Co-op games may be rewarding in ways that no other genre can. Games can be magical in various ways, but collaborating with a friend to achieve a goal is perhaps where they shine the brightest. So, which games will truly bring friends together and provide the most group-based thrills?
The finest co-op games allow you to explore new worlds with a friend by your side, defeat evil as a team, teach a newcomer to the wonders of the medium, or hit each other over the head with questionable weaponry for fun.
Single-player games can be a life-sucking hilarity, but virtual successes are sweeter when shared with pals. Co-op games provide some of the best gaming moments around, whether it’s sitting next to your friend with a gamepad in hand or working together in lovely harmony via voice chat. So embrace friendship and bid farewell to solo gaming. These are some of the best co-op games you can play with your friends.
The following are the best co-op games:
BORDERLANDS 3 is the third installment of the Borderlands series.
After such a long break, you might have expected greater change in Gearbox Software’s looter shooter FPS. Although Borderlands 3 has a lot of new material, the primary gameplay loop of slaughtering, looting new firearms, and slaying again remains unchanged, which is a good thing. Of course, there are a crazy one billion guns to obtain this time around, as well as even more gleaming gold Borderlands 3 legendary weaponry to harvest.
However, Borderlands 3’s finest changes are in its polished co-op gameplay. The four new Borderlands 3 classes each have a much more distinct role on the battlefield, and the synergies between Borderlands 3 builds in a co-op are incredible, with Fl4k’s pets scavenging the battlefield, Zane juking foes with clones, and Amara phase-shifting enemies into the air for Moze to pummelled in her giant mech.
The Proving Grounds game mode, Mayhem Mode, and Guardian ranks are all welcome additions to the Borderlands 3 endgame, giving you and your pals something to do after the credits have rolled. And, maybe best of all, there’s now an option to instance loot, so you won’t have to race to get all of that stuff if you’re playing co-op with random strangers online.
FROM THE ASHES REMNANT
There aren’t many co-op games that can match what Remnant From the Ashes offers. A full-fledged co-op Souls-style game with a slew of unique twists on the genre, not least a focus on ranged combat and shooting abilities. You choose one of three beginner classes and embark on a journey across a post-apocalyptic world, combating an insidious foe known as the Root — no prizes for guessing that they’re angry trees. You and up to two other players can randomly discover new bosses and areas, guaranteeing that each playthrough is unique. There’s also some decent stuff out there, so there’s always a fresh new piece of armor to seek for. There’s also much scavenging and piecing together your weaponry if you like crafting games.
THE SECOND DIVISION
From the start, good co-op action has been integrated into the fabric of The Division. It’s understandable, given that any military-themed game worth its salt has themes of friendship and teamwork, as well as some chuffin’ nice treasure. While Ubisoft’s post-apocalyptic shooter turned some off due to a lack of endgame content, the company eventually expanded the game with many upgrades, pushing it from strength to strength. The Division 2’s Washington setting has all of that work, which is why it’s one of the best co-op games on PC.
You can take to the battlefield with three friends to take down gangs of looters and pyromaniacs, just as in the original. Aside from the tale, you can also take your squad into the Dark Zone, where you’ll fight it out for extra riches shoulder to shoulder with other players. It also has a nice tinge of roleplay. It’s fine if you want to play the nice guy and shield others from being picked on. Do you want to be the huge baddie who inflicts pain on others? That’s also doable, and it’s just a smidgeon of malice.
You and your buddies will have plenty of future content to jump into once you’ve geared up with The Division 2 Exotics. Division 2’s first year is jam-packed with PvE activities, including The Division 2 Raids, Strongholds, and other plot pieces. Skirmish and the Dark Zone are great places to practice your aim for those of us who enjoy PvP.
DESTINY 2 is the sequel of DESTINY.
If the PC release of Destiny 2 was your first exposure to Bungie’s massive console game, you might have been perplexed at first. As we discussed in our Destiny 2 PC review, the game’s paper-thin plot fails to create an engaging story, there aren’t many activities to do, and you’ll have seen pretty much everything it has to offer in under 30 hours. Consider the game as a social area for your friends — the online equivalent of a pub where you can fire aliens – and you’ll have one of the best co-op games on the PC.
All of Destiny 2’s activities are geared to work best when played with friends, whether it’s zooming over a planet’s surface on a Sparrow hoverbike, spelunking into a cave in quest of powerful loot, or using our Destiny 2 Shadowkeep raid guide to tackle the complicated endgame mission. Combining class abilities, mastering Destiny 2’s greatest PvP weaponry, and defeating a tough Nightfall boss gives your fireteam a sense of accomplishment that few other games can match. Destiny 2 makes sense as your weekly virtual meet-up with the gang, with server resets every Tuesday giving new loot and challenges.