Fears to Fathom: Scratch Creek Walkthrough

Fears to Fathom: Scratch Creek is the first co-op entry in the series, and it changes everything you know about surviving these stories. Instead of facing the horror alone, you and a partner control Tessa Langley and Marcus Reed, a couple whose cross-country move takes a wrong turn into the decaying town of Scratch Creek.

What Is Fears to Fathom: Scratch Creek

Scratch Creek is the sixth entry in the Fears to Fathom series, developed by Rayll. Unlike the previous five episodes, which were strictly single-player experiences, Scratch Creek is built exclusively for two players. There is no single-player mode, no AI partner, and no local split-screen. You must play online with another person, either someone on your friends list or a matched partner through the game's duo matchmaking system.

The game follows Tessa and Marcus, a young couple from Oregon who are relocating to another state. What begins as a routine road trip deteriorates when circumstances force them into Scratch Creek, a deteriorating small town where something is clearly wrong. The story is framed as a survival account, with the couple narrating the experience after the fact. According to the Steam store page, they survived because they "collectively made the right choices."

How To Start The Game

Before you load into Scratch Creek for the first time, you need to understand how the co-op structure works. This is not a drop-in, drop-out experience. Both players must be connected before the story begins, and the entire session is synchronized.

Finding a Partner

You have two options for finding someone to play with:

Option 1: Invite a friend. From the main menu, select "Play with Friend" and send a Steam invite. This is the recommended way to play, since coordination matters heavily in this game.

Option 2: Duo Matchmaking. If you don't have a friend available, select "Find a Partner" to enter matchmaking. The game will pair you with another solo player.

Choosing Your Character

One player controls Tessa Langley, and the other controls Marcus Reed. Character selection happens in the lobby before the session starts. Neither character appears to have different gameplay abilities based on current information, but certain achievements and story moments may be character-specific.

First-Time Setup

When you launch the game for the first time, check three things:

• Voice chat settings. Proximity voice chat is enabled by default.
• Text messaging settings. Make sure notification settings are visible.
• Graphics settings. With a 12 GB minimum RAM requirement, players on mid-range systems should lower shadow quality and view distance.

Complete Walkthrough

This walkthrough breaks the game into four major phases. Follow these steps in order with your co-op partner. Steps marked with [CHOICE] directly affect your ending.

Phase 1: Pre-Game Setup

Complete these steps before the story begins:

1. Launch the game and select either "Play with Friend" or"Find a Partner" from the main menu.
2. In the lobby, decide which player controls Tessa and which controls Marcus. One of you will be assigned each character automatically.
3. Open Settings > Audio and confirm your microphone is selected. Test proximity voice chat by speaking — you should see a voice activity indicator.
4. If either player is on a mid-range PC, lower Shadow Quality and View Distance in the Graphics settings before starting.
5. Both players select Ready. The story begins automatically once both are confirmed.

Phase 2: The Drive

The opening sequence. One player drives, the other rides passenger:

1. Driver: Follow the road forward. The route is linear — you cannot take wrong turns at this stage. Use the drive to get comfortable with the vehicle controls.
2. Passenger: Watch for environmental changes. The scenery will shift from normal highway to increasingly run-down rural roads as you near Scratch Creek.
3. Listen to the dialogue between Tessa and Marcus. This establishes why they are moving and hints at their relationship dynamic. Do not skip this.
4. When the car is forced to stop, the driving phase ends automatically. Both players will transition to on-foot control.

Phase 3: Exploration of Scratch Creek

The main gameplay phase. Stay close to your partner at all times:

1. Exit the vehicle and stay within proximity voice range of your partner. Separation limits your ability to hear each other, which becomes dangerous during time-sensitive moments.
2. Check your phone immediately. An NPC text will likely trigger the first story objective. Read it out loud so both players have the same information.
3. Explore the immediate area thoroughly before moving on. Interact with objects, read environmental text, and listen for audio cues. The walking simulator format rewards detailed exploration.
4. When you receive additional texts from NPCs, discuss the content with your partner before acting on them. Some texts may be warnings that require a coordinated response.
5. Progress the story by completing the objectives that appear on your phones. The exact sequence of objectives depends on the story branch you are in.
6. [CHOICE] Hide or keep moving. At some point during exploration, you will encounter a threat. You can either hide or attempt to move past it. Hiding unlocks the "Who's Watching?" achievement and is generally the safer option.

Phase 4: The Trailer Situation

The central gameplay decision. This determines your ending:

1. You will reach the couple's moving trailer. Both players will be presented with options for how to proceed.
2. Stop and discuss with your partner before selecting any option. This is the most important choice in the game. Both players must agree, or the game may default to a worse outcome.
3. [CHOICE] Option A: Keep the trailer attached. This leads toward theTrailer Ending and unlocks the "All Hitched Up"achievement. Both players must select the option to keep it connected.
4. [CHOICE] Option B: Unhook the trailer. This leads toward theUnhook-Trailer Ending. Both players must agree to detach it. This represents a strategic sacrifice of your belongings.
5. [CHOICE] Option C: Abandon the trailer and take the car. This leads toward the Car Escape ending. The car must be functional for this to succeed.
6. Once a trailer decision is locked in, the game enters the endgame sequence. You cannot change this choice without restarting the playthrough.

Phase 5: The Escape

The finale. Your actions here depend on the trailer choice you made:

1. If you kept the trailer attached: Your escape route will involve the trailer as an obstacle or tool. Move together with your partner and follow the on-screen prompts. The trailer's weight will affect your vehicle's handling.
2. If you unhooked the trailer: Your escape will be faster but you may face different challenges without your supplies. Stay together and use the improved vehicle mobility.
3. If you chose the car escape: Both players must reach the vehicle and drive out together. One player drives, the other provides directions and watches for threats. Do not leave your partner behind.
4. The ending cinematic plays once the escape is successful. You will see which ending you unlocked based on your collective choices.

After the Credits

Once the credits finish, you will return to the main menu. Your unlocked achievements are saved to your Steam profile immediately. To see a different ending, start a new playthrough with your partner and make a different trailer choice in Phase 4.

Important Choices

Choice-making in Scratch Creek is cooperative. The Steam store page states that the couple survived because they "collectively made the right choices." Both players participate in decisions, communication is required, and some choices are time-sensitive.

Known choice points:

• Trailer decisions. Whether to keep the trailer attached, unhook it, or abandon it.
• Hide or confront. The "Who's Watching?" achievement involves hiding in the trailer.
• Response to NPC texts. How you respond may affect the story.
• Escape route. The final escape has at least three distinct approaches.

Co-op Tips

Scratch Creek is the first Fears to Fathom game built around two-player cooperation. These tips will help you avoid common mistakes.

Communication Strategy

• Proximity voice chat fades with distance. Agree on a maximum separation distance.
• Text the other survivor allows communication regardless of distance.
• Read NPC texts out loud so both players have the same information.

Role Assignment

• Driver/Navigator: One player focuses on driving while the other watches for threats.
• Reader/Scout: One player handles reading texts while the other watches for danger.

For more detailed co-op strategies, see our Co-Op Guide.

Achievements You Can Unlock During The Story

Scratch Creek has 10 Steam achievements worth a total of 50 points. Here are the confirmed ones:

• All Hitched Up — Trailer's connected. Keep the trailer attached at the critical decision point.
• Who's Watching? — Hide in the trailer. Use the trailer as a hiding spot instead of running.
• Down in the Dark — Hidden achievement. May involve checking under stairs or in dark areas.
• Holy Cow — Achievement name confirmed. Unlock method unknown.

See our All Achievements Guide for the complete list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

• All Achievements Guide
• All Endings Guide
• Co-Op Guide
• Multiplayer FAQ