Spook-A-Boo Feels Like Old-School Co-Op Done Right

Spook-A-Boo is a 1–4 player co-op ghost hunting game developed by Indian indie studio Wala Interactive and published by Soft Source Publishing. Players step into the role of agents in the Dimensional Entity Department (D.E.D.), moving through compact levels to locate and capture hidden ghosts before time runs out.

Each level introduces multiple moving parts at once. Ghosts remain hidden until revealed, environments react to player actions, and tools behave in ways that are not always predictable. The result is a session that rarely unfolds the same way twice, even when objectives remain unchanged. This is where the game finds its identity. It is less concerned with mastery over a fixed system and more focused on how players adapt to each other in real time.

Spook-A-Boo is a Return to Old-School Co-Op Adventures

Wala Interactive frames Spook-A-Boo as a product of the kind of games the development team grew up with. The tone reflects that clearly. The visual style, character design, and pacing all draw from animated shows where tension and humor sit side by side. Ghosts are disruptive rather than threatening, and the tools players use often create as many problems as they solve.

That approach extends into the structure of the game. Levels are short, objectives are clear, and the focus remains on moment-to-moment interaction rather than long-term progression systems. The development team revealed in an official press release, “Spook-A-Boo is a light-hearted, top-down co-op adventure inspired by Saturday morning cartoon classics. Armed with an assortment of gadgets, you and up to three friends must locate, lure, and trap troublemaking ghosts hidden in plain sight across time and space.”

The full release includes 28 levels across four distinct worlds, each introducing variations in layout and behavior.

The core loop remains consistent:

• Locate hidden ghosts
• Reveal them using tools
• Coordinate captures before time expires

What changes is how each level interferes with that loop. Some environments restrict movement. Others introduce boss ghosts that require specific strategies. Gadgets behave differently depending on positioning and timing, which creates situations where planning matters, but execution rarely goes exactly as expected.

The dev team explains the dynamic perfectly, “The ghosts and the levels themselves are designed to sow chaos, encouraging communication and collaboration among players. Devising an optimal strategy is key to catch(ing) all the ghosts in every level before the timer runs out.”

There is room here for both casual play and more optimized runs. Players can move at their own pace or treat levels as repeatable challenges to improve completion times.

Why the Studio Chose This Direction

Spook-A-Boo also reflects a deliberate shift in how Wala Interactive approaches game development. The team previously worked on over 50 mobile titles before moving into PC and console projects. That transition came with a different set of priorities.

The team revealed, “We have always aspired to create unique and creative PC/console games that spark strong emotions and foster collaboration.”

That focus on collaboration shows up in the decision to prioritize couch co-op. The game is fully playable locally, with online multiplayer planned as a follow-up rather than a core dependency. Instead of opting for a live multiplayer format, the developer wants to stick to couch co-op. 

Wala Interactive said, “We were sure that we wanted to develop a couch co-op as all six members of this small indie team from India loved to play co-op games, especially couch co-op, and were tired of always competing and the toxicity that came with competitive games.”

Players Can Try Out the Game Right Now

A demo version of Spook-A-Boo is already available on Steam. It offers an early look at the game’s structure, including level design, core mechanics, and the general pacing of sessions.

The full version will expand on this with:

• All 28 levels
• Multiple world themes
• Boss encounters
• Additional gadgets and unlockables

The game is planned for release on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with online co-op arriving after launch.

Spook-A-Boo is designed around short sessions, shared problem-solving, and environments that create unpredictable outcomes without overwhelming players.

That clarity behind its game design helps it stand out. Instead of competing on scale or complexity, it leans into interactions with friends in smart ways within a couch co-op setting. For players looking for something they can pick up with friends and understand quickly, Spook-A-Boo fits the bill perfectly.