Summary
Through the continued extravagant software support for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, the power-focused Xbox SKU is home to an abundance of narratively engaging titles. From multiplatform generation-defining experiences to exclusive games to the Xbox ecosystem, some of the very best video games of the generation can also be played with friends! Whether it’s mascot first-person shooters or interactive third-person titles, there’s an incredibly diverse library of multiplayer titles available on Microsoft’s reigning console.
Despite its position as a narrative-focused indie darling from the eighth console generation that"lingers in the minds of most people who’ve played it",Brothers: A Tale of Two Sonsis a title intentionally designed not to be a multiplayer experience. However, in remaking the experience for next-generation hardware, developer Avantgarden incorporated the much-requested cooperative play introduced in the game’s Nintendo Switch port.
While players had been finagling co-op play from the original title’s dual-stick single-player setup with accessibility features such as Xbox’s ‘Copilot’ functionality, the two brothers’daring adventure and fraternal bondcame across just as strongly in 2024 as they did in 2013. With collaboration at the heart of the title’s gameplay and story,Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons' remake is a video game that is as much narratively about cooperation as it is mechanically.
ConsideringGears of War’s focus on the ideas of ‘brothers in arms’ and found family, it’s no surprise that Microsoft’s first-party third-person shooter franchise has always had a strong focus on cooperative play. However, that co-op multiplayer strength is taken to a logical evolution withGears 5’s three-player co-op options.
With the title’s campaign, Escape, and Horde modes all being playable in co-op,Gears 5has cooperative options for arguably any play style. As thesoft reboot of theGears of Warfranchiseincludes some of the franchise’s best narrative moments, the ability to have friends and family tag along for the ride as either another COG soldier or Jack the robot actively enhances many of the title’s tense and tender moments.
While the narrative heights of Blizzard’s grimdark fantasy series are undoubtedly high, thefranchise’s best days are seemingly not behind it.Containing"some of Blizzard’s best story-telling to date", 2023’sDiablo 4is not only a tightly wound action RPG experience, but one that is arguably all the more enjoyable with friends.
Containing both online and local cooperative play,Diablo 4’s grand narrative is perfect for teams of players to forge through. From tag-teaming bosses to slaying hordes of monsters together, the moment-to-moment gameplay ofDiablo 4lends itself naturally to multiplayer experiences.
While 2021’sHalo Infinitehas had a tumultuous relationship with cooperative play, the fact still stands that - through a slew of updates - Microsoft’s latest entry in their flagship franchise is arguably a blast to play cooperatively.
Managing to"breathe some fresh life into the franchise",Halo Infinite’s open-world campaign and free-to-play multiplayer are playable cooperatively online, with multiplayer also able to be experienced through split-screen play. Tackling Banished forces on Zeta Halo was a surprising development whenHalo Infiniteoriginally launched, and with 2022’s Winter Update bringing online cooperative play thispivotal entry in the franchise can now be experienced with friends.
With cooperative play seemingly viewed as an afterthought for many of the video game industry’s biggest releases, the inclusion of thoughtful multiplayer in immersive experiences like 2022’sThe Quarryis a notable breath of fresh air. Creatively pitching local and online multiplayer sessions and varying experiences, developer Supermassive Games has formed a unique co-op experience aroundan irrevocably narrative-focused title.
Framing local co-op as a more hands-on experience, players in the same room can allocate themselves to certain characters and play out their actions as and when they are needed. Conversely, online multiplayer acts more like a collaborative movie-watching experience - with one host player controlling the action, and the rest of the group pitching in to decide on the title’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it decisions.
With a pivotal focus on cooperation and communication, Hazelight Studios’It Takes Twois not only a Game of the Year-winning title but"one of the absolute best co-op video games ever made".
Focusing on the two-player platforming antics of a dysfunctional family unit,It Takes Twopivots and perfects many of the video game industry’s most influential tropes and genres. Fully playable in both local and online co-opIt Takes Twois a title that simplywould not be the same without its reliance on cooperative play,with a narrative that not only plucks from gaming’s history but at the players' heartstrings.
Although Larian Studios’Dungeons & Dragons-inspired role-playing game is undoubtedly a"once-in-a-generation experience"that prioritizes solo play, that is not to say that itsGame of the Year-winningsystems are any less dynamic when utilized cooperatively.
With such in-depth class and character mechanics, the RPG genre is not renowned for cooperative play, yet - with both local and online multiplayer options -Baldur’s Gate 3is a refreshing twist on other titles of its kind. Offering online cooperation to a cross-platform group of up to four players, and allowing for local split-screen play for two,Baldur’s Gate 3remains not only a seemingly stellar example of a Western RPG but an extensive and expansive narrative experience in multiplayer.
