Tanto is an asymmetric multiplayer horror game developed for PC that pits four players as Victims against one player controlling the Entity in tense matches set inside procedurally generated mazes.
Gameplay
Matches revolve around exploration and survival for the Victims while the Entity focuses on pursuit and interference. Victims navigate unfamiliar corridors to locate puzzle objectives, activate switches, recover missing objects, hold positions, or complete coordinated tasks to open an exit and escape. Equipment options support navigation, communication, healing, scouting, and survival, with injured players often needing teammate assistance that emphasizes positioning and teamwork. The Entity draws from supernatural abilities to track targets, pursue them, disrupt communication, alter the environment, and hinder progress. Combinations of Victim equipment and Entity abilities create varied approaches across matches, encouraging role planning and counter-strategies.
Proximity-based voice communication adds to the coordination demands, as players must stay close enough to relay information effectively while avoiding detection. Procedural maze layouts ensure each session presents new layouts and puzzle placements, keeping the core loop fresh without relying on fixed maps.
Game Modes
The primary experience centers on the asymmetric 4v1 format where four Victims work together to solve puzzles and escape while one Entity player attempts to eliminate them. Multiple-round scoring tracks performance across sessions, allowing teams to adjust tactics based on prior outcomes. Both online and LAN multiplayer options support this setup, with no additional modes or variants confirmed beyond the core victim-versus-entity confrontation.
Core Mechanics and Features
Victim equipment totals around thirty distinct items focused on practical support roles, while the Entity accesses roughly fifty abilities spanning tracking, movement, disruption, and direct pursuit. Puzzles vary in type to require different levels of group effort, from individual activations to synchronized actions. The system rewards careful item selection and role assignment before each match, as the Entity can adapt abilities to counter common Victim strategies.
Cooperation remains central, with mechanics that penalize isolation through injury handling and communication limits. Environmental interference from the Entity can force Victims to reroute or abandon objectives, creating dynamic pressure without altering the fundamental escape objective.
Is It Worth Playing?
Tanto targets players who enjoy asymmetric multiplayer horror with strong emphasis on teamwork, puzzle-solving, and strategic ability counters. The setup delivers clear role distinctions between coordinated Victims and a versatile Entity, supported by procedural variety and equipment depth. As an upcoming title scheduled for September 2026 with no user reviews available yet, its appeal rests on the described systems for those seeking fresh takes on the 4v1 formula on PC. Fans of similar experiences will likely find value in the focus on communication tools, healing mechanics, and ability customization once it launches.
