Overcooked 2
Best Co-Op Games of 2018 So Far
The first Overcooked game was built around being a co-op experience. Of course, you could play it alone, but it was significantly better with at least one partner, and the sequel is no different. As you play through the game’s levels in an attempt to save the Onion Kingdom from the Unbread (yes, zombie bread), you’ll be shouting at your partners. Whether they be too slow, or repeatedly throwing lettuce into a river, you’ll be close to re-creating the Gordon Ramsey ‘Idiot Sandwich’ meme.
Thankfully, the controls and basic premise are easy to get your head around. It’s just making the food we all know and love, after all. The new recipes and dynamic levels are really fun, and the new online multiplayer options make Overcooked 2 perfect for co-op play, even if you’re not next to each other on the couch. No matter what you’re doing, remember rule number one: communication is key.
A Way Out
Best Co-Op Games of 2018 So Far
Any co-op features in story-focused games tend to be quite passive, such as the crowd play options in Telltale’s games, but A Way Out, the recent EA Originals title, bucks that trend. You and a friend or family member each take control of one of two brothers who are attempting to escape from prison.
Along their adventure, you sneak past guards, engage in fights, and solve puzzles, and it’s fun to follow a story that plays out differently for each player. One player might be deep in action, and the other could be watching a cutscene, and the size of each player’s screen changes as you play. It all works seamlessly, and A Way Out’s narrative-driven adventure is an enjoyable romp.
Guacamelee 2
Best Co-Op Games of 2018 So Far
Guacamelee 2 may be very similar to the first game, with Juan’s special moves being introduced in the same way and at the same time, but that makes it quite easy to jump into without much practice. While just one player can play as the masked protagonist, up to four players can jump in to help with combat sections and help guide people through the tough platforming sections.
Jumping into the co-op doesn’t change the game a whole lot, but it’s very easy to do so and the gameplay is so much fun that it doesn’t need to add any flair. Also, with others beside you, you can all laugh at the silly one-liners.
Onrush
Best Co-Op Games of 2018 So Far
Racing games don’t tend to be co-op experiences. As the definition of racing states, it should be something competitive that sees someone finish first. While winning is a key part of Onrush, it’s not about reaching the finish line first, but rather about working with your teammates to win the objective-based modes.
It essentially works like a team-based shooter – think Overwatch in powerful cars – and you hurtle around the track, taking out fodder vehicles as you go. It’s incredibly fast-paced and the action is so satisfying, making you completely forget that there is no finish line. You’ll have to join the same team online, but working together to take down opponents and capture points in co-op is great fun.
Unravel Two
Best Co-Op Games of 2018 So Far
Few people were expecting an Unravel sequel to be released this year, but it was shadow dropped at EA’s E3 press conference in June. The lovable Yarny returns once again, only this time alongside a Yarny friend. The challenging platforming and beautiful art remains from the first game, but Two is designed to be played with someone else in co-op.
The general platforming is turned into puzzles that require communication and coordination. You’re connected via a length of string and you need to help each other move through the level. You’re also able to take control of the other player to help them, making it a great choice for younger gamers. It’s well-designed and works really well as a co-op experience.
Wizard of Legend
Best Co-Op Games of 2018 So Far
Funded through Kickstarter, Wizard of Legend is a roguelike that released in May of this year. As a wizard that can cast a variety of spells, you make your way through the game’s procedurally generated levels, taking on groups of enemies as you go. It can all be played alone, but it can be pretty tough, especially when you’re faced with particularly large groups of enemies.
Thankfully, you can make each run more manageable with the help of a co-op partner. Co-ordinating your attacks to stay alive and making the most of each player’s skills adds another tactical element to Wizard of Legend. The game still follows the same path in co-op, but fighting your way through the dungeons with a friend is great.
Monster Hunter: World
Best Co-Op Games of 2018 So Far
Monster Hunter: World claimed the late January release date that has proven popular over the past few years, and it became Capcom’s best-selling game ever. It has always been quite a complicated series, full of intricate statistics and gear systems, but World was loved by Monster Hunter newcomers and veterans alike.
As with previous games, you head out into the game’s world to search for and take down the variety of threatening creatures. Some are small and quick, while some are giant and powerful, so you need to be tactical about how you take them down. That’s why it works so well in co-op. The system of jumping into a game is quite complicated, but putting your skills and loadouts together to hunt for and take the monsters down is even better than playing alone. There’s also so much content in World that you could put more than a hundred hours into hunting with your friend.
