Cursed Companions Wiki
Cursed Companions Microphone Setup
Optimal microphone setup separates teams who cast spells reliably from teams who stand in dark dungeons shouting incantations that never register. Cursed Companions uses one audio path for proximity chat and another for voice-control mechanics — both must work, but they break independently. This page walks through hardware selection, Windows configuration, in-game settings, and verification before you queue for co-op or Traitor Mode.
Hardware Recommendations
Dedicated USB headsets with boom mics outperform laptop built-ins. Bluetooth headsets work when Realtek drivers fail — a documented workaround on the official FAQ. Avoid placing mic capsules near speakers; echo loops make teammates hear themselves and can false-trigger voice systems.
HyperX owners experiencing random mutes should try NVIDIA Broadcast as default input. Streamers may prefer separate audio mixes so OBS does not capture game voice processing incorrectly.
Windows Configuration
- Open Settings → System → Sound → More Sound Settings.
- Disable unused recording devices; keep one primary gaming mic.
- Set that device as default input at 44100 Hz or higher if available.
- Disable Windows "Listen to this device" on any input — causes echo.
- Reboot if the taskbar speaker icon disappears (driver corruption sign).
In-Game Settings Checklist
- Esc → Microphone → select named device, not Default if issues occur.
- Enable Speech-to-text captions for visual confirmation.
- Run Test → say "Long Live the Queen" → expect OK and moving bars.
- Adjust noise cancellation for your room acoustics.
- Verify Voice Chat: Connected after loading into hub.
Pre-Run Verification Ritual
Before every portal entry, light your torch once in the hub or speak a harmless test phrase with captions enabled. Confirm green text appears. Trigger a healing phrase if carrying a wand. Thirty seconds of testing prevents thirty minutes of broken dungeon runs. If anything fails, follow the full microphone fix guide before continuing.
Accent and Language Packs
Non-native English speakers report recognition struggles. Switch to a supported native language pack in Steam for localized spell phrases, or lean on text-to-speech for difficult syllables. Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Korean beta packs exist — match your spoken language to game language when possible.
Streaming and LAN Parties
Background music and cross-talk trigger false inputs. Use push-to-talk in external voice apps but keep game open mic unless experimenting. Noise gates in OBS do not affect in-game detection — only physical mic quality and in-game noise cancellation matter.
Related Resources
Pair this setup with voice commands, keyboard controls, and the wiki tools for phrase tracking during long sessions.
This section expands on community-tested patterns from version 1.0 co-op lobbies. Teams that treat voice clarity as a loadout requirement — not an optional setting — extract more treasure, die less to friendly curse triggers, and reach Act III without burning out on repeated Antoinette wipes. Use the linked guides on this wiki as a field manual alongside the in-game H guidebook, which updates dynamically when you encounter new monsters or die to unfamiliar mechanics.
Procedural dungeons mean no two runs share identical layouts, but systems stay consistent: spell phrases rotate each in-game day, forbidden words punish careless speech, shop access is single-player at a time, and the day-end countdown kills anyone who misses quota. Internalize that loop before chasing achievements or Traitor Mode lobbies. Cursed Companions rewards groups who debrief after wipes honestly — mechanical mistakes, communication slips, and technical mic failures need different fixes.
When public Steam matchmaking feels empty, the official Discord remains the healthiest place to find eight-player co-op or sixteen-player Traitor sessions. Pair external text chat with in-game proximity voice so curse officers can spell out forbidden words without speaking them. Streamers should enable speech-to-text captions for VOD clarity and use Enter text-to-speech when room noise makes open mic unreliable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use Default or named mic device?
Named device usually works better. Swap if detection fails after Windows audio changes.
Do I need push-to-talk?
Default is open mic for intended proximity chat. Disable push-to-talk unless you chose it manually.
Will headphones help?
Yes. They prevent speaker audio from feeding back into the mic and causing echo.
What noise cancellation level?
Increase in game settings if room noise triggers false detections or echo.
Can I play without a mic?
Text-to-speech via Enter works for spells, but co-op communication suffers.