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The 31 Best Co-Op Games To Play In 2025While there are plenty of games that deliver a terrific single-player experience, the best co-op games can offer unmatched levels of enjoyment. You and some friends can hop on a game together and make memories that would be impossible to have as a solo player. Co-op games also have a wide amount of replayability, as your experiences in one playthrough can be completely different from the next depending on who you're playing with. These types of games are often the industry at its finest, and co-op titles are only improving as time goes on. Below, you'll find our picks for the 31 best co-op games you can play in 2025. This list is in no particular order and highlights games you can easily play with one to several extra people. You'll find a wide range of genres, older and newer games, and plenty of different visual styles. This is not meant to represent the best of all time, but instead, top co-op games that are widely available to play in the modern day. Of course, you'll still see some industry classics as well as top-rated titles, including a very recent game that we just reviewed and scored a 10, the highest possible score. If you specifically need to play with someone on another platform, check our picks for the best cross-platform games , as well as the best PC games , best Switch games , best PS5 games , and best Xbox games . Portal 2 Developer: Valve Release Date: April 18, 2011 Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Co-Op Support : 2 Players Crossplay : Yes Portal 2 is arguably one of the best overall games ever made, and while it can be played solo, it's at its best in co-op. The co-op experience is entirely different from the single-player mode, giving you new puzzles, dialogue, and an entire campaign you can't see by playing alone. The witty banter and hilarious hijinks present in the co-op campaign are worth the low price of entry in 2024, but don't be fooled, as Portal 2 still has some extremely difficult puzzles that can give you and a friend a major headache. See on Steam Split Fiction Developer : Hazelight Studios Release Date : March 6, 2025 Platforms : PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Co-Op Support : 2 Players Crossplay : Yes Nearly four years after its Game of the Year winner It Takes Two, Hazelight Studios is back with another cream-of-the-crop co-op game. This time it's Split Fiction, which is another mandatory co-op game that sees you team up with a partner in split-screen mayhem. Just like It Takes Two, Split Fiction gives you a Friend's Pass when you buy it, allowing you to invite a friend so they don't have to purchase the game themselves. This can even be done with players on other platforms. Split Fiction takes everything great from It Takes Two and cranks it up a notch. The two main characters are authors who get entangled in a tech company's virtual reality experiment. You and a partner control them as they try to escape their new reality. Split Fiction mixes a plethora of genres together for its levels. You solve puzzles, engage in third-person combat, ride vehicles and dragons, platform through tight spaces, and much more. While Split Fiction doesn't have as many fun minigames as It Takes Two, the game has an overall more mature vibe to it. To top it off, the ending sequence is possibly one of the best in video games that makes your 10-12 hour campaign all worth it. Monster Hunter (Wilds, World, and Rise) Developer : Capcom Release Date : February 28, 2025 Platforms : PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest monster-slaying game from Capcom. Right out of the gate, Wilds surpassed all expectations, garnering 8 million sales in its first week and surpassing over 1.3 million players on Steam. While the PC performance has left something to be desired, the gameplay is some of the best the Monster Hunter series has ever seen. The core of Wilds is the same as all Monster Hunter games: You gear up with a massive weapon, explore a map, and kill monsters to collect parts used to create better weapons and armor. However, there's been a plethora of additional content added to Wilds that makes it much more replayable. If you play Monster Hunter Wilds with up to three friends, they'll be able to join you on hunts or quests to make hunting monsters more enjoyable and a team effort. Wilds offers over a dozen weapons to use, meaning you can design a party that utilizes different forms of weapons and abilities. While there are no synergized abilities between party members, one player can sit back with a huge bowgun to deal damage from afar while another player can use their greatsword and heavy armor to tank hits and smash a monster repeatedly up close. Skills from your armor can also play into team-centric strategies. Monster Hunter Wilds offers hours and hours of content, but its predecessors are still extremely popular as well. If you're on an older console or PC, you can check out Monster Hunter World, which is jam-packed with content and features similar gameplay to Wilds. If you're limited to a Nintendo Switch, check out Monster Hunter Rise. Both games have solid player bases in 2025 and will keep you busy for hours. Minecraft Developer: Mojang Studios Release Date: November 18, 2011 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Android, iOS Co-Op Support : Game mode dependent, up to 40 players Crossplay : Yes Minecraft offers a co-op experience like no other game, allowing you and an entire server of players to do whatever you want. Whether that's building a custom town fit to your exact specifications, playing minigames, or creating your own challenges to complete, there are few limits when it comes to Minecraft. You can go anywhere, build anything, and take part in everything the game has to offer with dozens of friends or random strangers. Xbox and PC players can get access to Minecraft on Game Pass . See on Amazon Sea of Thieves Developer: Rare Release Date: March 20, 2018 Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes Sea of Thieves was already one of the better co-op titles on the market, but it bolstered its status even more after the recent PS5 release. Now, you can party up with your friends on PS5, or any other available platform, and set sail on the open seas to look for treasure, complete quests, and get into open-water fights with other players. Sea of Thieves is continually receiving content updates in 2024, meaning there's always something new to do for veterans of the game. However, if you're a new player, then you and your friends have hours of content to experience in this open-world sandbox that lets you experience what being a pirate is really like. If you're on Xbox or PC, you can play this on Game Pass. See on Best Buy Helldivers 2 Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios Release Date: February 8, 2024 Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes Putting aside the recent controversy between Steam players and Sony , Helldivers 2 continues to be an excellent co-op experience. The game forces you to party up with a squad most of the time, so it's a co-op game even if you don't have any friends to play with. If you and a couple of friends are able to link up together, though, Helldivers 2 becomes one of the most enjoyable and engaging games in recent memory. You and your squad have to work as a unit to complete a set objective on an alien planet and you're able to use a variety of weapons to accomplish that job. Not only that, but your squad's efforts affect the world at large, as the entire Helldivers 2 player base is working to eradicate the hostile forces from each planet. Add in friendly fire that can make for a hilarious, chaotic experience, and it's easy to see why Helldivers is such a great game to play with friends. See on Amazon Stardew Valley Developer: Eric Barone Release Date: February 26, 2016 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android Co-Op Support : 8 Players Crossplay : No Stardew Valley isn't confined to just one genre, as it's part farming simulator, part survival game, and part RPG. It's also a wonderful co-op title, as you and up to three friends can join the same world and experience the entire game together. However, similar to how Minecraft works, you and your friends don't have to be near each other at all times. You can develop your farm, go on adventures to find resources, head into town to meet people, and do whatever else completely solo. Of course, if you want, your friends can also come along and help you out. While Stardew Valley seems like a peaceful, cozy type of game, it can get fairly difficult in certain locations, so you'll want some assistance if possible, and that's where the co-op elements can come into play. See on Humble It Takes Two Developer: Hazelight Studios Release Date: March 25, 2021 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S Co-Op Support : 2 Players Crossplay : No It Takes Two offers perhaps the purest co-op experience that you can find a game, aside from Split Fiction. Only playable in co-op, the award-winning title from Hazelight Studios sees you take control of a girl's doll. Your co-op partner takes control of the other doll, and you must work together to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. Set against the backdrop of a rural house, the dolls are actually the girl's parents, who are about to get divorced. You and your partner are working to ensure the parents stay together, and every trial and tribulation you face is about working in unity. While the story and gameplay are fantastic, there are also dozens of minigames you can play at any point as either one of the dolls. See on Amazon Valheim Developer: Iron Gate Studio Release Date: February 2, 2021 Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S Co-Op Support : 10 Players Crossplay : Yes One of the best survival games on the market, Valheim sees you wake up on an island after being banished by the Norse god Odin. Like any other survival game, your job from there is to scavenge for resources, build a shelter, and explore the world to find more resources so you can craft higher-tier items. The unique parts of Valheim are the randomly generated map with five distinct biomes, the bosses in each biome, and the striking art direction. All of this blends together for a remarkable experience that you can have with several friends on the same server. Valheim is a much better experience when you have friends to aid you on resource missions or when going up against a boss. See on Humble Baldur's Gate 3 Developer: Larian Studios Release Date: August 3, 2023 Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes In addition to being our 2023 Game of the Year and one of our picks for the best RPGs in 2024 , Baldur's Gate 3 also features one of the stronger co-op experiences. BG3 is a massive RPG that lets you take control of a character who's been trapped by a creature known as the Mind Flayer. Though the game's story revolves around this plotline, there are dozens of unique questlines to experience that feature some of the best writing ever seen in a video game. The co-op mode in BG3 is essentially the same as single-player, but your party can now consist of additional player-made characters. You and up to three friends can travel the world together as a party and even control different companions in the party. See on GOG Vampire Survivors Developer: Poncle Release Date: December 17, 2021 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, iOS, Android Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes Vampire Survivors starts off slow, but after making some choices in-game, you can be swarmed by thousands of monsters and other enemies on an open battlefield. Your job is to survive using the weapons you have available, but you can also add couch co-op players to help you fend off the swarms following a free update released in 2023. Vampire Survivors is only available in couch co-op, so you can't play with friends on another system, but this mode is absolutely fantastic if you're looking for a family-friendly co-op experience. See on Steam Factorio Developer: Wube Software Release Date: August 14, 2020 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch Co-Op Support : 60-255 Players Crossplay : Yes Factorio is another odd-looking game that allows you to construct and manage facilities to make more and more advanced items. It's a simulation game at heart, but Factorio is surprisingly deep, as you have to design your factories in specific ways based on certain circumstances around you. For example, some enemies are looking to raid your factories, and you have to protect what's yours or risk losing hours of progress. Factorio offers both couch co-op and online co-op, so you can play with whomever you'd like. The co-op experience in Factorio is all about finding places where you can contribute to the growth of the factories in the world, making it a truly team-oriented experience. See on Humble Left 4 Dead 2 Developer: Valve Release Date: November 17, 2009 Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : No Left 4 Dead 2 is one of the best co-op games of all time and was plenty of players' first foray into co-op gaming. It's a simple zombie apocalypse game on the surface, but as you look deeper, Left 4 Dead 2 is a game that you can get hundreds of hours out of, even in 2024. You and your friends can travel across a map of the Deep South in the United States where you're simply looking to survive against hordes of zombies. On Xbox or PC, the game also added all the maps and characters from the first L4D, making the sequel a hub of all things related to one of the best zombie games ever made. And if you play on PC, there's essentially limitless content thanks to a modding community that stays busy even all these years later. See on Steam Deep Rock Galactic Developer: Ghost Ship Games Release Date: February 28, 2018 Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes, but only between Xbox and PC Designed around co-op play, Deep Rock Galactic allows you and three other players to take on hordes of aliens across procedurally generated caves. These caves feature fully destructible environments, where you can use strategy or brute force to deal with the enemies that are always surrounding you and your team. The FPS is considered a looter shooter where your party gets to pick specific classes that determine their unique abilities. It's clearly inspired by Borderlands, so if you're a fan of those games, Deep Rock Galactic is not a co-op shooter you and your friends should miss. See on Steam Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Developer: TT Games Release Date: April 5, 2022 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 2 Players Crossplay : No Described as the first-ever open-world Star Wars game, The Skywalker Saga is a massive game and a must-play for any fan of the franchise. Set across all nine films of the Skywalker film saga, the game features over 300 characters and 23 unique planets to explore. You and another player in split-screen co-op can experience everything The Skywalker Saga has to offer, but some planets' maps can get a little clunky when traversing them with another player. Overall, though, the co-op experience is terrific and lets you live out life as a Jedi. See on Amazon Destiny 2 Developer: Bungie Release Date: August 28, 2017 Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 6 Players Crossplay : Yes Destiny 2 is a fully co-op game that you can play with any friend, regardless of what platform they're on. There's plenty on offer to keep you and your friends busy, as you can go through the story quests and participate in raids (the real high point of the game), Dares of Eternity, Gambit, or PvP. There's also new seasonal content and expansions arriving all the time, so you'll always have something new to experience. Destiny 2 is part looter shooter, part RPG in 2024, but it offers enough variety in terms of activities that it can be whatever game you want. Even if you don't have friends to play with, Bungie has introduced more in-game matchmaking options, such as the Fireteam Finder system, allowing you to team up with others to take on the game's most challenging (and rewarding) activities. Best of all, the base game is available for free , letting you get a good taste for what the full experience is like. See on Steam Remnant 2 Developer: Gunfire Games Release Date: July 25, 2023 Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 3 Players Crossplay : Yes If you're looking for a Souls-like experience that you can play in co-op, Remnant 2 is among your best options in 2024. While not as difficult as traditional games in the genre, Remnant 2 is still an incredibly hard game that you and your party will struggle to get through, no matter your skill level. The game sees you fight mobs of enemies and bosses across randomized maps, with an emphasis on ranged combat using guns in third-person. Loot and different paths are present regardless of what your map looks like, and it's often rewarding to go off the beaten path to find a new item. You can use guns and melee weapons alike to defeat your opponents, and you'll likely need to use everything at your disposal to get past some of the game's bosses. See on Amazon Grounded Developer: Obsidian Entertainment Release Date: July 28, 2020 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes Grounded is another survival game that you can experience with up to four players in co-op. You assume the role of a miniature character who has to fight and explore their way through an ordinary suburban backyard. Of course, with you being the size of a grain of sand, everything in the backyard is massive and presents different obstacles. You and your friends can scavenge for items to build a base, discover hidden areas, and fight several enemy types, including ants, spiders, and more. It's available on Game Pass. See on Humble Risk of Rain 2 Developer: Hopoo Games Release Date: March 28, 2019 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 Co-Op Support : 3 Players Crossplay : No After you crash land on an alien planet in Risk of Rain 2, your main job is to survive and eventually reach the final boss. During this massive journey, you can encounter dozens of unique enemies, find loot that can be used to create new and powerful items, and master your character's abilities. There are 11 classes available in Risk of Rain 2, meaning your party can consist of four unique characters. Each playthrough of Risk of Rain 2 is made different depending on what class you use, so there's a ton of replayability if you want to see what each class has to offer. See on Amazon Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands Developer: Ubisoft Paris Release Date: February 3, 2017 Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : No Ghost Recon Wildlands is a true co-op experience that relies on sheer strategy, teamwork, and will. You and three other players can team up to attempt to take down the cartel across a gigantic map. Every situation in Ghost Recon Wildlands calls for a different strategy, and if any one of your team members makes a mistake, it could spell the end for your squad. In addition to playing through the game's story mode, you can also compete against other players in online multiplayer and take part in various multiplayer activities on the map. However, Ghost Recon Wildlands is at its best when you and a squad get together to complete objectives using the power of teamwork. See on Humble A Way Out Developer: Hazelight Studios Release Date: March 23, 2018 Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 Co-Op Support : 2 Players Crossplay : No The same developers who brought us It Takes Two first delivered A Way Out. The two games are extremely similar in that two people assume the role of a different character in split-screen co-op. Both characters are in the same world and controlled independently by either player. The game starts out with both characters in prison, having never met before. However, after some time, the characters meet and devise a plan to escape the prison. What follows is an endearing tale of the two men and how far they'll go to ensure the other survives. See on Steam Palworld Developer: Pocket Pair Release Date: January 19, 2024 Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes Palworld, while taking ideas from another successful franchise, is a blast to play and is only made better by having other players join you. It's essentially a co-op, open-world Pokemon game with survival elements. You and up to three friends can join a world together and go through the entire game as a group. While you're not able to battle your Pals against each other yet, that feature is seemingly coming soon with the Pal Arena. As we wait for that feature, you and your friends can build bases, catch different Pals, and discover a massive map separately or as a group. See on Steam Lethal Company Developer: Zeekerss Release Date: October 9, 2023 Platforms: PC Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : No Lethal Company came out of nowhere in late 2023, skyrocketing to the top of the Steam best-sellers list. The game is a co-op horror FPS that sees you and your party attempt to find resources across different lunar locations. You can then turn around and sell those resources to the company for currency. While the game sounds simple, it's extremely entertaining, as you and your friends can get into all sorts of mischief as you're scavenging the various maps. The horror elements of Lethal Company are solely based around the creatures you can discover, but these encounters can lead to some hilarious moments if you're talking in real-time with your party. See on Steam Phasmophobia Developer: Kinetic Games Release Date: September 4, 2020 Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes Now, if you're looking for more of a classic horror game experience, look no further than Phasmophobia. While it does have its funny moments as well, you won't be laughing much as you hunt down ghosts across a wide variety of dark and mysterious locations. You and a team of up to three other players need to work together to find the paranormal activity that's occurring in a location using various equipment. The graphics and sounds in Phasmophobia make for a chilling and psychological experience that you can share with your friends. See on Steam Overcooked 2 Developer: Team17 Release Date: August 7, 2018 Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes, but only if all players have the All You Can Eat Edition The final spot on the list goes to Overcooked 2, a cooking simulator that you can experience in couch co-op or online co-op with up to four players. You can play with or against other players to try and achieve the highest score possible in the multiplayer mode. Teamwork is the most important element of Overcooked 2; if one team member doesn't do their job, it can ruin the entire flow of your cooking. This is not a relaxing experience, as the stress and tension can get fairly high, but it's especially fulfilling to complete tasks and see your score improve. See on Fanatical Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Developer : Saber Interactive Release Date : September 9, 2024 Platforms : PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 Co-Op Support : 3 Players Crossplay : Yes for single-player, No for PvP Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 turned out to be one of the best games of 2024. The sequel to the 2011 title of the same name, Space Marine 2 is a mix between a few different genres. It's a third-person shooter that features single-player and multiplayer elements as well as full co-op support in both of those modes. In the campaign, you and up to two other friends can join the Ultramarines and fight against waves and waves of alien enemies. You have access to six different classes, an arsenal of weapons, a variety of lethal abilities, and fully customizable armor. All of this allows you to create different builds that can complement whatever the rest of your party is using for maximum Tyranid destruction. There can be hundreds of alien enemies on your screen at the same time and while most of them are easy to kill, the sheer volume of enemies is both fantastic and overwhelming. Sons of the Forest Developer : Endnight Games Release Date : February 23, 2023 Platforms : PC Co-Op Support : 8 Players Crossplay : No Sons of the Forest is a sequel to The Forest, which became a cult classic survival-horror game in the mid-late 2010s. Building off The Forest's success, developer Endnight Games released Sons of the Forest, which is a new spin on the same formula. Just like The Forest, Sons of the Forest starts you off on a mysterious island where you have very few resources available to you. You're given some quest objectives to explore the island, forage for supplies, and discover the secrets of the island, which you alone don't inhabit. Sons of the Forest features a few different companions, base building, and some of the best survival elements you'll find in a game. Hiding behind all of that are some fairly intense horror sequences, however, so this game isn't for those who don't enjoy the occasional jump scare. Co-op in Sons of the Forest allows you to have up to eight players in a session at the same time. Playing with friends makes the game much more enjoyable, as you'll occasionally hear a friend scream due to a jump scare, but you can also create some incredible bases together and take on the island together. Schedule I Although still in early access and rough around the edges, Schedule I's drug-dealing simulation makes for a great way to hang out with up to three friends. You can team up to min/max your way to producing as much as possible while also hiring NPC employees, managing your limited space, making deals, and generally goofing off, something made easy through the South Park-ish cartoon-style visuals. Exciting-sounding new features are on the way in future updates, but even in its present state, Schedule I is a fun way to spend your game night. See on Steam Elden Ring Nightreign Just how much gas is left in the Elden Ring fuel tank, following a critically acclaimed game and expansion? Plenty, as Nightreign surprises you with clever tweaks under its hood. It's still a From Software game at its core--from the challenging boss fights to the fascinating lore--but the emphasis on speed, aggression, and an engaging gameplay loop make this a thrilling new chapter in the Elden Ring saga. See at Amazon Read our Elden Ring Nightrein review . Arc Raiders Developer : Embark Studios Release Date : October 30, 2025 Platforms : PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Co-Op Support : 3 Players Crossplay : Yes Arc Raiders stormed out of the gate, taking the gaming world by storm near the end of 2025. It's an extraction shooter with elements of both PvE and PvP, but you can mostly engage with one element fully if you wish. The game allows you to party up with two other players, and together, you'll each set your loadout of weapons and items to bring with you as you drop into one of several different maps. Before heading out, you can accept quests from NPCs that you have to complete while on the map. However, your main job in any drop is to loot, survive AI and real enemies, and then extract from the map. Arc Raiders is a thrilling experience that hooks you in with its rewarding gameplay loop, but playing with friends is going to massively amplify your enjoyment. See on Fanatical Borderlands 4 Developer : Gearbox Software Release Date : September 12, 2025 Platforms : PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 Co-Op Support : 4 Players Crossplay : Yes The Borderlands franchise offers one of the best single-player experiences in gaming, and the newest title, Borderlands 4, is another action-packed title with hours of content. As with any other Borderlands game, you can play with up to four players in a party and go through the campaign and endgame together. Each player can pick one of the new characters in Borderlands 4, with the characters offering different abilities and traits that make them useful in combat or exploration. As a party, you can explore a giant map, complete main and side quests, and take on the endgame to secure the best loot in the galaxy. See on Best Buy

GameSpot - All ContentDec 9

Best Co-Op Games For PlayStation 5Teaming up with friends can transform an ordinary gaming experience into something much more unique and enjoyable. Cooperative gaming can strengthen friendships, help you create unforgettable memories, and often add a bit of hilarity and chaos to the experience. Co-op games also usually offer a wide amount of replayability, and thankfully, there is no shortage of games you can play with your friends on PlayStation 5. Below, we've listed our picks for the best co-op games you can play on PS5 in 2025. This list is in no particular order and highlights a variety of games that feature online or couch co-op modes. We're featuring a wide range of genres, with a few of the games being award-winning titles, and all are currently available to play on PlayStation 5. If you're looking for top games on another platform, check our picks for the best PC games , best Switch games , and best Xbox games . It Takes Two It Takes Two is an award-winning title from Hazelight Studios, and it's one of the most wholesome and whimsical co-op experiences on PS5. This game is specifically designed for split-screen cooperative multiplayer, which means that it must be played with another player through either local or online play with both players' screens displayed next to each other. This two-player story places you in the role of a young girl's parents, who are preparing to get divorced. A little bit of magic shrinks the parents into a pair of dolls, and you and your co-op partner must help the couple find a way to return to their old selves. Not only does the game feature a wide variety of well-designed levels and mechanics, but it also includes a heartfelt story about love, understanding, and the challenges of relationships. It's also worth noting that It takes Two includes a friend pass, meaning that as long as one player owns the game, their co-op buddy can join without paying for anything. See at Amazon Baldur's Gate 3 Baldur's Gate 3 served as our 2023 Game of the Year , and while it can be played as a single-player campaign, it makes for a great time as a co-op experience. Baldur's Gate 3 is a massive RPG, and it allows you to create a custom character who ultimately becomes infected by an alien parasite. You and your party must find a way to remove your parasites before it transforms you into one of the game's villainous Mind Flayers. Baldur's Gate 3 is heavily inspired by the rules and mechanics of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, and like D&D, you'll be able to solve problems through combat, conversation, or finding inventive and creative ways around obstacles. It allows you and up to three friends to explore the world together and hopefully roll some natural 20s. See at PlayStation Store Split Fiction Hazelight Studios scores another co-op hit with Split Fiction. Just like It Takes Two, it's specifically designed for split-screen cooperative multiplayer, which means that it must be played with another player through either local or online play, with both players' screens displayed next to each other. Split Fiction follows two aspiring writers, one who specializes in science fiction and the other who prefers fantasy, whose worlds become quite literally smashed together by a tech firm. The writers become imprisoned within an AI simulation and must fight and survive their way through their stories, while the corporation tries to steal their ideas. The uniqueness here comes in how Split Fiction pulls levels and gameplay through the blend of the two writers' opposing styles. The story also creates a heartfelt narrative around several themes, including facing one's fears, learning to compromise, and being understanding. Split Fiction also includes a friend pass, meaning only one person has to own the game and their co-op buddy can join without buying anything. See at Amazon Overcooked 2 Overcooked 2 is a game that can quite possibly make or break relationships. This is a cooking simulator that can be played in couch co-op or online co-op with up to four players. In the campaign mode, you're working together with other players, but the multiplayer mode lets you compete in head-to-head cookoffs for the highest score. Success in any Overcooked game relies on good communication and teamwork, as players work together to run the different stations in a kitchen to keep the food coming. The kitchen can get chaotic and frustrating if someone isn't doing their part, so you'll want to keep your wits about you and provide useful communications. You can play Overcooked 2 or Overcooked 2: All You Can Eat on PS5, but you'll need the All You Can Eat edition if you want to use crossplay. See at Amazon Gears of War: Reloaded The 2025 Gears of War: Reloaded is a faithful remaster of the original Gears of War from 2006, and for the first time ever, players can experience a Gears of War game on PlayStation. This third-person shooter includes a two-player co-op experience that places emphasis on using cover to avoid taking damage while taking down enemy forces. Gears of Wars' story focuses on the now iconic COG Army soldiers Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago and their efforts to wipe out the Locust enemies on their planet. Gears of War Reloaded can be played as local split-screen or online co-op. See at Amazon Minecraft Minecraft offers a co-op experience where creativity knows no bounds. You and several friends can team up to play anyway you want. You can explore, battle, build whatever your heart desires, and even design your own minigames. Minecraft can be as cozy or as adventurous as you want, and despite being an older game, it still gets consistent updates and new content. See at Amazon Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga The Lego games make a great choice for couch co-op game sessions. There are a variety of Lego games with major intellectual property crossovers, but one of the standout choices is Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. It combines all nine of the mainline Star Wars movies, providing Lego-style moments for some of the most iconic scenes in the franchise's history. It's also unique in that you can choose to start the game from any of the three Star Wars trilogies and complete them in any order you wish. Like most Lego games, Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is couch co-op-only and doesn't support online play. See at Amazon Diablo 4 Diablo 4 is the latest installment in Blizzard's action-RPG series. This is a top-down dungeon crawler with up to four-player online or two-player couch co-op. In Diablo 4, you can create a character from one of six playable classes: Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Rogue, Sorcerer, or Spiritborn. Then, you use their abilities to fight through procedurally generated dungeons and gain loot to level up. The story in Diablo 4 focuses on the return of Lilith, the daughter of Mephisto, and your characters must work to uncover her plans, as well as fight the forces of Heaven and Hell. See at Amazon TMNT: Shredder's Revenge TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a side-scrolling beat 'em up game inspired by the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, and styled similarly to the retro TMNT games developed by Konami during the '80s and '90s. You'll team up with your friends to play as the turtles and face off against some of their most iconic foes, such as Bebop, Rocksteady, and Shredder. The game features both online and couch co-op. See at Amazon Gang Beasts Gang Beasts is a good pick if you're looking for a competitive and wacky party game to play with a group of friends. Gang Beasts features simple characters with wobbly jelly-like bodies, and players battle with them across a variety of different maps. The game's hilarity comes from its ragdoll physics as you try to pull, slap, and sabotage the other players until you're the last one standing. It's also really easy to die from an environmental hazard on the map, making for a lot of laughs and randomness. Gang Beasts features both couch co-op and online play. See at Amazon Sea of Thieves Sea of Thieves has been a popular online co-op game since its release in 2018, but the game only recently arrived to PlayStation 5. Now you can be a pirate and sail the open seas on PS5 with your friends. You'll need to captain a ship and keep it afloat while you and your pirate buddies search for treasure, complete quests, and partake in open-water battles against other players. Sea of Thieves is still receiving seasonal content updates in 2025, meaning there's always something to do for new or returning players. See at PlayStation Store Helldivers 2 While you can technically play solo, Helldivers 2 is designed as a co-op game, and it can make for a really fun time with friends. The game allows you to squad up with up to three other players and battle against an alien scourge that's "threatening" the safety of your home planet, Super Earth. The game features satirical moments, and its deadly weapons are made even deadlier by the game's addition of friendly fire. Overall, it can be a hilarious bug-killing adventure with friends. Helldivers 2 also has high replay value, as the game features randomized missions, a large variety of enemy types, and plenty of gear to unlock. See at Amazon The Borderlands series Borderlands 4 brings a brand-new tale of Vault Hunters in 2025. Our Borderlands 4 review labeled the latest entry as a good time for fans of looter-shooters, but if you've never played the series before, you might want to start at the beginning. In the Borderlands games, you play as one of four Vault Hunters, who are outlaw mercenaries fighting to uncover one of the many treasure-filled Vaults left behind by a long-dead civilization. The Borderlands games feature an eclectic cast of supporting characters, and the game often features over-the-top humor. All of the games provide a satisfying co-op experience, but Borderlands 2 remains the strongest of the series. It features an iconic villain and a great lineup of characters, plenty of loot, and the most satisfying story and ending of all the Borderlands games. See at Amazon Sackboy: A Big Adventure Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a platformer spinoff of Media Molecule's successful Little Big Planet series. This game features the adorable little Sackboy on a 3D-platforming adventure, instead of the side-scrolling design of previous entries. Its levels have a variety of colorful themes and a large size, perfect for exploration and hunting collectibles. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is also highly praised for its soundtrack, which features original tracks and remixes of classics. The game is fully playable in both local and online multiplayer for up to four players, and includes optional co-op-only levels with puzzles that require a bit of communication and teamwork. See at Amazon A Way Out A Way Out is another co-op hit from the developer of Split Fiction and It Takes Two. Just like the others, this game is specifically designed for split-screen cooperative multiplayer, which means that it must be played with another player through either local or online play with both players' screens displayed next to each other. A Way Out is a two-player game designed around teamwork, but it doesn't feature the same colorful and whimsical feel of the other Hazelight games. It tells the story of Leo and Vincent, two convicts who work together to break out of prison and stay on the run from authorities. This is an emotional adventure with heavy vibes of Frank Darabont's 1994 film adaption of The Shawshank Redemption. Like the other Hazelight titles, this game also includes a friend pass, meaning only one person has to own the game and their co-op buddy can join without buying anything. See at Amazon Dying Light 2 Dying Light 2 is an action, survival, horror video game featuring a zombie apocalypse-themed open-world environment. Dying Light 2 makes some improvements on the first game, and it's often praised for its fluid parkour movement. The entire campaign can be played in co-op online with up to four players, and killing zombies is always more fun with friends. It's worth noting that the latest game in the franchise, Dying Light: The Beast, just released in 2025. Either Dying Light game can be a fun choice for online co-op, and here you can find our full review of Dying Light: The Beast . See at Amazon Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person shooter with hack-and-slash elements, and as the name suggests, it's set within the Warhammer universe. This story features the Ultramarines chapter of Space Marines, and it takes place during the Fourth Tyrannic War. The entire campaign can be experienced in three-player online co-op. You can check out our full review of Space Marine 2 here, which praises the game's combat and worldbuilding. See at Amazon Back 4 Blood Back 4 Blood is a cooperative first-person shooter from the creators of the Left 4 Dead games, and the game is said to be a spiritual successor to the original series. It brings back the tense and action-filled moments of trying to survive against hordes of undead in four-player online co-op. Back 4 Blood also introduces a deckbuilding element. At the start of each level, players need to build a deck with cards that adjust various elements of gameplay, such as modifying their health, damage, and stamina. But the computer-controlled Director that runs each level will also use a card against them, as a random modifier to make the game more difficult and add variety. Back 4 Blood can be played solo with AI teammates, but it's at its best when partying up with friends. See at Amazon Destiny 2 Destiny 2 is a free-to-play online first-person shooter, and while it might've released in 2017, this game is still getting regular updates. The sci-fi shooter features a whole lot of different multiplayer activities for players to take on as a team. Most campaign activities can be experienced in squads of three, but Destiny 2 also features intense endgame raids that are designed for teams of six. Even if you've played Destiny 2 in the past, it'll be worth revisiting in 2025. The game recently released the Edge of Fate expansion, and there's an upcoming Star Wars-inspired Destiny 2 expansion called Renegades arriving in December. Although Destiny 2 is a free-to-play game for the base content, it's important to note that the expansions are paid content. See at Amazon Palworld Despite lawsuits from Nintendo, Palworld remains available as an adorable Pokemon-like game that combines battle, monster-capturing, and base-building mechanics. The similarities are strong between Palworld and Pokemon, but there are a lot of fun times to be had in the former. Most recently, the game featured a major crossover with Terraria, adding a new boss battle, the ability to fish, and plenty of new "Pal" monsters to catch. Palworld can be experienced in four-player co-op online with the game's official servers, or you can purchase community servers to host up to 32 players in a world. See at PlayStation Store As Dusk Falls As Dusk Falls is an interactive storytelling game set in a dusty motel in the '90s. The game follows two families whose lives collide following a failed robbery that turns into a hostage situation. As Dusk Falls features a choose-your-own-adventure-style approach to gameplay that's similar to titles from Telltale Games. The story can be fully experienced in co-op, with players voting on how to approach the narrative branches of the story. Our review of As Dusk Falls praises the game for its voice acting, compelling script, and selection of player choices. See at Amazon Dead Island 2 Dead Island 2 is a first-person action-RPG set within the same zombie plague that caused the outbreak in the original game's story. Dead Island 2 lets you fight back against the undead with a range of upgradable weapons across a large open-world environment. There are both melee weapons and firearms, but the game is at its most fun when you're slashing away with the game's satisfying melee combat. Dead Island 2 can be experienced with up to four-player co-op. See At Amazon Moving Out 2 Moving Out 2 is a cooperative simulation game with physics-based movement. The game is themed around characters who move furniture and pack up homes, and the gameplay offers hilarious moments as you and your friends attempt to move objects from one place to another and avoid any obstructions. Packing and moving boxes sound easy until physics gets in the way, and levels increase in difficulty as you progress. Moving Out 2 can be experienced in online or local co-op with up to four players. See At Amazon Stardew Valley Stardew Valley is a cozy farm simulation game, where you take on the role of a character who inherits their deceased grandfather's rundown farm. You manage this farm by clearing land, growing seasonal crops, and raising animals. You can also level up skills for farming, foraging, fishing, mining, and even combat. Originally, the game was single-player-only, but multiplayer was added in recent years. Stardew Valley allows a maximum of four players to play together on one farm, and it can be experienced online or through couch co-op. See at PlayStation Store 7 Days to Die 7 Days to Die is a game set in a sprawling open-world environment during the apocalypse. The game includes elements of first-person shooters, survival horror, tower defense, and even has RPG-like elements. You start out with nothing and must quickly work to find or craft shelter, armor, weapons, and other essentials needed to survive the deadly zombie horde that arrives every seven days. 7 Days to Die features satisfying base-building mechanics that allow you to create traps and other defenses against the undead, and this can be an even better experience with friends. The game supports up to eight players online for PS5. See at Amazon Marvel Rivals, CoD, Fortnite, and more In addition to the massive variety of cooperative experiences listed above, there are also plenty of competitive-style shooter games you can play with your friends in multiplayer modes. These include Marvel Rivals, Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege, Battlefield 6, multiple Call of Duty titles, and more.

GameSpot - All ContentNov 27

For the third time this month, the internet is crashing—your favorite online games included It appears the internet is once again going down with no applause whatsoever. For the third time in about a month, global services are suffering outages, slowdowns, and general connectivity issues, including popular live-service games. What couldn't have been said of the early 2000s, when everything you owned you could play offline, is now a grim reality. As per Downdetector, nearly every popular gaming and gaming-related service is suffering significant outages, slowdowns, and problems with connection, including games like ARC Raiders , Fortnite , Apex Legends , and Palworld , but also Steam and the Epic Games Store. https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/1p7fbuv/worldwide_web_down_again_huh/ Whereas the last major outage was caused by Cloudflare going down, and a previous one by massive AI-backed DDOS attacks , there does not seem to be a clear cause this time around. I've even noticed that platforms like Reddit, WordPress, Trello, and others are loading forever, and that was after making sure it wasn't just my wi-fi being dumb. And it's a crying shame that we live in a world where everything is always online. Sure, the games above are live service multiplayer experiences that could not be otherwise played without an internet connection, but so many other experiences that are broadly single-player are bound to be affected. Always-online singleplayer games are our reality because publishers simply cannot let us enjoy things off the grid, and so even if a game has no online features, it still has to connect (and can, therefore, crash if stuff like this happens). The timeline is only getting worse, but if you're among the affected, then check out some of our guides ( like the one for ARC Raiders ) in case the issues resolve, but you're still stuck in the dark. Literally. The post For the third time this month, the internet is crashing—your favorite online games included appeared first on Destructoid .

DestructoidNov 26

My friends finally convinced me to play Enshrouded, and oh boy… Swing a pickaxe in a dark cave, and you're likely to hit seven survival crafting games that all look and play similar. Probably a couple of roguelites too, in 2025, but that's not what this article is about now, is it? I freaking love survival crafting games with strong building elements. Minecraft started it for me, and since then, I've played a slew of these types of titles, everything from Ark Survival Evolved to My Time at Portia (okay, that last one is minus the survival, I guess). But since Valheim , there have been many titles that just feel and play too similarly. I especially have gripes about Palworld and Runescape Dragonwilds being the same game with different systems. At least Palworld kept me busy for a while, but I really didn't enjoy Dragonwilds . I somehow missed out on Enshrouded , but it has been on my list. Every time I get the itch to play something survival-crafty, I look at a few gameplay videos, decide it's the same damn thing as all the others—same gameplay and grind—and just go back to something familiar. But with friends like mine, it was only a matter of time before the nagging wore me down and I spent a few bucks on the game. It's really not that expensive, so I'll check it out for a few hours, confirm that I just don't like it, and I'll have my money's worth. Well, things didn't quite go to plan. Enshrouded is exactly like the other survival games, except it isn't He's a big boy! Screenshot by Destructoid Alright, it's been a few weeks and now I somehow have 60 hours in this game I don't like. What the hell happened? It started like everything, with the beginning. I walked out of that flame cave or whatever, jumped down and activated my glider, and fell to my death. Great start. I hate it already. After I actually built a glider and hook, I got to building my first little house, which I have since deleted. Thank goodness, or you'd have expected a screenshot. It was an absolute eyesore, all made out of rough wood blocks. But anyway, here's where I was reminded of the fact that Enshrouded was exactly like all the other similar games. Chop wood, make blocks, repeat to infinity while slowly dying inside because why are you doing the same damn thing again that you were doing in a different game yesterday? At least you had more stuff unlocked in that other game and could build better... wait, I can place individual blocks?? Better to focus on that later, when I have more resources to burn. For now, I went into the shroud for the first time. And what an interesting mechanic that is! I never played Subnautica , but I imagine it's a similar system (see, nothing new here). Heck, it's the same concept as Dave the Diver, too. However, it was my first foray with something quite like this. It's pretty intense and always stressful going into the Shroud, having limited visibility, and trying your best not to let the timer run out on you. But man, is it fun. After every raid, I could come back up to my horribly ugly house and relax for a bit, maybe adding some stuff to the house to make it even uglier. And this ebb and flow seemed... different. Not to mention the building system is the best I've seen in a game, ever. Welcome to the Enshrouded club habit reform I like my little village. Screenshot by Destructoid And just like that, I was hooked. The progression is actually painfully slow when compared to other similar games, at least in my noob state. But it is immensely satisfying, and I'm also taking my time with it. When I've had a stressful day, I just sit down and try to make a few improvements to my village. On days where I feel like a challenge, I rush into the most dangerous bit of shroud I can that won't instantly kill me, and I fight for my life, trying to get more valuable resources to upgrade my gear. It's what I expected, more or less, but just different enough to really get me hooked, and oh boy, am I. The actual messages from my friend when we spoke about the game were "Welcome to the Enshrouded club," and after I complained about it taking up all my time, "Bro, welcome to Enshrouded habit reform." I REALLY like my little village so far. Screenshot by Destructoid I get that some of you reading this are probably way further along than I am in the game, and hence you probably reached some state of burnout already, but for the moment, I can't stop playing. I'm genuinely impressed by the building mechanics, which is where Enshrouded really shines. The craziest thing is that I'm 60 hours in and have plenty left to explore. There's still so much to do, and I honestly think it'll take me well over 200 hours the way I'm going. And for just $30, that's insane value for money, and it's still in early access! I'm not crazy about the combat, it's pretty mediocre. The progression might be a bit too slow, and it is grind-heavy. But with the Shroud and building mechanics, this game has instantly breached my top ten most liked list. And it's even better with friends. If you haven't caved to the pressure of giving it a go, do it. It's a must-play for survival crafting fans and sets a new benchmark for building that I highly doubt will be beaten any time soon. The post My friends finally convinced me to play Enshrouded, and oh boy… appeared first on Destructoid .

DestructoidNov 24

Palworld is getting a new crossover with one of the coolest indie games in recent memory Palworld has announced a new update in December titled 'Home Sweet Home', which includes a vast amount of base customisation options as well as a crossover with one of the coolest indie games in recent memory. It's set to release just around the corner too, on the 17th December. Read more

Eurogamer.net Latest Articles FeedNov 24

18 Games Like Genshin Impact To Lose Yourself In For 2025For those who enjoy getting lost in expansive fantasy worlds, games like Genshin Impact continue to amaze players who love the thrill of a good RPG. Thanks to its colorful cast of unlockable characters and vibrant art style, Genshin Impact left quite an impression on players when it originally launched back in 2020. With players particularly loving the premise of "here's a world, go explore"--combined with the fact it's free and has plenty to unlock--Genshin Impact has solidified itself as one of the best free gacha games to try right now. While it certainly wasn't the first game of its type, Genshin Impact has influenced games over the years thanks to its innovative approach to open-world design and gacha elements. Similarly, there are older titles that influenced it which are also certainly worth checking out. Below you'll find a selection of games we've picked that are like Genshin Impact, either because they adapt and evolve the game's core gacha mechanics or that they simply evoke a similar feeling or vibe. While you may always feel the draw of Teyvat calling you back, there are certainly plenty of other games that you should dip your toes into. Of course, be sure to also check out the best open-world games and best free games to play in 2025 too, if you want even more options to fill your backlog. Blue Protocol: Star Resonance Developer : Shanghai Bokura Network Technology Release Date : October 9, 2025 Platforms : PC, iOS, Android Price : Free Blue Protocol may have been shut down, but its successor, Blue Protocol: Star Resonance, is keeping the universe alive. Like Genshin Impact, it’s an anime-style MMORPG with some gorgeous visuals. Star Resonance offers players expanded character customization options as they create their own heroes and explore the world of Regnus. There are plenty of quests and dungeons to explore, but you’ll definitely need some help from other players on strategic raids or in battles with difficult bosses. This title also embraces a touch of cozy gaming by letting players hang out, go fishing, and enjoy the fireworks, along with other relaxing activities. See at Steam Enshrouded Developer : Keen Games Release Date : January 24, 2024 Platforms : PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 Price : $30 Genshin Impact players definitely aren’t in the colorful world of Teyvat anymore when they play Enshrouded. Embervale is a fallen realm that is being eaten alive by a pestilence of darkness called The Shroud. Players step into the role of a Flameborn warrior who starts with nothing. To survive, you'll have to learn the art of crafting and elemental magic. Players who enjoyed Genshin Impact’s combat and exploration will be right at home with this game. This is both a solo and a co-op experience, and there’s a lot to discover in the game’s open world. Just be sure to brush up on your melee and magic skills before you go off on your own. See at Steam Eternights Developer : Studio Sai Release Date : September 12, 2023 Platforms : PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS Price : $30 Studio Sai describes Eternights as “a dating action game,” and that’s exactly what it is. Picture Persona by way of Genshin Impact. Not even losing an arm can keep the player’s character from going on a dating app and meeting a woman who can replace his arm with a magical weapon. That turns out to be a great equalizer in this world, and you’ll definitely need it to survive. As players hack their way through monsters and other threats, they can also court their fellow party members of any gender. There is an element of strategy involved with the courtships, as players’ abilities can be increased depending upon their relationships with other characters. See at Steam Tales of Arise Developer : Bandai Namco Studios Release Date : September 10, 2021 Platforms : PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 Price : $40 Tales of Arise is the story of two worlds: a medieval planet called Dahna and an advanced planet named Rena. For 300 years, the Renans have conquered and dominated their counterparts on Dahna. High time for a revolution, then, as players assume control of a young amnesic man named Alphen as he teams up with Shionne Vymer Imeris Daymore, a woman from Renan, to free the people from oppression. This isn’t an open-world title like Genshin Impact, but players of that game should be able to appreciate the emotional storytelling and the anime-inspired character designs. See at Steam Wuthering Waves Developer: Kuro Games Release Date: May 22, 2024 Platforms: iOS, Android, PC, PS5 Price: Free When Wuthering Waves was first released in 2024, it was able to capture a core of Genshin Impact players due to the similar gacha mechanics on show. After four years, Genshin Impact players were simply ready for a change in the formula, which is what makes Wuthering Waves' approach to combat so enticing. Intro and Outro skills gives it a little extra depth over Genshin's action, while being able to collect and use Echoes from defeated bosses makes overcoming each challenge feel all the more rewarding. As a result, it feels a lot more challenging to get to grips with early on, but it does make a refreshing change of pace for any players looking for a Genshin Impact alternative. See at Steam Honkai: Star Rail Developer: MiHoYo Release Date: April 26, 2023 Platforms: iOS, Android, PC, PS5 Price: Free We're probably not getting a real Genshin Impact sequel for quite some time, if ever. However, MiHoYo's Honkai: Star Rail has served as an excellent spiritual successor that does enough things differently to let both games sit cozily alongside one another. The grind feels a lot more forgiving, largely due to the auto-battle system and easier leveling. On the whole, menus feel a lot cleaner to navigate when compared to Genshin Impact, making it feel much more streamlined. Plus, Honkai: Star Rail swaps out real-time combat for turn-based, which makes it an excellent fit for mobile gaming. If your session is ever interrupted, such as losing internet connection or immediately needing to put your phone away, you'll have an easier time picking up exactly where you left off. We'd recommend Honkai: Star Rail to players who were put off by Genshin Impact's grind and leveling tedium. See at Hoyoverse The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom Developer: Nintendo Release Date: March 3, 2017 / May 12, 2023 Platforms: Wii U, Nintendo Switch Price: $69.99 Since not everyone may enjoy gacha systems, but may like other elements of Genshin Impact's gameplay, we'll throw in a few non-gacha games onto this list too. And one common comparison you'll see made to Genshin is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom). These two games are often compared to Genshin due to their similar world designs and emphasis on player freedom. Both also have similar ways of traversal, with running, climbing, gliding, and other mechanics drawing comparisons between both games. Some of the enemies in Genshin Impact even resemble those in Zelda. What sets them apart is how they tell their stories. Genshin is a lot more narrative-heavy, with lots of cutscenes and dialogue, while The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild prefers to throw you into its world and let you figure things out for yourself. Still, the inspiration here is clear, making Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom must-plays for any Genshin Impact fan. See at Amazon Persona 5 / Persona 5 Royal Developer: P-Studio Release Date: September 15, 2016 / October 31, 2019 Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch Price: $19.99 / $59.99 Genshin Impact's overarching story, multiple character arcs and unravelling mystery is one of its best features, and players wanting more of that kind of stuff should certainly check out the Persona series. More specifically, Persona 5 (or its expanded version Persona 5 Royal) would be the best one to start with. The anime art style combined with the developing relationships of the characters makes Persona 5 a decent Genshin alternative. Since it's a fully paid title, it also lacks gacha mechanics, which may be a plus to anyone who likes some aspects of Genshin Impact but has been turned off by the monetization model. See at Amazon Zenless Zone Zero Developer: MiHoYo Release Date: July 4, 2024 Platforms: iOS, Android, PC, PS5 Price: Free MiHoyo's Zenless Zone Zero is the most recent entry to the HoYoverse games. Like Persona, it's an urban fantasy with this cool analog retro aesthetic at its core. Compared to Genshin Impact, the story moves a lot faster and the game is far less concerned with having you grind through the same menial tasks over a long period of time. In fact, it's probably the best of the HoYoverse games to respect your time. While Genshin Impact players may miss the vibrant open world of Teyvat, Zenless Zone Zero's New Eridu is brimming with details and interesting narrative droplets that uncover as the story progresses. The pacing improvements also carry over into combat, where it's more about getting into the enemy's face and stylishly dealing as much damage as possible compared to Genshin Impact's more methodical open-world RPG approach. See at Hoyoverse Honkai Impact 3rd Developer: MiHoYo Release Date: October 14, 2016 Platforms: iOS, Android, PC Price: Free If Honkai Star Rail isn't to your tastes, we'd also recommend Honkai Impact 3rd as a fun Genshin Impact alternative. It's a more traditional RPG with gacha mechanics, and feels a lot faster-paced compared to Genshin. For starters, there isn't an open world for the first part of the game, adopting a more linear mission-based structure. The combat also has a more hack-and-slash style, with battles fought in tight arenas against larger powerful bosses. So there's less running around and getting sidetracked, and more time focusing on your immediate task using your available skills and team combinations. Thanks to the Part 2 expansion from 2024, the game has also received a more limited open world to explore once you hit the later parts of the story. We'd recommend checking it out if you played Honkai Impact 3rd in its early days or want a fresh break from Genshin Impact. See at Steam Tower of Fantasy Developer: Hotta Studio Release Date: 16 December 2021 Platforms: iOS, Android, PC, PS4, PS5 Price: Free What immediately sets Tower of Fantasy apart from Genshin Impact is it gives you the ability to create and customize your own character from the beginning, as opposed to giving you a roster of pre-determined characters. You can tweak your face, hair, clothing, and even body shape. This extends to the team building aspect too, where instead of swapping between characters in your squad during combat, you're actually swapping between their weapons. So the gacha system becomes more about collecting weapons than characters. Besides that, you'll find the action to be somewhere between Genshin Impact's open-world RPG combat and Honkai Impact 3rd's hack-and-slash style. Gacha players will be familiar with Tower of Fantasy's gameplay loop, but it's also probably one of the more distinct entries on this list due to how personalized the main playable character feels. See at Steam Palworld Developer: Pocketpair Release Date: January 19, 2024 Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 Price: $29.99 Another example of a non-gacha-style game that might appeal to Genshin Impact players, Palworld is an open-world survival game centered around collecting "Pals"--Pokemon-like creatures with their own unique traits and abilities. The visuals feel like something between Pokemon and Genshin Impact, and there are also more comparisons you can make to the HoYoverse. For starters, you can hatch eggs that contain random Pals, and these Pals can have positive or negative traits. The random-pull nature of this gives it a gacha-like quality, adding to the overall randomness of the game. While it's not completely gacha, since you can't use real currency to buy them, the similarities are there that we felt it was a necessary addition to this list. See at Steam Sky: Children of the Light Developer: Thatgamecompany Release Date: July 18, 2019 Platforms: iOS, Android, PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch Price: Free Known for its action-free titles that foster emotional responses in players, Thatgamecompany's Sky: Children of the Light is set in a fallen kingdom where players have to release ancient spirits so they can return home. Like Genshin Impact, there are multiple in-game currencies that make up the gacha elements, with each one corresponding to items, abilities, or gifts. There's also a huge social component here too, as Sky: Children of the Light lets you befriend other players and interact by sending them gifts. The game's mystery combined with its beautiful open world makes it a decent sidegrade for any Genshin Impact players who desire a more peaceful experience. While there might not be enough here to keep you playing for days upon days, it's fun to check in every so often to see the new seasonal content released for it. See at Steam Reverse: 1999 Developer: Bluepoch Release Date: May 31, 2023 Platforms: iOS, Android, PC Price: Free Like Genshin Impact, Reverse: 1999 is another free gacha game with an interesting story at the heart of it. With some top-notch writing and voice acting, the game has come through hard times following a rough launch plagued with performance and localization issues. Now, it's in a much better state. Don't expect it to be an open world like Genshin Impact, though, as each part of the narrative more or less takes place on these 2D stages which advance the story. However, the card-shuffling mechanics are an interesting addition to the genre, giving it a more relaxed and tactical feel. Just try to unlearn everything Genshin Impact has taught you, because min-maxing is less of a thing here. Instead, it rewards smart play and careful planning. See at Steam Xenoblade Chronicles Developer: Monolith Soft Release Date: 10 June 2010 Platforms: Nintendo Wii, 3DS, Switch Price: $59.99 We'd recommend Xenoblade Chronicles, or any of its sequels for that matter, to Genshin Impact players for the same reason we've recommended a few others on this list. Like Genshin, you explore this beautiful open world with some absolutely breathtaking locations, with the amount of freedom you'd come to expect from a modern action-RPG. Completing quests and going out of your way to explore the world feels extremely rewarding, as you're always encouraged to dig deep through these large environments for any interesting items or collectibles. While the series as a whole isn't in the gacha genre, it's worth noting that its sequel, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, has some gacha-like systems, where using Crystals to obtain randomly pulled Blades becomes a core focus of the experience. See at Amazon Granblue Fantasy: Relink Developer: Osaka Cygames Release Date: February 1, 2024 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5 Price: $59.99 Granblue Fantasy: Relink moves away from the gacha systems that made up its earlier games, giving us a premium $60 experience with no characters or abilities locked behind a massive paywall. Unlike Genshin Impact, there are no strings attached here, so you buy once and can play through the full thing from start to finish. It'll take you about 20-25 hours to complete, so it's also not a huge timesink compared to other RPGs, and you certainly won't be sacrificing months of your life to it like you might with Genshin Impact. Considering the series' heavy gacha origins, Granblue Fantasy: Relink might be a good option for Genshin Impact players to check out. If Relink isn't your jam, there's always the original mobile game too. See at Amazon Infinity Nikki Developer: Papergames Release Date: 5 December 2024 Platforms: iOS, Android, PC, PS5 Price: Free For the fashion enthusiasts here, Infinity Nikki is all about dressing up and going on adventures. Like Genshin Impact, you'll be exploring a big open world with plenty of secrets and tasks to complete. Platforming and puzzle-solving is also a huge component, giving the game a lot of freedom in how you choose to play. Unlocking new outfits (either by finding outfits or obtaining them through the gacha system) will give you more abilities and upgrades, and these also come in handy during combat. Sometimes you'll be fighting actual monsters, or instead choosing the right outfit to take on an opponent in a "Stylist Duel." Infinity Nikki can certainly feel very grindy at times. You need to gather materials, craft outfits, and upgrade them. But it's also a great option for Genshin Impact fans who want to play a more fashion-oriented gacha game. See at Steam Metaphor: ReFantazio Developer: Studio Zero Release Date: October 11, 2024 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S Price: $69.99 While Metaphor: ReFantazio is another premium JRPG with no gacha elements, the mystery and politics central to its plot is something Genshin Impact players may find enticing. With there being plenty of hidden secrets to find and dungeons to crawl, players who love exploring Teyvat in Genshin Impact may also find Metaphor's Euchronia equally interesting. After nearly a decade in the making, Studio Zero's designers clearly saw the creative art featured in games like Genshin Impact and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and let it inspire them. With its narrative and themes so cleverly interwoven with the rest of the game, it's one of the best RPGs we can recommend today, having received a rare 10/10 in GameSpot's review and being named our 2024 Game of the Year . See at Amazon

GameSpot - All ContentNov 11

GTA 6: After Latest Delay, Palworld Dev Predicts AAA Games Will “Swerve” the 2027 Awards SeasonHowever, this raises questions over whether most publishers would even care if Rockstar's open-world title sweeps all the awards.

Video Game News, Reviews, Walkthroughs And Guides | GamingBoltNov 9

Nintendo’s Palworld Dispute – USPTO Orders Re-Examination of “Summon-and-Battle” PatentUSPTO director John A. Squires says "substantial new questions of patentability have arisen" that warrant re-examination.

Video Game News, Reviews, Walkthroughs And Guides | GamingBoltNov 5

Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit suffers another potential blow as US takes "rare" step of re-examining previously granted Pokémon patent Just weeks after Japan rejected Nintendo's initial efforts to patent a variety of Pokémon-style monster capture and throwing mechanics - a patent that might prove critical in the company's ongoing patent infringement lawsuit against Palworld - the US has taken the "rare" step of re-examining a previously granted Pokémon patent, believing it could be invalid. Read more

Eurogamer.net Latest Articles FeedNov 4

Nintendo’s Palworld lawsuit takes new hit as US Patent Office orders review of key ‘Pokemon’ patentThe US Patent Office has ordered a rare re-examination of a Nintendo patent tied to its Palworld lawsuit, citing older Konami and Nintendo filings as prior art.

Dexerto Latest PostsNov 4