Any gamer will know that the greatest loss when playing a solo campaign is that no one is there to witness your most epic moments. Whether it’s a head shot from 50 yards away, flipping your car 360 degrees, or even a funny glitch that you may never experience again, it’s frustrating when nobody is there to freak out with you when something amazing occurs.
Joining up with a friend or a group of players via co-op online is the best solution to make sure that someone is able to see these cool moments in a game.
So pick up your controller, text your friends, and get ready for our top five favorite games to play co-op online.
Call of Duty: Zombie Mode
(By: Activision )
Sure, we could have added literally any Call of Duty game, as recent titles in both the Modern Warfare and Black Ops series are generally of excellent quality and pack in great co-op moments. That said, it’s the zombie mode that easily holds the most tension and fun.
Fighting for your life against a never-ending hoard of zombies is terrifying at the best of times, but knowing you’ve got three other friends to battle the undead with you, makes things just a tad better. Although the zombies get stronger and multiply throughout the mode, the game simply ends when you either quit or die (more likely), but at least the journey is worth it.
There are several iterations of zombie mode in Call of Duty, but Black Ops II perhaps contains the most enthralling maps. ‘Town’ and ‘Bus’ are generally nail-biting to say the least, as the post-apocalyptic settings and vast array of weaponry combined with frantic window repairs and mad dashes to safety, ultimately result in a great co-op event… until you’re killed by zombies that is.
Grand Theft Auto V
(By: Rockstar Games )
Just some little indie game you probably haven’t heard of, it’s worth a look if you’ve got a few minutes to spare. We’re kidding of course, GTA V is one of the most popular games in the world, and the online mode literally presents danger on every corner. Unless you’re the one raising hell, then the single player campaign is generally calm, with only the occasional shootout here and there. Online, however, is a different story. With up to 30 real players able to join a network, you’ve just entered a Mad Max-esque realm where anarchy rules and nearly everyone is out to get you.
Recent updates have meant that heists and other missions from the single player game can be played with friends online, meaning everyone has an important role to play and the tension is palpable. If you can handle the mayhem, then GTA V online is an experience to remember. Check out this review for more info on playing online.
Minecraft
(By: Mojang AB )
Minecraft is as open-world as they come. The ability to edit the maps as you see fit (albeit in Minecraft’s blocky form), means that you are literally an architect of the world. Nevertheless, you can’t do everything on your own, so sometimes it’s nice to have a helping hand, or two, or three. Playing with a group of like-minded gamers on your own Minecraft server is rapidly becoming the go-to option for players wanting to team up and build incredible worlds together. Whether that’s recreating Fallout, Middle-Earth, Westeros, or a city on top of a giant turtle, then the only limit is your imagination.
But whoa there, before picking up your tools and assembling your team, you’re going to need your own server to make all this happen. The server master (doesn’t that sound cool?) basically has control over the setup and which players can enter the particular server. Depending on how many players you expect, find out what packages are available and read some FAQs on hosting your own Minecraft server. After all that, let the games begin!
Tom Clancy’s The Division
(By: Ubisoft )
Tom Clancy games have always been wildly popular, as realistic shooter series’ like Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, and Splinter Cell have all struck a major chord with players for their edge-of-your-seat stealth moments, as well as intense firefights.
This year, a brand new game and story was released, entitled The Division. Combining solid tactical shootouts, as well as RPG and trading facilities, The Division is an open-world game that sees soldiers attempt to restore order in a post-apocalyptic New York, in which a deadly virus has been let loose and chaos now reigns. In co-op mode, you and three buddies can team up to take back the city, which provides countless hours of fun as you’ll shoot and maneuver your way around a warzone to complete your missions.
Far Cry 4
(By: Ubisoft )
The latest title in the series, Far Cry Primal, might have stripped away the guns and explosions for rocks and fire, but we’re going back to 2014’s Far Cry 4 for some fantastic co-op fun. Far Cry games have never taken themselves too seriously, but we love the vast array of real-life weaponry, the sneaking up to guards and delivering a quick knife in the back, as well as the no-holds-barred shootouts.
Joining up with a friend online (only two people can play co-op) is a joy to behold, as any epic moments and awesome head shots can be celebrated together.
If you love those games but want something to keep you entertained while on the go, then be sure to check out our previous article on the best free Android games.