Video games that allow players to collaborate as teammates, usually against one or more non-player character opponents, are referred to as cooperative games, or simply co-ops. Cooperative games might have fully cooperative gameplay or just cooperative game modes.
Although the terms “co-op” and “multiplayer” might refer to the same thing, they are typically used to describe separate multiplayer modes. Multiple players can play simultaneously, primarily in a competitive or opposing manner. When a game is cooperative, all of the participants play together.
As controller and networking technology have advanced, co-op gameplay has become more and more popular. Cooperative games are becoming more and more popular on PCs and consoles. Some game genres, such as sports, shooter, real-time strategy, and massively multiplayer online games, all feature co-op options.
The best thing about co-op PC games is that players are not limited to a certain genre. They can find co-op games among the best sandbox games, relaxing games, or even horror games. Below are some of the best co-op games to get on PC.
It Takes Two
The action-adventure platform video game It Takes Two was created by Hazelight Studios and released by Electronic Arts in 2021. In March 2021, the game was launched for Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It was later released on the Nintendo Switch in November 2022.
Similar to A Way Out, Hazelight’s first game, it lacks a single-player option. It can only be played in split-screen cooperative multiplayer between two players online or locally. Critics gave It Takes Two favorable reviews, and it was awarded several year-end prizes, such as the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and GOTY at The Game Awards 2021. By February 2023, the game had sold over 10 million copies.
A wide variety of video game genres’ mechanics are included in the game. The level’s theme and narrative are interwoven with these gaming elements. In one level, Cody is able to go back in time, while May is able to duplicate herself. Players must cooperate with one another and employ these abilities in order to advance. In addition, the game has a ton of minigames.
Portal 2
The 2011 puzzle-platform game Portal 2 was created by Valve for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems. Similar to the first Portal, players construct portals and use teleportation to move between them to solve puzzles.
Tractor beams, lasers, light bridges, and paint-like gels are some of the new elements included in Portal 2, which change player movement and let portals be created on any surface. Players work together to solve problems as the robots Atlas and P-Body in the new cooperative mode.
The gameplay, tempo, dark humor, narrative, acting, and well-balanced learning curve of Portal 2 won praise from critics. Similar to its predecessor, several critics and media have rated it as one of the best video games ever created.
Don’t Starve Together
The survival game Don’t Starve was created by Klei Entertainment. On April 23, 2013, the game was first made available for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux. In the game, Wilson, a scientist, is thrust into the Constant, a shadowy, dark parallel universe, and his mission is to survive as long as possible.
Don’t Starve Together, a free multiplayer addition was revealed by Klei on May 7, 2014. On December 15, 2014, Don’t Starve Together was released through Steam’s Early Access program. Up to six people can play at once, in both public and private games. These players can be friends or complete strangers.
The majority of the single-player game’s features are present in the expansion, if not all of them are, however, balance changes have been made for multiplayer.
Left 4 Dead 2
The first-person shooter game Left 4 Dead 2 was created and released by Valve in 2009. Released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 in November 2009, Mac OS X in October 2010, and Linux in July 2013, it is the follow-up to Turtle Rock Studios’ 2008 game Left 4 Dead and the second installment in the Left 4 Dead series.
The cooperative gameplay in Left 4 Dead 2 is enhanced by Valve’s exclusive Source engine, which was also utilized in the first Left 4 Dead game.
The game is set in the aftermath of a catastrophic pandemic and centers on four new Survivors who must battle legions of zombies known as the Infected, who exhibit tremendous aggression and severe madness. With the intention of escaping at the end of each campaign, the Survivors must battle their way through five campaigns punctuated by safe homes that serve as checkpoints.
Borderlands (series)
Created and produced by Gearbox Software and published by 2K for several platforms, Borderlands is an action role-playing first-person looter shooter video game franchise set in a space Western science fantasy setting. There are four games in the series, and each one has several downloadable content packs.
The series’ humorous and loot-driven multiplayer co-op gameplay has won it both critical and commercial praise. Over 77 million copies of Borderlands games had been shipped as of November 2022, of which 26 million were from Borderlands 2.
Within five days following its release, an additional five million copies of Borderlands 3 were sold, bringing the series’ total net revenue to over $1 billion. It now ranks among the all-time best-selling video game franchises. Lionsgate is also developing a cinematic version of the series.
Call of Duty Zombies franchise
Activision launched the Call of Duty video game series and media franchise in 2003. Initially, Infinity Ward produced the games, followed by Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games. Several developers created a number of handheld and spin-off games. On November 10, 2023, the most recent game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, was made available.
Not just in the Call of Duty community, but in the gaming community at large, Call of Duty zombie mode has been a mainstay. While zombie mode isn’t present in every Call of Duty game, the ones that do are truly legendary.
The renowned zombie mode was first officially introduced in the fifth Call of Duty game, World at War. This is the original source of Nazi zombies. The zombies in World at War were really horrifying and not overly ridiculous.
The zombie mode may have become as well-known because of Black Ops. Most people still agree that the well-known Nacht der Untoten map is the most historically significant zombie map ever created. Although World at War served as an introduction to zombies, Black Ops seemed to be the pinnacle of the genre.
