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Coop gaming has exploded in popularity over the last decade. Playing through an immersive campaign or taking on challenging endgame content with friends creates an incredibly fun and social gaming experience. Teaming up with others requires strategic coordination and communication, which builds trust and bonding between players. The shared challenges and victories in coop games often create fond memories gamers continue reminiscing about years later.
With coop gaming continuing to grow, 2024 is shaping up to be an incredible year for new coop game releases. This guide will provide an in-depth preview of the 25 most hotly anticipated upcoming coop games of 2024. From long-awaited sequels like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League to innovative new IPs like Level Zero, there are awesome cooperative experiences on the way for any gaming friend group.
So gather your fellow gamers and get ready for an epic year of teaming up together in these awesome worlds!
What is Coop Gaming?
Coop gaming refers to playing video games cooperatively with other players, typically friends, as opposed to playing solo or competing against others. In a coop game, players work together as a team against one or more AI opponents to accomplish goals and progress through the game.
The key difference between coop and singleplayer is that coop allows for strategic coordination between players, like choosing complementary character classes and abilities or timing attacks. Coop is distinct from competitive multiplayer like PvP because all players are on the same team working toward shared objectives rather than opposing each other.
Some major benefits of coop gaming include:
- More fun gaming with friends than playing solo
- Allows for strategic team gameplay and planning
- Provides a social bonding experience
- Lets players achieve more difficult challenges and boss fights together
- Creates great memories and inside jokes
If overcoming challenges, bonding with friends, and creating epic gaming memories sounds appealing, then coop gaming is for you!
Why Play Coop Games?
There are many great reasons to play coop games instead of singleplayer titles or competitive multiplayer:
More Fun Gaming with Friends
Gaming with friends is simply more enjoyable than playing solo in many cases. Having others along for the adventure makes for more laughs, epic moments, and memories. You can strategize together, celebrate victories, and get through frustrations.
Strategic Team Gameplay
Coop gaming allows players to strategize and use teamwork to accomplish goals. You can combine character abilities or gear synergies to be more powerful together. Or develop plans to tactically take down a difficult boss.
Social Bonding Experience
The shared experience of playing together strengthens relationships and bonds. Communicating, compromising, and overcoming challenges as a team brings people closer together.
Achieve More Difficult Challenges
In coop games, players can take on more difficult enemies, bosses, and endgame content by working together. Combining skills and gear allows the team to succeed against threats a solo player couldn’t.
Create Great Gaming Memories
The stories, struggles, and triumphs experienced while playing coop games create wonderful gaming memories. Years later, you’ll still be laughing about the time you and friends pulled off an epic win against all odds.
For these reasons, playing with friends in coop games leads to an awesome gaming experience.
Most Anticipated Upcoming Coop Games of 2024
With the benefits of coop gaming in mind, let’s explore some of the most exciting upcoming coop games slated for release in 2024. This year has a stacked lineup of awesome looking cooperative experiences across many genres to enjoy with friends.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Release Date: May 26, 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
This action-adventure game from Rocksteady Studios lets you play as Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark or Captain Boomerang. The Suicide Squad must take down brainwashed Justice League members like The Flash and Green Lantern. The chaotic open-world gameplay supports full campaign co-op for 4 players.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Team up with 3 other Space Marines to mow down hordes of Tyranids in this intense sci-fi co-op shooter. Brutally dispatch the alien threats through a combination of ranged weapons and melee attacks. Level up your hero and unlock new skills and gear.Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Helldivers 2
Release Date: February 8, 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5
The sequel to the popular twin-stick shooter includes 4 player co-op. Work together to complete objectives and defeat enemies across the galaxy. Customize your loadouts and call in orbital strikes. But watch out for friendly fire! Helldivers 2
Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Release Date: February 1, 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4
This action RPG brings the beloved gacha game franchise into a gorgeous console co-op experience. Journey across a fantasy world while teaming up in real-time combat. The full campaign supports 4-player co-op, or you can bring 3 AI companions. Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Level Zero
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
A 4v2 multiplayer horror game inspired by Dead by Daylight. Four players team up as scientists trying to escape an alien threat, while two others play as the pursuing aliens. Use your wits and teamwork to survive the terrors.![Level Zero][]
Outpost: Infinity Siege
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
This FPS/RTS hybrid lets you build up an outpost and defend it from escalating attacks. Fortify your base and take control of mechs to fend off the onslaught. Supports 1-4 player co-op.
The Quinfall
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
An ambitious fantasy MMORPG with a massive open world and 4 player co-op questing. Explore the land together, join guilds and take on procedural generated endgame dungeons and raids.
Palworld
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC
This Pokemon-inspired game lets you explore, befriend and train cute creatures called Pals. Build bases together and visit each other’s Pal ranches. Co-op supports up to 4 players.
Maximum Football
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
The premier football simulation franchise expands with online co-op. Team up to run drills, play full games, and lead a franchise as coach and players. Create your own legacy together.
Killing Floor 3
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
The co-op survival horror shooter returns with a new campaign for you and 5 friends to battle through. Wipe out hordes of horrific Zeds across Europe using an extensive arsenal of weaponry.
Blight Survival
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC
A medieval fantasy survival game with PvE co-op for up to 4 players. Defend your castle against hordes of undead enemies. Use physics-based combat and special abilities to hold off the onslaught.
ALARA Prime
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
A PvPvP shooter with a unique 3-team dynamic. Work together to either defend an objective or coordinate with another team to seize it. Think quick and leverage abilities.
Earth From Another Sun
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
An open world space exploration game focused on building civilizations. Join up with friends to create factions, construct bases, control territory and engage in massive ship battles.
Towers of Aghasba
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
An environmentally conscious city builder focused on harmony with nature. Cooperate with up to 3 other players to restore wildlife, forests and natural resources while developing your civilization.
MechWarrior 5: Clans
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
The MechWarrior sequel will introduce 4 player PvE co-op. Team up to take on story missions and procedurally generated quests. Customize your mech with weapons and parts to match your playstyle.
Little Nightmares III
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
The creepy puzzle-platformer horror series finally adds co-op in the third entry. Work together with a friend to guide the child characters Six and Mono through a disturbing dollhouse world.
Palia
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC
An open-world fantasy life sim with a focus on community, creativity and cooperation. Explore a vibrant world and build your dream home. Play minigames and develop relationships with friends.
Gloomwood
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, consoles TBA
A supernatural stealth action game set in a Victorian-era city. The procedural levels and emergent gameplay encourage cooperative strategies. Put your heads together to slip by enemies unseen.
Afterimage
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC
A narrative thriller focused on two detectives exploring memories. Co-op gameplay has you cooperating to change events and determine the story outcome. Discuss clues and theories to solve the mystery.
Legend of Keepers 2
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, consoles TBA
The dungeon management sim sequel expands the gameplay with 2-4 player co-op. Defend your dungeons together against heroes or team up as the heroes to raid the dungeons.
Operation: Tango
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
A spy adventure requiring true co-op between two players. Communicate clues to guide your partner through high-stakes espionage missions. Leverage each of your unique skillsets to get the job done.
Party Animals
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
A goofy multiplayer party brawler featuring absurd physics-based gameplay. Play through mini-games or battle modes with up to 4 players. Customize your cute animal avatar with wild accessories and outfits.
Starmancer
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC
A base-building space colony sim driven by an AI storyteller. Play solo or co-op to construct your intergalactic outpost and ensure the survival of your colonists.
The Finals
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, consoles TBA
A story-driven co-op adventure where you play as a misfit high school basketball team. Explore the school, strengthen relationships between unique characters and overcome challenges together on and off the court.
Forever Skies
Release Date: TBA 2024
Platforms: PC, next-gen consoles
A science-fiction survival game set on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Scavenge resources and information to rebuild your high-tech airship. The storyline supports optional co-op for 2 players.
What Makes a Great Coop Game?
Not all coop games are created equal. Some titles do a better job than others of creating a rewarding and memorable teamwork-focused experience. Based on the most popular and highest rated coop games out there, here are some key elements that help make a great coop game:
- Engaging Story and World – An immersive world with lore that pulls players in creates incentive to see it through together. Environmental storytelling fuels the imagination.
- Fun and Strategic Gameplay – The core mechanics and challenges should be intrinsically rewarding and enjoyable to master as a team.
- Defined Roles and Need for Teamwork – Players must complement each other and work together strategically to succeed. Distinct classes, abilities and dependencies foster cooperation.
- Replayability and Unlockables – New game plus modes, higher difficulties, unlockable characters/maps and randomized elements enhance replay value.
- Communication Tools – In-game voice chat, ping systems and other communication features are critical for coordinating effectively.
- Drop In/Out Availability – Players should be able to join or leave a co-op session in progress seamlessly without interrupting others’ progress.
- Balanced Challenge – Difficulty should scale appropriately for the team size and provide tense but achievable challenges requiring team coordination.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Coop Gaming
Coop gaming can lead to great times, but only if you utilize effective teamwork strategies. Here are some tips to help you and your fellow gamers get the most enjoyment out of playing coop:
- Communicate objectives, plans and locations – Constant communication keeps everyone on the same page and coordinated. Call out what you’re doing and seeing.
- Choose complementary roles/characters – Balance your group with different classes and abilities that create synergy.
- Use each person’s strengths – Good leaders, strategists, builders, etc. should use those skills to benefit the team.
- Coordinate attacks and abilities – Time your powers or attacks simultaneously for maximum impact.
- Share resources and loot drops – Funnel supplies, ammo, healing to those who need it most.
- Compromise on group decisions – Balance different playstyles and priorities to keep everyone happy.
- Review and discuss after sessions – Exchange constructive feedback to improve teamwork.
- Keep it lighthearted and fun – Joke around, take mistakes in stride, and enjoy the experience.
Conclusion
Coop gaming looks better than ever heading into 2024, with a stacked lineup of awesome new titles across every genre imaginable. From intense shooters like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 to more relaxed experiences like Palia, there are cooperative multiplayer adventures suitable for just about any friend group.
The social teamwork and shared challenges of coop games foster lasting bonds and memories between players. If you want to take down towering bosses, build sprawling bases, or just mess around and have fun with friends, then 2024 is set to deliver.
We’ve only scratched the surface of the many promising coop games slated for release next year. Which upcoming coop games are you most excited to play with your friends? Let us know! And be sure to bookmark this guide to stay up-to-date on the latest coop gaming news as more 2024 releases are announced.
Happy gaming, and we look forward to adventuring with you online in these awesome worlds. Now let’s squad up!
