10 Co-op Sequels That Improve On The Original
We live in an age where sequels are in abundance. In some cases, I’ve even considered myself to be sequel-fatigued. I find myself asking more and more if a sequel is really necessary to a story that has a clear and profound ending.
Although sequel saturation primarily occurs with movies, it can also happen with video games. I can understand why, since a successful game isn’t always easy to create, and when studios find an IP that works, they want to capitalize on its success.
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Unfortunately, it’s always a gamble. Some games, especially co-op games, often fail to produce successful sequels. But, among the lazy cash grabs, there are a few standouts.
If you’re looking for sequels worth your time and want to play with a friend or loved one, then it’s worth checking out these best co-op sequels that actually improve on the original.
To define this list, we first determined whether a game was actually co-op to identify the best co-op sequels for inclusion. We will also be including games that didn’t start out as co-op series, but became co-op-friendly in later iterations.
10
Sons of the Forest
Deeper Story & Better Co-op
Sons of the Forest holding head in front of cannibals
As someone who loves both survival and horror games, Sons of the Forest, and its prequel, The Forest, were made specifically for me and my ilk. It’s one of those games where you drop into the world with absolutely nothing and have to forage, explore, and craft to survive.
You’ll want to do that fast, too, since the island you’re on has cannibalistic maniacs and mutated monsters that will satisfy any body-horror fan’s needs. The game has its scary moments, but the great thing is you can play with a friend to ease the sense of terror. Or, at least share the burden.
Sons of the Forest improved on The Forest in many ways. For one, I certainly found the addition of golf carts to be absolutely wonderful. My partner and I could finally travel together across the island instead of losing each other among the trees.
There’s also more of a story in Sons of the Forest. In the original game, there was technically a story, too, but it relied more on environmental storytelling. Sons of the Forest still has that, but it also has more cutscenes and a grounded story.
9
Monster Hunter Wilds
Hunt And Fight With Friends
One of the best co-op franchises out there is Monster Hunter. It allows you to create your own spin on Geralt from The Witcher franchise. At least, that’s how I tend to play the games.
Monster Hunter Wilds is one of the many sequels, but it has made significant improvements on the game that came before it, Monster Hunter Rise. One of those improvements is the ability to carry up to two types of weapons in the field.
That may seem like a small thing, but considering this is the first time Monster Hunter has allowed that, it’s actually huge. Only carrying one type of weapon into hunts always drove me crazy.
Another notable improvement is that Wilds introduced crossplay. While co-op has always been a feature in many titles, Wilds is the first game to enable crossplay. Now, you can play the game with a friend who has a different console or platform than you.
It’s never been a better time to jump into Monster Hunter with some friends.
8
Dead Rising 2
Fun, Chaotic & Cheesy
One of my very first zombie games was Dead Rising, and I honestly had no idea what to expect. But, I didn’t expect the sheer volume of options I had to mutilate and destroy undead nasties.
So, when Dead Rising 2 came around, I was so excited to jump back in, especially with some friends. Dead Rising 2 saw numerous improvements over the first game. The story was more meaningful, for one.
I quickly bonded with my in-game daughter, knowing full well that I’d do anything to make sure she received the medicine she needed to avoid becoming a zombie.
But Dead Rising 2 also provided the same sort of laughs as its predecessor. Thanks to the game’s multiplayer setting, Terror Is Reality, my friends and I regularly competed to see who could come up with the zaniest weapon to take out the most zombies.
It’s the sort of nonsense that kids get up to in Fortnite these days, but with more gore and less toxicity. I have such fond memories of that game that I’m always hoping another worthy sequel in the Dead Rising franchise comes along.
7
Helldivers 2
Spread Democracy, Kick Ass
Helldivers 2 is almost unrecognizable in comparison to Helldivers. Gone is the top-down perspective, and in its place, you now have third-person action that feels leaps and bounds better, and bloodier.
It’s almost unfair to compare the two, as they’re so vastly different. Helldivers 2 has you killing off Terminids and Automatons all in the name of democracy. Just don’t look too closely at the details. Your commanding officer won’t like that.
You can play in squads with your friends and tackle missions to increase the overall progress in the campaign against the bugs or the machines, with a “Gamemaster” developer in charge of the story.
That story evolves based on the success or failure of the player base with each campaign, and the need for a collective to come together is truly amazing to witness in real-time. The devs may not be the best at managing their product, but even still, it’s one well worth checking out.
6
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Hardcore Parkour
Whoever thought of adding parkour to a zombie game is a genius. It was one of the most enjoyable aspects of Dying Light. I remember pulling off some pretty crazy zombie kills just because of my ability to scramble up a building, swing along a streetlamp, and drop some grenades.
Dying Light 2 made parkour even more enjoyable. The game introduced new tools, such as the glider, which made navigating the larger map faster and more enjoyable. Plus, it also introduced new types of dungeons like parking facilities and hospitals, adding some variety, and new frightening scenarios to the series.
One downside I encountered was that certain reward items weren’t always shared or unlocked, resulting in an occasional imbalance in progression between players. That’s the primary reason why Dying Light 2 isn’t much higher on the list.
But regardless, with the larger world, new enemy types, and refined parkour mechanics, the game is a vast improvement on Dying Light.
5
Unravel Two
How Could You Knot Love It?
From the moment I laid eyes on this gorgeous title, I fell in love with Unravel Two’s premise. The idea wasn’t just about two little guys made of yarn following a mysterious spark through a series of puzzles. It’s really about the connections that we make with other people.
Unravel was a beautiful game in its own right, but Unravel Two has a more poignant story, especially with the backdrop of helping children who face abuse from their parents, which is punctuated by complex co-op puzzles for you and a pal to navigate.
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The co-op focus really allowed the sequel to step up the complexity of each conundrum. My partner and I had to think out certain solutions, and although some of the sequences were quite tense, by and large, the game was tranquil and peaceful enough that it became a calming activity for us both.
Unravel Two made certain elements of Unravel even better, and playing with someone makes the game feel just that much more intimate and rewarding.
4
Left 4 Dead 2
Procedural Zombie Chaos
Zombie games tend to make for excellent co-op experiences, and L4D2 is a testament to that. It’s the sequel to Left 4 Dead, and one that offers a brand new set of survivors, even more undead variants to pump lead into, and a wealth of new game modes.
Left 4 Dead 2 retains all the charm and chaotic violence of the original, but tightens up the enemy AI and map design to offer more of the same, yet elevated to new heights.
Besides new enemy types, Left 4 Dead 2 introduced its AI Director 2.0, which is essentially an engine that procedurally generates levels based on the player’s past performance. If you relied on a particular strategy a lot, for example, then the game would try to throw out special enemies where that strategy wouldn’t work as well.
It’s a game that keeps you on your toes, forces you to adapt to survive, and one run never feels the same as the last. All attributes that make for a truly infinitely replayable co-op epic.
3
Portal 2
Starring ATLAS & P-Body
Even today, I think you would struggle to think of a more complex, cleverly designed, or endlessly quotable game than Portal. But if I had to name just one, I would go for a cop-out and say Portal 2.
Alongside a much more cinematic and hilarious single-player campaign, the game also featured an equally amazing co-op campaign where teamwork was mandatory. You know, for science.
It offered a new layer of intricate level design that simply wasn’t possible without a fellow test subject present to lend a hand, or a portal gun. Plus, when you milked the co-op campaign for all it’s worth, you could even mess around with a level editor.
The jury is still out on whether Portal 2 improves on the original’s single-player campaign, as it’s a close call. But, as a co-op experience, it’s literally no contest, and it’s a more well-rounded experience as a result.
2
Borderlands 2
The Best Of The Trilogy To Date
When Borderlands 2 was released, it was always on in my house. Whether it was me, a roommate, or a bunch of us all at once, someone was always playing Borderlands 2.
The game had a perfect blend of a great story, fun combat, excellent co-op options for 1–4 friends, and enough randomness to make several playthroughs worthwhile.
One of the weaker points of Borderlands was its story. While it wasn’t terrible, it pales in comparison to Borderlands 2. Handsome Jack remains one of the most iconic villains in video game history. He’s the guy that you love to hate, and the story he stars in grants him the spotlight he deserves.
Plus, the game manages to up the ante in just about every department, with tighter gunplay, more weapon variety, more rewarding side quests, and a larger, more interesting world to explore. And, of course, more stupid pop-culture references.
Borderlands hasn’t been able to capture the same magic since, and we can only hope that Borderlands 4 manages to capture that lightning in a bottle again. However, there is no question that Borderlands 2 improved upon the original.
1
Divinity: Original Sin 2
A Divine Sequel
Divinity: Original Sin 2 made an immediate improvement over the original game by removing ZixZax. Listening to his long monologues of lore in an ear-ringing voice was a terrible choice. So, Original Sin 2 already gets points for that.
But my very specific foibles aside, Original Sin 2 elevated the overall CRPG experience with sublime graphics, more intuitive, tactical combat, and UI that wasn’t a headache to engage with.
The game also lets you play and resolve issues in several different ways. While Original Sin wasn’t linear by any means, there’s just a bit more creative freedom in Original Sin 2.
For example, based on the background I picked, I could try to diplomatically resolve an issue between two factions or side with one over the other. I could even blow them both up if I were so inclined.
The story is also just a tad more gripping than Original Sin, especially since it pushes you to betray your friends. That’s what makes the co-op experience so enjoyable. You’re all headed to this final fight knowing that you’re going to have to kill your best friend or hope that they choose to refuse their god, like yourself.
The biggest compliment I can pay this sequel is that it renders the first game in the series obsolete, which is what you want from a sequel, not more of the same, but an innovation on what preceded it.
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