In recent years, Metroidvanias have seen a tremendous surge in popularity, captivating an ever-growing audience. These games highlight exploration and discovery, offering players an unparalleled sense of freedom. However, the most engaging experiences within this genre are often those that introduce cooperative gameplay, allowing friends and family to join in on the adventure.
Cooperative Metroidvanias offer everything fans love about the genre, while adding a layer of teamwork and shared enjoyment. Initially known for their solo journeys, many developers are now embracing co-op features, often enhancing older titles with new, collaborative gameplay elements.
From navigating ancient ruins to battling creatures on distant planets, the following co-op Metroidvanias demonstrate that teamwork can amplify the excitement of exploration. So gather your friends, grab a controller, and prepare to embark on some of the most thrilling cooperative experiences the genre has to offer.
1. Pampas and Selene: The Maze of Demons
A Love Letter to Metroidvania Classics
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Developer |
@unepic_fran |
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Release Date |
May 21st, 2024 |
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Platform |
PC, Nintendo Switch |
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Genre |
Metroidvania, Local Co-Op |
If you have a fondness for classic titles like Castlevania and Metroid, then Pampas and Selene: The Maze of Demons is a must-play. This game serves as a tribute to the iconic Metroidvania style, featuring charming 8-bit graphics and nostalgic soundtracks that will resonate with longtime gamers.
Players take on the roles of Pampas and Selene, two aspiring heroes on a quest to save the world from danger. Their journey unfolds within a sprawling haunted castle teeming with adversaries, including mythological Greek deities. Teamwork is essential as players strategize to defeat formidable foes together.
Offering both online and local cooperative modes, this title ensures that distance is no barrier to collaboration. Players can teleport to one another anytime, minimizing the risk of getting lost, provided that you’re both not directionally challenged. This game reinforces the notion that teamwork is crucial in saving the world.
2. A Robot Named Fight!
The Perfect Roguevania for Co-Op
Imagine blending the mechanics of Super Metroid with a roguelike dungeon crawler; the result would be A Robot Named Fight! This intensely chaotic game immerses players into a grotesque world filled with horrific cybernetic foes.
Your primary objective is to thwart the Megabeast—an immense, nightmarish creature that threatens robot civilization itself. The game’s cooperative mode allows a second player to join the adventure, controlling a support orb that assists the main player in combat and exploration, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
3. Wuppo: Definitive Edition
The Cutest Metroidvania You’ve Never Heard Of
Wuppo stands out as an ideal entry point for newcomers to the Metroidvania genre due to its accessible mechanics and charming aesthetics. Instead of battling dark forces, players explore a whimsical world as “Wum, ” a bright and optimistic blob creature searching for a place to call home.
This quirky title invites players into a vibrant environment filled with puzzles and friendly creatures, all while encouraging collaborative play. In split-screen co-op mode, you and a friend can tackle challenges together, navigating the delightful yet chaotic world of Wuppo.
4. UNSIGHTED
Race Against Time Itself
UNSIGHTED is a memorable experience, especially when played alongside a partner. You embody Alma, an Automaton who awakens in a devastated post-humanity world, needing to conserve the precious resource known as Anima to save other automatons from succumbing to madness.
The urgency of survival is amplified in cooperative mode, where every decision weighs heavily, potentially impacting the lives of your characters. Players must work together to strategize and ensure the survival of their companions in this race against a relentless countdown.
5. Guacamelee! 2
All Hail the Chicken Illuminati
Guacamelee! 2 melds the worlds of wrestling and heroism, delivering a fun experience for both solo and co-op players. This sequel reunites players with Juan Aguacate as he embarks on another daring mission to save the Mexiverse from tyranny.
Jumping through time and battling a wide array of enemies while solving intricate puzzles requires tactical teamwork. The game’s split-screen co-op mode makes taking on its challenges with friends even more enjoyable.
6. Timespinner
Travel to the Past to Save the Future
Timespinner innovatively uses enemies as platforms, showcasing its unique gameplay mechanics. You assume the role of Lunais, who seeks vengeance against the Lachiem Empire for her family’s murder using the ancient Timespinner device to manipulate time.
As you navigate this meticulously designed world, time manipulation becomes a vital tool for overcoming obstacles and enhancing combat encounters. Cooperative play allows a second player to control your helpful familiar, adding an intriguing element to the gameplay.
7. Sundered: Eldritch Edition
H. P.Lovecraft Would Love Metroidvanias
In Sundered, the narrative intertwines Lovecraftian horror with Metroidvania mechanics, creating a visually stunning and thematically rich experience. As Eshe, a lone wanderer in a grotesque world, players face the challenge of overcoming both the terrifying environment and disturbing adversaries.
The game’s unique power dynamic allows players to either resist dark influences or embrace them, all while collaborating with friends to maintain both sanity and their humanity amid the horror surrounding them.
8. Primal Planet
Dinosaurs, Aliens, Metroidvanias, Oh My!
Primal Planet, a game steeped in prehistoric lore, allows the player to navigate a vibrant landscape filled with dinosaurs and ancient mysteries. As a caveman separated from your family after a T-Rex attack, your adventure spans a vast world where friendships with dinosaurs play a pivotal role in overcoming challenges.
Co-op mode allows another player to partner with you as Sino, a baby dinosaur, showcasing the unique bonds that are central to the experience.
9. Salt and Sanctuary
Less Salt, More Sanctuary
Salt and Sanctuary encapsulates the challenging essence of Dark Souls, combined with Metroidvania elements. The narrative begins with a fateful sea voyage interrupted by a monstrous beast, leaving your avatar stranded on a treacherous island. Filled with grotesque creatures and horrific entities, the quest to find the lost princess leads deep into the labyrinthine structures of the island.
Local co-op is essential in this dark world, providing players with much-needed support as they face horrific challenges together.
10. Revenge of the Savage Planet
Corporate Revenge, Co-Op Edition
Revenge of the Savage Planet combines humor with a satirical take on corporate life in its unique Metroidvania format. After being unceremoniously fired from your intergalactic job, you find yourself on a distant planet, determined to claim your revenge.
Throughout your journey, you and a friend can explore various planets while collecting bizarre items and scanning incredible creatures. The inclusion of both local and online co-op enhances the chaotic fun, ensuring that defeating enemies and overcoming challenges is even more entertaining when shared.
This cooperative adventure superbly illustrates that sometimes the journey of vengeance is indeed best when it’s shared.
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