6 Action Games to Play With Friends, Ranked by Co-op Chaos

Looking to turn game night into a screaming match or a laughing fit? I’ve scrounged six action games that promise a good time with your crew, but as always, I’m asking: are they actually worth your hard-earned coin? Let’s rank ’em.

1. Left 4 Dead 2

This is the co-op shooter that still delivers instant mayhem without a shred of filler. Grab three friends and you’ll have stories by the end of the night—mostly about who hogged the medkits. It’s pure chaos, and even at full price it’s a steal, but you can usually snag it for pocket change. If you ever get bored of the official campaigns, Garry's Mod keeps the weird mods flowing.

2. Borderlands 2

A loot party where the guns are as ridiculous as the dialogue. Teaming up with quirky characters to take down a megalomaniac villain hits different when you’re drowning in bazillions of firearms. With the Ultimate Vault Hunter’s Upgrade bundled in, you’re getting a mountain of content for your cash. Wait for a sale and it’s practically robbery—the fun kind.

3. Counter-Strike: Source

Fast, sweaty, and surprisingly flexible—whether you’re clutching a 1v3 on Dust2 or surfing on a physics-defying ramp at 3 a.m. This old friend still throws a great party, and it’s often cheaper than a fancy coffee. Perfect for competitive nights when you and your friends need to settle who has the quickest reflexes.

4. Gears of War: E-Day

The series finally gives us that brutal origin story, dropping you into the first Locust attack. If it follows the co-op footsteps of its predecessors, this is prime material for a buddy campaign full of chainsawing and screaming. It’s a fresh release, though, so I’d say hold for a price drop unless you’re dying to witness the chaos together from day one.

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

A masterful, slow-burn action epic that lives in Arthur Morgan’s boots. It’s staggeringly good, but the info paints it as a solitary campfire tale, not a co-op powerhouse. Sure, you can gather a posse for open-world mischief, but for dedicated group play it feels like a side dish. Still, if you spot a deal, grabbing it for the story alone is a steal.

6. Castlevania: Belmont's Curse

A gothic solo romp starring Rose Belmont. The Crimson Curse premise hooks you, but this is a single-player affair through and through. It ranks last for group gaming, though the action is definitely worth chasing when you’re alone and craving that whip-cracking nostalgia. Maybe wishlist it for a sale.

That’s my loot pile. What co-op action games are you and your friends obsessing over that I missed? Poll the crew and let me know.