These days it is easy to connect to the Internet and jump into a game with strangers or friends playing across town or in another part of the world. What about those times when everyone is together in the same room and they want to play some cooperative games on the same system?
There are plenty of options available if one looks at every genre, but one would be surprised to find out that there are only a few FPS gamesoffering four-player split-screenco-op. The games below deserve special commendation for letting four friends play together without having to jump onto the Internet.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4eschews a single-player story campaign in favor of a multiplayer focus. That’s not to say it is lacking content, however.Black Ops 4still has everything one would expect from the series' online component,including the zombies mode.
The game makes this list because the zombies mode can be played with 4 players at the same time. This is good news for any fans of that famous mode. It only makes the bottom because no other modes are playable with four players. The game will not hold players' attention for long if they are not fans of zombies.
Most games in the series feature two-player split-screen in its competitive modes, including the ability to jump into online lobbies while in split-screen.Black Ops 3lets players go through the campaign in co-op; two players split-screen and four online.
This series in its modern form is anopen-world action gamewith a focus on stealth. The older games were mission-based. The levels were still big, though, and players had to really think about the best way to approach an objective. They had to smartly position their AI partners to go through a level without being spotted.
Alternatively, they could also play the game with three other friends locally for a true test of teamwork. In a tactical FPS likeGhost Recon 2everyone has to be on their A-game. One bad player will get the whole team spotted and most likely get everyone killed.
Quakeis the successor toDoomin Id’s first-person shooter catalog. Because of the 3D technology, the game is not quite as hectic as its predecessor since it just technically was not possible to fit the same amount of 3D characters on screen at the time.
This ultimately makes 4-player co-op not quite as entertaining asDoomdespite it coming out afterward. Still, it is magnificent for the option to be there at all and players will still have a great time going through the campaign with their friends.
It is only right forDoomto let players go through its campaign together. When it first came out in 1993, it revolutionized multiplayer gaming and is even credited with coining the term deathmatch.Fortunately, modern re-releaseson consoles allow cooperative play in addition to competitive modes.
The later levels inDoomandDoom 2become so hectic and difficult that players will definitely need all they can get to complete them.Doom’sgraphics are quaint by today’s standards, but its gameplay and atmosphere are absolutely timeless.
For anybody who might be a little tired ofBorderlandsafter four FPS games centering on Pandora and its surrounding planets,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandmight reignite that flame of passion. This spin-off has the same core gameplay loop and procedurally generated weapons but takes place in a setting inspired byDungeons and Dragons.
It differs from the main series with theability to create one’s own characterand with the introduction of melee weapons. While it represents the next step forward for the series gameplay-wise, some might feel let down for not taking full advantage of theD&Daesthetic.
Borderlands’loot mechanics remain pure and gameplay-focused since there are no microtransactions or any pay-to-win functions.
TheSerious Samgames take the 90s first-person shooter design to the max. They love to throw waves upon waves of enemies at the player. TheSerious Samcollection packs the first three games of the series together, making for a lot of FPS carnage.
The first two games feel fairly similar, while the third game adds more context to its action with more scripted moments. They can all be played cooperatively with four people on the same console, and there are plenty of enemies in each level to keep every player busy.
TheBorderlandsseries is almost the perfect cooperative shooter experience. The streamlined loot system means newcomers will not get lost in a series of menus or paralyzed by decisions. The lively atmosphere and juvenile humor make it a good time from start to finish.
The series did not always allow four to go through the story simultaneously,but the whole series is available on modern consolesnow and the increased horsepower of the newer machines allows for a four-player split-screen to run smoothly.
The first game in the series does not have as involved of a narrative, but its story moves fast enough and there is always a lot of action to keep players engaged.Borderlands 3has an impressively long campaign and features numerous environments to keep switching up the visuals.
