Stay close to your friends at a safe distance with the best collaborative games
These games are worth committing to
Text:
Jonathan Watt
Published:
1 March 2021
This article has been written by PriceSpy’s Super Saver Jonathan Watt and approved by Milk & Honey. There are no paid links or other types of advertising collaborations.
While the last year hasn’t been the most sociable one on record, it has pushed us all to connect with our friends, family and colleagues in new and different ways. One great example of a pastime that has not needed to go on hold, is collaborative gaming.
Our super saver Jon Watts shares his recommendations on the games worth committing to, that can be played with anyone, across the internet. So, fire up your kettle, get your cup of tea and snacks, and settle in.
Overcooked is all about timing and cooperation as 2-4 players team up to get increasingly complex orders out of the kitchen on time, correctly, and not catastrophically burnt. If you’ve missed the stress of cooking for huge numbers of people, this is the game for you. It’s available on multiple platforms, but I’d say that it suits the Nintendo Switch best of all.
Nb. Overcooked might officially be cooperative, but you’ll be raging at your mates like final-form Gordon Ramsey when someone chops up the wrong veggies.
Product Pairing: Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Even nano-seconds are precious in Overcooked, so you can’t tolerate any extra fiddle factor. Get yourself a robust controller that can handle frantic cheffery and sweaty palms.
Among Us was one of THE breakout titles from last year, with everyone from Limmy to AOC getting involved. Playing as one of several little astro-blobs aboard a spaceship, you’ll want some kind of video call with your mates running alongside. At the beginning of each round you’ll be randomly designated as either ‘crewmate’ or ‘impostor’. Mics muted, crewmates perform maintenance tasks while impostors try to murder them and get away with it.
Every time a body is reported or an emergency meeting is called, the surviving blobbers switch back to the video call, fade up their mics, and start flinging accusations around to try and unearth the killers. It’s also free on iOS!
Product Pairing: Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset
Succeeding in Among Us is all about talking your way out of trouble. Turning up with a horrible set of earphones and a fuzzy mic is like signing your own death warrant. Hook yourself up with audio gear that can transmit your lies in smooth HD quality.
A retro option that’s free to play and accessible on anything that can run a web browser or app store, this game combines all the best parts of Pictionary into fast-paced online sketch fun. Skribbl rewards the speedy and punishes the sausage-fingered. Even the most clueless gamer could pick it up within a couple of minutes and rounds are extremely short so it’s perfect for a short burst of competition.
Product Pairing: Apple iPad Mini 16GB
Nobody wants to draw a seagull using a wobbly old mouse or, god forbid, a trackpad. The smoothest scribblers all use touch screens, so a nifty little iPad is the perfect weapon of choice for this adapted classic.
There are now 7 different Jackbox party packs to choose from, and each individual one has more than enough games to distract you for an evening. Better still, only one player from your party of pals needs to own the game. With one PC or console running the thing, all players then submit answers using their phones. It’s up to you to decide who should take the (very reasonable) hit.
Product Pairing: Asus ZenFone 5Z ZS620KL
If you don’t own a phone in these isolated times, you’d better be prepared to spend 2022 alone or with pals too. This mobile comes with bags of memory, it’s got a large display, and comes with a good reputation for lasting long-term. Perfect for playing games and sliding into DMs.