Co-op games are a great way to spend some time with friends or family. The majority of these experiences are pretty laidback, allowing players to go through the game at their own pace without really worrying too much about the challenges that these games may have. There's certainly an appeal here that many co-op players will find hard to resist, but there are more hardcore gamers who would want to enjoy a game that doesn't shy away from challenging them.
Such players wouldn't mind teaming up to play more strategic games that push their minds to their very limits. If a stressful setting is also required, then playing games set during chaotic wars certainly sounds like the best option for these players.
7 Arma 3
Arma 3 is a great video game where tactics are downright necessary to ensure survival. The sheer impressive nature of its game engine can be seen in the fact that many popular titles have been birthed as mods for this game, showing just how versatile the systems that power this game really are.
Players have to communicate properly with their allies and use proper tactics if they wish to get through the challenging co-op campaign. It's a fun title to play for fans of more realistic military shooters where strategy is just as important as a player's aiming skills.
6 World Of Tanks
Most people look down upon the free-to-play moniker as nothing more than an excuse for players to release games that feature a ridiculous amount of grind to carry their paper-thin gameplay loops. So, it's always nice to see games like World of Tanks show that free games don't necessarily need to lack any kind of quality.
The gameplay in this title is amazing, with teams having to coordinate their armed assaults efficiently to secure victory. While it's fun to go all-out with a destructive tank, players should still try to employ effective strategies to ensure victory for their team instead of trying to be a one-man army.
5 Army Of Two: The 40th Day
A tactical military game that is criminally underrated, fans of co-op experiences will love what Army of Two brings to the table. The first two games are a great example of what hardcore military FPS titles can achieve when focusing on two characters, which is why it's such a shame that the third game glossed over this mechanic altogether.
Army of Two doesn't shy away from punishing players for trying to take enemies out on their own or not employing efficient strategies. Communicating with one's co-op partner is downright necessary if players don't want to be overwhelmed by their opponents time and time again.
4 Hell Let Loose
Maybe the idea of calling a massive 50 vs 50 multiplayer game co-op may rub some people the wrong way, but the emphasis on strategic thinking and tactical approaches means that players really have to communicate what they want to their partner with great efficiency in Hell Let Loose.
The switch to Team17 has not made for the smoothest transition, but players who haven't played Hell Let Loose yet will love what this title brings to the table once they get over its massive learning curve. Without a proper strategy, a team will be totally overwhelmed by smarter opposition.
3 Squad
The name of this title should make it infinitely clear that teamwork and communication are paramount to victory. Without a team working in tandem, any player who tries out Squad will be frustrated by how easily they get decimated by their opponents over and over again.
Players need to choose the appropriate classes and utilize their functions to a T if they want to get through a round of Squad without facing a brutal and humiliating death. Over time, any player who struggles with this title will slowly understand how the game works, eventually leading their squad to victory with superior tactics over and over again.
2 Insurgency: Sandstorm
A tactical shooter with co-op elements, Insurgency: Sandstorm has slowly become one of the most popular strategy-driven military shooters that most fans adore. Squads and teams need to communicate with each other properly in order to attain victory against the opponents that stand in their way.
At any moment, a quiet, tactical approach can turn into a wild shootout with multiple fatalities, making it important to prioritize self-preservation over everything else. Just like Counter-Strike, players have to take out their opponents or fulfill objectives to attain victory at all costs.
1 Escape From Tarkov
One of the most popular tactical shooters around, Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore military FPS where players can choose to team up in squads to battle against other enemies. Trying to head to an extraction point while struggling to survive makes for a compelling gameplay loop that players simply can't get enough of.
Scavenging loot and trying to avoid any meaningless combat is the best way to get through this game, with each successful extraction causing players to smile widely at their success. Of course, beginners will take some time to get used to the gameplay loop, but it's well worth the effort given how satisfying it is to win a round after struggling for hours on end.