Can any RPG out there deliver a co-op experience on par, or even superior to Baldur’s Gate 3? The following just might.
RPGs, at their core, have always been cooperative. Obviously, there are plenty of great examples of single-player role-playing games, but the feeling of conquering a gigantic hurdle with a group of friends is pretty hard to beat. When talking about RPGs, it is pretty hard not to bring up Baldur’s Gate 3, as not only did the game completely change the genre and the perception around it, but it also managed to deliver one of the best cooperative experiences in the entire genre. The reason for this is how well it integrates tabletop ideas into a virtual world, letting every player feel like they are playing a vital role in the campaign by giving them a huge amount of power, both in terms of combat strength and in the character interactions that drive the majority of the narrative.
However, even though BG3 is considered by many to be one of the greatest co-op RPGs ever made, there are still a few games out there that manage to match it in terms of quality, with some even surpassing it in a few specific ways. It is a pretty high bar to cross, and only the very best games in the genre can happily sit alongside Larian’s crowning jewel, each bringing an insanely high caliber of gameplay, story, and world-building that can all be enjoyed as a group. Making an exceptionL RPG is hard enough as is, but when factoring in multiple players, things become incredibly complex. Yet over the years, many developers have defied expectations and shown that it is not only possible to create a great co-op role-playing game, but that it can actually be even more fun to play with friends than to go out adventuring alone.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Details:
Fully reactive combat scenarios
Party members each have a narrative role
Divinity: Original Sin 2 remains one of the most fully realized cooperative RPGs ever designed, and in many ways represents the purest expression of Larian’s design philosophy. Its world is reactive to an extreme degree, with combat encounters built around elemental interactions, environmental manipulation, and improvisation, all components that only become more impressive when experienced with other players. Each fight becomes a playground for creativity, as players can choose to spread elements or explode nearby objects to cause chaos, and it feels like nearly every system exists to be exploited by those willing to work together.
Also, the co-op aspects are so seamlessly integrated into both the combat and the narrative. Party members can pursue conflicting goals, betray one another, or split off entirely, allowing the role-playing to emerge naturally rather than players feeling forced down one specific route. On top of this, many conversations can actually be influenced mid-scene by other players, reinforcing the feeling of a shared world where everyone gets a say.
