The best co-op games on Xbox Series X

Many of us expected Elden Ring to be a hit, but few could have anticipated just how popular it would become. This is arguably developer FromSoftware’s best game, as the studio has honed in on what it does best, refining many gameplay components from the beloved Souls formula. In this case, Elden Ring features a massive, sprawling open world, with a non-linear structure that allows players to tackle objectives in any order. When it comes to cooperative play, the non-linear design is a major aspect, as players will often bring something different to the table depending on their build and experience. Since the game is so brutally difficult, you’ll often find yourself needing to summon help, leading to some memorable co-op moments. Part of the fun is seeing what kind of gear or abilities your co-op partner will have. Will they hurl lightning bolts at the boss or will they use a massive sword to deal lots of damage all at once? Tackling Elden Ring with a friend is an absolute blast, especially after overcoming a powerful, and menacing boss.

When Destiny 2 launched in 2017, it was a fine game, but it didn’t necessarily come out of the gate swinging. Thankfully, after years of updates and the split between Activision and Bungie, Destiny 2 has become one of the best FPS games on the market. Better yet is that it’s now free-to-play, making it even easier to dive in and enjoy. Of course, Destiny 2 can be played solo and is even enjoyable in that regard but is primarily designed with cooperative play in mind. This means you and your squadmates will need to team up to progress through story missions, strikes, or even raids, which are at the heart of the endgame experience. With so much content — both free and paid — it’s easy to get lost in the world of Destiny 2.