Games are a great way to spend time with our loved ones. Especially if they are a fellow gamer like yourself. You are a gamer I’m assuming if you’re reading this? If not, maybe you will be giving video games a shot after reading about these 10 great co-op games.
The Comfy Ones
Let’s start with the “comfy” games. Games that you can settle down with, without the worry of becoming super stressed out. Scores aren’t important or are simply non-existent. These are the games designed to give you a calm retreat (for the most part) from the real world. Escapism anyone?
Stardew Valley
By now, many have heard of the quaint little farming and life simulator, Stardew Valley, created by ConcernedApe aka Eric Barone. It’s a 32-bit pixel game, where you inherit your grandfather’s dilapidated farm.
Your job: Farm, forge relationships, and rebuild the community center. IF you don’t go the Joja route.
Why We Love It
- It’s a great co-op that allows you to farm at your leisure even as time passes quickly. Unlike games like Animal Crossing that keep time with your current time-zone, Stardew’s days only last a little over 12 minutes in real time.
- Players do not have to stay together on a single screen to play together, but can be on opposite sides of the map. Now, in order to progress to the next day, both players must be in their respective beds.
- There are some great characters to get to know in the many NPC’s that populate the valley, several of which are eligible bachelors and bachelorettes that you can marry. Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter! Best part? You can even marry your co-op partner in the game if you want!
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
I believe even non-gamers have heard of this one, and for good reason. Animal Crossing has been around since 2001. That’s over twenty years ago… God I’m old. And through a few generations of consoles, it is still going strong.
Why We Love It
- It’s bright, colorful and your main job is to collect things. It’s difficult to find something more comfy. Turn your deserted island into a hopping little town, and it’s even better with friends. Be they other NPC villagers, friends or your significant other. Join forces with other players and help each other’s islands by sending fruits, catching fish, and catching bugs.
- What’s great is that it can be played independently as well! So even if you’re not “playing together” you can still be doodling around on your own island. It’s a great game to play with a fun movie or showing running in the background.
Pokemon
Everyone. Everyone knows Pokemon. Even if you’ve never ever played, watched, or collected anything Pokemon related. However, if you are a fan, you know they are some of the best co-op games out there. Their strategy is really wickedly genius.
Let’s create two games (but really it’s one) but we are going to change the name/gender/identity of the main antagonist(s). And each version will have a few “exclusive” Pokemon so you have to play with someone who has the yin to your yang to catch’em all!
Why We Love It
- It doesn’t get more collect based than this one, and who doesn’t love traveling around trying to find them all. Catch them if they don’t run!
- There is a slew of games to choose from in the franchise now that we are at the 9th generation of Pokemon. And it’s even more fun to play with friends where you get to compare notes, see which Pokemon each other are using in battles, and of course, Trade!
- As these games are geared toward kids, the stories are calm and straightforward. So unless you’re competitively battling other players across the world, the game is an easy one to chill out with on the couch or in bed.
Minecraft
Who said you had to have realistic graphics to have a good game? Minecraft offers nearly unlimited exploration, collecting, farming and building. The only downside is how addicting this “simple” game can become. Get a group together on a server, and be prepared to lose yourself for most of the day.
Keep the snacks close at hand.
Why We Love It
- Such an open game allows for unlimited possibilities. Build forts and castles together, or go rogue and travel to the farthest you may dare and build a cottage. Build the pyramids or live dangerously and live the life of a nomad. If you can dream it, you can build it…within block-reason of course.
- Explore, dig (but never straight down) for iron, gold, and diamonds. Learn to enchant weapons and armor and more.
- This game continues to release updates that change the biomes and introduce new creatures and with every update you will find yourself diving back into this game.
The More Intense
These games are great cooperative games that either have you team up or pit you against one another. While super fun and exhilarating, you may find your blood pressure rising from the demanding games and having to work as a team with friends.
Monster Hunter
This game has a special place in my heart. Specifically Monster Hunter World and its major DLC, Iceborne. It’s the game my then friend, and now husband, first really played together as a team. Hunt amazing monsters and work yourself up the food-chain by crafting new armor and weapons.
Why We Love It
- This is a great game to test that teamwork. Coordinate with your partners (up to 4 in most MH games) to hunt monsters. Utilize your skills, and outsmart the beasts.
- The monsters are fearsome, and it’s a game that actually will challenge you. Especially if you don’t prepare accordingly.
- Like Pokemon, there are many many games in the franchise to choose from if you go the Monster Hunter route. There’s not a bad one among them.
Destiny & FPS’s
Another game that has a special place in my gaming history is Destiny. I have been playing since its initial release in 2014. And many hundreds of hours have been played alongside my best friend, where we have a blast shooting up the enemies, collecting cool armor, mods and meeting Xur on the weekends for a little Exotic weapon shopping.
Most of what I say right below, I’m referring to my experience with Destiny, but I know the same can be said for most FPS (first person shooter) games.
Why We Love It
- Again, as with most co-op, FPS’s are great games to see how well you work with a team. On Missions, Raids, or Strikes. It’s the best feeling to work with a team, and it’s the ultimate feeling of satisfaction to be so in sync that you rarely even need to talk to take down the enemy.
- If you’re a fan of scores, then that score re-cap at the end of matches is going to only fuel the fire for round two…or six.
- Collectibles. Maybe it’s just me, maybe I’m a dragon who likes to hoard things, but collecting weapons and armor in these types of games is ridiculously addictive.
Conan Exiles
If you love Minecraft, but want a little more challenge, and bloodshed Conan Exiles is for you. Collect, build, fight and explore in a ruthless world where pretty much everything wants a piece of you.
Why We Love It
- You get to create your own character, which is something I personally enjoy. Not that I don’t like games (like Horizon Zero Dawn) where you have a preset character. I just enjoy creating my own character to play in a new world.
- This game allows you to change the challenge rating, so you can play easy if you’d like, or you can challenge yourself.
- Working with others, build your fortresses, slay raiders and monsters, and survive the Purge (not the movies).
- You can have pets that follow you and that can do your bidding. What’s not to love.
Diablo III
Want a hack-n-slash that you can eventually run through dungeons on high speed? Plow through dungeons with friends as you slay the fiends of Hell all the while collecting items and rare drops. Equip the best sets of armor and weapons and become like gods of the realm in Diablo III.
Why We Love It
- Excellent controls lead to amazing gameplay. Wether on the PC or console, this game is easy to navigate.
- There are a limited number of classes, but they’re very customizable. So you still feel like you’ve created your own character.
- This is another game that implements seasons, and every one is a new rush of excitement.
Overcooked 2
Now, this one may look out of place. I mean, look how cute these little avatars are in Overcooked 2?! But this game, though a lot of fun, is one of the most stressful. Cook with your friends at your side and work together to deliver dishes, cooked correctly and in the right order. The fate of the world depends on it!
Why We Love It
- Fast paced challenges make this game easy to manage if your time is limited.
- Lots of avatars to choose from to represent your inner-chef.
- This game is all about teamwork. Learn how well, or how poorly, you work with your friends. And as Chef Ramsay says, “Communicate!”
- Many stages, many types of foods, equals many hours of fun…I hope!
Phasmaphobia
If you’re the superstitious type, you may want to avoid this one. However, if you enjoy hunting, and hunting ghosts, Phasmaphobia is your game. You can go solo if you want, but I’d suggest joining up with friends on your PC in this paranormal horror game.
In this indie game you are a ghost hunter. With friends (preferably), enter houses that have had alleged paranormal activity and determine not only where the ghost is, but exactly what type of ghost it is.
Oh, one last thing…
Don’t die.
Why We Love It
- Well, for one it’s ghost hunting…and it’s a ghost hunting game done well.
- Earn money from successful hunts, buy better equipment, and quickly determine which of the 24 featured ghosts you’re hunting.
- 12 maps may not seem like a lot, but each map has varying amounts of rooms that a ghost can be in, and with those 24 different types of ghosts, the combinations feel absolutely endless.
- With varying difficulty levels, you get to cater the experience to what you’re most comfortable.
In Closing
This, is but my list of some of my favorite co-op games. Most I’ve played on either PlayStation or on PC, but either way they’ve been loads of fun to play, especially with my friends and husband. I know games still have a negative stigma associated with them from some, but personally I think they are some amazingly great ways to spend time with those you love.
Work together, form bonds, develops strategies as a team, and accomplish things as a unit. But most importantly, with co-op games such as these, have fun!
Until Next Time,
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