Cry of Fear: Survival Horror Guide

A spoiler-light survival guide to Cry of Fear: how inventory, saving and stamina work, combat and ammo management, co-op, unlockables (including the MP5), and how the endings work, without spelling out the story.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the MP5 Update (November 1, 2020), the latest official Steam update. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Content note: Cry of Fear is a psychological horror game about a young man dealing with depression and anxiety. It has graphic violence, disturbing imagery, self-harm themes and a lot of jump scares.

What It Is

Cry of Fear is a free, standalone survival horror game from Team Psykskallar. It started as a Half-Life 1 mod and was released as a standalone game on Steam on April 25, 2013. You play Simon Henriksson, a 19-year-old searching the dark streets of Fäversholm at night as reality comes apart around him. The store page promises:

• A single-player campaign of over 8 hours
• Multiple endings and over 20 unlockables
• A full co-op campaign for up to 4 players
• 24 weapons
• An extra campaign that unlocks after you beat the single-player game
• Modding support with 12 custom campaigns included

Quick Start

• Your phone is your flashlight. You can hold it in one hand and a weapon in the other. Keep it out in dark areas.
• Save at tape recorders. There is no quick save in the campaign. Tape recorders are your checkpoints, so do not skip them.
• You only have a few inventory slots. The inventory holds 6 items, and the game does not pause while it is open. Organize your gear in safe rooms.
• Stamina runs out fast. Sprinting, dodging and swinging all drain it. Walk when you can and sprint only to escape.
• Morphine heals. It also restores stamina, but overusing it blurs your vision. Do not waste it at full health.
• Ammo is scarce. Use melee on weak enemies and save bullets for dangerous ones.
• You can run from many enemies. Some fights are optional. Use doors and corridors to lose them.
• Beat the game once, then check the unlockables room. Extra weapons and content wait there, including the MP5 if you meet its conditions.

Core Mechanics

Inventory (6 slots)

Tip | Why

Keep one slot for healing | You need morphine when things go wrong

Drop spare items where you will remember them | Park extras near a tape recorder and come back when you have room

Drop key items once you have used them | Key items take up slots and you rarely need them twice

Pair a weapon with the phone | You can fight and see at the same time

Because the game keeps running while the inventory is open, only reorganize after the area is clear.

Saving

• Tape recorders save your game. Look for them near safe rooms and before difficult sections.
• Save every time you pass one, especially before a boss or a long corridor you do not know.

Stamina

• Your stamina bar drains when you run, dodge or swing melee weapons.
• When you are out of stamina you are slow and exposed. Stop, catch your breath and let it recover before the next room.
• Morphine restores stamina and health, so it is emergency healing and a stamina reset at once.

Light

• The phone is your main light source. It also shows messages and story hints.
• Other light sources you find along the way can replace the phone in your off hand. The phone is still your most reliable light.

Combat

Melee vs. firearms

• Melee weapons (starting with the switchblade and moving on to heavier options) do not use ammo. Use them on weaker enemies one at a time.
• Firearms (handguns, shotguns, rifles and more) are for dangerous enemies, bosses and groups.
• Firearms have to be reloaded manually. Always reload in safe spots, not in the middle of a fight.

Ammo discipline

• Count your shots. Running out in a boss room is the most common way runs end.
• Aim for the head or the upper body. Headshots save a lot of ammo.
• Search every room. Ammo and morphine are often hidden in drawers, corners and dark spots.

Enemy tips

• Slow enemies: Get behind them or use melee, then move on.
• Fast enemies: Back into a corridor so only one can reach you at a time, then use firearms.
• Chasers: Some sections are chases, not fights. If an enemy keeps coming after taking hits, run.
• Bosses: Circle-strafe, learn the attack patterns, and use your strongest firearm. Save before every boss.

Difficulty

• There are several difficulty levels. Higher settings mean tougher enemies and tighter resources.
• On your first playthrough, Normal gives a good balance of tension and resources.
• On higher difficulties, plan your inventory before every tape recorder and use melee as much as possible.

Co-op

• The co-op campaign supports up to 4 players. It is a separate campaign, not the single-player story.
• According to Wikipedia, co-op players control police officers searching for Simon. There is also a wave-based survival mode.
• Tips:
• Share ammo and morphine. They are just as scarce in co-op.
• Keep one player on lighting duty with a phone or flares.
• Stick together. Getting split up is how co-op runs fail.

Unlockables and the MP5

• Beating the single-player campaign unlocks an unlockables room with extra weapons and goodies. How many you unlock depends on how you played (for example, your ending and difficulty).
• The MP5 (since the November 2020 update): The previously exclusive MP5 is now available to everyone. To get it:
• Join the official MP5 Steam Group (steamcommunity.com/groups/cofmp5).
• Beat the game at least once so you can access the unlockables room.
• Pick up the MP5 in the unlockables room. There is one at the start of the game and another after the train sequence, right before the Forest.
• The same update fixed long-standing bugs, including the donator TMP disappearing in co-op, pages of Simon's book disappearing, a flare death crash and the Doctor boss fight recording accuracy incorrectly. It also improved FPS in most areas.
• The developers said the update caused problems with some players' unlockables and old save data. Back up your save folder before updating or changing versions.

Endings (Spoiler-Free Overview)

• There are five main endings plus a secret joke ending (available after you have seen the fourth ending), according to Wikipedia.
• Which ending you get depends on two key decisions you make during the story (per Wikipedia). Pay attention to moments where the game hands you a decision.
• Tip: Keep saves in separate slots before big decisions so you can see other endings without replaying everything.
• The extra campaign (unlocked after your first completion) is a separate experience worth playing.

Running It on a Modern PC

• It is free on Steam. Install it and it runs standalone. You do not need Half-Life.
• If you run into crashes or odd resolution behavior, try windowed mode, a different resolution or a lower refresh rate cap.
• Back up your save folder before updating or verifying files. The 2020 update caused save and unlockable problems for some players.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping tape recorders. You will replay large sections.
• Using the inventory in combat. The game does not pause.
• Wasting ammo on slow enemies. Use melee.
• Sprinting everywhere. You will be out of stamina just when you need to run away.
• Using morphine at high health. Save it.
• Fighting every chaser. Some enemies are meant to be escaped.
• Missing the unlockables room. Beat the game and check it.

Advanced Tips

• Pre-plan your inventory before bosses: your best firearm, a spare magazine, morphine and your light source.
• Use corridors and doors. Enemies funneling through a doorway are much easier to deal with.
• Replay for unlockables. Different endings and difficulties unlock different rewards.
• Headshots with handguns save a lot of ammo for bosses.
• Learn the Forest and train sections. They are notorious for draining resources.
• Custom campaigns: Try the 12 included custom campaigns and community mods for extra content.

FAQ

Is Cry of Fear free? Yes. It is free on Steam and runs standalone.

How do I get the MP5? Join the official MP5 Steam group, beat the game once, then pick it up in the unlockables room (at the start of the game or after the train sequence, before the Forest).

How many endings are there? Five main endings, decided by two key choices, and a secret joke ending you can reach after seeing the fourth ending.

Can I play the story in co-op? The co-op campaign is a separate story for up to 4 players. The main single-player story is solo only.

How long is Cry of Fear? The store page says the single-player campaign is over 8 hours. First playthroughs are often longer.

Why did my unlockables disappear? The developers confirmed the 2020 MP5 update caused problems with some players' unlockables and saved data. Back up your saves.

Sources

• Steam: Cry of Fear (App 223710)
• Steam announcement: MP5 Update (November 1, 2020)
• Cry of Fear MP5 Steam Group
• Wikipedia: Cry of Fear