Unofficial fan guide
Sector 13: Haunted Woods
A field manual for the 1–4 player co-op horror game — anomalies, artifacts, and a real microphone that can get you killed.
Start with these3
Start hereHow to play Sector 13: Haunted Woods
The core loop, your gear and the mistakes that get first-timers killed.
Read →Updated 2026-09-24
FixSector 13: Haunted Woods voice chat not working? Mic setup & fixes
Official fixes for the mic test, team volume and the can't-hear-each-other bug.
Read →Updated 2026-09-24
SystemSector 13: Haunted Woods artifacts: finder, inventory and keys
Artifact Finder coordinates, the TAB inventory and what to do with spare keys.
Read →Updated 2026-09-24What Sector 13: Haunted Woods is
Sector 13: Haunted Woods is a 1–4 player co-op horror game by Game Inside Studio. You are a field operative dropped into Sector 13 — a forbidden forest sealed off after an event nobody can explain — with two jobs: track down Anomalies at points still emitting abnormal signals, and recover the Artifacts scattered through the wreckage. There are no levels and no campaign stages; the studio has confirmed on the Steam forums that the game is open-area exploration, with more areas, anomalies and creatures added in the full release.
The twist is the microphone. The game listens to your real voice: every word you speak can attract deadly things — or help your team fight back. Noise management is the whole game.
Three rules that keep first-timers alive
- Treat your microphone as a flashlight for monsters. At night in particular, raised voices are dangerous. If you are new, agree on whisper-only rules with your team before you start.
- Let the detectors do the walking. The Artifact Finder tracks nearby Artifacts; the Anomaly Detector only reacts when an Anomaly is close by. Switch between them instead of wandering the dark — see anomaly hunting.
- Press TAB and G early. Your inventory opens with
TAB, andGdrops whatever you are holding. Spare keys are intentional — the studio confirmed extra keys exist so nobody gets stuck, so drop what you do not need.
Known demo issues worth knowing before you play
| Issue | Status |
|---|---|
| "Invalid code or the game has already started" when joining rooms | Studio is investigating; cross-region and same-country cases both reported |
| Teammates can't hear each other in voice chat | Studio has logged it; the volume settings fix below often helps |
| Mic test OK button missing on some resolutions | Official launch-option fix on the controls page |
| Handheld items vanishing while still in the inventory | Logged by the studio; dropping (G) and re-picking is the workaround |
If voice chat misbehaves, start with the voice chat & mic fixes page — most demo complaints come back to two settings.
FAQ
Is Sector 13: Haunted Woods single player?
It can be played solo, but it is built as 1–4 player online co-op. The Steam page lists single-player, multiplayer and online co-op.
Does the game use my real microphone?
Yes. Voice is a core mechanic — noise attracts threats, and the mic test at startup calibrates both your normal speaking volume and your shout.
When does the full game release?
September 25, 2026 on Steam. A free demo is playable now. See release date & demo for details.
Is there a wiki?
There is no official wiki yet. This site is an independent fan guide — see about for how it is sourced.
Browse by topic3
SystemSector 13: Haunted Woods anomalies: how the detector works
Why the detector shows no signal, and the official next-move trick.
Read →Updated 2026-09-24
SettingsSector 13: Haunted Woods controls & best settings
Key list, HUD readings, official graphics advice and system requirements.
Read →Updated 2026-09-24
InfoSector 13: Haunted Woods release date & demo
Launch date, demo status, languages and what the full game adds.
Read →Updated 2026-09-24