In today’s world, there seems to be an oversupply of sequels. At times, I’ve felt so overexposed to them that I’ve referred to it as being tired of sequels. I often ponder if a sequel is truly essential for a story whose ending was conclusive and deeply impactful.
As a gamer, I’ve noticed a trend where popular video games often get follow-ups or sequels. This phenomenon, known as “sequel saturation,” isn’t exclusive to movies. It happens because crafting a successful game isn’t always straightforward, and when developers discover an Intellectual Property (IP) that resonates with players, they seize the opportunity to build on its success.
Regrettably, taking a chance is usually the norm. Many games, particularly cooperative ones, frequently disappoint with their follow-ups. However, amidst the numerous money-making attempts, there are some exceptions that truly shine.
If you’re searching for sequels that are well worth your playing time, particularly those designed for shared experiences with friends or significant others, I would strongly recommend taking a look at these top-notch cooperative sequels that not only maintain but even surpass their predecessors in quality.
In order to create this list, we initially verified if a game was genuinely cooperative to single out the top cooperative sequels for consideration. Additionally, we will feature games that originally weren’t part of a cooperative series, but have evolved to become cooperative-friendly in subsequent versions.
10.
Sons of the Forest
Deeper Story & Better Co-op
For enthusiasts like me who are drawn to survival and horror gameplay, Sons of the Forest and its predecessor, The Forest, appear tailor-made. These games offer an immersive experience where you’re plunged into a world with nothing but your wits, forcing you to gather resources, explore, and craft in order to survive.
You should also aim to complete that task swiftly as the island you’re on is inhabited by cannibalistic psychopaths and genetically altered monstrosities, which would certainly appeal to aficionados of body-horror. Fortunately, the game offers a multiplayer mode, allowing you to play with a companion to alleviate the intense fear or, at least, divide the anxiety between two.
In numerous aspects, Sons of the Forest surpasses its predecessor, The Forest. One significant enhancement that stands out is the inclusion of golf carts, which I find truly delightful. With these now available, my companion and I can effortlessly traverse the island without getting separated in the woods as we used to.
In addition to its predecessor, Sons of the Forest offers a more traditional narrative experience. While the original game did have a story, it was primarily conveyed through environmental clues. However, Sons of the Forest expands upon this by incorporating more cinematic sequences and a more concrete, grounded tale.
9.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Hunt And Fight With Friends
One fantastic example of a cooperative game series is Monster Hunter. In this game, you have the opportunity to craft your unique interpretation of Geralt, the character from The Witcher series. To put it another way, when I play these games, I often approach them in a manner similar to that.
Among the numerous sequels, Monster Hunter Rise stands out as a remarkable evolution from its predecessor, Monster Hunter Wilds. One of the exciting features that sets it apart is my ability to wield not just one but two distinct weapon types during my hunting expeditions.
This might appear as a minor change, but given it’s the first time Monster Hunter has implemented it, it’s quite significant. Previously, being limited to just one weapon type during hunts used to really bother me.
A significant enhancement worth mentioning is that Wilds introduced crossplay functionality. Although cooperative play is common in numerous games, Wilds is the pioneer that allows this crossplay feature. This means you can now enjoy the game with a friend who owns a distinct console or gaming platform compared to yours.
It’s never been a better time to jump into Monster Hunter with some friends.
8.
Dead Rising 2
Fun, Chaotic & Cheesy
Among the initial zombie video games I played was Dead Rising. Frankly, I wasn’t prepared for the vast array of ways I could dismember and demolish those gruesome undead creatures.
When Dead Rising 2 arrived, my anticipation level was sky-high, particularly since I’d be playing it with friends. Compared to its predecessor, Dead Rising 2 showcased several upgrades. For instance, the narrative became more substantial.
I soon formed a strong connection with my virtual child in the game, fully understanding that I would go to great lengths to ensure she got the medication required to prevent her from turning into a zombie.
Similarly to its predecessor, Dead Rising 2 delivered plenty of humor. This was especially evident through the game’s multiplayer mode, Terror Is Reality, where my friends and I frequently engaged in friendly competition, creating chaos by crafting bizarre weapons to obliterate hordes of zombies.
These days, kids are engaging in all sorts of mischief within Fortnite, albeit with a higher level of violence and reduced toxic behavior. Reminiscing about it brings back such warm memories, and I eagerly await a worthy successor to resurface in the Dead Rising series.
7.
Helldivers 2
Spread Democracy, Kick Ass
In contrast to its predecessor, Hell Divers 2 bears little resemblance; it has significantly transformed gameplay. The old top-down view has been replaced with a dynamic third-person action perspective, which offers a noticeably smoother and gorier experience.
It’s quite challenging to make a fair comparison between the two, given how drastically dissimilar they are. Helldivers 2 primarily revolves around you eliminating Terminids and Automatons in the name of democracy, but it might be best not to scrutinize every aspect, as your superior officer may not approve.
As a player, I get to team up with my buddies and embark on challenging missions that advance the campaign’s progress as we fight off the relentless bugs or machines. A skillful “Game Master” developer oversees the narrative unfolding.
The narrative unfolds depending on whether players succeed or fail during each campaign, making it captivating to observe the collaboration among them in action. While the developers might not excel in managing their product, it’s a game that’s definitely worth giving a try.
6.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Hardcore Parkour
The idea of incorporating parkour into a zombie game is nothing short of brilliant. It was an incredibly fun feature in Dying Light, and I recall performing some thrilling zombie takedowns due to my agility to climb buildings, traverse along streetlights, and toss grenades from above.
In the realm of Dying Light 2, parkour has become even more thrilling due to fresh innovations. The game offers novel equipment like a glider that expedites movement across the expansive map, making it all the more pleasurable. Moreover, it also unveiled diverse dungeon-like environments such as parking garages and hospitals, infusing variety into the experience, and introducing nerve-wracking scenarios typical of this series.
A problem I experienced was that some reward items weren’t consistently distributed or earned, leading to uneven advancement among players at times. This is the main factor that keeps Dying Light 2 from ranking higher on the list.
Nonetheless, the expansion of the game world, addition of novel adversary types, and enhanced parkour features make it a significant advancement over Dying Light.
Or:
Despite some differences, the enlarged game environment, innovative enemy varieties, and refined parkour functions mark a substantial upgrade from Dying Light.
Or:
In spite of changes, the extended world, new foes, and advanced parkour techniques represent a major improvement on Dying Light.
5.
Unravel Two
How Could You Knot Love It?
From the instant I first beheld this captivating game title, Unravel Two, I found myself smitten by its concept. It wasn’t merely the story of two thread-like characters chasing a mysterious flame through a succession of challenges. Instead, it delves deeper into the bonds that develop between individuals.
In essence, while Unravel was charming on its own, Unravel Two offers a more emotionally resonant narrative. This is particularly true as it tackles the challenging subject of children who are victims of parental abuse, set against intricate cooperative puzzles designed for you and your companion to solve together.
The focus on collaboration in the sequel significantly increased the intricacy of each puzzle, requiring my partner and I to carefully consider our solutions. Despite some sequences being quite stressful, overall, the game offered an enjoyable tranquility that made it a soothing pastime for us both.
In Unravel Two, several aspects from the original Unravel have been refined for improvement, and playing together adds an extra layer of intimacy and satisfaction to the experience.
4.
Left 4 Dead 2
Procedural Zombie Chaos
Zombie games often provide fantastic opportunities for cooperative play, and Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) is a prime example of this. It’s the follow-up to the original Left 4 Dead, introducing a fresh batch of survivor characters, an array of new types of undead enemies to combat, and a variety of novel gameplay modes.
In simpler terms, Left 4 Dead 2 keeps the original’s entertaining chaos and brutality, but it refines the artificial intelligence of enemies and the layout of levels. This results in a familiar experience, but one that’s been significantly improved and taken to even greater levels.
In addition to introducing various new adversary characters, Left 4 Dead 2 also debuted its AI Director 2.0 system. This is essentially a software that dynamically creates level layouts based on the player’s past actions. If you frequently rely on a specific strategy, the game might challenge you by spawning enemies where that strategy would be less effective.
This game constantly challenges you, requiring you to adjust strategies to stay alive, and no playthrough is ever identical to the last. These elements contribute to an endlessly engaging cooperative adventure of epic proportions.
3.
Portal 2
Starring ATLAS & P-Body
To this day, it’s hard to imagine a game that is more intricate, creatively engineered, or filled with memorable quotes than Portal. However, if pushed to choose one, I’d take the easy route and pick Portal 2.
In addition to a captivating, side-splitting solo adventure, this game also boasted a spectacular cooperative mode that required collaboration among players, essentially for the purpose of conducting experiments together.
This feature introduced an additional layer of complex layout creation that wouldn’t have been feasible without another test subject to assist, or a portal gun. Furthermore, once you fully explored the cooperative campaign, you also had the option to play around with a level editing tool.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but share my thoughts on Portal 2: while the single-player campaign is a tough one to call compared to its predecessor, it’s undeniably clear that in co-op mode, it leaves the original far behind. The overall experience feels more complete and balanced because of this.
2.
Borderlands 2
The Best Of The Trilogy To Date
In my home, Borderlands 2 was constantly being played when it came out. It could be me, one of my roommates, or even a group of us simultaneously, but there was always someone enjoying Borderlands 2.
The game offered an ideal combination of an engaging narrative, enjoyable battles, superb cooperative modes suitable for 1 to 4 friends, and sufficient unpredictability to ensure multiple playthroughs were rewarding.
One area where Borderlands could be improved was its narrative. Although it wasn’t poor by any means, it didn’t quite measure up to the storytelling of Borderlands 2. Handsome Jack is one of the most memorable antagonists in video game lore. He’s the kind of character you can’t help but despise, and the tale he headlines gives him the limelight that fits his larger-than-life persona.
Moreover, the game significantly enhances its aspects across the board, boasting improved shooting mechanics, a wider array of weapons, captivating side missions, and a bigger, more engaging environment for players to delve into. Notably, it also includes a greater number of amusing pop-culture allusions.
Despite Borderlands not quite recapturing its initial enchantment, fans eagerly anticipate if Borderlands 4 can once more embody that elusive spark. Undeniably, Borderlands 2 built on the foundation of the original game.
1.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
A Divine Sequel
Divinity: Original Sin 2 significantly enhanced its predecessor by eliminating the character known as ZixZax. Hearing his extended lectures on lore delivered in a grating voice was an unpleasant decision. As a result, Original Sin 2 earns bonus points for making this change.
Regarding the unique quirks I might have, Original Sin 2 significantly enhanced the role-playing game (CRPG) experience by offering exceptional visuals, tactically engaging combat that feels intuitive, and a user interface that is a pleasure to interact with instead of causing discomfort.
In the game, you have the flexibility to engage and tackle problems from various perspectives. Although Original Sin wasn’t strictly linear, Original Sin 2 offers even greater creative leeway in how you approach the game.
In a similar vein, given my backstory, I might strive for a diplomatic solution when faced with conflict between two groups, or choose to align myself with one side. Alternatively, if I wished to take a more forceful approach, I could potentially destroy both factions.
The narrative is even more engaging than Original Sin, primarily because it challenges you to turn against your comrades. This dynamic is what makes the cooperative experience so thrilling. You’re all en route to the final battle, fully aware that you might have to take down your closest ally, or else trust they’ll reject their deity, as you do yourself.
The highest praise I can give this sequel is that it makes the original game in the series outdated, which is exactly what a good sequel should do – not just repeat the same thing, but build upon and improve what came before.
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2025-06-02 15:41