Following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, American President John F. Kennedy said “victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphan”. The quote, penned originally by Italian foreign minister Count Galeazzo Cianoduring WW2, applies perfectly to the best co-opRTS games.
“Yes, my artillery usage was mighty awful this round,” you tell your friend, “but if you had deployed to that flank harder we wouldn’t have lost.”
11 Badly Reviewed Multiplayer Games That Are Actually Pretty Good
Convince your friends that these unfortunate games are actually better than the reviews suggest.
Of course, you can also go the wholesome route and hit that nonchalant “gg” in the chat, safe with the knowledge that the real victory is spending time with people you like.
Whatever your approach to losses,the real deal with co-opstrategy games is the catharsis of winning. The fist pumps, the shouts, and manic laughter so loud they get clipped on the voice channel: “we did this, together.”
These co-opstrategy gamesare perfect to play out your collective warlord delusions with your friends, bathing in the glory of victory, and the rancid ocean of defeat.
8Call to Arms: Gates of Hell
All About Perspective
Barbedwire Studios
Digitalmindsoft
Release Date
June 11th, 2021
Real-time Strategy
The harsh realities of World War 2 are not for the faint of heart, but misery loves company.The co-opinCall to Armsis by no means perfect, but the 2021 hit is still tons of fun when played with a friend.
The game ships with a dynamic campaign that can be played both solo or co-op, giving you different outcomes as you go. You can also experience player-versus-player action in teams of up to four.
One of the coolest features inCall to Arms: Gates of Hellis the perspective system. Unlike most RTS games where you are watching the action unfold from above,this title lets you switch between that and the units' view.
This is hardly a competitor to an FPS or a tank simulator, but it adds some flexibility to specific tactical situations where point-and-click isn’t getting the job done.
7Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
Not One Step Back
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
Given the success of titles likeSpace Marine, the standards forWarhammer 40,000games are sky-high.Dawn of War 2has not earned masterpiece status with its co-op modes, but I still hold that it’s one of the most stupid fun games with a friend.
What makesDawn of War 2shine in co-op is The Last Stand mode. This is a tough and occasionally grinding experience that is incredibly rewarding when played with the right buddies.
The Last Stand has three players running an arcade-style RTS fight against endless hordes of enemies. The mode was so popular that it was briefly released as a standalone title (the less about that, the better).
This mode is a treat forWarcraft 3veterans who grew up with the Defense of the Ancients spin-off.
6Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
A New World Order Awaits
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
Sure, your favorite game might be good, but does it have our dearest Tim Curry escaping to the one place that hasn’t been corrupted by capitalism? Yeah, didn’t think so.
Much like space,Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3was eventually marred by the evil tentacles of capital since its 2008 release. The official game servers are long gone, buta group of aficionados worked togetherto establish a community server network.
9 Best RTS Games For Beginners
Chaos, strategy, and endless clicks. Learn, adapt, dominate—or crumble spectacularly
If you don’t mind the modest hassle of using CnC Online, this remains one of the most fun co-op experiences you’re able to have.
The co-op campaign rides on the game’s completely unserious nature, with over-the-top presentation and eccentric voice acting that keep it light but fun.
When playing with a friend, I recommend setting the difficulty to Hard. It won’t be sweaty, but you’ll have to coordinate more, making the victories that much sweeter.
5Halo Wars 2
The Console Winner
Halo Wars 2
The 2017 sequel toHalo Warsfaltered against the originalon its release, thanks in large part to design decisions that many saw as sacrificing PC depth for Xbox accessibility.
Whatever your view of it, it’s undisputed thatHalo Wars 2packs some fantastic co-op options. On top ofmultiplayer matchesbetween teams of one to three players, the game has a two-player campaign.
Halo Wars 2has a clean system where players on the same side share bases, supplies, and unit limits. Unlike most other games on this list, it also lets you transfer ownership of a unit to your friend.
This unlocks different dynamics, such as having one player handle the logistics and supply side then handing over units to the frontline commander.
4Wargame: Red Dragon
F-35, Russian Presidents, And Manly Love
Wargame: Red Dragon
IfWargamewas a person, it would be in my phone book as “don’t text them,” preempting a bout of weakness during a sleepless night or alcohol-fuelled loneliness. I can hardly look at a sunset without thinking of that one late 1980s Soviet deck I built.
Eugen Systems' most famous Cold War RTS has multiplayer that is sweaty and often toxic, and its combat mechanics require way more micromanagement than is reasonable.
8 Best Strategy Games For Short Gaming Sessions
Got time for a quick commanding sesh?
Wargame: Red Dragon’s issues make it an occasionally miserable solo experience, butthings completely change when you get a big co-op match going.
In their infinite wisdom, Eugen designedRed Dragonto have up to 20 players in the same match. Despite coming out in 2014, the server list is still full of 10v10 servers. Perfect for low-stakes, chaotic fun with friends and strangers.
3StarCraft 2
The Perfect Sequel
StarCraft 2
TheStarCraftfranchise has beenBlizzard’s crown jewelin the strategy segment since 1998, thanks in no small part toStarCraft 2’s release in 2010.
The game borrowed pointers from the company’s successful MOBA inroads and applied them to afast but relaxed RTSbase, and it all comes together perfectly in the co-op gameplay.
Rather than throw you into random skirmishes,StarCraft 2goes for missions based on the campaign, which is amazing in its own right.
The gameplay and graphics are fresh despite the game coming out over a decade ago,the co-op community is incredibly chill, and best of all, you can play it for free if you don’t mind some limitations.
StarCraft 2’s beauty is that you can forget about it for a week or a decade, but it will still feel fun once you come back.
2Steel Division 2
Strategic Mayhem
Steel Division 2
I’m not always down to recommend games from the same developer within the same category, but sometimes it would be criminal not to.
Steel Division 2is aptly described asTotal War: NapoleonforWorld War 2 nerds. The game is built on division-level combat, but like any Eugen game, it requires aggressive micromanagement to succeed.
While this feature can get frustrating inWargame: Red Dragon, the infantry-heavy focus ofSteel Division 2makes it actually fun. You canexperience the battles zoomed-in and having an impact on individual outcomes, rather than watching it unfold from so far it might as well be satellite footage.
The peak co-op experience inSteel Division 2is the Army General Mode with up to five friends. It allows you to work together in small sections of the front to achieve big results, and you can play through the whole campaign like that.
1Age of Empires II
The Best Then, The Best Now
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
Very few games can say they’ve been relevant since 1999.Age of Empires IIis positively ancient, but that only makes its success more impressive.
The game has gotten major expansions over the years, culminating in the 2019Age of Empires II: Definitive Editionthat unifies four major DLCs, plus an optional new AI system and assorted QoL goodies.
Age of Empires IIhas a two-player mode which lets you pick from eight different campaigns. Unlike their single-player brethren, co-op players have all scenarios unlocked from the start.
The variety of factions and missions available in the co-op campaign, combined with the timeless mechanics, make it a blast to play with a friend.
11 Best RTS Games With Great Economy Systems
From flowing economies to full-scale industrial revolutions, these RTS games turn resource management into high-stakes strategy.
