Summary
- More players in games like Bonkies can add chaos and difficulty, requiring precise communication and coordination.
- Trine 4's crowded screen can make coordinating swings and jumps challenging, turning simple puzzles into drawn-out sequences.
- In Payday 2, errors by even one player can lead to disaster, with mistakes quickly escalating into chaotic situations that are hard to recover from.
Playing games with a friend has always been an integral part of the world of gaming. Getting to share an experience with another person or work together to meet the same goal, all while on the same couch or in the same game, always fills players with joy, and the ability to engage with others has only grown stronger over time.
8 Best Games That Can Only Be Played In Co-Op, Ranked
If you're looking for a game to play with someone else, these are great options.
But, there are certain situations where having those extra players around can actually make the goal just a bit harder to reach. Whether it be due to more bodies to manage on screen at once, coordination becoming increasingly more difficult, or a combination of the two, sometimes, more players doesn't equal a higher chance of success.
8 Bonkies
Primate Construction That Never Fails To Surprise
- Release Date: January 29, 2021
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
- Maximum Players: 4
- Opencritic
Bonkies is a whimsical and out-of-this-world cooperative construction game where players take on the role of monkey astronauts and their quest to build ever more complex structures in outer space. Each mission requires careful planning and communication in order to meet the blueprint's specs and finish without the clock running to zero.
The trouble is that with each additional team member added to the building process, a whole new set of variables and chaos can make the build go haywire in a matter of seconds. Effective communication is necessary, as otherwise the laws of gravity will take over and destroy any progress the players have made. The demo is free to play for any groups looking to try something new, and it is well worth checking out for fans of insane co-op adventures.
7 Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
Intricate Puzzles On A Crowded Screen
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
- Released
- October 8, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Frozenbyte
- Publisher(s)
- Modus Games
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Trine 4 pushes the series further than ever before, bringing back the iconic trio for even more puzzles and adventures across the lands that are full to the brim with exotic creatures and gorgeous sights for everyone to see. Players can jump in with up to two other friends, and at that point, each player can assume the role of one of the three heroes depending on the situation.
The Best Local Co-Op Games on Steam (Couch & Split-Screen Included)
Find the best local co-op and split-screen games on Steam, from couch classics to modern hits perfect for friends, families, and offline play.
The trouble arises when trying to perfectly coordinate swings and jumps in unison. The screen is small, and the perspective can make things a little troublesome to make out, turning simplistic puzzles into drawn-out sequences that can take several attempts to clear together. It's a game that thrives on the comedy and absurdity of the scenes and has some of the best level designs of any game in the genre.
6 Payday 2
Coordinated Heists With No Margin For Error
Payday 2
- Released
- August 13, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Overkill Software
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Payday 2 is the pinnacle of tactical heist gaming, thrusting players into high-stakes scenarios where they have to work together and disable cameras, move hostages, and ultimately make a getaway with the spoils from the vault. Things don't always go perfectly, and one mistake can turn a well-oiled machine into a mess that quickly devolves into chaos with little to no way of stopping it.
The trouble is, with such a low margin for error, if even one of the four possible players makes a wrong turn or slips up in the slightest, the whole operation can come crashing down. When working in smaller groups, it's easier to manage tasks and windows of opportunity, but with extra people to worry about, a successful heist becomes even further out of reach.
5 Don't Starve Together
Limited Resources In A World Out To Get You
Don't Starve Together
- Released
- April 21, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Klei Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Klei Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Adventure, Open-World, Crafting, Sandbox
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Don’t Starve Together is a multiplayer survival game where players must gather resources, craft tools, and fend off monsters in a dark and gloomy world. With its unique art style and complex systems involving simple mechanics like hunger (and more abstract ones like sanity), the game offers a challenging experience even in solo play.
Adding more players raises the difficulty rather than easing it. Resources deplete faster, and food becomes scarcer, which makes managing the needs of everyone just a bit harder. One player’s mistake, like starting a fire or angering a boss, can quickly doom the entire group, as the more players involved, the harder it becomes to stay alive, making it a true test of group survival.
4 Left 4 Dead 2
More Zombies And Fewer Medkits To Spare
Left 4 Dead 2
- Released
- November 17, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
Left 4 Dead 2 is a fast-paced cooperative zombie shooter that thrives on teamwork and tension. Players control one of four survivors as they fight through hordes of infected across campaign maps, using a variety of weapons, tools, and strategies to survive. The enemies constantly adapt, and item locations are mixed up in a way that is directly tied to the player's performance and actions.
7 Best Co-Op FPS Games Where Trust Is Crucial, Ranked
In order to survive the grueling battles found in these co-op FPS games, players will need to have trust in one another's abilities.
The game scales difficulty with player count in subtle but punishing ways. More players mean more noise and greater chances of someone triggering a special infected encounter. Coordination becomes vital, and with more mistakes happening, there is a greater need to cover the weaknesses of the group. Higher difficulties further magnify this effect, where friendly fire and limited health items punish disorganized teams and add a level of intensity that keeps the game exciting throughout.
3 Death Squared
Brain-Melting Solutions That Require Precision And Timing
Death Squared
- Released
- July 13, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- SMG Studio
- Publisher(s)
- SMG Studio
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Death Squared is a cooperative puzzle game where players control color-coded robots navigating through hazard-laden levels to reach their respective goals. The game emphasizes coordination and communication, as each robot's movement can trigger traps or alter the environment, affecting other players in a variety of ways. The game has plenty of story levels and many more challenging stages, offering a substantial amount of content for players seeking a fun test of teamwork and problem-solving skills.
The difficulty in Death Squared escalates notably with more players. With four players, each participant controls a robot, requiring precise synchronization to avoid triggering deadly traps. The complexity of puzzles increases, demanding heightened awareness and collaboration, as any miscommunication or a single misstep can lead to the entire team's failure, making the game more challenging and engaging as more players join.
2 Overcooked 2
Too Many Cooks, As They Say
Overcooked 2
- Released
- August 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team17, Ghost Town Games
- Publisher(s)
- Team17
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Platform(s)
- Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, Amazon Luna
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Overcooked 2 is a fast-paced cooperative cooking simulation game that pushes teams to their absolute limit. Players work together to prepare and serve orders in increasingly chaotic kitchens, managing tasks like chopping ingredients, cooking, plating, and washing dishes, while having to juggle all the tasks at the same time. The game introduces new mechanics such as ingredient tossing and dynamic level designs, including moving platforms and shifting environments, adding layers of complexity to the culinary challenges.
While the game adjusts score thresholds based on the number of players, the core gameplay does become more challenging with additional participants. More players mean increased potential for miscommunication and collisions, especially in confined kitchen spaces. Coordinating simple tasks in the kitchen requires precise teamwork, and one failure can set off a chain of events that can almost never be recovered from.
1 Pico Park 2
The Ruiner Of Friendships
Pico Park 2
- Released
- August 27, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tecopark, Gemdrops, Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Tecopark
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Pico Park 2 is the poster child for simple co-op titles that demand far more of players than it initially appears. The levels could not be any more minimalist, often requiring a simple timing challenge or a brief bout of teamwork, all of which can be cleared in a very short amount of time if the solution is known and the teamwork is on point.
But as more buttons are added, with more players and extra bodies that need to be defended from certain deaths, the need for perfect timing and precise platforming is elevated to a new level, as the group can never rely on a single player to clear the level, and instead, everyone has to contribute in their small way, whether leading to success or failure for the 100th time.
8 Best Co-Op Games That Explore Mature Themes
While these co-op games are a lot of fun for one or more friends, they also involve story elements intended for older audiences.