Finding fun and engaging local, couch co-op games can be very difficult. I am a strong supporter of local co-op games, though I am often disappointed in the limited selection. To help you in the painful process, I have rounded up my top 5 favorite games based on their local co-op experiences.
Beyond Two Souls
From the wonderful mind of David Cage comes Beyond Two Souls by Quantic Dream. Beyond Two Souls is an interactive drama created with motion capture starring the very talented Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe. The game follows the story of Jodie, a young girl who from birth has been followed by a supernatural entity named Aiden Throughout the story Jodie and Aiden take turns being in charge as they interact with the non-player characters. Each player has different abilities given their chosen character and each character can severely alter the direction the story goes in.
While I admit that couch co-op game in which each player has to take turns playing, isn’t the greatest two-player experience, I do have to applaud Quantic Dream for implementing a two-player option in such a unique story-based cinematic style game.
Army of Two the 40th Day
I would never consider myself a person who is very interested in shooters, but Amry of Two the 40th Day by EA Montreal really impressed me. Having played the first Army of Two game I was not looking forward to the sequel, though many of the issues I had with the first game seem to be corrected in the second.
What is wonderful about this series is that it’s specifically intended to be played cooperatively, which is a great idea that is rarely implemented by other developers. Army of Two employs a cover system in which each player must work as a unit to defeat the enemy. This system works very well and it really stands out among other two-player shooters in which a two-player experience feels almost slapped on at the end of production. Even if war themed games don’t interest you, I would look into Army of Two the 40th Day.
Never Alone
Never Alone is a puzzle platformer by One Up Games. In this story based of Alaskan Folklore, two players control the protagonist, the young Iñupiaq girl, Nuna and her Arctic fox. In some two player experiences it seems like player two is just tagging along, though in Never Alone each of to characters have their own unique abilities that make solving puzzles possible, thus each player contributes to the experience.
This game is not only beautiful, but important, as stories of this nature are not often told. It is definitely worth looking into.
BattleBlock Theater
BattleBlock Theater brought to you by The Behemoth, is a very comedic platformer. Shipwrecked on a strange island and imprisoned by the most adorable cats, you and up to four friends must survive the deadly performance the cats have planned for you and rescue your dear friend Hatty Hattington. BattleBlock Theater has an absolutely beautiful design.
It’s colorful, looking cluttered or too vibrant, and every puzzle rewards with hilarious jokes. This game is best appreciated with another player, so I really don’t recommend you play this game by yourself.
Octodad and Octodad: Dadliest Catch
Octodad by Panic Button Games is absolutely brilliant. In Octodad the player controls the protagonist through seemingly menial tasks while trying to keep the fact that he is actually an octopus a secret. This becomes very difficult given is eight very awkward and carefree octopus legs. In co-op mode, up to four players can control a set of Octodad’s legs, which is the equilvalent of turning the difficulty setting to insanity.
While I haven’t played Octodad with four people, I have played two-player which was hilariously great. The humor in this game is wonderful, and it’s even better to share the experience with friends.
What about you? What are your favorite co-op experiences?
