One of the best things about the HD generation that started with the Xbox 360 and PS3 is that online connectivity was more stable. Playing online with friends was possible years before these two consoles but the integration of systems seemed to finally hit its stride. Things have gotten even better since then with the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles offering some truly imaginative ways for players to team up.
Crossplay between consoles and PCs is even possible now, with many games also offering drop in, drop out co-op. Busy gamers on the go may not have enough time to dedicate to giant sessions, which is why PS4 and PS5 owners should consider checking out these fantastic games with drop in, drop out multiplayer modes.
8 Destiny 2
Destiny 2 offers players a wide variety of multiplayer options. The main co-op mode revolves around Strikes, which are comprised of three-person teams going on story missions. The first game had this offering as well, but now it’s all but impossible to go back to that experience.
Destiny 2 is a platform now and it’s unclear if Bungie will ever make a true sequel or just keep cranking out expansions. It’s a hard series to get into now since a lot of content has disappeared with updates but the co-op remains stellar regardless.
7 Elden Ring
Elden Ring is the latest Soulslike experience that FromSoftware has released. It took 2022 by storm, with the game dominating sales charts for months following its release. Once DLC is released, probably in 2023, the player base will likely jump back into this domineering world once again.
It’s a brutal experience to go in alone, but it becomes a bit more manageable if players invite a friend or two to join online. Friends are most important when taking down bosses in the game as they are some of the hardest in the series to date.
6 Final Fantasy 14
There are a few co-op-focused Final Fantasy games players could jump into. For example, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin allows up to three players to join in for some online dungeon hack-and-slash action akin to a Soulslike RPG. It’s a fun ride from early2022 but far from the best in the series.
Final Fantasy 14, on the other hand, has remained a solid game since it was re-released in 2013. The slew of content keeps getting better and better whether one is playing it alone or grouping together in parties of eight for epic boss showdowns. Like Destiny 2, it may be hard to ease oneself into the game now, but Final Fantasy 14 is the MMO that keeps on giving thanks to the many great amazing expansions.
5 Journey
Journey is one of those games that is an essential experience to tackle. There have been quiet walking sims since, but Journey was like an eye-opener. Players can wander around this short game alone but the true magic is engaging with another explorer online.
The best part is that this person remained anonymous. All players can do is shout little emotes at their partners to communicate, which helps create a more unique dynamic between players and the game is still fun to tackle every now and again years later.
4 Monster Hunter: World
Monster Hunter: World is the ultimate multiplayer experience that demands cooperative play. The series is essentially a series of boss battles wherein players must kill beasts to harvest their parts. These parts are random, meaning that players may need to fight a certain enemy multiple times in order to get a certain item for crafting purposes.
Joining with up to three other players online can help make these repeated battles less tedious. This entry is a great one to jump into for new players to the series since it helped streamline a lot of gameplay mechanics and the world is far more open than ever before.
3 Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil 5 was the first mainline title in the series to feature campaign co-op. A friend helping meant that it was a less scary experience since players were no longer alone. This also meant taking down enemies and bosses was easier with the extra help.
It was more of an action game than ever before thanks to the co-op, steering the franchise in a direction that wasn’t to the liking of every fan. Still, whether one liked it or not, the co-op gameplay is more than solid both online and offline.
2 Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the latest game in the LittleBigPlanet series. It is a more traditional top-down platformer than previous entries in the series which were primarily 2D. The game also removed creation tools from the experience, focusing on the in-game content instead.
LittleBigPlanet 3 is available to play on both PS4 and PS5 though for those who still want to create their own levels. Both games are fun for the whole family, up to four, and they each support couch co-op as well as online play.
1 Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is a similar experience to Destiny 2 in that it is a looter shooter. The big thing the first game did above the first Destiny was four-player co-op. It was also a third-person cover shooter rather than a first-person shooter. Finally, the first game created one seamless world set in New York City instead of giving players multiple planets to roam around in.
The sequel is set in the Washington D.C. area and has expanded from there with content packs. The first game may be better, but it will presumably be harder to get a game going since it is older and not as well supported by Ubisoft these days.