At their finest, video games are communal experiences, and 2023 saw a plethora of fantastic titles with an emphasis on cooperative play. Even though this year has seen its fair share of competitive multiplayer titles like Street Fighter 6, Counter-Strike 2, and Mortal Kombat 1, many of the most unforgettable moments occurred in games that promoted collaboration and teamwork.
While some promoted bloody tag-team fighting as you delved into strange planets and the depths of hell, the finest cooperative games also promoted lighthearted exploration and personal agency. We can tell which games were the best cooperative ones because of all the data gathered by our sister site, Metacritic.
The following list shows a remarkably diverse assortment of genres and well-known gaming franchises, compiled from a multitude of review outlets worldwide that were occupied with online pleasure. Check out GameSpot’s lists of the top 10 games of 2023 and the greatest exclusives for PS4, PC, Switch, and Xbox if you want to take a deeper look at even more of the year’s highlights.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Even while Baldur’s Gate 3-GameSpot’s Game of the Year–is great on its own, any lover of tabletop RPGs knows that the really fun begins when you gather a group of friends. The chance to go on a grand adventure awaits you, where you and your companions can forge new legends as you traverse the Forgotten Realms.
Alternately, you may do nothing except cause mayhem and enjoy the mayhem you’ve wrought. Whatever you decide, if you have a spare sofa cushion and some buddies who are game to roll the dice, Baldur’s Gate 3 will make for an unforgettable evening of entertainment.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
In classic 2D Mario Bros. games, there’s an exciting and distinctive sense of cooperation, and in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the sensation of speedrunning through levels feels much greater than before.
In Super Mario Bros. Wonder, going online is a breeze, and it brings joy as the team prepares to bounce off of Bowser’s minions on their tour of the Flower Kingdom. The game also features some sensible modern modifications.
Diablo 4
Diablo 4 is all about synergy, because it’s a blast to banish demonic evil from the earth in both solo and co-op modes. Playing Diablo 4 with a balanced squad is like taking a bloody tour of Sanctuary while slicing through the forces of hell. In sofa co-op, though? The well-designed inventory management and user interface really make Diablo 4 stand out, adding to the already thrilling gameplay.
Quake 2: Enhanced Edition
Remastered by Nightdive, Quake 2 is a great throwback to the days of unbridled speed and blocky carnage, and it’s also fun to enjoy with others.
This beautifully rendered homage to classic first-person shooters has all the classic appeal—four players on separate screens, hordes of Strogg to slaughter—and more. Gather your pals around, drink some Mountain Dew, and get ready for a throwback in this revived classic. You’ll need extra controllers.
Vampire Survivors
Transforming your hero into a blazing inferno of axes, lasers, and fireballs is the pinnacle of Vampire Survivors fun. Couch co-op is a great way to double (or even quadruple!) the fun. Vampire Survivors, one of the top games of last year, has been getting more content on a regular basis, and the local multiplayer mode adds a fun twist to the game’s usual single-player gameplay.
Ingeniously reworking the gameplay to prioritize cooperation, it remains an enjoyable display of forcefields fuelled by garlic and powerful freezing abilities versus the legions of the damned.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
Fans of crystals, Magitech Knights, and Buster swords will love Theatrhythm Final Bar Line if they want to go from performing solo to performing with a partner. In unexpectedly tough modes like Pair Play, where you may compete head-to-head with other players, there are hundreds of tunes to pick from and a rhythm to master.
Mastering a song’s rhythm is difficult enough without having to contend with other players who use their musical prowess to inflict debuffs on you. Indulge in the online realm of this farewell tour for Theatrhythm for a delightful dose of pure symphonic chaos.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – Dimension Shellshock
While the addition of a Survival mode and an expanded soundtrack make Dimension Shellshock an even better arcade-influenced beat-’em-up, the true draw is the return of Usagi Yojimbo and Karai in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.
Playing as one of the many playable characters in online or couch co-op becomes an exciting experience, as each one brings their own unique set of samurai and ninja techniques to use against the Foot clan.
Wargroove 2
Collaborating with a fellow battlefield commander to bring a plan to fruition in Wargroove 2 is an experience that will never grow old. In this fantasy turn-based tactics game influenced by Advance Wars, winning feels like a well-deserved accomplishment when your strategy is in harmony, your plots work, and the tide of battle turns in your favor.
Remnant 2
Remnant 2 presents formidable challenges, yet you won’t face a brutal end in solitude. With a few allies, you can take on nightmare bosses and emerge unscathed in Remnant 2, an immensely enhanced sequel where firepower must be tempered with sound strategies.
Cassette Beasts
While it’s clear that Pokemon was an influence, Cassette Beasts stands out from the pocket monster series because to its unique intellectual property and several clever ideas. While the game is now only playable in local areas, it will soon support online multiplayer. The cooperative mode lets you bring a friend along so you can both explore the globe and fight together.
F1 23
This year’s Formula One race car is as meticulously designed as the sport it mimics. The game’s co-op campaign, which made an appearance in F1 22 and returns in F1 23, is where things become interesting because it lets two players act as comrades on the same squad.
Now, what’s the rub? Even while you’ll want to work together to win the F1 championship, there’s a certain sinister pleasure in witnessing a fresh rivalry emerge on the track as the season comes to a close.
In the event that you and a friend would like to begin your high-speed feud without enduring any drawn-out cloak-and-dagger operations, there is also an offline split-screen multiplayer option for two players.
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