Though many single-player games can be quite fun and rewarding, multiplayer co-op games allow for numerous players to experience a game together as they overcome obstacles and work towards a shared goal. Co-op games come in a wide variety of forms across several genres. As fun as it is for two experienced players to experience a difficult game like Dark Souls together through co-op, there are several great games out there that can be enjoyed in co-op, even if one player has little to no experience with video games.
These games can be great introductions into their respective genres and have low barriers of entry so anyone can enjoy them. While the ease of some of these games may be offputting to some players, some games like this are able to remain enjoyable for experienced players through elements such as their charm or the elegance of their simplicity. So today, we're going to examine 10 great co-op games that are perfect to play with less experienced players.
10 Kirby:Â Star Allies
The Kirby franchise is not one that is known for its difficulty, but this does not mean that the games aren't fun or lack depth. Released for the Switch, Kirby: Star Allies is a four-player platformer that allows players to assume control of several key enemies within the game, gaining access to their unique powers and abilities. Between Kirby's trademark copy ability and player's abilities to switch their characters throughout the game, gameplay is always changing and keeping things fresh without the difficulty growing overbearing.
9 Cat Quest II
Cat Quest II is an incredibly charming co-op action RPG that puts the players within a world of cats and dogs. Having the players each assume the role of a cat and dog respectively, while the gameplay of Cat Quest II is easy to understand, the core gameplay is enjoyable enough to help carry the game without getting stale.
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Set in a sizable open world, this hack and slash allows each player to use a variety of spells in addition to their melee attacks as they search of more loot.
8 New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
The most recent entry in the New Super Mario Bros. series, New Super Mario Bros. U Delux is an updated Switch port of New Super Mario Bros. U, featuring a variety of quality of life improvements. Playable with up to four players, while the game is far from the most difficult game around, it's a solid introduction to the platforming genre and can offer some challenges for those looking to obtain every star coin. The game also includes the playable character Toadette who can make the game less difficult for a newcomer looking for digital training wheels.
7 The Binding Of Isaac
Originally released in 2011, The Binding Of Isaac is a "rogue-like" with co-op capabilities, putting players through randomly generated dungeons that ensure that each play through is different. Not only are the obstacles that players face eacj time they play The Binding Of Isaac, but the power-ups they obtain differ as well, allowing players to use differing play-styles and strategies based on the power-ups of their given plat throughs.
6 Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Zombies Ate My Neighbors was originally released for the SNES in 1993, and is a co-op run-and-gun that can be fun for players of all skill levels. Featuring enemies based on classic horror movies, the game features a solid difficulty curve that scales well with players' experience with the game, maintaining a solid yet forgiving difficulty.
While the game was originally released for the SNES, it is luckily being re-released for the Switch, Xbox One, and PS4 this June.
5 Moon Hunters
While not the longest game, Moon Hunters is an incredibly underrated co-op RPG that functions as a playable personality test. One's character and abilities are dictated by the choices and decisions that players make, keeping things fresh for new and experienced players alike. Between the personalized experience of the game, its easy-to-understand mechanics, and its forgiving difficulty, Moon Hunters can be a great game to play with those with little experience with RPGs.
4 Castle Crashers
Developed by the Behemoth, Castle Crashers is a sidescrolling arcade-stylebeat-em-up that features some elements one would find in an RPG. With an incredibly simple plot, and straightforward gameplay, one of the key selling points of Castle Crashers is its incredible use of dialogue-less comedy and hilarious character designs. Though the game's combat is easy to learn, bosses grow progressively more difficult as the game progresses, keeping players on their toes.
3 Snipperclips
Snipperclips is a delightful co-op puzzle game for the Nintendo Switch, getting the most out of the console's motion controls. With players taking control of living shapes, they can rotate their joy-cons to alter their shape's positions, alter their shape through snipping and cutting, and using their own bodies to solve puzzles.
2 Overcooked 2
As chaotic as it is enjoyable, Overcooked 2 is a co-op game that has up to four players work together to prepare and serve meals. Building upon nearly every element of the previous installment players work against the clock, as they need to manage a variety of tasks that become increasingly tangled and complicated.
1 Battleblock Theatre
Like Castle Crashers, Battleblock Theatre was developed by The Behemoth and is a game that pairs tight gameplay with hilarious comedy. A platformer puzzle game hybrid, the game has an excellent difficulty curve, gradually introducing mechanics throughout its duration. Between its easy to understand controls, rewarding gameplay, and outstanding presentation, Battleblock Theatre is a great co-op experience regardless of players' prior video game experience.