The Best Online Co-Op Games On PlayStation Plus Extra & Premium (January 2024)

Sony’s PlayStation Plus Extra subscription gives players access to a wide plethora of games that cover most needs. The service has lengthy RPGs like Dragon Quest 11 and Skyrim, shorter Action games like Devil May Cry 5, and competitive multiplayer titles like Soulcalibur 6 and For Honor. There should be something for just about anyone, and that includes co-op.

Local co-op and split-screen games encourage friends to come together for a night in front of the TV, and the games-ps-plus-extra-premium/”>best examples of these releases on PS Plus are mentioned in this article. However, online co-op is also popular, and this option is not neglected by Sony. What are the best online co-op games on PS Plus?

It Takes Two

Metascore: 88

Designed specifically with multiplayer in mind, to the point of not including a single-player option, It Takes Two might be the best co-op game on PS Plus. While the game supports couch co-op and shines brightly in this setting, it loses very little of its luster when experienced through an online connection. Combining gameplay and story seamlessly, games-long-distance-couples/”>It Takes Two follows a married couple who are on the brink of splitting up since they are not great at communication. Through the magic of fantasy, they wind up inhabiting their daughter’s dolls, sending them on a surprisingly epic journey that comes with a side helping of personal growth.

Hazelight specializes in co-op games, and the studio followed up the brilliant and gritty A Way Out with the more family-friendly but nevertheless mature It Takes Two. Both titles are must-play regardless of whether someone is into multiplayer or not as they tell powerful and well-written stories, all the while incorporating enjoyable and creative gameplay sections. In the latter’s case, It Takes Two shakes up its mechanics frequently throughout its campaign, ensuring things seldom feel repetitive.

It Takes Two will be leaving PS Plus on January 15, 2024.

Ghost Of Tsushima: Legends

Metascore: 87

Ghost of Tsushima is a fantastic Action-adventure game with a robust single-player campaign. A few months following the base title’s debut, Sucker Punch dropped Legends, a co-op side experience deep enough to justify a standalone release. Along with common modes like Survival, Legends also comes with a Story that guides two players through roughly 6 hours of content.

Legends has four classes: Samurai, Ronin, Assasin, and Hunter. Each one fits an archetype and has a specific role they should be fulfilling in combat scenarios. While some options like the Samurai are viable for solo or two-player runs, classes like the Ronin are designed with support in mind.

Back 4 Blood

Metascore: 77

Back 4 Blood is a first-person co-op shooter reminiscent of Left 4 Dead. Turtle Rock’s project wears its influences on its sleeve, which is hardly a terrible thing considering the market is not flooded with these sorts of titles. Back 4 Blood has solid gameplay and visuals, along with a card-based customization system that permits players to tweak their loadouts.

The differences between Back 4 Blood‘s playable survivors are not skin-deep either. Each character has unique traits and default weapons, which encourages teams to craft parties consisting of survivors that bring the best out of each other. Even though it is not a masterpiece and has had a fairly short lifespan for this type of project, Back 4 Blood is more than good enough to keep a group of friends engaged for a few hours.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2

Metascore: 81

A popular first-person Action game, Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is celebrating its five-year anniversary in 2023. Despite its growing age, Fatshark’s release is still reasonably active, and it is arguably the best Action-oriented Warhammer game of the last decade. Vermintide 2 pits the Heroes of Ubersreik against wave after wave of rat-themed enemies, showering them with loot if they manage to survive.

While the vanilla version only has 13 missions (+4 from free updates), the stages are meant to be repeated endlessly as players upgrade their class and weapons. Vermintide 2‘s five playable characters are wildly different from each other, ensuring most people find someone who suits their preferences.

Gotham Knights

Metascore: 68

Gotham Knights launched to a lackluster reception and time has done little to heal its reputation. As a full-priced title living in the shadow of the Arkham series, WB games Montreal’s open-world DC game struggled to hit the mark, garnering criticism for its rendition of Gotham, repetitive progression system, and combat. Thanks to its inclusion on PS Plus, the 2022 release is finally in a position where it can be recommended, especially since there are probably a lot of people who were excited about this game but ultimately abstained due to the critical and public backlash. Now, to be clear, most of the criticisms leveled at Gotham Knights hold weight, and anyone jumping on board should keep expectations fairly low; however, the game can be fun.

While the single-player is not a complete wash, Gotham Knights really goes up a notch in co-op. Two players can play through 99% of the campaign together, with the only exception being a small section at the start. After that, a second player can join the host and they can go through the full story, with drop-in/drop-out multiplayer also being an option. Things are scaled to the host’s level, but Gotham Knights takes measures to reward guests for their contributions, so it is not like only one player gets a proper experience. Players are not tied to each other either, so they can roam freely as they wish. There is also the Heroic Assault mode, which is a floor-based arena that supports up to four players and is a good place to grind.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House Of Ashes

Metascore: 72

Supermassive’s The Dark Pictures is an anthology series that will eventually include 8 games; at the moment, four main entries have been released along with a VR spin-off. While not quite as robust as Supermassive’s other horror projects like The Quarry and Until Dawn, The Dark Pictures‘ chapters are consistently great picks for co-op, especially local. In online co-op, House of Ashes opts for a shared experience where players get to stir the ship for a while before handing over control to their friends.

Although overshadowed by the couch iteration, House of Ashes‘ online co-op is a valid option in its own right. Limited to two participants, the game automatically picks who will be actively playing the campaign, and it will decide when to switch control. This system might not be to everyone’s fancy, but it does provide a unique co-op experience since one player’s actions directly impact the full group.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

Metascore: 87

Destiny 2‘s life has been turbulent. Bungie’s MMO-style first-person shooter got off to a fairly decent start, but its seasons and expansions have not always managed to be net positives to the overall package. That said, except for 2023’s Lightfall, most of the expansions are at least decent, even if they struggle somewhat to bring all their pieces together to produce satisfying campaigns. The Witch Queen is something of an exception as it manages to deliver the goods on every front, cementing its place as arguably the franchise’s best chapter in its entire history.

Newcomers to the game might be hesitant to jump on board since the version on PS Plus Extra does not include any of the expansions released prior to The Witch Queen, but they can play the latter’s content without worrying too much about everything that came before it. They will need to play through some of the base game, which is free to play, and might want to look into the lore so they get the most out of the experience. That said, Destiny 2‘s core gameplay is good enough to carry the load on its own.

The Witch Queen’s campaign is robust and well-paced, and it can be enjoyed while ignoring most of the side content. Players who want to avoid multiplayer will not feel shortchanged since the story is clearly designed to accommodate solo runs; however, co-op is also an option. The game does a decent job of scaling its content to match the number of players in a team, and the difficulty can also be raised to offer a more substantial challenge.

Returnal

Metascore: 86

Housemarque knows a thing or two about co-op. Dead Nation, Resogun, and Alienation all make good use of the feature, and they support both local and online connections. The developer’s most recent project, Returnal, did not launch with multiplayer, but an online two-player co-op option was added as part of the Ascension update. Thanks to this addition, players can now join forces to take on the game’s roguelike challenges, and there is the option to use a public or private server.

Returnal is challenging, and co-op does not necessarily make the experience easier. However, it does introduce a revive option into the gameplay loop, granting players a second chance. Otherwise, co-op provides essentially the same core experience as solo runs, albeit with two Selenes rather than just one. As the base package is fantastic, the same can be said about Returnal‘s co-op.

Dead By Daylight

Metascore: 64

Dead by Daylight is the most famous asymmetrical multiplayer game on the market, and that seems unlikely to change anytime soon. The game pits four survivors against one killer, with many of the available characters being based on popular IPs (although there are several original creations too). While one side of the equation will not be cooperating with anyone, the survivors should try to work together since they are considerably weaker than any of the killers. That said, players are largely left to their own devices, so they can decide themselves whether they wish to prioritize communication or not.

Dead by Daylight is kind of a weird inclusion as it is primarily advertised as an online multiplayer rather than co-op experience, which makes sense since matches are PvP rather than a group of players against AI. Nevertheless, it still works well as a co-op game, and it is among the best and most popular titles on PS Plus.

Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Metascore: 72

Team Ninja’s Final Fantasy prequel got a mixed reception at reveal and launch, dooming it to become something of a footnote in the franchise’s long legacy. Despite only coming out in 2022, the game has been forgotten already, and it is hardly an easy project to recommend since it does not try to scratch the same itch as most Final Fantasy releases. However, if a player is specifically searching for a hack and slash title with a linear campaign and a fairly robust job system, they should find what they are looking for with Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Unsurprisingly, the combat is fast-paced, deep, and satisfying; while not quite reaching Ninja Gaiden Black or Nioh 2 levels, it is still high quality. The story is generally entertaining nonsense that the characters take very seriously, which just adds to the amusement.

A less-advertised feature of Stranger of Paradise is its co-op support, which allows three players to join forces. Outside the tutorial and a couple of missions, most of the campaign can be played in online co-op, with the guest players taking charge of Jack’s comrades. Players will need to have reached an appropriate level in their playthroughs (or by playing co-op) to join in, so a beginner cannot jump into a late-game co-op session. Although prioritizing solo runs, Stranger of Paradise implements co-op fairly well, and the feature brings a new dimension to the gameplay. It also makes replaying missions way more fun.

Zombie Army 4: Dead War

Metascore: 72

Another zombie shooter akin to something like Left 4 Dead or Back 4 Blood, Zombie Army 4: Dead War is for those people who prefer a third-person perspective. Even though the game does not quite have the same name recognition as either of those projects, it is a respectable entry in the subgenre. As is always the case, four players can join forces to blast their way through fairly self-contained levels filled with a colorful and grotesque assortment of flesh-eaters.

Zombie Army 4 shakes things up by being set after World War 2 and granting a Nazi coat of paint to its armies of the walking dead. This setting is the element that distinguishes the game the most from its peers, and the campaign makes good use of the premise. Zombie Army 4 guides players through an over-the-top and entertaining story that is long enough to feel substantial without overstaying its welcome. Along with a decent selection of weapons, Dead War uses a rewarding perk system that adds some flavor to combat.

Darksiders Genesis

Metascore: 77

Darksiders has led such a strange existence. Each entry tackles a different subgenre of Action-adventure games, with some even venturing into RPG territory. Darksiders Genesis marks the franchise’s biggest departure to date, as the spin-off is a top-down hack and slash akin to something like Victor Vran. The game is also clearly meant to be experienced in co-op since it features two playable Horsemen: Strife and War. Solo players can swap between the two at will, which generally means they pick War when melee combat is the focus and then switch to Strife for ranged damage.

In local or online co-op, two players take charge of either Strife or War, allowing the powerful Horsemen to rain havoc simultaneously. Although they do not sync up all that much, Darksiders Genesis‘ characters are both fairly deep and offer a good range of loadout options to keep things interesting throughout the campaign. Since couch co-op utilizes a restrictive split-screen, online multiplayer is the better option in this case.

Moving Out 2

Metascore: 80

A day-one release added in games-moving-out-2/”>August 2023 to PS Plus Extra, Moving Out 2 is an addictive co-op party game that takes an annoying real-life venture and makes it aggressively entertaining. On paper, a game that revolves around moving furniture sounds tedious, and Moving Out 2 wisely does not eliminate the act’s inherent frustration but instead uses it as fuel for its physics-based shenanigans. Players will need to work together to carefully and safely guide each item from one home to the next, and the routes can get pretty crazy as the campaign progresses.

Moving Out 2 is divided into levels that are basically extended puzzles, and there is no attempt to adhere to reality. Compared to the original game, which is also on PS Plus Extra, the sequel really goes for broke in its settings, opting to throw multidimensional travel into the mix. This decision pays off beautifully and creatively. While solo play is possible, Moving Out 2 is 100% designed for co-op.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

Metascore: 80

Frozenbyte’s Trine is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for co-op-driven Action-platformer games. All the franchise’s titles are worth seeking out, however, PS Plus subscribers will need to settle for Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince. Despite the number in its title, this entry can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of its predecessors, so newcomers can start here.

Trine 4 follows three heroes (a mage, thief, and knight) as they go on an epic fantasy-laden adventure that tests their might and teamwork. While not devoid of combat, the campaign focuses on puzzles and platforming, with the former requiring creative use of the characters’ abilities. In solo runs, players can switch between the characters with the click of a button; in co-op, each user takes charge of one hero. Trine 4 features two modes: Classic and Unlimited. The former ties three players to specific heroes, while the latter allows four users to swap to any character whenever they want.

Sniper Elite 5

Metascore: 77

Rebellion’s Sniper Elite has been on an upward trajectory since its debut, resulting in a 2022 release that is comfortably the franchise’s most polished entry to date. As with its predecessors, Sniper Elite 5 takes place during World War 2 and follows Karl Fairburne as he infiltrates an array of well-guarded locations. Even though stealth is the name of the game since detection typically leads to death, Karl is not defenseless in a firefight either, so players who prefer to take a more explosive approach can try their luck.

Despite being largely regarded as a single-player series, Sniper Elite also tries to cater to multiplayer fans, especially the fifth entry. The campaign can be played in two-player co-op, allowing friends to take on the 9 main missions as a unit. Naturally, this comes with both benefits and challenges since doubling the sniper count means doubling the opportunities to trigger an alarm. Alongside the campaign, Sniper Elite 5 also has a Survival four-player option that is essentially a horde mode. Difficult and fun, Survival serves as an enjoyable way to enhance the game’s replayability.

Grand Theft Auto Online

Metascore: 81 (GTA 5)

Grand Theft Auto 5 launched in 2013 and is still going strong, and that longevity can be largely credited to GTA Online. Rockstar invested heavily in the game’s multiplayer component, which has gone on to become a massive earner for the developer. While GTA 6 is finally on the horizon, GTA Online will almost certainly remain a fixture of the franchise’s future, even if it might be tweaked and updated to match the most recent release. At this point, most people have likely tried out GTA 5 in some form or another, especially since the open-world game is available on most (non-Nintendo) consoles of the last three generations. Still, games-december-2023-gta-5/”>GTA 5‘s inclusion in PS Plus Extra’s December 2023 lineup was a big deal.

The single-player portion holds up pretty well, although it has not changed much at its core over the last decade. Conversely, GTA Online is regularly updated, ensuring there is nearly always something new for players to take on. Unlike most co-op games, this release is a sandbox that grants the option to engage in cooperative activities if someone wants to make that part of their experience. GTA Online players can take on most heists and missions with their friends, and co-op provides a nice way to shake things up.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Metascore: 85

They might not come around as often as they once did, but it is always an exciting day when a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game launches. And, in a nice change of pace from most of the franchise’s post-2000s efforts, Shredder’s Revenge is also great. Looking to recapture the Turtles’ beat ’em up glory days, Tribute games basically created a game ripped right out of the ’90s, albeit with enough modern touches for it to come across as a loving homage rather than just an antiquated throwback. Up to six players can join forces to take on the Foot Clan, and they are free to pick from the Turtles, Master Splinter, April, and Casey Jones. Even at face value, that is a more than solid selection for this type of game, and that is before taking into account each character’s unique traits. All the playable figures bring something fresh to the table, so even solo players can enjoy replaying the campaign by switching between the characters.

Gameplay-wise, Shredder’s Revenge sticks fairly close to the standard beat ’em up formula. The characters have a limited but satisfying moveset, and the levels pack a considerable punch. The boss fights are quite difficult and require mastery of the combat system’s mechanics to overcome. The stages are overflowing with references to TMNT‘s past, and the nods cover many of the franchise’s sides rather than just its gaming history.

Demon’s Souls (2020)

Metascore: 92

FromSoftware’s Souls games incorporate a unique form of multiplayer that enables players to visit each other’s worlds, and the Demon’s Souls remake is no exception. Depending on the item used, players can either invade and engage in PvP or be summoned to provide a helping hand. While the former tends to get more attention, the latter is also a common practice.

Up to four players can convene to take on the game’s plethora of challenging fights, with the helpers being sent back to their universes if they die or take down a boss. It should be noted that while co-op is ongoing, two invaders can also show up to add a PvP twist to the tale, so players should always be on their toes.

Bloodborne is also on PS Plus Extra and supports online co-op. The mechanic generally functions in the same way as in Demon’s Souls, although only three players can team up.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Metascore: 82

The Division 2 builds on its predecessor’s solid foundations. The Action RPG tries to be both a single-player third-person shooter and a live-service always-online experience, and, for the most part, it does an impressive job.

The main story will keep players engaged for a good 30 hours, and this section can be largely enjoyed solo. Alternatively, most of the campaign can be experienced in co-op, which unlocks after the story’s intro is completed. In comparison, the endgame content revolves heavily around PvP and online co-op. Four players can combine to create squads and take on missions, while that number is doubled for raids.

Killing Floor 2

Metascore: 75

PS Plus Extra has a few co-op games capable of scratching someone’s “blast zombies in the face” itch, and Killing Floor 2 compares favorably with any of its peers. Despite being fairly old by this point, the 2016 release holds up well thanks to its enjoyably over-the-top core gameplay loop along with a surprisingly addictive progression system. The campaign guides teams through a series of levels filled with wave after wave of enemies.

Killing Floor 2‘s gameplay loop is not complicated, and it is arguably simpler than games like Left 4 Dead; however, it is complemented by Perks that essentially serve as classes. Coming with unique abilities and weapons, each Perk can be leveled up, which adds a lot of replayability to the package. Killing Floor 2 supports up to 6 players simultaneously, and this is one of those games that simply needs to be experienced in co-op. Technically, single-player is an option, and while not unplayable, it is not great either.

Payday 2: Crimewave Edition

Metascore: 71

In 2023, Payday 2 celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and the co-op shooter is still as popular as ever. The game has a simple but brilliant premise: games-pulling-off-heists/”>team up with friends to pull off heists. It is possible to take on missions solo, but Payday 2 is really intended to be experienced with a consistent group of friends.

The progression system revolves around unlocking better gear and skills, both of which play significant roles in enhancing a crew’s professionalism. Consequently, players genuinely feel like they are improving with each new heist as their crew gradually morphs into a well-oiled machine.

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