Summary
Part of what makes playing video games so enjoyable is being able to share the experience with other players.Co-op gameshave been around since the start of gaming, and over time, the immersion and the ability to play with more and more players have only grown,allowing large groupsto work together towards the same mutual goal.
Playing with friends is always a blast, and when the competition goes out the window, beating levels and taking down missions together gives a feeling that is hard to find elsewhere. Whether shooting endless waves of mobs or coordinating jumps to make it to the next stage, there’s a co-op game for everyone.
Deathtrapis among the best in the tower defense genre, bringing all the DNA from the previousOrcs Must Die!entries and adding some roguelite components to keep the gameplay feeling fresh. Players load into a map and have to survive six progressively harder waves of orcs, ogres, trolls, and more, using elaborate sequences of traps andsome good shootingfrom the player themselves.
The co-op play elevates each stage, with certain characters offering healing or movement mechanics to make dealing with the hordes just a bit easier. The upgrade components add an extra level of reward to both beating a wave and a whole stage, something that was missing in the earlier games. And with so many trap combinations and augments to unlock and puzzles to solve, the fun is endless.
Phasmophobiatakes the concept of ghost-hunting in a haunted house and puts players in the hot seat as paranormal investigators. Players choose between a variety of maps, ranging from basic suburban houses to abandoned schools, with their single task being to uncover the specifics behind the haunt and make it out alive.
It’s theperfect blend of horrorand humor, as players have to run around in the dark with nothing but their wits to defend themselves. There are also plenty of items that can be purchased, like camera systems, letting one player work on surveillance, while the others search for clues about the horrors that lie just around the corner.
Raftis an intriguing survival game that says it all in the name. Spawning in on a simple wooden raft, players sail across the world in search of resources to expand their home, as well as piecing together story clues that reveal the overarching narrative in a way that never feels too oppressive.
It’s all about teamwork, both in the water and on the tiny bits of land that are scattered across the endless sea. The survival elements are much more laid back, so players will feel less stressed about not having enough resources to make it through the night. Instead, they can enjoy a fairly carefree night along the waves — with a few sharks to fend off, of course.
If the first game wasn’t enough torture, then the second game will push even the strongest of wills over the edge.Pico Park 2is a cooperative puzzle game that involves coordination and timing throughout the entire playthrough. Standing on buttons in unison and making jumps together, every moment is infused with teamwork, which can mean great successes or frustrating failures.
The charm lies in the simplicity. The level design and the overall aesthetic of the game keep things fairly minimal, allowing players to focus on the easy-yet-tasking puzzles that lie ahead. The number of times a player will make a wrong step or misjudge their jump is countless, and in larger groups, both the fun and the anger grow exponentially.
Escape Simulatoris a delightful online co-op puzzle game that brings the classic escape room experience into a fully interactive digital space. Players explore intricately designed rooms filled with locks, clues, and hidden mechanisms, all of which must be solved to make it out in time.
What makes it such a fun experience is the way it encourages collaboration without ever forcing it. Players can freely roam and experiment, but the most rewarding moments come from working together, connecting ideas, and having those eureka moments as a team. It’s laid-back and friendly, with just enough pressure to keep things exciting.
Deep Rock Galacticis a chaotic, charming co-op FPS where up to four players take on the roles of dwarven miners sent into the depths of alien planets to collect resources while fighting off the swarms of bugs waiting to attack. Each playerchooses a class with a unique toolset, like zip-lines, drills, or sentry guns. This makes teamwork essential, not just for combat, but for traversing the world.
What sets the game apart is how naturally it creates moments of cooperation and chaos. There’s a constant flow of collaboration, and the atmosphere is equal parts intense and hilarious, helped along by the game’s tongue-in-cheek humor. It’s a game where the mission isn’t done until everyone’s back on the drop pod, even if it means leaving some loot behind.
2R.E.P.O.
Proximity Chat Never Fails To Deliver
R.E.P.O.is a simple, fun-filled ride that never fails to bring smiles and scares. The basic gameplay loop revolves around loading into an area and collecting items of varying values to sell, whilst avoiding thehorrors inside each level. A cute little duckling and a terrifying floating head are just a few of the monsters that will do anything they can to stop the players escaping.
The fun factor comes from the chaos that ensues from a seemingly simplistic set of gameplay mechanics, which have a lot more depth below the surface. The proximity chat adds another layer of hilarity to every encounter, as many screams will be heard from afar only to be quickly cut off never to be heard from again.
Hazelight has once again cemented itself as theking of co-opwith the release ofSplit Fiction,and any expectations about the quality of the game have been completely blown away. Players fly, dash, drive, and glide across a series of breathtaking levels, all in the signature split-screen format that fans of the developer have come to know and love.
The worlds are breathtaking, and the sections that players have to solve and shoot their way through always feel unique and fresh, no matter how far into the game they are. Everything screams fun and player-first, and getting to experience it with another player makes the whole game feel all the more emotional and immersive.
