Best Co-Op Games to Ruin Friendships

Summary

Co-op games can test friendships, turning allies into enemies in frustrating but hilarious ways.
Games like Fall Guys and Overcooked 2 create chaos and stress with teamwork challenges.
Pico Park 2 and Chained Together require precise teamwork, risking friendships for intense, challenging gameplay.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve found that multiplayer cooperative games offer a unique blend of camaraderie and chaos. They can foster wholesome teamwork one moment, then plunge us into laughter-filled conflict the next. Sometimes, these games can test our friendships to the limit, but they also provide an unforgettable way to spend an entertaining, noisy evening with friends. The joy and frustration they bring are part of what makes them so special!

Occasionally, collaborating can feel more pressure than competing. If your cherished one is on a rival squad, there’s an option to attack them in the game and seek retribution, but in cooperative games, the only way to express anger might be shouting at your teammates. These cooperative games often transform the irritation of working together into pure humor.

6. Fall Guys

Best Beans in Gaming

Players: Up to 4 in a coop team
Stress Level 3/5

Fall Guys saw a significant surge in popularity during the pandemic and has remained a somewhat lesser-known, yet culturally impactful title within the battle royale genre. These characters perform daring stunts on challenging obstacle courses that would leave an ordinary person dizzy.

For a really tough time, consider playing the soccer level or other team-based levels chosen at random with someone who’s easily distracted or struggles with cooperative play – it’s a loved one, perhaps. Patience won’t be needed, and accusations might fly! It’s quite intense for a lighthearted game about cartoon beans.

5. A Way Out

Doomed Bromance

Players: 2
Stress Level: 2/5

As a fervent gaming enthusiast, I’ve found myself immersed in an extraordinary experience with “A Way Out.” Initially, it presents a unique take on cooperative gameplay that subtly unravels as the narrative unfolds. My characters, Vince and Leo, are thrust into a daring prison break, high-stakes chase scenarios, and brutal confrontations.

As a gamer, I’ve come to realize that teamwork is crucial when playing A Way Out. This game from Hazelight Studios might not have reached the pinnacle of co-op experiences like It Takes Two, but it certainly lays down the foundations. Despite some minor glitches that haven’t been fully ironed out yet, the essence of cooperative gaming is beautifully encapsulated in A Way Out.

4. Pico Park 2

Precision Team Work

Stress Level: 4/5

If you’re a fan of intriguing 2D puzzle platformers, then the Pico Park series might be right up your alley! Offering a straightforward yet intelligent approach to puzzle platforming, it demands flexibility and collaboration from players. However, as with other games on this list, intense teamwork can potentially strain even the strongest friendships.

In Pico Park 2, appearances can be deceiving. Despite its adorable visual style, the game demands a high degree of collaboration and accuracy that’s rare among other titles. The seemingly innocent exterior conceals a difficulty level that’s surprisingly tough. Each stage introduces new rules, and figuring out the objectives and failure conditions is part of the challenge. Since success usually requires everyone to reach the end, an uncooperative teammate can spoil the entire experience for everyone else.

3. Heave Ho

Grab My Hand

Players: 1-4
Stress Level: 3/5

In simpler terms, “Heave Ho” is an unpredictable multiplayer game where players aim to reach a flag. The controls are designed to be confusing, as you can only control the characters’ long, wobbly arms. It’s not a speed competition; everyone needs to reach the flag for anyone to win. This often results in lots of angry shouts and claims of cheating or sabotage.

The art aesthetic has a delightfully rough, chunky feel, featuring oversized geometric structures for the stages and challenges. As the game progresses, the stage layouts grow intricate, incorporating items to move and hazards like deadly spikes that pose a threat to the small, tuber-like characters.

2. Overcooked 2

The Rice Is Burning!

Stress Level: 5/5

As a devoted fan, I can attest that Overcooked 2 continues the legacy of its predecessor by being a cooperative game that pushes friendships to their ultimate test. Just like working in the hospitality industry is notoriously high-stress, this game takes it up a notch with kitchens that shift and roads running right through them, turning even the most mundane tasks into chaos!

Playing this game might be the most enjoyable time you spend arguing with your loved ones over sushi choices. As these adorable miniature chefs navigate through treacherous kitchens, the intense pressure of a timed service creates a surprisingly entertaining, though incredibly tense, cooperative gaming experience.

1. Chained Together

Handle Your Business

Players: Up to 4
Stress Level: 5/5

The list was inspired by the game titled “Chained Together”. This game stands out as the epitome of those that push friendships to the brink, only stopping when the game is turned off. In this game, players embark on a daunting vertical obstacle course, reminiscent of something Bennet Foddy might imagine. What sets it apart is that the players are tethered together, requiring them to trust each other’s skills and communicate effectively to navigate some of the most difficult platforming encountered in cooperative games.

In this challenging game, even minor mistakes can set players back significantly, erasing their advancements earned along the way. As they climb higher levels, fresh hurdles appear in the form of complex platforming maneuvers. At times, figuring out how to progress might mean taking a risk and potentially falling back to the start. Yet, these frustrating moments are what make the game so satisfying, as players feel a sense of regret and nostalgia when they plummet, realizing their past decisions.

2025-02-26 12:34