It's Critter Time!

Whether it's 2, 3 or 4 player, this is my go-to genre when I want to just kick back, relax, and pop some heads with the homies. Even since Left 4 Dead came out, I've enjoyed hating my fellow gamer as they let me down by trying to shoot the Witch (like come on man she was not even on the path), but I've also had a lot of fun with people I do know, who will NOT shoot the Witch when I ask them nicely.

Feel free to recommend any games of the genre here, there's a lot to choose from.

Here's a list from me:

• Left 4 Dead 2 - It's like L4D1, but with more stuff. You and three friends try to survive the zombie apocalypse, getting from point A to point B and finding new weapons and resources along the way. Notably, does NOT contain any RPG elements,, because I guess those weren't invented yet.
• Vermintide 2 - Set in the Warhammer fantasy universe, you and three friends play as a group of bastards trying to stop the End Times from happening and killing a bunch of rats and Chaos in the process. Regrettably, you cannot play as a rat unless it's PvP.
• Darktide - Same developers as Vermintide, but this time the game is in space (aka the grimdark future of 40k). You and three friends play as a group of bastards trying to stop Heretics from doing what Heretics do. It's more or less Vermintide, better in some ways, worse in others.
• Roboquest - A 2 player co-op roguelite that's focused on fast movement and execution. There's RPG mechanics and weapon stats, but if you're good enough, a bad weapon will work and if you're bad enough, a good weapon will not be enough.
• Gunfire: Reborn - What if Borderlands was a roguelite and you played as cute furries? That's the sales pitch. Unlike Roboquest, this one is more stats and less execution-based, and it's very common to break the game over your knee.
• World War Z - You and up to three friends try to survive the zombie apocalypse, getting from point A to point Band finding new weapons and resources along the way. It's also 3rd person and has class progression. Doesn't do much new, but pretty solid experience.

I'm sure people have some of their own recommendations, so I'm gonna let someone else be the first to recommend Deep Rock Galactic.

Was about to send Darktide as a suggestion but seeing it's already in, but

May I interest some in co-op Quake 1 or maybe even some Sven Co-op shenanigans?
Embrace the jank, scream at random gibs and explosions, laugh at the misfortune of your allies

I didn't even realize Quake 1 had co-op. I did play DOOM 1 co-op.

Enbyeon wrote: Sat Jul 12, 2025 4:58 pm I didn't even realize Quake 1 had co-op. I did play DOOM 1 co-op.

Yup! Remaster on steam has it being streamlined, it's a short game but worth it and there's a few mod packs included in remaster too I like

Wouldn't mind hitting ya up for that if up for it!

Enbyeon wrote: Sat Jul 12, 2025 4:58 pm I didn't even realize Quake 1 had co-op. I did play DOOM 1 co-op.

Yup! Remaster on steam has it being streamlined, it's a short game but worth it and there's a few mod packs included in remaster too I like

Wouldn't mind hitting ya up for that if you for it!

I'm very curious if co-op is working in the System Shock 2 remaster. The original version had four player co-op, and while it was extremely fun, it was equally buggy and not the best implementation. Never managed to finish a full run despite trying a few times, but good gods it turns a really tense, moody game into a slapstick comedy and I love it. Hopefully it's present and more functional in the remaster.

Mixi Blacksand wrote: Sat Jul 12, 2025 5:03 pm I'm very curious if co-op is working in the System Shock 2 remaster. The original version had four player co-op, and while it was extremely fun, it was equally buggy and not the best implementation. Never managed to finish a full run despite trying a few times, but good gods it turns a really tense, moody game into a slapstick comedy and I love it. Hopefully it's present and more functional in the remaster.

Oi! I'd be down to check it too!
Got remaster and finished a run recently and wouldn't mind giving that a spin and help out, I feel it's much more streamlined now for multiplayer.

Finished a gun build run and it's so easy with that but psi run is so fun and a must try

nightdive did put out a video or stream or two about the multiplayer so at the very least I’d presume it’s functional, but the idea of 4 people all smashing a psi reaver to death with a wrench is too good

Moot wrote: Sat Jul 12, 2025 7:03 pm nightdive did put out a video or stream or two about the multiplayer so at the very least I’d presume it’s functional, but the idea of 4 people all smashing a psi reaver to death with a wrench is too good

Oh my god XD
Just a bunch together just all casting the psiblade move and screaming SPIRIT SWORD doing so though and channeling inner Kuwabara moods

For some reason in the old multiplayer cheats were always enabled, so you could jumpscare your friends by spawning a rumbler in the chemical storage closet for a chuckle.

Mixi Blacksand wrote: Sat Jul 12, 2025 9:06 pm For some reason in the old multiplayer cheats were always enabled, so you could jumpscare your friends by spawning a rumbler in the chemical storage closet for a chuckle.

Oh no XD fiendish

i'm going to throw in Alien Swarm - Reactive Drop here because its a thing i really enjoy and i always get the impression that nobody else on the planet knows about it lmao



anyway. if the name seems familiar, thats because its a community updated version of Alien Swarm (which was itself a remake of a UT2004 mod) which Valve themselves put out and then promptly did nothing with - this one has 8 player support, bots, more maps, more weapons, more everything really. and thats not getting into about 8 years worth of stuff thats on the steam workshop. there is an absolute wealth of stuff here

the gist is: in the included campaign at least, you're a squad of space marines who have been sent to a colony that has gone dark to figure out whats what, and that What is that the place has been infested with hostile alien lifeforms and you need to go in there and deal with it. mostly through the medium of shooting creepy crawlies with your big space gun, welding doors to seal off entry points, covering your arse with sentry turrets, and not letting your techmarine eat shit because they are literally the only ones who can complete some of the objectives you have. its definitely channelling Aliens but like, there's worse things to crib from tbh

apart from some missions hard requiring a techmarine, there's no limitations on classes you can take into a mission. although obviously as nice as it it to have a squad of three autocannon lugging bigboys be able to offer a wall of lead death at any time, you should at least bring a medic to plug the holes in your team - as well as removing parasites that can and will kill you if left unattended - and an officer to buff the team and lend some explosive support if things start to get spicy. although it is one of those games where friendly fire is generally always on so you might want to be careful doing that. or not, i'm not your dad

its also a top down shooter which is feel is fairly unique for this genre. about 10 years before the first helldivers, i think? it does offer a degree of extra tactical awareness which i can always appreciate because i'm slightly less likely to get jumpscared by a teammate popping up in my field of view and getting shot through the eye

its also free by the way, which is a selling point i should have probably led with, but still. grab it imo

darktide has quickly become pretty much my favourite game
i spend 90% of my video games time playing it.

i have this cool curse where i spent all my time learning psyker and can now only play psyker though.
inferno staff is my best friend. and voidblast staff is my second best friend. gun psyker is my weird cousin in this context.

i got pretty in to my arbitrator when the DLC came out but fell off playing it after the hype died down a bit, psyker is just more comfortable at this stage

if anyone heres on Oceania servers. please hit me up to play >:D

ausgoth wrote: Mon Jul 14, 2025 9:54 am darktide has quickly become pretty much my favourite game
i spend 90% of my video games time playing it.

i have this cool curse where i spent all my time learning psyker and can now only play psyker though.
inferno staff is my best friend. and voidblast staff is my second best friend. gun psyker is my weird cousin in this context.

i got pretty in to my arbitrator when the DLC came out but fell off playing it after the hype died down a bit, psyker is just more comfortable at this stage

if anyone heres on Oceania servers. please hit me up to play >:D

Absolutely feel you, I've been so brainsick about my psyker that I turned him into an entire OC. I bought like 3 different Warhammer TTRPGs over him, and a VTT to play them on.

My psyker build is the vent-shriek soulfire one, though I alternate between the staves I usually am sitting on the flame staff. They all apply soulfire tho

StarlightNecromancer wrote: Mon Jul 14, 2025 10:03 am

ausgoth wrote: Mon Jul 14, 2025 9:54 am darktide has quickly become pretty much my favourite game
i spend 90% of my video games time playing it.

i have this cool curse where i spent all my time learning psyker and can now only play psyker though.
inferno staff is my best friend. and voidblast staff is my second best friend. gun psyker is my weird cousin in this context.

i got pretty in to my arbitrator when the DLC came out but fell off playing it after the hype died down a bit, psyker is just more comfortable at this stage

if anyone heres on Oceania servers. please hit me up to play >:D

Absolutely feel you, I've been so brainsick about my psyker that I turned him into an entire OC. I bought like 3 different Warhammer TTRPGs over him, and a VTT to play them on.

My psyker build is the vent-shriek soulfire one, though I alternate between the staves I usually am sitting on the flame staff. They all apply soulfire tho

do you also use the completely cooked as low as possible warp resistance flame staff.

this is the best ive rolled


which off the top of my head
has been levelled in to like, mid 20s for warp resistance
ideally i want it lower but its so hard to roll weapons for stats this specific.

but yeah i usually play the soulfire flame staff venting shriek build.

the voidblast staff is a bubble build. which i am slowly getting used to playing. i feel so vulnerable without my flame staff crits though :')

Main Darktide main is my homeless Templar who only fights with knives while wearing dregs because his Faith is his shield. It's basically just a knife + throwing knife super fast build.

Psyker is a close second with lightning, revolver and a psyker sword.

I'm probably getting back into it this week to try out the new class.

ausgoth wrote: Mon Jul 14, 2025 10:10 am

StarlightNecromancer wrote: Mon Jul 14, 2025 10:03 am Absolutely feel you, I've been so brainsick about my psyker that I turned him into an entire OC. I bought like 3 different Warhammer TTRPGs over him, and a VTT to play them on.

My psyker build is the vent-shriek soulfire one, though I alternate between the staves I usually am sitting on the flame staff. They all apply soulfire tho

do you also use the completely cooked as low as possible warp resistance flame staff.

this is the best ive rolled


which off the top of my head
has been levelled in to like, mid 20s for warp resistance
ideally i want it lower but its so hard to roll weapons for stats this specific.

but yeah i usually play the soulfire flame staff venting shriek build.

the voidblast staff is a bubble build. which i am slowly getting used to playing. i feel so vulnerable without my flame staff crits though :')

Alas I went the other way and tried to max out all my stats on all my stats!



I'm slowly branching out but vent-shriek is my fav build, esp with brain burst. Flame staff just feels like I'm helping since it does true damage rather than having to fuss with armor and all that. I don't like Scryer's Gaze that much but that's also because I don't like gun psyker that much, but that's also because there's not a lot of the guns that I actually like.

I got the 2h force sword though and I've never looked back.

Enbyeon wrote: Mon Jul 14, 2025 10:31 am Main Darktide main is my homeless Templar who only fights with knives while wearing dregs because his Faith is his shield. It's basically just a knife + throwing knife super fast build.

Psyker is a close second with lightning, revolver and a psyker sword.

I'm probably getting back into it this week to try out the new class.

One of my buddies got me the class as a gift and I already have all of the penances, I'm running double shield (Riot Shield and Shock Maul + Riot Shield and Pistol) and Break The Line. Dogless might be more powerful for the kind of build I'm going for but they'll take my dog from me from my cold dead hands.

Alas I have to put both Arbitrator and Psyker to the side because I'm on that Penance grind and I'm just about through one of the most annoying Zealot ones (on the last Knife Zealot ones). And then I get to do Veteran... yaaay.

Moot wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 10:44 am its also free by the way, which is a selling point i should have probably led with, but still. grab it imo

i'm sold lmao. downloading it now


as for darktide, i've been maining Veteran a lot since release. used to always run shovel and revolver, but i've been giving shock maul and plasma gun a shot and having fun with those too. my current talent set up has the shout that reinforces shields and picks up downed allies, regenerating grenades that can sometimes double when thrown and cause bleed, and the hybrid specialist thing that reloads a portion of my magazine when i swap to ranged after getting a melee kill. it helps a lot with the slower reloading guns lol
basically made him play as much like mercenary kruber from vermintide 2 as i could haha

i started off with veteran in darktide but quickly started flitting between ogryn and zealot, mostly because the image of playing a mad old woman carving up heretics was too funny to me

i don't have a "build" so much as stuff on the talent tree that makes me go "that looks neat" and she only uses revolvers because those things are sniper rifles and are great for outsniping snipers

Moot wrote: Wed Jul 16, 2025 3:44 pm she only uses revolvers because those things are sniper rifles and are great for outsniping snipers

I see you too are a critter of culture.

correct. i plink a lot of specials with the revolver, but this is my best shot and it feels like i was mere frames away from getting cored myself lol

omg yes i feel the exact same with the revolver. ironically it feels better to aim with for me than the guns with actual scopes lmao

I put forward some more co-op FPS games. Namely:

Ground Branch, a co-op vs AI tactical FPS that's currently in Early Access. It's all about slow, tactical movement against randomly placed AI enemies in large maps. Scenario-based, like old Rainbow Six and SWAT games were.

HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed, a co-op wave defense/tower defense shooter about playing action figures fighting against evil toys! More arcade-y in style, an FPS combined with a tower defense game too.

SCP: 5K, another slow tactical co-op vs AI shooter, but this time set in the SCP universe. Plays similar to Ground Branch but with less weapon customisation and more eldritch horrors and weirdness.

Space Hulk: Deathwing, the co-op Warhammer 40K shooter that existed before Darktide did. Even slower, but still just as fun to play if a bit janky.

Zero Hour, an indie SWAT 4 clone that does actually play quite well and has consistent updates. And a K9 companion!

Incursion Red River, a purely PvE extraction shooter set in an alternative universe version of Vietnam, post-Vietnam War. Since it's PvE, there's only bots, but this one's still in very early access and, as such, only has one map.

Also I do play Darktide and have been slooooowly levelling my new Arbites character, but I haven't been playing a lot lately.

JamChimera wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:28 am omg yes i feel the exact same with the revolver. ironically it feels better to aim with for me than the guns with actual scopes lmao

right??? I can’t hit the side of a barn with anything with an actual sight but I can put a slug between heretic scums eyes at 200 yards with the snub nose revolver lmao

my only problem with the revolvers is that ogryns don’t get one

I typically end up running frontline stuff in darktide so abstract concepts like "aiming good" are not in my job description. Funnily enough i used to always go for revolvers/shotguns and other big damage one shot weapons but in darktide i get an uncommon joy from pointing a braced auto into a crowd and taking a huge chunk out of em