Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- #20 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
- #19 Roboquest
- #18 Garry’s Mod
- #17 Deep Rock Galactic
- #16 Ready or Not
- #15 Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- #14 GTFO
- #13 World War Z: Aftermath
- #12 ARMA 3
- #11 TheHunter: Call of the Wild
- #10 Sea of Thieves
- #9 Destiny 2
- #8 ARK: Survival Evolved
- #7 Minecraft
- #6 Far Cry Series
- #5 Borderlands Franchise
- #4 Payday 2
- #3 Left 4 Dead 2
- #2 Call of Duty Franchise
- #1 Portal 2
Co-Op games have actually been around much longer than you would expect. Since their boom in the modern age of systems, there are titles that truly stand the test of time. Allow us to show you them.
#20 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S
Release Date: December 7, 2023
Epic | PlayStation | Xbox
In the movies, the Na’vi almost always work together so that they can accomplish certain goals. In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, you’ll get the chance to do just that, as you can be a Na’vi and join your friends as you explore Pandora and all that is within it.
Whether you ride on the ground, fly through the air, fight enemies, or just see what Pandora is like, you’ll have plenty of options on this co-op journey!
Plus, the game looks stunning, and the PC version is said to push the boundaries of graphical power, so both players will have fun as they look around and play.
#19 Roboquest
Platform: PC Xbox One XSX|S
Release Date: November 07, 2023
If you’re after a run-and-gun experience with a friend, then check out Roboquest. This new FPS title is based around a future where humanity is on its last legs. Evil robots flood the area, and while hope seems lost, our protagonist, Max, uncovers an old guardian bot that can be reactivated. Now, the duo set off to take the fight back against these evil bots and start seeking answers as to what these evil bots are after. Players can go through this game as a two-player experience. This is a fast-paced, action-packed game where it’s all about blasting away at the enemy. You will also get a bit of customization options here, whether it’s building up upgrades to your character or choosing from a wide range of weapons.
#18 Garry’s Mod
We’ll start in a weird place because we’re taking you to Garry’s Mod. The title isn’t so much an FPS game as it is an FPS experience. Or, it can be that if you want it to be.
Long story short, the mod is a physics sandbox where you have all the materials, items, and code you could want to mess with, and then you’ll get to mess with it.
The “game” can be played alone, or you can play it with a friend in co-op, or you can go full-tilt and bring in up to 255 other players! Valve helped publish this mod, and it’s been bringing players joy ever since.
#17 Deep Rock Galactic
Are you ready to get your Dwarf on? In Deep Rock Galactic, you will play one of up to four dwarfs who are sent to various rocks and planetary bodies in space to collect resources that reside within.
The problem is that aliens live in these places, and you’ll need to fight them off to get your target and get out alive. You can choose between four different classes for your Dwarf and then work with your team to ensure you do your job.
With each level procedurally generated, every level will be a challenge. So load up and prepare for what’s coming!
#16 Ready or Not
If you’re looking for a genuinely modern co-op experience, you’ll want to give Ready or Not a try. The game doesn’t put you in a warzone but in the modern-day struggles that the police and SWAT teams sometimes face daily.
The dev team consulted with the police to ensure that the weaponry, tactics, and scenarios in the game were accurate to the real world. You can play the game alone and command the other officers through their AI, or go online for co-op partners and see if you can diffuse the situations as a team!
These are life and death situations, so don’t hesitate!
#15 Dying Light 2 Stay Human
It’s taken us a while, but we’ve finally made it to an FPS that deals with zombies on a large scale. Dying Light 2 Stay Human puts you in a city overrun by zombies. But that’s only the start of your problems.
You have a reason for being there in the city, and to get the help you need, you must help out some of the factions that reside there. Every mission you take will put you and your co-op partner in harm’s way, but how you get out of it is up to you.
You can fight off the horde or parkour your way to the next objective!
#14 GTFO
We’re pretty sure you know what that anagram means. In GTFO, you’ll get to live it as you try to survive an “expedition” where death is everywhere, and you must literally fight for your life.
You and your co-op partners are prisoners at a facility. But the twist is that you’ll be contracted to go into a series of tunnels within the prison that happen to have various monstrosities trying to kill you. Pick the right gear, then work together as you drop down one level at a time. Strategy is key, so don’t wander off on your own!
Will you be able to complete the “work order” and get out alive?
#13 World War Z: Aftermath
With over 20 million players having tried World War Z: Aftermath, you can safely say that the team behind it did something right. Based on the hit movie, the game will take you to new locations as you attempt to fight off the zombie horde and survive the trials to come.
You and your co-op partner will have multiple areas to fight in, and you must work together to kill every zombie you encounter. First, choose your class, then slowly upgrade them so they can easily blast through zombies.
It’s the end of the world, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the end of you!
#12 ARMA 3
Here’s another title that’ll give you the freedom and ability to create the battles you want to fight. ARMA 3 is meant to be the “premier military title” due to all the options it presents. You’ll be given a battlefield several square kilometers wide and long and get to do with it as you will.
There are so many modes to partake in with this title that you’ll spend much time within. You can do the single-player mode and see it from one perspective or dive into the multiplayer to battle it out against friends. Then, when you have the hang of it, create the wars from your mind and see if you survive them!
#11 TheHunter: Call of the Wild
Sometimes you just want to have fun shooting with a partner without all the pressure modern FPS games put on you. So if you’re looking for “pure” shooting,” then try TheHunter: Call of the Wild.
As you may have guessed, the title is based on sport hunting, where you’ll go into vast wildernesses and attempt to score a big prize. Whether it be deer, turkey, elk, or another animal on your list, you’ll have plenty of options.
Plus, with your co-op partners, you can work together to snag the big game or set up a trap to lure them in! All’s fair in the hunt.
#10 Sea of Thieves
Rare took a significant risk when they developed Sea of Thieves. But five years later, they’re very happy with how everything has gone, and that means if you haven’t joined yet, now is a perfect time!
The game lets you partake in a grand pirate adventure where you can do anything a pirate could and would to build up your name and fame! Will you journey with your co-op partner across the seas to discover new islands and search for treasure?
Or will you both man the helm so you can take on rival pirate ships and fight it out to the bitter end? Hoist the main sail and find out!
#9 Destiny 2
When it comes to Bungie, they love making their space operas as fun as possible, and that includes allowing you to play the game with a buddy in co-op.
With Destiny 2, you can join up with a friend and head out wherever you want. You can look for enemies to fight, participate in a raid, continue the main campaign, or whatever you desire. Freedom and fun were two key things Bungie tried to instill into their sequel.
Plus, the DLC content ensures you and your partner have more to do as you play. So what are you waiting for, Guardian?
#8 ARK: Survival Evolved
There are plenty of survival games out there that you can try your hand in, but many would agree that ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the most robust and fun. The title puts you on an island with nothing to your name or body, and you’ll have to scavenge the island looking for items to help you withstand various threats.
One of the coolest things about the game is that as you evolve on the island, you’ll get to do some cool things like wield sci-fi weapons and ride dinosaurs! Playing it with a friend might mean doing that sooner rather than later!
#7 Minecraft
One could argue that Minecraft is most enjoyed when played with friends. After all, you could build something on your own with no problem, or you could work together with someone and see what majestic things you can create!
The other thing about the game that can’t be ignored is that the title has multiple modes you could co-op within. That includes a “Survival Mode” where you try and outlast the world and the zombies within it.
Plus, with the new worlds you can visit, there are even more co-op adventures. So why not jump in and have fun with friends?
#6 Far Cry Series
While the Far Cry Series quality hasn’t been the most consistent, you can’t deny that they have tried for many iterations to involve co-op to a fun degree.
That goes especially for the titles that asked you to take down massive criminal organizations, and you knew you’d need help doing that task. So whether you’re in the mountains of Tibet, the various terrains of Montana, or an island run by a dictator, you’ll have much to do and explore.
The Ubisoft team delivers an action-packed experience full of activities, so don’t be afraid to wander around and see what you can do next!
#5 Borderlands Franchise
Yep, whether in single-player or co-op, there ain’t no rest for the wicked!
The Borderlands Franchise was a game that broke many molds and shifted what you could do with certain genres. But one thing that it also loved to do was crank up the insanity with co-op. Within each title, you could choose between four character classes you could play. With you and your co-op partner guaranteed to be different, seeing how well you’d work together was fun.
Along with working together, you’ll try to get as many guns as possible to blow up your enemies repeatedly. Sounds like a blast!
#4 Payday 2
What does it mean to have a good gameplay loop? It means you’ve crafted something so special that people will keep coming back to play it even though they know what to expect. With Payday 2, it established itself as one of the best co-op games ever because you had plenty of content to enjoy, and doing the gameplay never got old.
You and your friends would become the Payday Crew, a notorious group of robbers who did complicated heists. You’d pick your robber and try to perform the perfect job without getting caught. You come out in one piece only by working as a well-oiled machine.
#3 Left 4 Dead 2
There’s a reason that Valve was so revered for its video games. They knew how to make good ones no matter the genre.
With Left 4 Dead 2, they took the bones of their original zombie co-op title and made them even better. With new characters, a new story, and new types of zombies to fight, every map you go on will be a struggle for survival. Yet you’ll love every minute of it as you try to come out alive.
The game was so good that a certain team tried and failed to replicate it not too long ago. That shows you that some people got it, and some don’t.
#2 Call of Duty Franchise
We could’ve easily put the Call of Duty Franchise in multiple spots on this list, but the truth is that co-op and multiplayer play have been a part of this franchise for some time, and to list all the games that do it well would be a waste. So we’ll lump them all together and let you decide which titles are the best in the co-op field.
Whether it happens in the era of World War II, the modern day, or even the future, the teams behind this franchise always work hard to ensure you can play these games with friends. Just make sure you have someone you’d trust in your foxhole.
#1 Portal 2
It’s a little ironic that we started with a game published by Valve, and now we’re ending with one also published by Valve. Portal 2 is easily one of the best co-op games ever made because it was built to be played both in single-player and co-op! They made a campaign specifically for co-op duos, and it was awesome!
Being able to control the two robots with a friend and wielding the portal guns like never before opened up new options to solve puzzles and beat Glados.
The title was Game of the Year for many, and many more are begging for a third mainline title to come eventually.
