5 Best Multiplayer and Co-Op Games of May 2018

DONKEY KONG COUNTRY: TROPICAL FREEZE (SWITCH)

Best Multiplayer and Co-Op Games of May 2018

Originally releasing for the Wii U back in 2014 as a sequel to the 2010 Donkey Kong Country Returns, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze came to Switch last month as an enhanced port.

In regular platforming fashion for the series, you travel through six different islands as Donkey Kong and his pals to try and defeat the Snowmads, led by Lord Fredrik who is trying to keep the world in a perpetual winter. You can play alone with an AI companion helping you throughout the levels, or a friend can take control of Diddy, Dixie, or Cranky Kong to play alongside you as well. The Switch version also adds Funky Kong as a playable character, who can be played alone or as a companion and comes with five hit points instead of two, the ability to hover in mi-air after a double jump, and can both stand on spikes and breathe underwater as well for a limited time.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze released for Nintendo Switch on May 4.

STATE OF DECAY 2

Best Multiplayer and Co-Op Games of May 2018

State of Decay 2 is a zombie survival game where every death feels like it really matters. You act as the coordinator of a camp of survivors in an open world where you can send them out on missions to collect supplies, but get too greedy and you might start losing your best people to the growing number of zombies you will encounter outside the safety of your base.

Alongside the ability to play single-player, you can also join up with up to three other players to go out on missions and work together to ensure everyone gets home safe. Due to performance reasons, you cannot roam freely in another player’s world when you join in co-op and you’re instead tethered to a host as you move through missions together. Unless you are purposefully trying to leave your teammates, this tether limit shouldn’t be an issue, and if you do happen to get separated, your teammates can “hitch a ride” back to you to team up again.

By joining another person’s game you act as a guest to their narrative, but you can still bring influence points back to your playthrough and any items you pick up along the way can be kept in your inventory as well. However, something to keep in mind is that just like in single-player, permadeath is a thing and if you die while in another player’s game you lose that survivor forever.

Over one million people played State of Decay 2 after two days of its release according to Microsoft, and while there are praises for the game’s combat and survival mechanics, there have also been some bugs that have become troublesome for players since launch. In the same announcement for player numbers Microsoft also stated, “Putting this giant open-world zombie survival sim in the hands of fans has exposed some bugs and issues – we’ve addressed and will continue to address them as we hear more from players.”

State of Decay 2 released for Xbox One and PC on May 18 as an Ultimate Edition, and a few days later on May 22 as a Standard Edition.

TOTAL WAR SAGA: THRONES OF BRITANNIA

Best Multiplayer and Co-Op Games of May 2018

The 12th entry in the mainline Total War Saga series, Thrones of Britannia is set in the year 878 AD after the Viking invasion of the British Isles. You can play in 10 different factions from the Europeans including the English, Gaelic, or Welsh to the Viking invaders as the Great Viking army or the Viking sea kings.

The campaign can be played in two person co-op, and it plays quite a lot like a game of Risk where you can actually zero in and organize the specific battles yourself. All the provinces scattered throughout the map have a capital city that is then encircled by various towns, and you and a friend can organize your armies to take siege of areas to grow your empire.

Battles will be large and bloody, and the depth of strategy in this game will likely keep you invested for the long run as you attempt to overtake the British Isles for your faction.

Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia released for PC on May 2.

CONAN EXILES

Best Multiplayer and Co-Op Games of May 2018

After being in early access since 2017, Conan Exiles finally released last month with tons of online multiplayer content for players to enjoy.

Set in the world of Conan the Barbarian, a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard in the 1930s who has since become a pop icon, the gameplay is centered around surviving in a harsh prehistoric world after being placed in exile after the conviction of various crimes. Navigating environments like The Exiled Lands or The Frozen North, you progress with experience points gained through combat, crafting, and gathering. Base building is also big in this title, allowing you to craft anything from a modest hut to huge, expanding cities.

You can experience Conan Exiles alone, but persistent multiplayer is also available on public servers. By hosting your own server you can invite others to join you, and limit it so just you and a few friends could experience the world of Conan Exiles in your own co-op mode.

Conan Exiles released for PC, Xbox One, and PS4 on May 8.

DESTINY 2: WARMIND (EXPANSION)

Best Multiplayer and Co-Op Games of May 2018

The online-only, multiplayer sequel Destiny 2 got its second expansion last month following Curse of Osiris which released back in Dec. 2017. In the latest expansion, The Guardian is heading to Mars to attempt to find the the remnants of the Red Legion who are retreating to the depths of space. However, after receiving a distress call saying the ancient race entitled The Hive have begun attacking the Clovis Bray Research Facility, you leave to help and a series of new missions will unfold.

Along with a new story campaign, Warmind also includes new strikes, maps, gear, weapons, and a whole new Raid Lair called The Spire of Stars. As well as a public event called Escalation Protocol is available that is similar to a horde mode where players attack waves on increasingly difficult enemies to get special loot.

Destiny is always best played with others, so make sure to team up to finish off the new campaign missions, events, and raids, and you can now gain access to multiplayer arenas in private matches as well.

Destiny 2’s expansion Warmind released for PC, Xbox One, and PS4 on May 8. For more multiplayer games to try out, check out our best games list for March and April 2018.