. It's an incredibly unique idea, and it's done extremely well. Plus, it also looks fantastic, especially if you're able to crank everything up to Epic settings. Yes, Manic Mice could have just coasted by on the idea of making a spooky, scary cleaning game and let the game sell itself that way.

But they put plenty of care into the development of Paranormal Cleanup, and it's easy to see it in every corner of the game. The environmental details are stunning. Creeping through a house, locked doors blocking your way, and plenty of obstacles being tossed around by an unknown entity? It's a recipe for a good time, no matter who you ask. Plus, the additional "Banishing" quests, collectibles, and everything else added to each job? It adds plenty of replayability. Because I can guarantee most folks are going to hit their 50% quota and get the hell out of these spooky houses.

Using a Sandle To Beat the Life Out of a Bug Is Also Quite Great in ‘Paranormal Cleanup'

It's an incredibly endearing premise, and one that I'll happily keep coming back to. The wife, on the other hand? She may be too scared to keep on going for future playthroughs. She's a horror sicko, so I'm genuinely shocked to see that she got so scared the first time we got jumpscared. But it was a good feeling, to be completely honest. She's quick to laugh when a jumpscare catches me off guard, so it's only fair that she finally gets to understand the true meaning of terror. But we both were laughing once again when we started plunging the toilets inside these houses again.

Humor. Horror. Beating the life out of a cockroach with a sandle. What else could you ask for?