Games Arcade: Top games of the week!

Giving in to the temptation of letting my partner buy our first PlayStation together has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in 2023. No more squabbling over chores and no more quibbling over whose interests should be put on hold over the weekends. With this new console, we not only relive a part of our childhood, but we also get to experience some great co-op games to keep the gaming spark fresh! So, if you have a friend or family member you love spending time with – or even better yet, just can’t get along with – you better believe these games will have you cooperating and making fun progress together in no time!

It takes two

Could there be a simpler name for a co-op game? The story begins with a couple who decided to get a divorce, and they broke the news to their young daughter over dinner. Before they know it, the daughter’s desperate desire to be together magically turns them into dolls that are thrown into the basement of their house. To get back to being human again, they need to fight through the things they’ve locked away over the years deep in their homes and hearts. From vengeful vacuum cleaners to squirrel soldiers patrolling the basement, the couple needs to find a way out together. In each stage, after discovering new controls, moves, and actions, you have to make progress to reach the boss level in each stage. Boss level requires the most efficient coordination over and over again until the enemy is defeated. Aside from the main story, there are mini-games unlocked along the way that provide fun short breaks. The dialogue ranges from appropriately caustic to occasionally hesitantly congratulatory, which is very much in keeping with how a couple who have decided to break up would sound. Remember there is no solo mode at all in this. So, if you want to play this game alone, it simply won’t let you.

Type – Adventure (multiplayer)

Developer – Hazlight Studios

Available on – PlayStation 4 and later, Windows, Xbox and Nintendo Switch

Overcooked! 2

I’ve always loved management games ever since the epic Tycoons series hit our PCs. Give me a hotel, restaurant, café or park to manage and I’ll do a better job than managing my own life. I level up faster too, than I do “irl”!

This co-op cooking and time management game is in its second iteration due to how popular the original was. While cooking together in real life can be a calm, connected activity that brings people together, the game experience is constantly chaotic. Playing as two chefs, you and one of the participating players will be able to manage the kitchen and place enough orders before time runs out. Thank goodness for training mode because as we level up, the pressure of getting the recipes right and sending the dishes out in a timely manner becomes insane! Once you master each level’s unique dishes, you can switch to story mode where you can actually make progress. Unlike ‘It Takes Two’, Overcooked 2 allows you to play the game solo in certain modes, though it doesn’t tone down the chaos. The soundtrack matches the frenetic energy of the game, which also includes improving your cooking skills while parachuting! Although it’s not the most relaxing game you can turn to on a Sunday, this game will definitely make you enjoy the process of frustration, joy, and good company.

Type – Casual, cooking simulation

Developers – Ghost city games

Available on – Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and later, Windows, and Xbox One