Summary
Local co-op games are traditionally built with accessibility in mind, especially in the modern era. This casual approach to cooperative design ensures it’s easy to get groups together in order to play, but this often comes at the cost of real challenges.
However, there are a variety oflocal co-op games, casual and not, that are able to offer some difficulty for more demanding players. From brutal roguelikes likeSpelunky 2to casual butchaotic party gamessuch asOvercooked, there’s something here for all kinds of players.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revengeplays like a classic arcade beat ‘em up with a modern feel. The nostalgic pixel art, accessible controls, and loving homage to the source material make it an approachable adventure, butShredder’s Revengealso features an arcade mode that requires a great deal more concentration to beat.
As far asbeat ‘em upsgo,Shredder’s Revengeremains accessible. However, playing on harder difficulties in Arcade Mode provides a considerable challenge. Best of all, the game can be enjoyed in up to six-player co-op.
Despitebeing a casual game,Overcookedis remarkably difficult to navigate amid the chaos of cooperative play. Accessible controls and cartoon graphics keep it approachable enough for larger groups, butachieving a high scorein each level typically requires constant focus and efficient teamwork.
In the game, players must work together to prepare a variety of meals under constant time pressure, and teamwork is always necessary. This is because there are many tasks to accomplish in the kitchen, and every player must take on their own duties if they’re to be successful.
WHERE TO PLAY
This first-persondungeon-crawling RPG with a roguelike structurethat’s as punishing as any. This in itself makes the game fairly unforgiving, even in co-op, but it’s the abundance of deadly enemies and traps that makeBarony’sdungeons so difficult to traverse.
Any run can meet a swift end after stumbling upon tumbling boulders or hidden spikes, and while this may be frustrating for some, it makes the experience remarkably tense. Furthermore, the old-school RPG approach and variety of classes to match ensures enough depth to remain engaging.
Similarly to games such asSpelunky 2,Vagantefeatures a variety of deadly enemies and brutal traps that can put a swift and ultimately anti-climactic end to any given run.As a roguelike,Vaganteis also naturally unforgiving, but its RPG elements, generous loot, and quiet atmosphere keep each run engaging.
As a result,Vaganteis a game that’s arguably fun in spite of its difficulty, rather than because of it. However, as withSpelunky, watching a run fall apart to deadly traps is much more fun to witness when playing with a friend.
Cupheadis a brutal action platformer that’s easy to learn and hard to master. Featuring two-player co-op and a chaotic slew of challenging boss battles,Cupheadexcels not only with its nostalgic art style but with its gameplay, too.
The boss-rush nature of the game and the variety within each combat encounter add a great deal of depth to an otherwise simple run-and-gun loop. However, as with many difficult games, losing inCupheadstings a little less when playing in co-op.
Enter The Gungeonis a top-down action roguelike with accessible controls, but its bullet-hell gameplay offers a steep learning curve. The low number of starting health points and challenging boss fights also leave little room for error, and taking too much damage throughout any given floor can have a detrimental knock-on effect.
As with many roguelikes, there’s an element of luck toEnter The Gungeon; while players can certainly win with skillful play, getting lucky with a powerful weapon drop certainly helps to speed things along. However, despite its challenges,Enter The Gungeonremains a fresh and engaging experience thanks to the diversity of its quirky weapons and the intensity of its action.
One Step From Edenis a unique roguelike deck-builder that features action-packed gameplay, allowing it to stand out in a heavily saturated genre. Combat takes place on a grid split down the center, with players taking the left and enemies taking the right, and this makes the process remarkably easy to read.
However, the chaos of its real-time combat requires constant input from players, tasking them with mashing out attacks and casting spells on the fly all while avoiding incoming strikes. The constant pace won’t be for everyone, but it offers a unique challenge layered with strategic deck-building gameplay.
1Spelunky 2
An Accessible Roguelike With Punishing Hazards
Spelunky 2is remarkably easy to learn, as its controls are tremendously simple and, for the most part, intuitive. However, this action roguelike is deceptively difficult, featuring plenty of opportunities for players to die in swift and unforgiving ways.
From accidentally falling off tall ledges and being overwhelmed by deadly creatures, to jumping onto unseen spikes in a bloody mess, there is danger around every corner. It’s not hard to play, but it’s certainly difficult to progress inSpelunky 2. Thankfully, though, playing with a friend makes the experience more hysterical than frustrating.
