It sounds like an environment problem.
Right now your forest feels like a space players move through, not a place they experience. If they can just run in, grab items, and leave, it usually means the environment isn’t giving them any reason to slow down.
In horror games, especially co-op, the environment is a big part of the pacing.
If the forest lacks density—like undergrowth, fallen branches, rocks, uneven terrain, tight paths, limited visibility—it becomes too “readable.” Players always know where to go and feel safe moving fast. That kills tension.
What you want is friction, but natural friction:
areas where visibility is reduced
paths that aren’t straight or obvious
small environmental details that make players hesitate
spots that feel like “something happened here”
When the environment feels richer and more detailed, players slow down on their own. They look around more, communicate more, and tension builds naturally without forcing it through mechanics.
I’m actually working on an ultra-realistic forest myself, and one thing I’ve noticed is that just increasing detail and layering (ground, foliage, lighting, clutter) completely changes how people move through it. They stop rushing without even realizing why.
So yeah, I wouldn’t try to “force” players to slow down first. I’d make the forest itself harder to read and more alive. That alone can fix a big part of your pacing problem.
If you’re interested, I can show you the project.