Cooperative Play
Ongoing coverage on Cooperative Play.
Latest coverage
Deep space co-op cleaning simulation game Cleaner Company announced for PC
Publisher Mythwright and developer Wildflame Studio have announced Cleaner Company, a cooperative cleaning simulation game set in deep space. The game is set to be released on PC.
Story-Driven Don Quixote Adventure 'Hidalgo' Announced for PC
Infinite Thread Games and Loopr Partners have announced Hidalgo, a story-driven adventure game inspired by Don Quixote. The game features solo and local co-op modes, environmental puzzles, and boss fights within a handcrafted puppet world. Hidalgo is set to launch on PC via Steam later this year.
Shadowstone – Open Beta | Alpha Beta Gamer
Shadowstone, a 1-4 player tactics roguelite, is entering its open beta. The game features turn-based tactical combat with an emphasis on strategic positioning and hero synergies. Players can experience randomized encounters, upgradeable skills, and cooperative online play.
Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 536: Legendary Cooperation
The Official PlayStation Podcast episode 536 features discussions on upcoming releases like The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, MLB The Show 26, Crimson Desert, and Death Stranding 2. The episode includes an interview with Darren Bridges, Lead Designer at Sucker Punch, about Ghost of Yōtei Legends, and highlights updates for Helldivers 2, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, and Little Nightmares: Altered Echoes for PS VR2.
The Loneliness of Friendslop
The article discusses the 'friendslop' genre of low-budget multiplayer games, exploring how they can paradoxically create feelings of loneliness despite their social focus. While games like Lethal Company and PEAK effectively use mechanics like proximity chat to enhance gameplay and emergent moments, YapYap is criticized for lacking engaging cooperative mechanics, making the inherent loneliness of the genre feel unrewarding. The author suggests that successful friendslop games leverage environmental design and player interaction, whether cooperative or competitive, to turn isolation into a meaningful part of the experience.
Towerborne Review
Towerborne is a cooperative experience designed for up to four players online, where abilities can overlap to create more dynamic combat scenarios. Players can coordinate roles, with one focusing on high-damage targets while another manages crowds, making the gameplay more engaging.
Towerborne Review
Towerborne is designed for cooperative online play with up to four players, enhancing combat and ability synergy. The game is available on Xbox Series X, with its multiplayer features significantly improving the overall experience.
Spirit Crossing discusses balancing the in-game economy to encourage cooperation and limit grind
Spry Fox is discussing the in-development game Spirit Crossing's economy balance, aiming to encourage cooperation and limit excessive grinding. The current design prioritizes player retention with a more conservative economy, but the goal is to increase generosity once all economic systems are in place, ensuring player time is respected without diminishing the value of community goals.
Victorian era co-op psychological horror game CORDURA announced for PS5, PC
Garage51 has announced CORDURA, a cooperative psychological horror game set in a distorted Victorian era. The game is planned for release on PlayStation 5 and PC.
The original Zombie Panic! arrives on Steam with various upgrades
The original cooperative survival-horror Half-Life 1 modification, Zombie Panic!, has been released on Steam with several upgrades, including Steam Achievements and Workshop support. Players who own Half-Life can play it for free. The game pits survivors against zombies in a classic human vs. zombie scenario with objective-based gameplay and scarce resources.
Peak co-developer Aggro Crab shares lessons in friendslop
Nick Kaman, studio head of Aggro Crab, shared insights on creating cooperative games, or 'friendslop,' using their title Peak as an example. Key design elements include mandatory social interaction for progression, first-person cameras to enhance role-playing, and unique approaches to map generation and player death that encourage continued communication.
Big Walk hands-on report: cooperative chaos exploring a puzzle-filled open world | PS Blog
Big Walk is a cooperative multiplayer adventure game focused on teamwork and exploration within a puzzle-filled open world. The game emphasizes communication and shared experiences as players navigate its challenges together.
Big Walk hands-on report: cooperative chaos exploring a puzzle-filled open world | PS Blog
Big Walk is a cooperative online game from House House, the creators of Untitled Goose Game, where players explore a puzzle-filled open world with friends. The game emphasizes communication and teamwork using various tools, with opportunities for casual social interaction. It is scheduled for release in 2025 and is being published by Panic.
New shmup "Raging Blasters 2" Steam page opens
TERARIN GAMES has opened the Steam page for its upcoming arcade-style vertical scrolling shoot 'em up, Raging Blasters 2. Players can choose from three pilots and engage in classic shmup gameplay, with support for both single-player and two-player cooperative modes. The game is scheduled for release on Steam and Nintendo Switch in 2027.
Can you play Marathon as a duo?
The article discusses whether the game Marathon, originally designed for three-player crews, can be played with only two players. It addresses the possibility of a duo experience within the game's cooperative framework.
Big Walk hands-on report: cooperative chaos exploring a puzzle-filled open world
Big Walk is a cooperative adventure game from House House where players explore a puzzle-filled open world together. The game emphasizes communication and shared experiences through independent arm movement, proximity chat, and collaborative puzzle-solving. It will launch on PlayStation 5 as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game later this year, supporting two to twelve players.
Hidalgo Brings the Cozy, Handcrafted World of Don Quijote to Steam in 2026
Infinite Thread Games and Loopr Partners announced Hidalgo, a cozy narrative adventure game inspired by Don Quijote de La Mancha, set to launch on Steam in 2026. The game features a handcrafted puppet world, cooperative gameplay, environmental puzzles, and a story that parallels the classic novel with a modern family's journey.
Turtle Team-Up turns Magic: The Gathering into a chill co-op game so you don't have to beat your friends and feel…
The Turtle Team-Up expansion for Magic: The Gathering transforms the popular card game into a cooperative experience inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This set allows players to team up against AI-controlled bosses and their minions, offering a more relaxed alternative to competitive play. It is designed for both new players and nostalgic adults, with a release date of March 6.
Reanimal Review
Reanimal, the latest title from Tarsier Studios, offers a dark and surreal horror experience with cooperative puzzle-platforming gameplay. While it innovates with three-dimensional exploration and combat, it shares a similar atmosphere and structure to the developer's previous success, Little Nightmares. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
RUINER 2 announced for PC
Reikon Games has announced RUINER 2, a cooperative action RPG and sequel to the 2017 title RUINER. The game is currently in development for PC.