The gaming industry tends to work in trends. One type of game will be popular for a while before eventually tailing off and losing its place to something else. The shooter genre, however, has managed to maintain popularity for years. Of course, it's changed plenty of times through the decades. But the simple act of shooting people, monsters, or zombies in a video game setting is evergreen.
Yet, not enough of them allow you to do it with a buddy by your side. While co-operative shooters aren't extremely rare, it seems like there should be more of them. That being said, there are a few amazing ones out there, and these are the greatest.
Updated May 19, 2023 By Ben Jessey: Cooperative play makes every type of game more fun, including shooters. Teaming up with a buddy or a group of buddies and gunning down hordes of virtual foes is always a great time. Yet, some co-op shooters are better than others.
In this list, we included the best ones. However, we couldn't fit all of the great ones into the collection. So, we've updated the piece to include a few that narrowly missed out last time.
19 Resistance 3
In Resistance 3, humanity is in serious trouble as the alien threat known as the Chimera is mounting an invasion. It's up to you to stop the deadly creatures, and you can bring a friend along for the ride, too.
The game is a traditional first-person shooter with satisfying shooting mechanics and some unique weapons to use. Plus, there is a bit of a horror element to the game, as several of the places you visit are capable of giving you a scare.
18 Rainbow Six: Vegas
Rainbow Six Vegas is a tactical FPS that boasts two co-op modes. For starters, you can play through the entire campaign with up to four players online or two locally. The narrative is a standard shooter tale as your squad attempts to bring down a terrorist.
Speaking of terrorists, the other co-op mode is called Terrorist Hunt. In it, you get put on a map with a bunch of enemies, and you need to take them all out. This is easier said than done, as this game takes a more realistic approach to combat, meaning you die in only a few hits. This is why you must use cover and play tactically.
17 Outriders
Outriders is set in a universe where Earth isn't doing so great, so humanity is looking for another planet to call home. That new world is known as Enoch, and it comes with its own set of dangers. You don't have to face them alone, though. A maximum of two friends can join you online.
Each one of you can choose between different character classes, as this is a shooter mixed with an RPG. They all have their own abilities that can assist you on your perilous adventure. What are also useful are the firearms you can obtain and use in third-person cover-based gunfights.
16 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
There are actually two Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 titles that are significantly different. They both contain co-op elements, but the 2009 title just edges it in enjoyability. Unfortunately, those previously mentioned co-op elements don't feature in the campaign.
Thankfully, though, the game's spec-ops mode makes up for it by providing one of the best co-op shooter experiences ever. While playing the mode, you and a friend embark on different mission scenarios. There is a lot of variation between them and most are fun to play.
15 Back 4 Blood
Because of its name and the fact it shares several developers, Back 4 Blood has the issue of continually being compared to Left 4 Dead. This is bad because no zombie squad shooter can truly match that classic title. Yet, Back 4 Blood is still a fun first-person shooter in its own right.
The campaign consists of several acts, and each one contains a bunch of chapters. The main objective in them all is to survive as you progress through the mutant-filled area, using any weapons you find. There are also sometimes other objectives you need to accomplish, which helps vary things up.
14 Killing Floor 2
Survival is the only goal in this co-op shooter. After all, there is no real story. You're just placed on a map, and you must survive wave after wave of infected creatures. As the waves go by, the creatures attack in ever-increasing numbers, and new types of them turn up. If you make it to the final wave, you face a powerful boss.
What is great about the co-op play is that it alters depending on how many of you there are. For example, you will face more enemies if you have a crew of six than if there are only two of you. So, you don't have to worry about it being excruciatingly hard if you don't have a full squad.
13 Saints Row: The Third Remastered
Saints Row has sometimes been referred to as a Grand Theft Auto clone. However, it's an unfair label, as the wacky open-world series has its own style and offers things GTA doesn't, such as a comprehensive co-op mode.
Most entries in the series offer a co-op campaign, with the best occurring in Saints Row: The Third. This instalment finds the perfect balance between serious and silly. And the gunplay in the game is a lot of fun, particularly because there are a host of unique and silly weapons to use.
12 Killzone 3
Killzone is one of the Playstation's most underrated exclusive series. There have only been four main entries in the series, but each one is at least decent. Killzone 3 slips into 'great' territory, especially when playing through the campaign with a buddy. The story isn't incredibly engaging, as it's the standard military tale, where you have to stop dangerous enemy forces.
Yet, the combat makes up for the uninspiring narrative. Each fight is very enjoyable due to the satisfying feeling of the guns and the tight shooting mechanics. Plus, the title is one of the best-looking PS3 games ever.
11 Far Cry 6
The recent Far Cry games have all included captivating main villains, and Far Cry 6 is no different. In this one, the antagonist is Anton Castillo, who is the tyrannical leader of the fictional island of Yara. Throughout the game, you lead a resistance effort to overthrow the evil dictator. This means going to different parts of Yara and recruiting significant figures to help with your cause.
As this is an open-world game, there are also plenty of side missions to do and enemy locations to take over. You can opt for stealth to get these jobs done, or you can blast them away with your wide variety of customizable weaponry. And you can do it all with a friend by your side.
10 Payday 2
Payday 2 is an online cooperative shooter where you and up to three other players execute different heists. The variety of these robberies is what makes them great, as they often take place in completely distinct places, from banks to art galleries to prisons.
Unsurprisingly, you're often tasked with stealing money or valuables, but you are occasionally asked to do other things, like rescue an inmate. Regardless of the type of job, they typically require teamwork and possibly some accurate shooting.
9 Deep Rock Galactic
The term 'shooter' doesn't completely define Deep Rock Galactic. The game is largely about mining things as each level places you in a procedurally generated cave and you're often tasked with finding and collecting useful materials. However, these caves aren't incredibly safe.
You regularly get attacked by hordes of creatures, both big and small ones. This is where the shooter aspect comes in as you must defend yourself by blasting them all away. Thankfully, both the digging and shooting mechanics feel satisfying.
8 Sniper Elite 5
As you can guess from the title, this game revolves around a certain type of gunplay - sniping. You and a friend can sneak around each mission with your rifles in hand, looking for the perfect opportunity to pick people off - and see x-rays of the bullets going through their bodies in the process.
Occasionally, you may want to coordinate and take two guys down at once. Or, if you're the less subtle type, both of you may prefer to wipe out a group of enemies while they're charging at you. The latter tactic is good practice for the additional survival mode, where you have to defend yourself against a horde of people.
7 The House Of The Dead: Overkill
The House Of The Dead series began as a light gun shooter in arcades. In recent years, though, there have been some home releases, including the Overkill title. The game tells a story about the mystery surrounding the start of an undead outbreak. But storytelling isn't really a priority for this on-rail shooter.
The game is mostly just about firing bullets into things. You and an ally go from screen-to-screen killing every monster you see and even occasionally saving a civilian who's about to become a zombie meal. It's loud, enjoyable, and involves plenty of profanity.
6 Cuphead
Cuphead isn't the sort of game people consider when they think of shooters, but it technically is one. More specifically, it's a run and gun title where you sprint across a 2D level and shoot everything you see. And the game allows you to do that with a buddy.
The inclusion of a teammate is welcome as the game is punishingly difficult. While simply making it through levels can be tough, it gets even harder during the boss fights. So, this game is perfect for those who like a challenge and old-school art styles.
5 Resident Evil 5
When it initially launched, Resident Evil 5 received some criticism from fans of the series. Their issues revolved around the lack of scares this supposed horror game provides. The complaints were fair, but RE5 is an excellent co-op third-person shooter.
In the game, you follow Chris Redfield and series newcomer Sheva Alomar as they investigate some strange goings-on in a fictional part of Africa. Naturally, the place contains a litany of infected creatures that you have to kill. But you can't just mow them all down as you'd do in an average shooter as ammo isn't plentiful. So, you have to manage your resources, which adds a welcome tactical element to what is already an enjoyable experience.
4 Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
What is the best Borderlands game? It's tricky to answer that question, but The Handsome Collection includes two that would be in consideration. Both Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel are in this package, and they're excellent first-person action RPGs.
Much of the focus is on the action side of things, as these games are filled with combat sections. Battles are frantic and exciting whether you're fighting people or the creatures of Pandora. The narratives are solid and engaging, too, and they revolve around the always charismatic Handsome Jack. The stories are not likely to make you cry, but you may laugh once or twice.
3 Left 4 Dead 2
Games don't get much more hectic than Left 4 Dead 2. The goal is to reach the saferoom in every chapter and eventually escape the area. But you have to do so while getting attacked by countless infected monsters. These aren't the slow, plodding kind, either, as they're all super fast and agile. Among them are a few special infected that are even more dangerous.
Thankfully, you can fight the horde as a team as the game supports both local and online co-op. Whether you're playing alone or with a friend, it's a very enjoyable first-person shooter.
2 Gears 5
Gears Of War is a long-running series with many great instalments. The fifth main entry is one of the best. In it, the war between the humans and Swarm continues, while Kait Diaz goes on a personal journey to find out who she exactly is.
It makes for a more emotional tale than newcomers to the series might expect. Along with the tears, though, the game provides plenty of laughs as there's a lot of witty dialogue. The combat is also enjoyable, as the Gears series has always been the standard for third-person cover shooting. And Gears 5 provides the most polished experience in the history of the popular series.
1 Halo: Master Chief Collection
When people talk about co-operative shooters, Halo is often a name that gets brought up. Since 2001, the series has produced a litany of brilliant co-op adventures. Thankfully, most of the best are a part of the Master Chief Collection.
Initially, it included Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4. ODST and Reach have been added to the package since. All of the titles are brilliant in their own right and include enjoyable first-person gunplay as well as strong vehicle combat. They also boast some solid story-telling that revolves around Master Chief's adventures.