With the large quantity of decent-to-great games available on Game Pass I'm finding discovery of new games and genres a bit of a minefield. Finding great coop games is particularly tricky and should be an area where Game Pass really shines.
So I thought why not have a thread where we post our personal recommendations, with bonus points if they're relatively unknown games that are likely to be hidden amongst the juggernauts/noise on Game Pass.
Format:
Game:
Players:
Description:
Play if you like:
I'll start off with three single player games that I'm currently playing, and three great coop experiences.
---
Game:
Superhot Mind Control Delete
Players:
1
Description:
A (kind of) turn-based FPS game with some really interesting mechanics. Time only moves when you do and you can deflect bullets with Katanas, swap bodies with opponents, use objects around the levels in combat. It's short and never outstays its welcome.
Play if you like:
Puzzle games, FPS games with a twist, the first Superhot, strategic thinking with time pressure.
---
Game:
Cyber Shadow
Players:
1
Description:
It's a great example of your typical 12-bit/8-bit+ platformer. It does little new but what it does, it does so well. Banging soundtrack and tight controls.
Play if you like:
Shovel Knight, 12-bit/8-bit+ challenging platformers.
---
Game:
Desperados III
Players:
1
Description:
A Western themed Real-Time Stealth Tactics game. You progress through a story solving puzzles by controlling a few units against many enemies at a time in a wide range of environments with multiple solutions.
Play if you like:
Real-time puzzles, RTS micromanagement, Stealth games, strategic thinking with time pressure.
---
Game:
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
Players:
2 (coop)
Description:
A psychological horror game in a choose your own adventure style. You try to save as many of the 6 main characters as possible throughout a pretty interesting adventure. This really has to be played in 2 player coop on different consoles to get the most out of it, local play and single player is a very poor experience in comparison.
Play if you like:
Horror games, blaming your friends for messing up and permanently killing a member of your team, ruining friendships, interesting gameplay twists
---
Game:
A Way Out
Players:
2 (coop)
Description:
A prison-break inspired game that can only be played in coop. It's straightforward and not challenging, but I had a really great coop experience going through the interesting story, plot and gameplay twists, and getting to know the personalities, flaws, and motivations of the two main characters.
Play if you like:
Coop experiences that are not too challenging, asynchronous coop experiences, a decent story and good characters in your games, short games with no filler
---
Game:
Deep Rock Galactic
Players:
4 (coop)
Description:
An FPS/mining coop game with great mechanics, gameplay diversity, replayability, genuine cooperation, and charm.
Play if you like:
Losing friends, abandoning friends, stealing ammo packs, getting your friends killed, luring enemies to unsuspecting friends who are trying to complete the objective, blaming others for the team losing
---
So I thought why not have a thread where we post our personal recommendations, with bonus points if they're relatively unknown games that are likely to be hidden amongst the juggernauts/noise on Game Pass.
Format:
Game:
Players:
Description:
Play if you like:
I'll start off with three single player games that I'm currently playing, and three great coop experiences.
---
Game:
Superhot Mind Control Delete
Players:
1
Description:
A (kind of) turn-based FPS game with some really interesting mechanics. Time only moves when you do and you can deflect bullets with Katanas, swap bodies with opponents, use objects around the levels in combat. It's short and never outstays its welcome.
Play if you like:
Puzzle games, FPS games with a twist, the first Superhot, strategic thinking with time pressure.
---
Game:
Cyber Shadow
Players:
1
Description:
It's a great example of your typical 12-bit/8-bit+ platformer. It does little new but what it does, it does so well. Banging soundtrack and tight controls.
Play if you like:
Shovel Knight, 12-bit/8-bit+ challenging platformers.
---
Game:
Desperados III
Players:
1
Description:
A Western themed Real-Time Stealth Tactics game. You progress through a story solving puzzles by controlling a few units against many enemies at a time in a wide range of environments with multiple solutions.
Play if you like:
Real-time puzzles, RTS micromanagement, Stealth games, strategic thinking with time pressure.
---
Game:
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
Players:
2 (coop)
Description:
A psychological horror game in a choose your own adventure style. You try to save as many of the 6 main characters as possible throughout a pretty interesting adventure. This really has to be played in 2 player coop on different consoles to get the most out of it, local play and single player is a very poor experience in comparison.
Play if you like:
Horror games, blaming your friends for messing up and permanently killing a member of your team, ruining friendships, interesting gameplay twists
---
Game:
A Way Out
Players:
2 (coop)
Description:
A prison-break inspired game that can only be played in coop. It's straightforward and not challenging, but I had a really great coop experience going through the interesting story, plot and gameplay twists, and getting to know the personalities, flaws, and motivations of the two main characters.
Play if you like:
Coop experiences that are not too challenging, asynchronous coop experiences, a decent story and good characters in your games, short games with no filler
---
Game:
Deep Rock Galactic
Players:
4 (coop)
Description:
An FPS/mining coop game with great mechanics, gameplay diversity, replayability, genuine cooperation, and charm.
Play if you like:
Losing friends, abandoning friends, stealing ammo packs, getting your friends killed, luring enemies to unsuspecting friends who are trying to complete the objective, blaming others for the team losing
---
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