The PlayStation 4 is a juggernaut of a console that’s helped the gaming industry take massive steps forward. The console has continued to carry on Sony’s goodwill as it’s pushed old franchises into the future as well as introduced all sorts of exciting and new intellectual properties.
As players prepare for the next generation of gaming, there have been more people looking back to everything that the PlayStation 4 has accomplished. The console has landmark games for every genre, but there’s been an increased focus on co-operative experiences. Accordingly, here are 5 underrated co-op games for the PlayStation 4, and 5 that are overrated.
10 Underrated: Borderlands 3
Even individuals who aren’t huge gamers have likely heard of the Borderlands series. Each new installment in the franchise brings in more of a crowd and there’s even a feature film adaptation that’s on the way.
Borderlands 3 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but that’s alright for a series that’s already so enjoyable. There are tons of comparable titles that vie for players' attention, but it’s the madcap characters, story, and sense of humor in Borderlands 3 that helps bring the whole package together.
9 Overrated: Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
The Division series has effectively taken the Tom Clancy brand of shooters into the next generation. The military-based shooters have occupied a devoted niche in gaming for decades and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 embraces the idea of co-op play to deliver a satisfying challenge.
The Division 2 improves plenty of kinks from the first title and it still has a thorough single-player campaign. However, fatigue is setting in with these games and even though it’s well made, it’s easy for it to blend in with the other shooters of its kind.
8 Underrated: Divinity: Original Sin II
It’s common for shooters to be titles that allow co-operative play to help level the playing field, but it’s always exciting when another genre can indulge in bringing a partner to the party. The Divinity series is an isometric fantasy RPG and Original Sin II manages to take everything from its predecessor & competition and improves upon it in a sleek package. Divinity: Original Sin II is packed with content to explore, but the journey becomes even better when there’s someone there to help lend a hand in battle.
7 Overrated: Overcooked
Overcooked is a very fun alternative for the gamers out there that are hungry for a co-operative experience but aren’t big fans of shooters or their intense online communities. Overcooked is a much more casual affair that turns food preparation into manic multiplayer madness. The simplistic nature of Overcooked makes it extremely easy to enjoy for a few rounds, but it also feels like a temporary distraction or something that’s played as a warm up to a fuller co-op experience. Overcooked is fun, but it’s ultimately of little substance.
6 Underrated: Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes comes from a small independent Canadian developer, but it’s honestly one of the most brilliant ideas for a co-operative game. The title depends on effective teamwork as one player is the “defuser” who has a bomb stuck on their head, while the other is the “expert” that instructs them how to escape this danger. Each player is hindered by what they can see and do, so both players must work together as one mind in order to succeed. The incorporation of VR technology turns Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes into an even more impressive offering.
5 Overrated: Resident Evil 5
The Resident Evil series isn’t just one of Capcom’s most successful franchises, but it’s become one of the most acclaimed survival horror series of all time. The series has seen a recent boon due to titles that were returns to form, like Resident Evil VII. However, Resident Evil 5 marks a dark time in the series where a lack of cohesive vision held the game back. The addition of co-op play is a nice change of pace, but it doesn’t change the fact that the main game isn’t the best the series has to offer.
4 Underrated: Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
It’s never been a better time to be a fan of superheroes and while comic book aficionados are frequently seeing history made with superhero films, there’s also been a very encouraging trend towards satisfying superhero video games. Lego has been able to give a cute makeover to plenty of popular franchises, but their work with Marvel has been on another level. Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is pure bliss as it allows players to work together and play as practically any Marvel character that they want. The style may be too cute for some, but the gameplay is so soothing.
3 Overrated: Payday 2
The Payday series takes the tension of first-person shooters and ramps it up in a game that focuses on coordinated heists and teamwork. Payday 2 greatly improves upon its predecessor and delivers a much more complete experience. The ability to work through the game with a partner is a huge benefit, but despite how enjoyable this is, the title feels like a relic of the past in many ways. The co-op is pleasant, but there are more modern shooters that have improved on the form.
2 Underrated: Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime
It can sometimes be difficult for smaller games that utilize a more simplistic art design to break through to the same crowds that clamor over titles that push the console to its graphical limitations. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a terrific example of how processing power isn’t everything and that a strong aesthetic and vision can be enough. The title is a love letter to frenetic space shooters and players are less likely to get overwhelmed by the storm of bullets when there’s a partner involved in the action.
1 Overrated: Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare 2
Part of the joy of the Plants vs. Zombies series is how a silly parody premise has been able to transform into a legitimate shooter franchise. Garden Warfare 2 is one of the better and more thorough applications of this surreal game. The gameplay and co-op is entertaining, but there are still times when Garden Warfare 2 feels like more of a gimmick than a top-tier game. The strange shooter is fun for a few rounds, but gamers may ultimately long for more of a challenge.