There was a lot of fun to be had with your friends in 2013, and while shooting your buddies right in the skull during deathmatches is still everyone’s preferred type of multiplayer gameplay, there was still some love shown for those who prefer co-operative play.
Some say co-op games are a thing of the past, and sometimes it sure feels that way. However, 2013 showed us that some developers still understand the value of being able to play games together with your friends.
So without further adieu, here are the very best co-op games of 2013.
The Best Co-op Games of 2013
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Payday 2
Payday 2 allows you and up to three co-op partners to team up in order to perform dangerous heists, and depending upon your skill level your heists can either wind up being as meticulously thorough as the opening scene of The Dark Knight, or a complete and utter shambolic bloodbath.
Payday 2 rewards those who have a plan and stick to it, but even then it's nigh-on impossible to pull off the more difficult heists without there being a few casualties along the way. The unpredictability of Payday 2 is what makes it so rewarding when you and your buddies manage to successfully bring in a huge wad of cash, and it's definitely one of the co-op highlights of the year.
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Battleblock Theater
Wacky co-op games are the best co-op games, and rarely do they come more wacky than Battleblock Theater.
Made by Behemoth, the same developer that gave us the likes of Castle Crashers and Alien Hominid, Battleblock Theater allows you and a friend to play through its story mode, which tasks you with taking down an army of evil cats. This ridiculous plot is just the backdrop for what the game is really all about, though, which is repeatedly and hilariously murdering your friend via some "mistimed" shots of your weapon.
You and your comrade will likely be too frustrated with one another to finish the game together, but Battleblock Theater is a great deal of fun while it lasts.
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Resogun
Resogun was the most surprising launch title in the PS4's library, giving early adopters of the new console something to play other than next-gen versions of last-gen games and the mediocre Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack.
Its explosive (quite literally) gameplay is kicked up a notch when playing it with a friend in online co-op, as enemies fill the screen before quickly being blown to pieces as both players go into Overdrive. Awesome.
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Dead Rising 3
Dead Rising 2's co-op component was thoroughly uncelebrated, and Dead Rising 3's has similarly been overlooked. That's a shame, because the game's already supremely fun open-world becomes even more exciting to explore when you've got a buddy in tow.
I mean, what could be more enjoyable than decapitating hordes of undead with a katana than doing so whilst a friend joins you in your bloodlust? Nothing, that's what.
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Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons perhaps isn't intended to be played co-operatively, but doing so adds a whole new spin to the game.
Brothers' control setup sees you controlling one brother with the left analog stick and left trigger, and the other brother with the right analog and right trigger. However, choosing to play the game with a partner will see you sharing the same controller, which makes for some interesting gameplay to say the least.
Prepare to have confusion make way for hilarity as you and your co-op buddy try to navigate the game's puzzles whilst sitting so close to one another you can smell what they had for dinner last night. Then prepare to try to hide your tears as you steadily progress through one of the most heartbreaking games of the year.
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Super Mario 3D World
When a new Mario game releases you expect that you're going to have roughly 20% more fun playing it than any other game you'll experience that year, but Super Mario 3D World raised that percentage up to at least 50% this year.
While New Super Mario Bros. U's 4-player co-op was certainly a good time, it was not on a patch on the hilarity that is Mario's first 3D Wii U outing. As with all Mario games, 3D World is pure childlike wonder masking a surprisingly tough difficulty level, which makes the game just as ball-busting as it is hilarious.
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Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends felt like a completely different game playing it in co-op mode. Playing it alone was an exercise in precise platforming, while teaming up with friends made each stage an hilarious but gruelling rush to the finish line, where the slow would be mercilessly left behind and the fast would usually wind up being offed by an oncoming enemy.
Another unique addition to the game was Murfy, a companion who one player could control that would be tasked with helping everyone else out by tickling enemies and moving platforms. Of course, more often than not this led to unexpected deaths and broken friendships, but what good is a co-op game if you don't wind up hating your buddies afterwards?
