Highlights

• Even when played alone, co-op games can be fun and offer players unique experiences and challenges.
• Titles like Cuphead and Borderlands 2 hold their own in single-player mode thanks to their strong gameplay and design.
• While some games focus on multiplayer, single-player play can still be rewarding in games like Monster Hunter: World and Secret of Mana.

Co-op games are a great way to share the magic of gaming with friends and strangers alike, as you come together as a team to achieve a common goal. Of course, playing a co-op game with other people requires that there are other people to play with… which isn’t always as easy as it seems.

Luckily, some co-op games are just as fun to play alone as they are with others. Whether you prefer to play alone or just want to practice a bit before jumping in with friends, these co-op games are fun to play even with just a single controller connected.

8th Gunstar Heroes

Only one hero needed

Gunstar Heroes is rightly considered a classic on the Sega Genesis and one of the best retro co-op games. However, there’s nothing stopping you from playing this run-and-gun shooter solo and still having a lot of fun.

Gunstar Heroes’ weapon combo system and creative level and boss design are simply too well implemented to feel less spectacular when you’re not playing in co-op. If anything, the lack of a second player on screen can make the chaotic action a little more readable, which may be your preferred way to experience Gunstar Heroes.

7 Super Mario Bros. Wonder

The Flower of One

Super Mario Bros Wonder may not put as much emphasis on co-operative multiplayer as some of the New Super Mario Bros console games, but it’s still an important part of the experience. Most notably, this 2D Mario game finally lets you play online with up to three other friends – something that felt long overdue for the series.

And yet, if you decide to play through Super Mario Bros Wonder on your own, you might not even realize that the game is designed for co-op mode as well. The level of creativity and fresh ideas is just so overwhelming that, whether solo or multiplayer, there’s no wrong way to experience it.

6 Cuphead

Dealing with the devil alone

This indie darling lets you battle 1930s-style comic book villains as Cuphead or his brother Mugman. Both characters can be played with a friend by your side, but the game is also entertaining on its own.

Cuphead is a tightly designed run-and-gun shooter that impresses with its truly unique art style and tough difficulty level. Depending on your playstyle, you may prefer to tackle the game’s boss battles without another player taking up valuable screen space so you can get off a free shot.

5 Sea of ​​Thieves

A lonely sailor

Although Sea of ​​​​Thieves is designed for teamwork and exploring the oceans with friends by your side, that doesn’t mean the game can’t be fun to play alone. In this action-packed pirate game from Rare, you can sail the seven seas, dodging deadly underwater monsters, battling other pirate ships, and of course, finding plenty of treasure.

The game is certainly harder without the help of other players, but that extra challenge can be tempting for some people. Playing Sea of ​​Thieves alone is certainly a unique experience, but it adds a new level of intrigue and adventure to the game.

4 Secret of Mana

A secretly excellent single player game

Secret of Mana made a big splash on the Super Nintendo because it was an RPG from Square that you could play with up to three players. It was an absolute thrill to run around as Randi, Primm, or Popoi while your buddies controlled the other characters, but that doesn’t mean Secret of Mana doesn’t work as a single-player experience too.

The truth is that Secret of Mana is just as fun when played as a solo adventure. The game’s limited screen size can feel a bit too cramped for seamless multiplayer, and if you wanted to use the three-player mode on the original SNES, you would have had to get a Super Multitap. Secret of Mana remains a highlight in the golden age of JRPGs, regardless of how many people you play with.

3 Streets of Rage 4

Travelling alone on the road

Streets of Rage 4 was the glorious return of this popular beat-’em-up series, bringing back the world of tough urban brawls, thumping electronic soundtracks, and of course, co-operative multiplayer. However, Streets of Rage 4 doesn’t lose much of its shine when you play it solo.

Even if you’re playing solo, Streets of Rage 4 is still one of the best beat ’em ups of all time. The game’s vibrant art style, large character roster, and appealing enemy design make it a blast to play through in single player mode.

2 Monster Hunter: World

The Lonely Hunter

Monster Hunter: World is a thrilling action RPG that offers some of the best co-op gameplay of the last decade, but even if you can’t manage to organize a few friends to go monster hunting with you, the game is still well worth a playthrough.

Monster Hunter: World’s satisfying gameplay loop makes it so easy to get swept up in this… well… world, no matter how you choose to play. There’s something really special about taking down a big monster with no one but you to take on the challenge.

1 Borderlands 2

A hidden single-player gem

Borderlands 2 is best known for its fast-paced cooperative shooter gameplay, which helped make the game one of the most popular multiplayer titles of all time. And yet, a secret to many is that Borderlands 2 works just as well as a single-player adventure as it does with friends.

Borderlands 2’s excellent level design, sharp writing, and massive arsenal make the game shine whether you’re playing it solo or in co-op. It’s an absolute FPS classic, and suffers little if you choose to play it alone.