The time has come to bring all your buddies together and finally have that LAN party you always seem to have planned but never got to, all those plans to plow through game after game with your friends all the while enjoying the narrative with others. Summer provides you with the perfect opportunity to stay indoors for hours on hours and complete title after title without any questions about your seemingly obsessive behavior. (wink wink). To help you out with that we have compiled a list of 7 best co-op games that you have to try out this summer.
The list is based on various factors like narrative, mechanics, graphics, the actual co-op gameplay and most of all the fun factor involved while playing with your friends. The list is not ordered in terms of ranking of any kind and will involve games from any time and genre.
THE 7 BEST CO-OP GAMES TO TRY OUT THIS SUMMER
1. A WAY OUT
Released on: 23rd March 2018
Available on platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
The thing that stands out the most about this game initially is the fact that it is available only as a co-op game, which promises it to be a tailored fit for a co-op narrative. The studio behind its development is Hazelight and has a another offline co-op game under its belt – Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
The story involves two players playing different main characters trying to escape a prison facility together and requires both players to work together. The initial response to the game after its release was quite mixed but it definitely promises to be a unique experience.
2. Portal 2
Released on: 18th April 2011
Available on platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, Linux
This is one of the time-tested and completely remarkable gems in the world of co-op games. I would recommend it to everyone who has yet to try it out for themselves. It has been published and developed by the developer Valve and is a sequel to the game Portal.
The game involves intricate puzzles on each level and the physics revolving around the portals are truly fun to experience, even more so when it involves other people. The game design and narrative will leave you feeling refreshed and eager for more and you’ll especially need it to complete the boggling puzzles and maps presented to you.
The co-op campaign is funny, requires teamwork, feels clever and most importantly provides you lots of opportunities to dick about and go crazy. The levels increase in difficulty gradually and keep you challenged throughout. It is without a doubt one of the most inventive co-ops ever created.
3. PAYDAY 2
Released on: 13th August 2013
Available on platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Linux
This co-op first-person shooter involves heavy violence if that’s your thing. You and your team get together to plan heists to rob banks and stores and the like. It needs lots of teamwork and coordination to pull off successfully which is hardly the case most times.
As a first time player, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a game relying heavily on stealth however that is seldom the case and most often than not something fouls up and it turns into a shoot’em up between your team and the cops. Nonetheless, the game is a violent mess which is fun to navigate through and often leads to you and your team holding out against the police until you can escape. It involves chokepoints, ammo management and even traps to accomplish the goal.
It was developed by Overkill Software and published by 505 Games. This game is a sequel to 2011’s Payday.
4. Borderlands 2
Released on: 18th September 2012
Available on platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Android
One of the most iconic co-op games I have ever had the pleasure of playing, Borderlands can only be defined as chaotic fun. It’s iconic use of toon shading (Cel shading) which really makes the visuals stand out as different along with its use of a procedural algorithm to create an unlimited (as far as we’re concerned) number of weapons, the game sure delivers a solid and memorable experience.
It is a first-person shooter set in an open world and ever since it’s initial release in 2012 after development by gearbox software and being published by 2K games, the game has been an absolute co-op favorite worldwide. The games rely heavily on character progression and ain’t nothing better than seeing your character getting stronger as the game goes on along with the enemies powering up.
Overall Borderlands provides a fun experience if you’re a sucker for first persons and character progression as well as getting your hands on new gear and items. The unique art style calls for at least a few sessions traversing the storyline along with your pals.
5. Killing Floor 2
Released: 18th November 2016
Available on platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, SteamOS
Violence, pure unadulterated violence, that’s what this game is all about. Blood and gore are abundant and the underlying physics is top notch. The visuals are extreme and if you happen to be into that kind of thing then this is the game for you. It was developed and published by Tripwire Interactive and is a sequel to Killing Floor published in 2009.
The games pits you and your team against waves of zombies giving you increasingly creative and gruesome way to send guts and teeth flying all over the place. There are classes involved and it is an overall fun experience to go through with your friends.
6. Destiny 2
Released: 6th September 2017
Available on platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Density 2 is a great way to have a bit of Sci-Fi fun with your friends. Whether it is the simple and almost easy task of exploring the beautiful world of the game all the while chatting garbage with your buddies or using ridiculously overpowered weapons and power-ups to kills everything around you.
The game was developed by Bungie and published by Activision. Destiny 2 provides a wholesome first-person shooter experiences witch lots of loud noises and plenty of flashy explosions. The visuals are for the most part top grade and the mechanics are also pretty well done. It’s a must play for fps fanatics.
7. Viscera Cleanup Detail
Released: 23rd October 2015
Available on platforms: Microsoft Windows
Imagine an isolated space-station, now add blood all over it with body parts strewn about everywhere and then add a cleanup crew sent to clean up all of it. Yes, that pretty much sums it up when it comes to this game. It was developed and published by RuneStorm and actually started development on modding scenes of quake and doom.
Don’t let the lackluster description of the game fool you though. The game provides lots of opportunities for a very fun co-op game play with it’s hidden clues, frustrating work, your friends being annoying and the absolutely hilarious physics when it comes to see the various body parts flopping around. When it comes to this game, the more the merrier.
End note: There are a vast number of games available now and as such it was hard picking just 7 out of the lot. There are of course far more games with good co-op which i may have left ouy. If you have any in mind feel free to tell me about them in the comments