Games offer up magic in lots of different guises, but working with a friend to achieve a goal is, arguably, where they really shine. This is what makes Co-Op games stand out from the rest of the genres.
In this article, Gurugamer is going to showcase the top 5 best co-op games to play on PC in 2023.
1. Deep Rock Galactic
In essence, Deep Rock Galactic is a mining game crossed with Left for Dead. You and (up to) 3 others get dropped into a dark cave to complete various types of missions, mine resources, defeat a boss, collect eggs, and repair stuff. Each player has a unique role, the gunner has a big gun and a zipline, the engineer can place platforms to help with resource collection and has 2 turrets to help with crowd control, the driller is able to drill through the environment and the scout has a reusable zipline and can light up the environment.
Along the way, you collect minerals and gold to fund upgrades to weapons and buy cosmetics. There are always resources to find and collect. It's an important point to note that just collecting the minerals feels satisfying and rewarding, they nailed this aspect of the game.
But the game really comes alive when it shifts to its other "phase", that is when a swarm of enemies attacks, and then you have to defend against a seemingly endless stream of enemies. In this regard, it's very like L4D, but there are more enemy types, each with its own weaknesses and you need to learn how to deal with all of them. The environments are procedurally generated, no two caves are the same but they follow general patterns, and the same applies to swarms. There are special enemy types, the first time you encounter a bulk detonator your first instinct is to run and it's well-founded but after a while, you learn how to deal with them yourself.
2. Monster Hunter World
There are basically no games that manage to pull off the hard sell of a "biological ecosystem" right - including games that revolve around animals and creatures. This game is, by far, the greatest exception to that rule. Each environment seems to be painstakingly created by hand in a way that feels natural while also blending in the iconic "zone combat" feel that every Monster Hunter game has. Each location also tells a story through its scenery, if you really absorb the surroundings.
There is an absolutely massive selection of weapons and armour in the game, with an absurd amount of "build potential". There are 14 unique weapon types, with different playstyles and strengths. Each weapon at least 35 different end-tree variations. You can design builds around creating explosions, builds around putting monsters to sleep, builds around the core elemental wheel, raw builds, builds that maximise specific combat aspects of your weapons.
3. It Takes Two
The task of describing the gameplay of It Takes Two is a difficult one. It is perhaps one of the most varied, dynamic, and energetic games I have come across. Featuring too many genres to name, it masters everything it includes. Every level is a rollercoaster and seamlessly transitions through each element. From a top down section similar to Magicka, a fighting short scene akin to Tekken, and gravity fuelled puzzles, reminiscent of Crash Bandicoot. Each area almost feels and looks like a brand new game, it was just that unique.
New weapons and abilities are constantly introduced throughout the game. These elements are only ever used temporarily, before being replaced with something else. Shoot down foes, reduce or enlarge your size at the click of a button, defy gravity with magnetic boots, slice enemies with a sickle and use a magnet to grip onto surfaces (or your partner). This is only a small selection of the differing aspects experienced throughout the game and the creative ideas do not stop here. Players also get to swing, fly, grapple and grind rails through the air with ease. Ride frogs, deep sea creatures, make friends and enemies, verse your partner in a variety of minigames and work together to solve puzzles.
I was aptly blown away with the amount of sheer creativity seen in each and every level. Whilst the title shares a lot of similarities with other renowned games, the differing concepts are seamlessly combined, providing for a fresh and engaging experience.
4. Don't Starve Together
Going back to the original Don't Starve where the game was meant to be antisocial and isolation had helped push the insane world deeper into the player's mind, we didn't expect, or at least I didn't, we'd be able to share our adventures with our friends. And how did that work? Well, it worked out brilliantly.
Don't Starve Together is entirely based on team cooperation and surviving through the hardest of obstacles to reach a level of satisfaction when you come back to your own base, where it feels like home, because of all the effort you have put in. You take down bosses with enormous hp pools for their loot, you explore the dark caves, you find secrets and you end up spending a ton of hours in the Don't Starve Wikia just so you can strategize your next approach in the game.
5. Overcooked 2
Overcooked 2 is an amazingly chaotic management game for up to 4 players, chop the ingredients and cook them as fast as possible for a nice tip, There are a ton of recipes and surprising kitchens.
The gameplay is extremely hectic, Raw ingredients need to be chopped, Cooked, Baked, Blended, Steamed. Grilled, and mostly they need multiple steps to prepare, Then you need to combine all the prepared ingredients on a plate and deliver it as fast as possible. There are more recipes than I can count, It starts easy, But things get complex pretty fast. Good teamwork is essential for getting all the stars.
>>> Read more: Top 4 Real-Time Strategy Games To Play On PC In 2022