10 Co-op Games That Will Ruin Friendships

Key Takeaways

Co-op gaming can strain friendships with intense games like Death Squared and Spelunky 2.
Patience is tested in Destiny 2 Raids and Payday 2 heists.
Moving Out and Chained Together test teamwork and communication under fun but frustrating circumstances.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that these three games are absolute gems for any group looking to test their mettle and patience.

Just as numerous pastimes are more enjoyable when shared with companions, the experience of gaming is frequently enriched by playing alongside friends. There’s simply no match for the camaraderie that comes from collaborating with your closest pals to achieve a mutual objective.

In an ideal scenario, that could be true, but in reality, emotions can escalate when things don’t go as planned, and I think we can all agree it wasn’t your fault. If you’re up for some games that might require a follow-up apology, here are a few to test the limits of your friendships.

10 Escape from Tarkov

“Our” Loot

10 Co-op Games That Will Ruin Friendships

Escape from Tarkov is most famed for its intense Player versus Player versus Environment (PvPvE) Extraction Shooter genre, boasting unique survival elements. Notably, it offers a fully cooperative playable PvE mode as well.

Echo Tarkov offers a great deal of enjoyment, but don’t let the fun fool you; it’s not a walk in the park. There’s a risk of friendly fire, and if your friends stray into your line of sight or you fail to identify them, they can be instantly eliminated.

In Tarkov, once you’re killed, there’s no coming back; you must wait in the lobby until your team successfully extracts. And here’s the twist: when you die, not only do you have to start over, but you also lose all the equipment and items you were carrying!

There’s an insurance system that can soften the blow, but dying hurts, and it stings so much more when your buddy pulls the trigger.

9 Death Squared

High-Stress Puzzle Solving

Death Squared is a brilliant but fiendish co-op puzzler where every player must bring their A-game.

Each Death Squared level is a complex labyrinth filled with moving components and hurdles. Solving many of these puzzles necessitates careful synchronization and precise timing, and it becomes apparent from the initial stage that Death Squared is not your average easygoing puzzle game.

There’s no set deadline, but navigating later stages may require some time for your team due to their intricacy. An extra burden in the group can make the game seem excessively challenging, and the levels can sometimes feel overwhelmingly complex.

I have a soft spot for Death Squared, as it offers a refreshing take on the co-op puzzle genre. I recommend it for any groups seeking a challenge, but if you hear disgruntled huffs and sighs, it may be time to play something else.

8 Sea of Thieves

A Pirates Life For Me

In the game “Sea of Thieves,” it’s truly memorable when you’re sailing with friends, but if other players don’t swipe your treasure, then greed and blunders often do.

I’ve had countless memorable times playing Sea of Thieves, ranging from incredible victories to frustrating defeats. Many of these setbacks can be attributed to our own mistakes, but thankfully, my crew is seasoned and easy-going. Playing with a less compatible group could turn those sessions into a nightmare.

As a swashbuckling sea adventurer, I’ve learned the hard way that treasures in Sea of Thieves aren’t truly mine until I’ve safely cashed them in. An unskilled helmsman could easily guide us off course and sink our ship, making those valuable Athena Kegs nothing more than a sunken fortune.

Regardless of how cautious you are, ruthless pirates might still attempt to seize your valuable loot, resulting in a tense atmosphere even amidst the beautiful landscapes.

In Sea of Thieves, you’ll find a lot of enjoyment if you’re not overly concerned with treasures, but the game might lead to some contentious disputes among players before you reach that stage.

In a laid-back atmosphere, Sea of Thieves stands out as one of the easiest games to dive into, offering a little something for every player.

7 Destiny 2

Even Your Ghost Hates You

In the realm of first-person shooters, Destiny 2 Raids and Dungeons offer some of the most imaginatively designed challenges. These areas can be a real test of one’s patience, as their difficulty often depends on the dynamics of your gaming group.

In the raids of Destiny 2, many mechanics demand multiple Guardians to execute diverse duties concurrently. These responsibilities can be quite intricate, ranging from keeping waves of adversaries at bay to deciphering challenging riddles.

In most cases, making a mistake during raid mechanics could lead to the team’s defeat. This can create a tense atmosphere, especially when you’ve spent several hours attempting the same task.

Raids can turn out to be quite nightmarish when played with random participants. However, it’s more enjoyable when playing with familiar faces. Unfortunately, it becomes tedious if the team is only focused on wrapping up quickly and retiring for the night.

6 Spelunky 2

Derek!!!!

In “Spelunky 2,” a challenging Roguelike game, even the slightest error could terminate your adventure, forcing you to restart from the very beginning in the Dwelling.

In Spelunky 2, you can play cooperatively with a friend, which comes with benefits such as being able to revive each other when one falls. However, it’s important to note that having another player introduces a significant amount of randomness into the game. This means that events can quickly escalate and become unpredictable, potentially leading to chaos.

In simpler terms, Friendly fire is a risk. A poorly aimed bomb or shotgun blast could accidentally harm your allies and potentially cost you the game in Spelunky 2. It seems as though you’re navigating through an intricate and unpredictable machine, much like a Rube Goldberg contraption, where one careless move can set off a series of unfortunate events that affect your companions.

It’s cruel, but Spelunky 2 has a reputation to keep, and we absolutely love it.

5 Payday 2

But We’re A Crime Family!

In essence, Payday 2 stands out as one of the top heist games available, offering substantial riches in return for effective cooperation among players.

Few experiences in gaming can match the fulfillment of a well-executed Payday heist mission. However, achieving the ideal robbery requires careful coordination since there are numerous components to consider. To illustrate, you have to decide whether to go for a loud or silent approach.

Should you aim for stealth, just one passerby noticing a member of your group could alert everyone, leading swiftly to a flurry of police presence in the vicinity.

You can lose a ton of progress for the entire team, even if you try your best. It sucks to be the player to force a restart, and tensions can run uncomfortably high.

4 Cuphead

A Brutal Masterpiece

Cuphead is a challenging 2-dimensional adventure game featuring Boss Battle gameplay and an aesthetically pleasing art design that resembles the animation styles from the 1920s and 1930s.

You die fast in Cuphead, so surely a helping hand would be a net positive, right? Well, sometimes.

In playing Cuphead together, there are benefits such as revival, but the potential drawbacks could be disastrous. When you team up in Cuphead, it effectively doubles the health of the bosses. If your partner falls early during a stage, it means twice the effort for both of you to advance.

Playing cooperatively in Cuphead can be a blast, however, mastering it might prove challenging as one needs to perform exceptionally well against some of the toughest adversaries over extended periods.

3 Overcooked

Food Fight!

Overcooked is a highly acclaimed cooperative cooking game, where it distinguishes the ordinary cooks from the expert chefs. It could also be described as a stern test of one’s patience.

In this bustling kitchen you and your companions are in charge of different workstations. Effective communication is crucial, as even with charming visuals, the gameplay can become quite intense.

The true test for any team lies in managing issues, for situations can escalate rapidly in the kitchen, where fires pose constant risks and burnt food is a common occurrence. Even a well-prepared dish could be spoiled with a single misstep, like accidentally pressing a button near a waste bin.

Silly mistakes can cost the game in Overcooked, and while it’s not a problem in a comfy group, that finger-pointing can start to add up.

I guess what they say is true: Kitchens ARE stressful workplaces!

2 Chained Together

You’ve Got To Stick Together!

In “Only Up,” a single player embarked on an indie adventure, scaling a colossal tower made of furniture stretching far into the heavens. On the other hand, “Chained Together” offers the same experience, but now it’s designed for multiple players to enjoy cooperatively.

In the game “Chained Together,” I found myself deeply connected with my fellow players. Navigating through the haphazardly scattered terrain might be awkward at times, but somehow, it became surprisingly hard to resist.

Additionally, there’s a significant focus on coordination and timing, which could potentially lead to frustration if your companions aren’t equally enthusiastic. A single misstep might set you back considerably, and it’s effortless to slide into a blame-shifting mentality.

1 Moving Out

It’s Not This Fun In Real Life

In “Moving Out,” you and your pals take on the exciting role of running a moving company, providing top-notch service to your friends!

In the game “Moving Out“, you’re often faced with two main tasks: Gathering all necessary furniture from a building and packing it into a delivery van. However, moving large, heavy items isn’t something that can be done easily by one person. Instead, it necessitates careful timing and teamwork among multiple players to ensure a smooth process.

Seriously, you can lose a mission if someone leaves a sofa obstructing a doorway, and while it’s usually hilarious, it can be irritating.

Regardless of how well your team manages the disposal, it should be carefully organized within the vehicle, as anything less could result in it not fitting properly.

In the game titled “Moving Out,” various mishaps can occur, and although I strongly feel this adds to the enjoyment, it can become aggravating when striving for high scores.

2024-10-28 22:09