Multiplayer is an innovation that has continued to enrich gaming for decades. It is the means by which we can play with or against friends and family, allowing everyone to play the same game together. While it is certainly the competitive element of multiplayer that is most fascinating to the general audience, the cooperative element also has the potential to be just as fun and challenging. The best cooperative games encourage strategy and trust or are simply dedicated to pure enjoyment for all players. This list counts down ten games whose cooperative aspects are some of the best in gaming.
10. “Rock Band” (2007)
This famed musical game fulfilled the dreams of those wanting to be in a band (well, at least to a certain extent). Whether you play as a drummer, singer, guitarist, or bassist, everyone has an important role in making sure the band can perform well; in that respect, “Rock Band” emulates the band experience quite accurately. Use of abilities, “saving” teammates who have made too many mistakes, and making sure to hit all the right notes are all objectives that must be given equal attention in order to achieve any semblance of success. Aside from all of the technicalities of the game, though, it’s just plain fun to sing and play along to some of the best rock songs of all time, classic and modern. Don’t expect to slap together with a record label anytime soon by playing this game, but do expect to have a good time with some fellow “rock stars.”
9. “Minecraft” (2011)
“Minecraft” is a game with near limitless possibilities; thus, it would make sense that cooperative gameplay options would be boundless. Mining in the depths of a lava-filled cave, battling mobs of monsters, and building a castle are just three of many things players can do in the game. Thanks to the versatile crafting system, the numerous resources and tools available, and the non-linear structure, it’s possible to do most anything one can think of. Things are made even better thanks to the presence of downloadable mods that can alter the game world on an aesthetic and/or gameplay level. If you’ve got a few friends and a taste for free-spirited and imaginative gameplay, “Minecraft” is right up your alley.
8. “Destiny” (2014)
You can say what you will about the lack of content in “Destiny,” but it’s hard to criticize the game’s cooperative multiplayer. Activities such as the arena-like Prison of Elders or the many three-man Strike missions send waves of tough enemies at players that must be overcome not only through the use of powerful weapons and gear, but also by protecting your teammates and prioritizing threats and objectives. By far the most intense and exhilarating co-op experiences are found in the game’s raids: long, six-player missions with challenging terrain, a helping of the game’s most ruthless bosses, and valuable, rewarding loot. The raids feel and look epic in nature, immersing players in a near-cinematic adventure. All of these features, especially the raids, make “Destiny” a sci-fi opus that is ever so enjoyable with company.
7. “Resident Evil 5” (2009)
2009’s “Resident Evil 5” pushed the “Resident Evil” series into an action-focused direction, while also making sure to maintain the tense atmosphere and scenarios that “Resident Evil” is known for. The game made another new addition to the franchise as well: a story mode with 2-player co-op. To eliminate the mutated monstrosities that serve as the game’s enemies, players must manage individual inventories, share ammo and healing items, and also solve puzzles that require coordination and team effort. Good synergy also becomes important for many of the game’s bosses, who require more than just a bullet in the face to dispatch. Couple that with the fact that both players receive a game over if either of them die, and you have a recipe for an adrenaline-fueled co-op experience.
6. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Arcade Game) (1989)
Konami’s arcade classic based on the heroes in a half-shell featured one of the very first four-player co-op experiences in gaming. The arcade “Turtles” is a showcase for the best aspects of the “beat-em-up” genre: a collection of varied enemies, frantic action, and plenty of arcade-style insanity. Though punching out legions of Foot Ninjas sounds like something that would get repetitive over time, it’s a concept that is actually rather cathartic, fun, and more than suitable for a co-op game. Fans of “Turtles” lore have extra reason to love the game thanks to its attention to detail and use of famous “Turtles” baddies like Shredder and General Tragg. Though unfortunately the only cost-friendly way to get your hands on the title is to download an emulated version, it is certainly worth the effort to do so.
5. “Gears of War 2” (2008)
The sequel to the critically-acclaimed “Gears of War” brought to the table an explosive multiplayer experience that surpassed that of the first game. The two-player campaign of “Gears of War 2” plunges gamers into a gripping and cinematic story where teamwork and thoughtful strategy is the key to survival. “Gears 2” also added a new multiplayer mode called Horde, where up to five players team up to survive fifty waves of increasingly difficult and relentless enemies. The latter co-op aspect has become so popular and interesting that it has inspired other games to include similar activities, such as the “Halo” franchise’s Firefight mode, and Horde has been included in all of the “Gears of War” games to date. Thanks to its new gameplay mechanics and features, “Gears of War 2” stands as a co-op marvel that immerses and engages gamers in its world and every one of its brutal battles.
4. “Left 4 Dead” (2008)
Famous developer Valve created a unique action-horror game with “Left 4 Dead,” implementing ingenious and remarkable gameplay that is more than suitable for co-op play. Supporting up to four players, the game gives you a simple task: blast your way through the army of undead before you to get to the end of the level. It is a mission that’s easier said than done; enemies are plentiful and never let up until the end, ammunition and firearms are precious (especially on harder difficulties), and aiding teammates is just as important as shooting zombies. The latter aspect forms the core of the game, as healing and giving cover fire are of utmost importance when things get rough. Action-packed and wildly original, “Left 4 Dead” is a zombie hunt that can’t be passed up.
3. “Portal 2” (2011)
In the single-player story for “Portal 2,” players’ logic and problem-solving skills are put to the ultimate test. In the game’s highly-praised cooperative story mode, these skills aren’t the only things that are required. The puzzles and platforming exclusive to co-op demands that you and your companion have a good sense of coordination and timing, making for some difficult but rewarding gameplay. “Portal 2” encourages both players to establish specific responsibilities and work out solutions together with its inspired, physics-based game mechanics and design. It is a wonderful twist on the single-player “Portal” experience that is enjoyable in its own right and could have very well been its own game.
2. “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” (2009)
Many avid gamers may have dreamt of a 2D side-scrolling “Super Mario Bros.” game that supported two-player simultaneous play. While technically the franchise has had two-player gameplay in titles such as “Super Mario World,” said gameplay really just amounted to switching off the controller to a second player every now and again. When “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” was announced, however, gamers were thrilled to find that for the first time ever, four players could run, jump, and stomp baddies on the same screen at the same time. This new feature and the game’s focus on classic platforming goodness solidifies “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” as a dream come true; a reasonably challenging, fun, and engaging multiplayer game with plenty of effort and thought. So well-received was this addition to the “Super Mario Bros.” series that it even inspired current games such as “Rayman Origins” or “Super Mario 3D World” to also implement multiplayer co-op.
1. “Contra” (1987)
The premise of this arcade and Nintendo Entertainment System classic was simple: you and a buddy control two soldiers that must obliterate alien invaders. What made “Contra” less than simple, however, was its harsh difficulty (players lost a life just by getting hit once) and its addictive and original side-scrolling gunplay. On a co-op front, it served as the ultimate test of friendship and teamwork, demanding fast reflexes and punishing carelessness. “Contra” also was a boon for multiplayer gameplay, which was not very common at the time of the game’s popularity and release. Spawning many sequels and inspiring countless future titles, “Contra” is an edge-of-your-seat adventure for all lovers of co-op.
