20 Co-Op Games Like ‘A Way Out’ You Need to Try in 2024

In the world of gaming, few experiences match the thrill of a well-crafted cooperative adventure. A Way Out set a benchmark for such games, offering a unique split-screen experience that required two players to work in tandem, each from their own perspective but towards a common goal.

If you’ve successfully broken out of prison and are itching for more games that foster teamwork, camaraderie, and perhaps the occasional friendly squabble over tactics, then you’re in luck.

Here’s a list of 20 games that, like a well-mixed cocktail, blend the right amount of cooperation with a dash of competition—just enough to keep things interesting without spilling over into a full-blown argument about who forgot to press the right button at the crucial moment. So, grab a partner, and let’s dive into a world where ‘together’ means more than just sharing the couch.

But first, let’s examine what makes A Way Out so special?

What Makes A Way Out Special

A Way Out is a distinctive game in the action-adventure genre, primarily because it is designed exclusively for two players to experience together. Released on March 23, 2018, by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts, it is the brainchild of director Josef Fares, who previously directed Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.

The game is set in the 1970s and follows two convicts, Leo and Vincent, who must collaborate to break out of prison and continue their lives on the run from authorities. What makes A Way Out unique is its mandatory two-player cooperative gameplay, which is executed through a split-screen format, allowing both players to simultaneously engage in the narrative and gameplay.

This design choice fosters a shared experience where players must rely on teamwork to progress, with each player taking on different roles that can change throughout the game.

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↪ Critical Acclaim: Reception and Reviews

The game has been praised for its engaging story, character development, and innovative gameplay mechanics. It offers a variety of gameplay experiences, including stealth, action sequences, puzzle-solving, and interactive dialogues.

The game’s narrative is driven by the characters’ backstories and motivations, which unfold through flashbacks until converging in the present. The reception of A Way Out has been overwhelmingly positive, with critics lauding its storytelling, character portrayal, and fresh take on cooperative gameplay.

↪ Sales Success and Continued Growth

In terms of growth, A Way Out has seen continued success over the years. It sold over a million copies within two weeks of its release and reached two million sales by August 2019. By January 2021, the game had sold more than 3.5 million copies, indicating its lasting appeal and the strength of its design in attracting players.

The game’s success is a testament to the potential of cooperative gameplay and narrative-driven experiences in video games. It stands out as a title that not only provides entertainment but also explores the depth of human relationships and the consequences of choices, all within the framework of a video game.

A Way Out remains a special entry in the gaming world for its bold approach to storytelling and player interaction. So, if you liked A Way Out, you’ll love the 20 games on this list.

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20 Games Like A Way Out

So without any further ado let’s jump straight into the list of 20 Co-op games similar to A Way Out.

1. It Takes Two

• Story & Setting: It Takes Two is a co-op adventure that follows the story of Cody and May, a couple transformed into dolls by a magic spell. They must navigate through a series of challenges orchestrated by a love guru book to fix their fractured relationship.
• Mechanics: The game combines various gameplay elements like platforming, puzzle-solving, and action sequences, requiring players to work together to progress.
• Synopsis: With its heartwarming narrative and innovative co-op mechanics, It Takes Two offers a unique blend of storytelling and gameplay that encourages teamwork and communication.
• Genre: Action-Adventure Platformer
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows

2. Portal 2

• Story & Setting: In Portal 2, players explore the dilapidated Aperture Science Labs, encountering ingenious puzzles and a darkly humorous story involving GLaDOS, the AI antagonist.
• Mechanics: The game’s core mechanic involves using a portal gun to create interconnected portals to solve puzzles and navigate the environment.
• Synopsis: Portal 2 expands on its predecessor’s formula with a more extensive single-player campaign and a separate co-op campaign that challenges players to think creatively.
  Genre: Puzzle-Platformer
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

3. Overcooked: All You Can Eat

• Story & Setting: This chaotic cooking simulator puts players in the shoes of chefs in increasingly bizarre and challenging kitchens.
• Mechanics: Players must work together to prepare and cook orders under time pressure, often dealing with obstacles and changing environments.
• Synopsis: Overcooked: All You Can Eat combines the content of Overcooked and Overcooked 2, offering a feast of cooperative culinary chaos that tests communication and teamwork.
• Genre: Indie Strategy
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

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4. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

• Story & Setting: This narrative-driven adventure tells the story of two brothers on a quest to find a cure for their ailing father, set in a world filled with myths and fairy tales.
• Mechanics: Players control each brother with a different analog stick, requiring coordination to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles.
• Synopsis: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a moving single-player experience that captures the essence of cooperation through its unique control scheme.
• Genre: Adventure
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android

5. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

• Story & Setting: In this high-stakes bomb-defusing game, one player is trapped in a room with a ticking bomb while the other players have the manual to defuse it.
• Mechanics: Communication is key as the defuser describes the bomb, and the other players guide them through the defusal process without seeing the device.
• Synopsis: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is an intense cooperative experience that requires clear communication and problem-solving under pressure.
• Genre: Puzzle
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

6. Payday 2

• Story & Setting: Payday 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter where players take on the role of a member of the Payday gang, pulling off heists and big scores.
• Mechanics: The game focuses on teamwork, with players choosing different roles and coordinating their actions to successfully complete various criminal objectives.
• Synopsis: With a variety of heists and a strong emphasis on cooperative play, Payday 2 offers a thrilling experience for those looking to engage in some virtual criminal activity with friends.
• Genre: First-Person Shooter
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux

7. Sea of Thieves

• Story & Setting: Sea of Thieves is an open-world multiplayer game that puts players in the role of pirates sailing the high seas in search of treasure and adventure.
• Mechanics: The game emphasizes exploration, combat, and cooperation as players manage their ship, engage in naval battles, and hunt for treasure.
• Synopsis: Sea of Thieves offers a vast, shared world full of opportunities for cooperative play, making it a perfect choice for those who love the pirate life.
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows

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8. Divinity: Original Sin 2

• Story & Setting: Set in the fantasy world of Rivellon, players embark on a quest to become a god in this critically acclaimed RPG.
• Mechanics: The game features deep turn-based combat, a rich story, and the freedom to explore and interact with the world and its inhabitants.
• Synopsis: Divinity: Original Sin 2 is renowned for its complex systems and cooperative gameplay, offering a rich and rewarding experience for RPG fans.
• Genre: Role-Playing Game
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS

9. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

• Story & Setting: This colorful and quirky game has players piloting a spaceship through a neon galaxy, rescuing animals and fighting off enemies.
• Mechanics: Up to four players must work together to control different parts of the ship, from navigation to weapons, to overcome challenges.
• Synopsis: Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a fun and frantic co-op game that emphasizes teamwork and coordination in a vibrant and whimsical setting.
• Genre: Action
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

10. Unravel Two

• Story & Setting: In Unravel Two, players control two Yarnys—small creatures made of yarn—as they navigate through beautiful natural landscapes.
• Mechanics: The game combines platforming and puzzle-solving, with players using their yarn to swing, climb, and solve environmental puzzles.
• Synopsis: Unravel Two is a charming and visually stunning platformer that can be played solo or with a friend, offering a serene yet challenging co-op experience.
• Genre: Puzzle-Platformer
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows

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11. The Escapists 2

• Story & Setting: The Escapists 2 is a strategy game where players plan and execute daring escapes from some of the toughest prisons in the world.
• Mechanics: It involves crafting, stealth, and strategy as players find ways to break out without getting caught.
• Synopsis: With its pixel-art style and sandbox environment, The Escapists 2 offers a humorous take on prison life and the challenge of escaping.
• Genre: Strategy, Simulation
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

12. Cuphead

• Story & Setting: Cuphead is set in a 1930s cartoon universe and follows the story of Cuphead and Mugman who make a deal with the devil and must repay their debt.
• Mechanics: The game is known for its challenging run-and-gun gameplay and boss battles.
• Synopsis: Cuphead stands out with its hand-drawn animations and jazz soundtrack, offering a tough yet rewarding co-op experience.
• Genre: Run-and-Gun
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch

13. Castle Crashers

• Story & Setting: In Castle Crashers, players embark on a quest to rescue princesses and defeat an evil wizard in a medieval fantasy world.
• Mechanics: The game features hack-and-slash action with RPG elements, allowing players to level up and unlock new abilities.
• Synopsis: Castle Crashers offers a mix of humor, action, and RPG mechanics, making it a great co-op game for all ages.
• Genre: Action, RPG
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch

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14. Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

• Story & Setting: Trine 4 follows three heroes on a quest to stop the Nightmare Prince, set in a beautiful 2.5D world of fairy tales and magic.
• Mechanics: Players use the unique abilities of each character to solve puzzles and combat enemies in a physics-based environment.
• Synopsis: With its enchanting visuals and cooperative puzzle-solving, Trine 4 is a magical adventure best enjoyed with friends.
• Genre: Puzzle, Platformer
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

15. Rayman Legends

• Story & Setting: Rayman Legends is a platformer set in a whimsical world filled with music and lore, where Rayman and friends embark on an adventure to save the Teensies.
• Mechanics: The game combines traditional platforming with rhythm-based levels and cooperative play.
• Synopsis: Rayman Legends is praised for its creative-level design, stunning visuals, and seamless co-op integration.
• Genre: Platformer
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

16. Human: Fall Flat

• Story & Setting: This physics-based puzzle game has players navigating dreamscapes as a wobbly human character.
• Mechanics: The game focuses on exploration and creativity, with players manipulating the environment to solve puzzles.
• Synopsis: Human: Fall Flat is a hilarious and open-ended game that encourages experimentation and teamwork in co-op mode.
• Genre: Puzzle, Platformer
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

17. Don’t Starve Together

• Story & Setting: Don’t Starve Together is the multiplayer version of the survival game Don’t Starve, where players are dropped into a dark, gothic world and must survive.
• Mechanics: Players gather resources, craft items, and fend off creatures to stay alive.
• Synopsis: With its Tim Burton-esque art style and challenging survival mechanics, Don’t Starve Together is a co-op experience that tests players’ resourcefulness.
• Genre: Survival
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

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18. Helldivers

• Story & Setting: Helldivers is a top-down shooter set in a dystopian future where players are part of an elite unit fighting for humanity’s survival.
• Mechanics: The game emphasizes cooperative play, with players working together to complete objectives and survive against overwhelming odds.
• Synopsis: Helldivers offers a mix of intense action and strategic gameplay, with a strong focus on teamwork and player coordination.
• Genre: Shooter
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows

19. Gauntlet: Slayer Edition

• Story & Setting: Gauntlet: Slayer Edition is a modern reboot of the classic dungeon crawler, where players choose from different classes to battle through hordes of enemies.
• Mechanics: The game combines hack-and-slash action with RPG elements, allowing for character progression and loot collection.
• Synopsis: Gauntlet: Slayer Edition is a tribute to the original, offering a co-op experience that’s both nostalgic and fresh.
• Genre: Action, RPG
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows

20. Moving Out

• Story & Setting: Moving Out is a physics-based moving simulator that turns the mundane task of relocating furniture into a fun and chaotic experience.
• Mechanics: Players work together to move objects from various locations to a moving truck, dealing with obstacles and time limits.
• Synopsis: With its humorous scenarios and cooperative gameplay, Moving Out is a lighthearted and engaging game perfect for co-op play.
• Genre: Simulation, Puzzle
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

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Conclusion

Each game mentioned in this list offers unique challenges and shared experiences. These titles not only provide entertainment but also emphasize the value of teamwork and collective problem-solving.

As we wrap up, it’s evident that whether through intricate puzzles or collaborative storytelling, games like ‘A Way Out’ have the power to bring players together in meaningful ways. So choose your next adventure, invite a partner, and enjoy the camaraderie that only co-op gaming can offer.