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Player cooperation is an integral part ofย Dungeons & Dragons.ย Whether the setting is a zany joke or an ominous wasteland, it isย vital that everyone works together to succeed. Sometimes, however, sitting around a dimly lit table and using your imagination just won’t cut it. In those cases, enjoying a cooperative video game as a group is a great alternative! Here are fiveย local co-opย games to play with your D&D party.
For The King
For The Kingย may not work for allย D&Dย groups, as it only allows 3 players at a time. That being said, it is preposterously fun! It takes many of its core mechanics fromย Dungeons & Dragons 5e, so it should feel familiar to fans of the tabletop game. Elements such as ability checks and combat encounters are all done through behind-the-curtains dice rolls as well! The anticipation of wondering whether or not your character succeeds isย just as potent inย For The Kingย as it is inย D&D.
As you and your teammates progress throughย For The King,ย you will find new weapons and armor, level up your character, and dungeon crawl in a way that is very reminiscent ofย D&D. Be sure to check out this local co-op game for a more simplified but still fantastic version ofย Dungeons & Dragons.
Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers,ย while primarily a beat-em-up, absolutely contains some RPG elements. The gameplay is casual and silly, much like those less-than-seriousย D&Dย campaigns we have all enjoyed occasionally. But just because the game is light-hearted does not mean thatย Castle Crashersย isn’t a stroke of genius.
The game has a slew of unlockable characters,ย each with unique abilities and strengths. Similarly toย Dungeons & Dragons, unlocking better equipment is a major part ofย Castle Crashers. The game also supports 4 players, making it a perfect local co-op game forย D&Dย groups needing a break.
Pit People
Yet another game created by The Behemoth isย Pit People,ย aย surprisingly deep RPGย perfect forย D&Dย parties. Much like actualย Dungeons & Dragonsย combat, you will often find yourself facing insurmountable hordes of enemies. Turn-by-turn, however, the hexagonal battlefield will be cleared of adversaries.
Pit Peopleย is teeming with personality. The game, along with its narrator and characters, is charming in a way few others have accomplished. Each in-game hero is essentially its ownย D&Dย class, so there should be a character for everyone.ย Pit Peopleย is available for two players locally and 4 players online.
Baldur’s Gate 3
You knew it would be on here!ย Baldur’s Gate 3ย is a masterpiece of a game. Not only is it directly based off of aย Dungeons & Dragonsย license, but it followsย D&Dย fifth edition rules to the T! Players will build their party, upgrade characters, and complete quests utilizing a plethora of actualย D&Dย spells and weapons.
Perhaps what makesย Baldur’s Gate 3ย the most charming isย its incredible character writing. The voice acting is top-notch, and your group of friends will find themselves caring about NPCs in the same way you would in a tabletop RPG.ย Baldur’s Gate 3ย is, without a doubt, one of theย greatest local co-op games forย D&Dย players.
Crawl
Crawlย is an asymmetrical dungeon crawler where one player controls the hero while the rest take control of the dungeon and its hazards. Technically, this makes it cooperative only as long as you are in a team dungeon. Nonetheless, the game is an utter blast with the right group of friends!
Crawlย isย chaotic in a way that onlyย D&Dย campaigns can replicate, and we mean that in the best way possible. Multiple different traps and enemy types make the game feel different through each playthrough, and boss fights are epic. On top of all this, there are few instances in gaming that feel quite as satisfying as overcoming the odds and completing the dungeon.
Related:
How To Use the Baldurโs Gate 3 Character Builder
For more co-op games in the same vein as this list, check out our picks for the best RPGs that follow Dungeons & Dragons’ย rules.
