Top 100: Best Co-Op Games in 2024

Path Of Exile is often considered one of the best Diablo clones for good reason. The game has so many activities, mechanics, and locations that a newcomer might even feel overwhelmed — but once you settle into Grinding Gear Games' creation and read a couple of guides on build crafting, the «Diabloid» reveals its potential.

Sure, Path Of Exile can be criticized for its simplistic main storyline, but in reality, it merely replaces the tutorial: the game's strongest aspects are hidden in the endgame. It's quite impressive that the project is free-to-play and can be comfortably enjoyed without spending a dime.

Many fans took a dislike to Dead Space 3, and it's understandable: the familiar horror of the first installments was completely absent in the sequel, replaced by cooperative shooting. However, even though the series changed, playing it in co-op is still fun.

Cooperative play adds new cut-scenes, puzzles, and additional dialogues to the experience. Plus, dismembering enemies together can be quite spectacular. It's a pity that the series met its demise after the release, and Electronic Arts shut down the developers.

Rayman Legends is a true gem among platformers, combining a vast array of levels, varied biomes, amusing boss fights, and absolutely stunning musical levels. It's hard to name another platformer that can compete with Michel Ancel's creation in terms of size and diversity.

If you're looking for a game to play with a child, Rayman Legends is the perfect choice. But be prepared that while the initial levels might be easy, the final part will require considerable skill.

LEGO City Undercover is another project that can captivate both adults and children. The game's hero, a brave police officer, must go undercover, uncover a criminal conspiracy, and stop the nefarious villains — all in an open world and with the brand's signature humor.

Thanks to the Lego games, you can step into the shoes of Batman, the Avengers, or Ninjago, but it's Undercover that stands as one of the main hits of the popular brand.

As the sweltering heat soon hits the streets, the world of Lost Planet 3 remains eternally frozen, causing the flesh and bones of lost wanderers to chill to the core. And it's not just the abnormal cold that can kill the heroes, but also the deadly fauna. If you venture onto the planet E.D.N. III, put on a warm coat, grab a powerful gun, and give the enemies a fight.

Lost Planet 3 captivates not only with dynamic battles and atmosphere but also with an intriguing story. Chronologically, the third part is a prequel, and it's not necessary to have played the original games.

Here's the third game by Josef Fares in our selection — and it's the one with which the creator made his debut in the industry. Although Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was his first foray, the game doesn't lack depth or quality gameplay. In this puzzle-platformer, two brothers embark on a distant journey to fetch water from the Tree of Life, which will cure their father's illness. The adventure will provide many interesting and dramatic moments, and the finale will surely bring a tear to everyone's eye.

Perhaps Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is in many ways inferior to Fares's future projects, but it is still good enough to warrant attention.

Project Zomboid is a hardcore survival game where the protagonist finds themselves in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. In such conditions, it's not easy to avoid being eaten, and the character also has other needs to consider. They need to eat, drink, sleep, and occasionally have some fun — if you neglect any of these, trouble awaits.

The mechanics are hardcore and unforgiving. To open a can of food, you need a special can opener. Food spoils quickly if not stored in a refrigerator. If you plan to rest, don't forget to craft curtains and cover the windows; otherwise, zombies will notice the poor soul and devour them. There are plenty of such details.

Moreover, the difficulty level increases as you progress. While houses initially have electricity and running water, over time, these comforts of civilization will disappear. So, prepare to craft generators and haul water from the river. However long gamers manage to survive, the end is always the same. The developers warn from the start that Project Zomboid is «a story of your death».

The game is complex, but once you get the hang of the mechanics, you'll be hooked for a long time.

PayDay 2 tells the story of four criminals planning to pull off a series of heists. No matter how impregnable the bank may seem, our heroes will find a way to reach the vault. The goal can be achieved either by a well-planned and stealthy approach or by simply storming into the branch with guns blazing and shooting everything that moves.

PayDay 2 was released back in 2013 and has not let gamers get bored for a moment since. Since its release, the game has received over seventy updates: one of them even replaced the robbers' usual weapons with swords and crossbows — there's no shortage of such madness in the project.

There's more and more news about Diablo 4, and Diablo 2: Resurrected is on the way — but there is no exact release date for either game yet. It seems that for now, gamers only have the option to once again pass the time with the legendary third installment. However, few will tire of playing it in co-op.

A thorough exploration of the world of Diablo 3 will take about 160 hours, and the most dedicated fans have been practically living in the third installment for eight years now. By the time you've played your fill, the sequel might just be ready.

Torchlight 2 stands out from Diablo 3 and Path of Exile with its friendly, vibrant world. However, its mechanics and combat system are just as well-developed as those of its competitors. In the game, players choose one of four classes and embark on an adventure through locations filled with dangers and treasures.

The series also has a sequel, but Torchlight 3 is not often mentioned in polite company. It's the second installment that remains the most highly rated part of the series and is worth checking out for all hack and slash enthusiasts.

The series embarked on the path of cooperative shooters with its fifth installment, but it was Resident Evil 6 that truly reached the pinnacle of excitement. Despite the constant presence of a combat companion nearby, the game still managed to instill fear with its eerie atmosphere, though more often than not, gamers had to engage in relentless shooting. The sixth installment can only be described as insane, but it's definitely a blast to play through.

It's worth noting that Resident Evil 6 achieves variety, in part, through the regular change of characters, of which there are seven: each with their own talents and weaknesses. Judging by sales, many gamers enjoyed this experience — perhaps you will too.

Terraria recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Over the years, it has become a true phenomenon, selling 35 million copies and ranking among the top ten most popular games in history. No wonder: Terraria is one of the most detailed and captivating sandbox games in the history of game development.

Terraria sends players into a vast world that the developers themselves call a canvas. Only the players' imagination and perseverance can transform the sparse lands into thriving domains with castles, inhabitants, and untold riches.

Portal 2 is another game of respectable age that hasn't been spoiled by the years: the graphics still look good today, the story campaign is still intriguing, and the cooperative mode has made the project an eternal classic.

The strongest aspect of Portal 2 is its puzzles. Experimenting with the portal system to figure out the next enigma is interesting. If for some reason you missed the game in 2011, be sure to check it out today — Valve's brainchild is worth it.

Kane & Lynch: Dog Days tells the story of two criminals, each with their own psychological issues: Lynch is a natural madman, while Kane is a disillusioned life-weary mercenary. This duo will challenge the criminal underworld of Shanghai and create real chaos on the city streets.

Of course, the game's protagonists are real scoundrels, but over time you get to understand and empathize with their characters. It's worth noting that the game was developed by IO Interactive, the studio that previously brought the world the Hitman series.

Left 4 Dead 2 was released in 2009, but its mechanics have not aged at all over the years. Eight players are split into two teams: one quartet must make their way through hordes of zombies to reach a safe haven, while the other takes control of particularly dangerous zombies and tries to finish off the unfortunate survivors. No matter which side you play for, only a united team effort will lead to victory — that's why Left 4 Dead 2 is still called one of the best cooperative games to this day.

It's a pity that Valve seems to have an issue with the number «three»: how else to explain the non-existent releases of Half-Life 3, Portal 3, and Left 4 Dead 3. Fortunately, the original zombie shooter team hasn't forgotten the genre and is working on the spiritual successor, Back 4 Blood.

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Co-op games come in all shapes and sizes, and surely many of them didn't make it onto this list. If you remember any projects that should be added to this compilation, be sure to mention them in the comments!