What Resident Evil Games Are Coop

What Resident Evil Games Are Coop?

Ready to team up and fight some scary monsters? That’s what cooperative, or “co-op,” play in video games is all about! In the world of Resident Evil, a game series known for its creepy atmosphere and terrifying creatures, playing with a friend can make the experience even more exciting (and maybe a little less scary!). But which Resident Evil games actually let you play together? Let’s dive in and explore which titles let you bring a buddy along for the ride, and how the co-op experience works in each.

Resident Evil 5: The Classic Co-op Experience

When people think of Resident Evil and co-op, Resident Evil 5 is often the first game that comes to mind. Released in 2009, this game made a big splash because it was the first main entry in the series that was designed from the ground up with cooperative play in mind. You and a friend can play as Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar. Chris is the tough, muscular hero, and Sheva is a skilled agent who’s great at close-range combat and using her agility to her advantage.

How Co-op Works in Resident Evil 5

Here’s a breakdown of how playing together in Resident Evil 5 works:

• Two Player Action: The entire story campaign can be played with two players. One person controls Chris, and the other controls Sheva.
• Split-Screen or Online Play: You can play locally with split-screen, meaning you share the same TV or monitor, or you can play with someone online, even if they are far away.
• Shared Inventory: You have to carefully manage resources because many important items like ammunition and healing supplies are shared between both of you. If one player uses too many bullets, then both of you might suffer.
• Tactical Play: You have to coordinate your actions. One person might focus on distracting enemies while the other shoots, or both of you can decide to shoot at the same target.
• Boss Battles: Working together is absolutely essential when fighting those huge, scary bosses. Your partner can revive you if you’re about to die, but you must be careful to keep an eye on each other.

The game is built around cooperation. You’ll often need to watch each other’s backs, share ammo, and work as a team to survive. The game feels very different (and is often easier) when you play it with someone else.

Resident Evil 6: Co-op on a Grand Scale

Resident Evil 6 took the co-op idea and expanded it significantly. Released in 2012, this game features multiple campaigns that intertwine, and all of them can be played with a friend. You aren’t limited to just one main pair of characters, so you get to experience different character relationships and stories with your friends. It’s a bigger, more action-packed experience than Resident Evil 5.

Multiple Campaigns, Multiple Co-op Partners

Here’s a look at the different co-op options in Resident Evil 6:

• Leon S. Kennedy and Helena Harper: These two are the focus of one campaign that feels more like classic Resident Evil with more horror elements.
• Chris Redfield and Piers Nivans: Their campaign is all about action and fighting big enemies.
• Jake Muller and Sherry Birkin: This story feels more like a chase story and is fast-paced.
• Ada Wong’s campaign: This campaign is shorter and you can only play with another player if the second player starts from beginning.
• Drop-in/Drop-out: You can have people join or leave your game at almost any point. So you don’t always have to play with same friend if your friend leaves.
• Online or Split-Screen: Just like Resident Evil 5, you can play online or share a single screen with someone.

Resident Evil 6 has lots of explosions and fast paced battles. You really need teamwork if you want to get through all the challenging fights. Even if you have to fight on the split screen with a friend, it’s still a great way to play.

Resident Evil Revelations 2: Episodic Co-op

Resident Evil Revelations 2 is a little different. It was released episodically in 2015, meaning it came out in parts, like a TV show. This game focuses more on horror and has a unique co-op setup. The story follows two different pairs of characters across these different episodes.

Co-op with Two Different Teams

Here’s a look at what makes co-op in Resident Evil Revelations 2 unique:

• Claire Redfield and Moira Burton: Claire is a classic Resident Evil character who does most of the fighting, while Moira uses her flashlight to stun enemies and support Claire. Moira isn’t able to use guns at all, but she is able to find special items that will help her fight.
• Barry Burton and Natalia Korda: Barry is searching for Claire and Moira. Natalia, a small child, can see through walls, which gives Barry a great advantage. Barry uses weapons in combat, while Natalia focuses more on helping her partner.
• Switching Characters: You and your friend can freely switch between these pairs of characters. While one person controls Claire, the other might be controlling Moira. Then you can switch to Barry and Natalia.
• Local Co-op Only: Unlike RE5 and RE6, Revelations 2 doesn’t have online co-op for the main story. This game focuses on split screen with your friend.
• The Raid Mode: There is a Raid mode that supports online play, and it is separate from the main campaign. Raid mode is more of a arcade style game, where you shoot waves of enemies in different challenges.

The cooperative gameplay is a little different here because the characters have different skill sets. You have to use these skills together if you want to succeed. The story is also very interesting if you’re a fan of classic Resident Evil.

Resident Evil Village: The Mercenaries Mode

While the main story campaign of Resident Evil Village is single-player only, it does offer a co-op experience in a bonus mode called “The Mercenaries.” This mode is all about fast-paced action and achieving high scores.

Mercenaries Mode Co-op

Here’s how the co-op works in Village’s Mercenaries mode:

• Arcade Style Gameplay: In this mode, you fight waves of enemies across different stages. You gain points for each kill and for completing different goals within the maps.
• Two Player Action: You can play with a friend in a local setting only.
• Separate Characters: You play as different characters such as Chris, Lady Dimitrescu, and others. Each character has their unique abilities and weapons.
• Focus on High Scores: The whole point of Mercenaries is to see how well you can do by earning the highest scores. It’s a fun challenge and you can compare your results with friends.
• Fast Paced: The game is very fast paced compared to the main story. Each of the enemies you face is designed to test your combat skills.

Although it’s not as story-driven as the main campaigns of other Resident Evil games, The Mercenaries mode provides a great way to enjoy some co-op fun with a friend.

Resident Evil Resistance: An Asymmetrical Co-op Experience

Resident Evil Resistance is a very different kind of co-op experience. Released alongside Resident Evil 3 Remake in 2020, it’s an asymmetrical online multiplayer game. This means that one player acts as a mastermind who sets up traps and monsters, while four other players try to escape.

The Mastermind vs. Survivors

Here’s how co-op works in Resident Evil Resistance:

• One Mastermind, Four Survivors: One person plays as the Mastermind, who creates the environment and places enemies. The other four players are the survivors trying to escape.
• Variety of Survivors: The survivors have different skills and weapons. You have to use everyone’s skills together to stand a chance.
• Mastermind Abilities: The Mastermind can place traps, control enemies directly, and use powerful abilities to stop the survivors.
• Online Only: This is a game that’s designed for online multiplayer only. You play with other people that you have not met.
• Teamwork is Crucial: The survivors must cooperate and share resources and have a good strategy in order to win against the Mastermind.

This game is a different type of co-op, focusing more on strategy and teamwork. It can be really fun to play with friends, especially if you like asymmetrical multiplayer experiences. The unique style makes it stand out from the other co-op Resident Evil games.

Resident Evil Outbreak & Outbreak File #2: Early Online Co-op

Released in the early 2000s, Resident Evil Outbreak and its sequel, Outbreak File #2, were very early attempts at online co-op in the series. These games were set in Raccoon City, during the same time frame as Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. They had some unique gameplay ideas for their time.

Early Online Experiments

• Multiple Survivors: Unlike other RE games, you can pick from different characters. Each survivor has unique abilities and starting equipment.
• Online and Offline Play: These games supported online co-op gameplay, but you could also play the main story with NPC teammates if you wanted to play offline.
• File System: The games had a very unique file system. After each game ended, you could obtain files with information.
• Limited Resources: Ammo was very limited, so you had to be very careful about shooting. The game was designed to encourage teamwork to survive.
• More Action Focused: While it had classic horror elements, the games did focus more on the action and teamwork aspect of it.

These games laid the groundwork for future Resident Evil games with cooperative modes, and they had a great style. While they are older, they’re still worth checking out if you like classic horror and want a very unique co-op Resident Evil game.