Dylan Chaundy
Honorable Mention: Rainbow Six Extraction
Weekend Editor, Keenan McCall: For all of the changes Rainbow Six Extraction brings to the series’ formula, it’s still one of the most reliably fun co-op experiences to release this year. Blending the best parts of Rainbow Six Siege with the team-based survival elements of something like Left 4 Dead, the game sets the stage for fast and engaging gameplay sessions alongside up to two friends. There are a variety of tasks and objectives one might be given to complete, and each offers their own quirks to account for by cooperating with said friends. This is to say nothing of how varied the different characters’ playstyles are and how they impact the gameplay when diving in with friends. One can approach infiltrations in a variety of ways thanks to the different Operator classes carried over from Siege, and they become all the more fun to play as when players dive in together. They can go in guns blazing, with offensively-minded Operators bringing fire and fury down on the Archaeans. Likewise, they can get more strategic, spreading themselves across several different character types to support one another’s efforts through special skills, revives, or well-timed distractions. The gameplay remains active and adaptable from session to session, too. Reacting to other players’ maneuvers, and figuring out how best to do one’s part to ensure everyone completes the mission alive, is a constantly shifting puzzle that can maintain its charm even dozens of hours in. Topping all this off is the fact that there’s still plenty of room for Extraction to grow, adapt, and evolve into a title that brings players together for years to come.
Honorable Mention: Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Senior Editor, Alex Gibson: Dying Light 2 was firmly on Twinfinite’s radar from the very first time developer Techland spilled the guts on its plans to develop the sequel around a stronger focus on role-playing mechanics. We covered it in preview way back at E3 2018, but it wasn’t until four years later that it was finally ready for launch. Ironically, as it turned out, it wasn’t really the branching dialog and meatier RPG stuff that proved Dying Light 2’s strong suit; instead, it was the same old open-world-playground formula that the original was similarly beloved for, and it was made even better experienced co-operatively with a pal. Villedor really is a sandbox made for playing in, despite all the gruesome monstrosities lurking in its darkest corners. It’s one of the year’s most entertaining multiplayer experiences, and we couldn’t get enough of buddying up and vaulting across its towering skyline from one quest to the next. If you haven’t already jumped into the action, then consider popping it on the list for a fun holiday game. And with Techland pledged to support the game for years to come with new content, it’s one you can continue enjoying long into the future.
Second Runner-Up: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Associate Editor, Dylan Chaundy: The Lego games have always been well-known for their pick-up-and-play couch co-op, and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is no different. Hopping in to play split-screen with a friendo is as easy as 1-2-3, and thanks to its simplicity and approachability, it’s a great option for those with a handful of kiddos (read: adults with Peter Pan syndrome like yours truly) that may be in want of some fun-filled entertainment. Impressively, The Skywalker Saga manages to squeeze all nine core films into one jam-packed package. So, if you’re a fan of that galaxy far, far away, then chances are there’ll be a Lego video game adaptation of one of your favorite movies, replete with amusing takes on iconic Star Wars cut-scenes, John Williams’ emblematic score, and some surprisingly solid third-person shooting. Add in some really cool space-faring missions where you get to fly classic spacecraft like everybody’s favorite rust bucket, the Millennium Falcon, and then throw in a deep well of secret unlockable content like cheats, characters, and extra modes, and you’re left with one of the most wholesome and enjoyable co-op experiences of the year. No small feat, indeed!
First Runner-Up: The Quarry
Managing Editor & Guides Editor, Chris Jecks: There’s something oddly satisfying about playing The Quarry and knowing a particular character’s fate is in your hands for the duration. Will you do your utmost to have them live another day, or will you do everything in your power to see them meet an untimely demise in the most gruesome or unpleasant way possible? And, more importantly, will YOU survive the torrents of abuse hurled your way from other players who wanted to see that character meet the opposite fate of what you’re driving them towards? … If your experience is anything like my own, the answer is – only just. The Quarry is the ‘spiritual successor’ to Until Dawn and stands separate to the very familiar-feeling Dark Pictures Anthology games that have been releasing on an annual basis for the past few years. Pitting you in control of a cast of likeable, albeit clichéd characters, you’ll need to explore the world, make dialogue decisions and complete Quick Time Events in order to determine whether or not these happy camp counsellors will see the morning. While it’s certainly an enjoyable experience on its own, The Quarry is elevated when you’re playing with others – laughing at your friends (or family’s) mistakes that lead to grim consequences or discussing just what that monster is between cutscenes is, to me, a core part of these experiences. The Quarry’s gameplay is accessible to players of all skill levels, which certainly lends itself to a fun ‘movie night’ experience with your chosen fellow players, and if you’d rather just enjoy the story without any gameplay at all, then Movie Night allows you to do exactly that. Does the game have its shortcomings? Sure. The story beats can be a little hit-and-miss, and rewinding time to save a character after making a poor decision can see you replaying hours of gameplay without any warning beforehand. Still, The Quarry is all the better when you’re playing with pals, and is one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I had with loved ones this year.
Winner: Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Features Editor, Andrew McMahon: While I’m someone that loves to go inside for the weekend and immerse himself in a good story, every now and then, a title comes along that manages to pull back the curtains and shine the light of multiplayer into my life. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands was one of the few games in 2022 that accomplished that monumental feat. Honestly, it isn’t too surprising that this game pulled me into its clutches, as the co-op of the Borderlands series has always been big between my friends and me. The wit and humor, while lowbrow at times, is always good for a few laughs, and the DnD fantasy setting that lets you do stuff like seduce an Orc guard does a phenomenal job of immersing you in the game’s weird settings. As with any Borderlands game, though, the fun is found in experimenting with the millions of different weapon combinations that are in the game. Whether it was a gun that chucks a grenade every time you reload or a literal bread slicer, there’s so many different ways your party can approach situations on your gun loadout alone. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is one of those games that was just made to play with friends, as the memories you create while traversing its magical realm is the real treasure you’re searching for throughout those dungeons. Congratulations to the Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands development team for winning Twinfinite’s Best Co-op Games of 2022 award! That wraps things up for Twinfinite’s picks for the best co-op games of 2022. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments down below!
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