I find nothing brings people together quite like quality time and for me and my family, one of the ways I do that is through co-op gaming. Here are three great co-op games you can play with the people you love today.
1 – Rayman Legends
(Rayman Legends is rated E10+ for cartoon violence and comic mischief) Available on PS3/PS4, XBOX360/XboxOne, Nintendo Switch, PC
Rayman Legends is an action platformer in which the player enters into paintings that contain various running and jumping puzzles/challenges. It features a broad range of funny, goofy, characters and a colorful art style
At first glance, I believed Rayman Legends was a game for kids, however as I played through the various levels my palms became increasingly sweaty. The bonus levels are no joke and there are “collectible” challenges that require finesse and concentration to complete.
My favorite feature is the drop in/drop out co-op, as well as the respawn system the game utilizes. Essentially if a player dies they can be immediately returned to life by another player simply high-fiving their ghost. This allows challenging areas to be completed even if the player’s skill levels are unmatched since there is no “Game Over” as long as one player is alive.
Because the game can be played solo or coop only one player needs to be alive to advance, meaning theoretically I could play with my 2 year old daughter uninhibited by her ability to even hold the controller. You can play with up to 4 players at once and you can join the fun by simply connecting a controller and pressing start. Levels vary in difficulty usually between 5-15 mins making it a great game to pick up, put down, and pick up again with ease.
2 – Portal 2
(Portal 2 is rated E10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Language) Available on PS3, Xbox360/XboxOne, PC
Portal 2 is a First-Person puzzle platform game in which each player takes the role of one of 2 robots, tasked with solving various puzzles using your wits and a futuristic portal gun.
Players traverse through rooms of the testing facility “Aperture Science” while being directed and observed by the ominous (and hilarious) GLaDOS. The portal gun is your primary tool which allows the player to open 2 connecting portals on almost any surface. The player can then step or jump or fall (depending on the situation) through the portal allowing them to reach otherwise inaccessible areas.
This is one of my all-time favorite games to play with friends and my wife. It’s easy to pick up and the controls are fairly easy to master. The levels start quite basic but get increasingly difficult as you progress.
They require you to think outside the box and sometimes have you scratching your head as to how you’re going to solve a certain problem. As opposed to other co-op games where you can almost play through the levels alone, Portal 2 forces you to work together which is a running joke for GLaDOS who constantly reminds you of the importance of “collaboration” .
3 – Lego Star Wars / Batman / Indiana Jones / Harry Potter / Lord of The Rings etc. (There are loads more)
Any of the Lego games are rated E10+ for Cartoon Violence and Cartoon Mischief
Platform availability for each title varies however there are Lego games available for PS3/PS4, Xbox360/XboxOne, PC, Switch, Wii U
The Lego adventure games are based off of popular movie franchises. It’s great for families since adults can appreciate film references while children are engaged with the goofy playful spin Lego takes on each series.
Lego games are platform adventure based with combat and puzzle solving. They feature a fantastic drop-in/drop-out coop mode which lets players join as their favorite characters from their respective franchises.
The first time I picked up a Lego game was back in the late 2000’s. Lego Star Wars was an immediate hit with me. I loved playing as the different characters, smashing Lego enemies to pieces while collecting items to unlock more and more. Solving the puzzles and laughing as the quirky cutscenes began poking fun at the film series while remaining true to the storyline.
Playing games with others can be a real way to connect. Try these co-op games and see how you enjoy them!
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