10 Best Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

A Way Out

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

Of all the entries on this list, A Way Out has to be one of the most anticipated co-op games of the year, if only because of director Josef Farez’s “passion” to deliver a quality experience. To say that Farez is hyped about the prospect of his latest game would be a woeful understatement. The eccentric developer, who’s better known for his work in the film industry, is determined that A Way Out is going to be a memorable title, and his down to earth nature and transparency has undoubtedly already won adoration from potential buyers already.

But aside from Farez’s charisma, A Way Out does look like a genuinely good game and a breath of fresh air for the industry. We really haven’t seen a AAA co-op story-driven production like this on console for years, and arguably never one that puts its emphasis on stealth, puzzle solving, and heavy dialogue. As for its narrative, why on earth haven’t there been more Prison Break-like games? It seems like such an obvious fit for a cooperative game, and especially with a movie director at its helm, expect A Way Out to make a big splash when it arrives, March. 23.

Sea of Thieves

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward in 2018

Sea of Thieves is a bold and intriguing video game. In a first-party lineup that’s dominated by shooters, Microsoft’s upcoming cooperative adventure game adds a very different sort of string to its bow. Developer Rare has channeled the charm of the Donkey Kong series its best known for to a whimsical animated pirate tale that’s best enjoyed with a handful of friends, and we’re super stoked for it.

From what we’ve seen so far, the gameplay is a total hoot. Players are charged with running their own pirate ship, supervising everything from steering to raising the sail, plundering island treasure to protecting the ship from rival pirates. Early preview and beta impressions seem to have been mostly positive, though we’re still not quite up to speed on whether the long-term appeal of Sea of Thieves is going to last beyond its initial launch period. Regardless, if you’re looking for an evening of hilarious banter and swashbuckling, Sea of Thieves has you covered.

Guacamelee 2

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

Drinkbox Studios’ first Guacamelee still earns a spot as one of the best cooperative platform games around, four years after its first release. The adorable Mexican-themed part brawler, part Metroidvania couch co-op title was an absolute joy to play, and the recent announcement of its sequel should have you very excited.

Details on the game are pretty scant thus far, but we do know that entire campaign can be played by up to four players cooperatively. The reveal trailer showcases the same brilliantly stylized animation we saw in the first game, and it seems likely to be articulated by the same hilarious comedic timing, too. So that’s a pretty good start.

Crackdown 3

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

Crackdown 3 had long been expected to launch in tandem with Microsoft’s Xbox One X console last year, but after a slightly underwhelming E3 presentation, the game was delayed to 2018. Shannon Loftis stated the decision was primarily a result of lukewarm reception to its aesthetic, stating the team was given “extra time to focus on the visual polish so gamers can feel completely immersed in a living world”.

Visuals aside, Crackdown has always been about gameplay, and in that department, crashing around its futuristic city environment wreaking havoc did leave a positive critical impression. With a little bit more of that visual polish Microsoft wants to be added, we’re sure Crackdown 3 will prove a compelling cooperative experience. Certainly, one to keep an eye on.

State of Decay 2

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

State of Decay 2 looks set to iterate and improve on the gameplay formula that made its predecessor such a huge success on Xbox 360. The big new addition for the sequel is the inclusion of cooperative multiplayer, a feature that always felt so perfect for State of Decay. In the sequel, players can call for other players when you’re in a pickle, or come to the aid of others via the use of S.O.S flare signals. But there’s a more substantial offering beyond that, too, which has players team up in co-op sessions of up to three other players. Ultimately, the idea is to make contact and build communities with fellow survivors online to scavenge for resources and evade hordes of zombies.

State of Decay 2 incorporates plenty of strategy to combating waves of undead beyond simply gunning them down or bashing them to pieces. This is a survival game, and each base serves as your command post from which you’ll plan your defense, as well as horde resources, and build farming and production facilities. In multiplayer, each squad member is assigned a different character with unique skills and traits. Each member of the community has a specific role, presumably with the intention of promoting cooperation and tactics between players. On paper, that sounds like the most immersive and involved zombie survival game yet.

Metal Gear Survive

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

Surrounded by controversy and the subject of ridicule for understandably frustrated Metal Gear fans, Konami’s latest spin-off certainly isn’t what many would have hoped for the future of the series. But give Metal Gear Survive a chance, because from what we’ve played of it, it’s shaping up to be much better than anyone might have anticipated. Sure, it’s taken poetic license with the MGS lore, and it’s got nothing to do with the series’ revered creator, Hideo Kojima, but the proof is in the gameplay, and Survive isn’t as bad as you might think.

If you’ve played MGSV, you’ll know just how good the Fox Engine is, and Survive’s shooting mechanics and general gameplay feel sublime to control. Players can buddy-up to tackle a host of different missions and objectives across its open world, which typically involve scavenging for resources and waves of zombies. It’s not the most innovative of concepts, but wrapped in the Fox Engine, the third-person combat is spot on, and there’s a tactical element that requires plenty of coordination. From the game’s latest trailer, we’re also in for a much more detailed narrative than was first anticipated. So who knows, keep Survive on your radar and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Dauntless

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

With Monster Hunter World proving a huge success, you might find yourself wanting for more similar experiences, and Dauntless is shaping up to provide the solution. Its story pertains to a cataclysmic event in which the world has become infested with “Behemoth” monsters that you and your buddies are tasked with tracking and killing. That definitely sounds familiar, but there are a few key differences. While the gameplay loop is lifted straight out of Monster Hunter, this is an MMO in a persistent online open world. There are quests, social spaces, and plenty of cooperative strategies required to defeat its Behemoths. It’s also a free-to-play experience.

Essentially, Dauntless sounds like a glorious mashup of Monster Hunter, Dark Souls, and World of Warcraft, which sounds pretty awesome on paper. We’ve already played the alpha build and were impressed.

Far Cry 5

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

Far Cry sits right next to Assassin’s Creed as one of Ubisoft’s tentpole franchises, but we haven’t seen a main entry in the series since 2014. The fourth game was fine enough, but it didn’t really kick on from the iconic Far Cry 3 in quite the way we’d hoped. Far Cry 5, however, promises big changes. Apart from switching the exotic island and mountain locations to a more familiar, rural America, Ubisoft has finally added that drop in co-op we always wanted. Don’t get us wrong, Far Cry is brilliant as a solo experience, but especially when you’re in the mood to cause complete mayhem – something Far Cry is exceptionally good at facilitating – having a buddy to share the fun with just takes things up a notch. Those who played Far Cry 4’s base infiltrations with a friend will remember, but in Far Cry 5, you can look forward to playing the entire campaign cooperatively.

Whether you’re in the mood for unleashing bears on unsuspecting cultists, flying planes around the big-sky Montana countryside, or kicking back and enjoying some fishing with a friend, Far Cry 5 seems to have the answers.

Overkill’s The Walking Dead

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

Overkill’s The Walking Dead was first teased way back at E3 2015 when The Walking Dead franchise was at its zenith. The AMC show has since fallen slightly by the wayside, but there’s no doubt it still makes for great source material for a co-op video game. Of course, the proof will be in its gameplay, but from what we know so far, it’s shaping up to be much more than just a cash-in on the popular IP.

Speaking in a press release last year, the developer spoke of the game’s characters as each having their own “special abilities, skill trees, squad roles, play styles and background stories.” Cooperative play with up to four players was described “as a test of “strategy and endurance,” in which “players will band together with up to three friends on a variety of missions and raids, securing supplies and survivors to strengthen their base camp against the threat of both the dead and the living – by any means necessary.”

It all sounds very much like State of Decay 2, so we’re expecting a bit of a showdown between the two of them in 2018. We’re certainly not going to complain about a double dose of co-op zombie survival action!

Warhammer Vermintide 2

Best 10 Co-Op Games to Look Forward to in 2018

What happens when you take the rich lore of the Warhammer universe and marry it to the genre-defining gameplay of Left 4 Dead? The answer is one utterly brilliant co-op experience, rife with brutal melee combat and demanding tactical play. The first Vermintide clearly drew huge inspiration from the Left 4 Dead formula, but nobody was complaining. Driving spears through the bodies of Skaven warriors was addictive and enthralling, and now its back with a grander and more refined vision. The next installment looks set to feature a greater variety of scenery than its predecessor with lush forests and golden pastures breaking up the bleak urban environments of the first game. There’s a new enemy, too: the Chaos army.

The gameplay consists of teaming up with three or four buddies and tearing through each linear level before returning to base to roll dice on new loot and equipment. There’s plenty of strategy in taking down its different enemy types, especially when coordinating attacks between the different hero classes: Witch Hunter, Waywatcher, Empire Soldier, Dwarf Ranger, and Bright Wizard.

Don’t be off put if you’re not up to speed with Warhammer lore. This is a cooperative experience you won’t want to miss.