QUIET Hits No. 1 on Steam Scream Fest's Demo Chart - But Even Your Mic Can Get You Killed

Imagine playing a horror game where screaming at your friends might actually get everyone killed. That's the idea behind QUIET, a co-op horror game starring a group of stranded alien ducks. According to publisher LINE Games, the game's free demo reached No. 1 in Steam Scream Fest V's Top Demos category less than 24 hours after the event began on October 26.

In QUIET, you and up to three friends play as alien ducks who have crash-landed on Earth. To get home, you'll need to search a creepy house for missing spaceship parts while avoiding whoever—or whatever—is hunting you.

The catch? The game listens.

Your footsteps, falling objects, and even sounds picked up by your real-world microphone can alert the pursuer. Talk too loudly, knock something over, or panic at the wrong moment, and your entire team could be in trouble.

It's the kind of setup where playing with friends might make things harder rather than easier. Someone will inevitably scream, someone else will blame them, and suddenly all four ducks are running for their lives.

The latest demo arrived on October 22, ahead of Steam Scream Fest V, and includes several changes based on feedback from an earlier public playtest.

Alongside bug fixes and performance improvements, there's a redesigned spaceship-themed lobby, Halloween decorations, and a new four-player arcade stage called Duck Out.

Unlike the main game, which focuses on cooperation and stealth, Duck Out turns your fellow ducks into rivals. You can knock other players down and compete for victory instead of trying to escape together.

So if your friend group isn't particularly good at teamwork, there's now a mode where being a terrible teammate is practically the point.

QUIET has already drawn some attention ahead of release. LINE Games reports that more than 350,000 players signed up for its previous playtest, with 271,132 participants from 148 countries taking part.

The publisher also says the game reached the top position in Steam Scream Fest V's Top Demos category shortly after the festival began. That ranking is an event-specific demo milestone, not an indication of full-game sales.

The current demo includes seasonal Halloween content, making this a particularly fitting time to see whether your group can survive a few minutes without making too much noise.

The free QUIET demo is available on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with a microphone required for the game's sound-sensitive mechanics.

The full game is currently targeting Q1 2027 on PC, according to its Steam listing. There's no confirmed exact release date yet.

If you enjoy chaotic co-op games where one friend's mistake can ruin everything, QUIET looks like one to try with your usual group.

Would your friends survive a game where talking too much can get everyone caught?