Tag Archives: competitive

$10 or below, Competitive Games

Paperbound

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Do you like arena games where you need to defeat your friends? Well, add anti-gravity to that and you have this game.

Welcome to the Weekly Co-Op!

This week’s competitive game will be Paperbound!

Players: 1-4

Platform: PC, PS4

Price: $9.99

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image from http://www.paperboundgame.com

Paperbound is all about hacking and slashing. The point of the game is to get to your portal, but the path to get there often changes, and that is what makes this game so fun.

There are plenty of characters to choose from even though they are purely cosmetic; however, the map choice is wide and varying. Each map is an arena, but its construction is different. Some maps have spikes on the sides, some have no sides, some are really small maps that are completely enclosed. Apart from this, there is also different game modes to play. From simply killing each other to capturing an object and holding it (a la King of the Hill game types), there is enough variation to keep the game fun and new for a while.

Even though there is not a lot of actual content in the game (set number of maps, set number of characters, set number of game types), the reason I chose this game is because of its’ unique take on the genre.

In terms of gameplay, this game is relatively hard to jump into. There is figuring out how to attack, how to throw effectively, and using the environment in the map appropriately. Once you figure that out, there is the entire anti-gravity addition that changes the game entirely. Anti-gravity is such a weird concept to mess with that it alone is what puts this game on my radar. It completely changes how you approach winning. Instead of trying to get to your enemy across the map and hitting them, you can now just switch gravity and “fall” towards them and slash them as you pass them. There is so much opportunity to experiment with how to traverse each map that it makes each time you play feel just different enough to keep you around.

While this game may be a little hard to just introduce to casual gamers, it is definitely a lot of fun and has given me and a few different groups of friends a lot of memories. For $10, this game is well worth the price for how much use I have gotten out of it.

 

Above $10, Competitive Games

Ultimate Chicken Horse

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Do you remember playing “Horse” with your friends in Basketball? Well, this is sort of like that.

Welcome to the Weekly Co-Op!

This week’s competitive game will be Ultimate Chicken Horse!

Players: 1-4

Price: $14.99

Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4 (Soon to be the Switch as well!)

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image from www.cleverendeavourgames.com/ultimate-chicken-horse

Ultimate Chicken Horse is a competitive game about trying to get to the finish line. How you get to the finish line, however, needs to be hard. Why, one might ask? If everyone finishes, no one gets any points! To make sure that you are the only one to finish, you must build some of the most dastardly mazes you can think of.

At the start of each round, a random assortment of items will appear, and each player is to pick one. Once items are chosen, everyone has to place them somewhere on the map. The item you pick up really defines where you put it. Pick a rectangle piece? Place it as a beam to walk on or jump off of. Pick up a crossbow? Place it in the way so you can jump over it but try to hopefully get your friends! Do whatever you can to be the only one left! The less people and more kills you get, the more points you get. The person with the most points wins!

That is the just the base, classic game. There are different gamemodes, plenty of different characters, tons of tools and weapons to use, and various maps to play and unlock through gameplay. This game offers plenty of fun with friends and even plenty of fun on your own to see what kind of crazy creations you can come up with! At $15, this game is a steal.

 

$10 or below, Competitive Games

Thief Town

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competitive games have been taking interesting takes on how to approach the gameplay, and this one is no different. Welcome to the confusing, western world of Thief Town!

Welcome to the Weekly Co-Op!

This week’s competitive game will be Thief Town!

Players: 2-4

Price: $7.99

Platform: PC, PS4

image from http://store.steampowered.com/app/331220/Thief_Town/

Thief Town is a 2D pixel arena “combat” competitive game all about subtlety. The point of the game is to get the most kills. The way you go about this is why this game shines. When you start, there will be 20 or 30 tan cowboys on screen, and you and your friends are 2-4 of them. You have to try to figure out who you are without your friends also seeing, and then you have find your friends and stab them.

This is as easy as it sounds, but the hard part is not getting stabbed first. You could potentially just run around in a circle to find yourself and then start killing everyone on screen, but then the people you are playing with are going to immediately notice you and try to kill you. It is possible to kill each other at the same time, and both of you will have to a stand-off with just you two and have to be the last one alive.

That is the main gist of the game, but there are a few game modes to try out. There is the classic version which is just the base game, but there are a couple more game modes: a sheriff mode where one person has a gun that shoots in a horizontal line and he must kill the drunken players with limited ammo or they will survive and get points, and an items playlist that give you various items to use like a bomb or a smokescreen.

While this games seems simple, it is always a go to with me and my friends because it is easy to grasp and really fun to get good at.

Above $10, Competitive Games

Move or Die

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Still can’t find the right party game based on always staying in motion? Well, welcome to the perfect game for you!

Welcome to the Weekly Co-Op!

This week’s competitive game will be Move or Die!

Players: 1-4

Platform: PC

Price: $14.99

image from http://moveordiegame.com/

Move or Die is a game based on, well, moving. The point of the game is to be the last person standing every round, but the way you accomplish that changes all every round.

The reason this game is on this list is because it provides a dynamic that a lot of these style of games don’t offer: mystery and randomization. You can choose the character you like, but after that, there isn’t much choice in what you play. I would explain what the main point of the game is, but that can change too.

This game is updated regularly, adding characters and fixes to quality of life in the game. For example, the original game mode was to never stop moving. If you do, your character will lose health and eventually die. With all of the updates, there are now random game modes chosen every round, and furthermore, each set of rounds a player will be chosen to add a mutator, like move AND die (moving now causes you to lose health).

There are plenty of different game modes that can be played, and the level of randomization really makes the game feel different every time you play it.

As for a learning curve, there is a pretty hefty one. If you play this game often, you’ll know all the game modes and what to do while people who have played will not. That being said, you might have to go easy on your friends for the first couple of rounds going through this game.

This is an interesting take on the competitive local multiplayer genre, and I think it easily deserves a spot in this blog.

 

$10 or below, Competitive Games

Brawlhalla

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There are plenty of fighting games out there, and a lot of them are usually one vs one. How about a game that not only recreates the gameplay of a popular Nintendo fighter, but also costs nothing?!

Welcome to the Weekly Co-Op!

This week’s competitive game will be Brawlhalla!

Players: 1-4

Platform: PC, PS4

Price: FREE

image from http://www.store.steampowered.com/

I don’t know what it is about fighting games, but I really love them, so I have to throw in a cheap favorite of mine! Yes, Brawlhalla is free! this great fighter is an arena fighter that plays much like the popular nintendo series of fighting games. There are a few differences, however.

Much like the popular fighting series, there is light attacks and “power” attacks. The “powers” come from weapons that characters pick up on the ground. These weapons change between characters, and there are new characters coming about regularly! On top of the weapons, the game includes some interesting additions to the tried and true fighting style. The game has added a lot of capability to fight in the air if any players are good enough to do so. Furthermore, there is a lot of opportunity to combo your attacks or even just get really good at catching people with a powerful move.

Bringing me to my next point, there is an actual gap between those who play and those who do not. Players with experience in the game will have no issue jumping around the arena and surviving if they are kicked off the side. New players might have trouble with both of these, let alone trying to fight someone throughout that process. Overall, the game is fun to jump into, but there is a learning curve for anyone who is looking to play this game more often.

Besides a heavy learning curve , there is a lot of different characters and game types to try out with other players. Multiple different variations and differences keep the game feeling fresh for long periods of time, and the best part is….

IT’S ALL FREE!!!

I highly recommend the game! Get it today!

Above $10, Competitive Games

Sportsfriends

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A bunch of weird games you’ve never heard of? 2 vs 2 competitive gameplay? Weird characters and maps? Look no further!

Welcome to the Weekly Co-Op!

This week’s competitive game will be Sportsfriends!

Players: 2-4

Platform: PC, PS3, PS4

Price: $14.99

image from store.steampowered.com

Sportsfriends is essentially 4 different games in a nice little package for any of you competitive fiends.

Barabariball is a fighting game with a goal: get your ball below the other teams water (this makes more sense once you play the game). The point of the game can vary, but the base game point is to score the set amount of points for the game. This is game is probably the most challenging to be very good at since there is a lot of different mechanics involved like jumping, attacking, dodging, and throwing. On top of this, there is a limited amount of jumps (can be changed in the options menu) and each player has a special attack. This is my personal favorite out of the bunch.

Johann Sebastian Joust is a physical game. You hold the controller still longer than the other players. That is the gyst of this game. Each player takes a position away from the other players, and can only move when music is going at regular speed. If any player’s controller moves during the slowed period, then that player is out. It’s a fun game to play through a few times.

Pole Riders usually seems to be the favorite of the game and understandable so. Each player has a pole that they must figure out how to use to push a ball on a string to the other teams goal. The mechanics of the pole are tough to remembers and even worse to master if you do not play this game consistently, so it is a good game to bring new people into.

Hokra is a little more strategic, but still fun. You are trying to keep the ball in your color (green or purple usually) until your color fills completely with a slightly darker color. This means you are scoring and the other team isn’t. To get the ball away, there is dashing into the ball and other players. Besides that, there isn’t much. There is a lot of pursuit play in this game along with a lot of stunning the other players. To be completely honest I find this game a little irritating, but it is always fun regardless.

Hopefully this little four pack of games is on your list of games to get because it definitely should be!

Above $10, Competitive Games

Gang Beasts

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Are you looking for a game that pits you and your friends against each other in hilarious fights? Ever want to see really funny ragdoll physics combined with fun local-multiplayer? Well look no further!

Welcome to the Weekly Co-op!

This weeks competitive game will be Gang Beasts!

Players: 1-4

Platform: PC, PS4

Price: $19.99

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image from gangbeasts.game

Gang beasts is a hilarious game involving blob-people who meander their way around an arena to hit the other blob-people. Punch, kick, or headbutt, trying to knock your friends out is the name of the game. There are a few different game modes, but all focus around beating your friends.

To keep this from getting repetitive and annoying, Gang Beasts offers a plethora of customization for anyone who gets bored easily. Mix and match how your character looks, change the settings for the match, change the arena, there is plenty to make the game feel just different enough to keep you playing.

The game play itself is what makes this game stand out. Since the characters are basically gelatin-people, they move sluggishly; not too slow, but just enough to make your little guy feel drunk sloshing it’s way around the arena. The attacks feel like they have some weight behind them, so knocking someone down feels extra rewarding. On top of all of that, to get players out of the map (the way to eliminate them), you have to pick them up while they are down and throw them off the arena!

Gang Beasts is a wild adventure to sink some time into, and I highly recommend that every person who is thinking about getting a good local multiplayer game check this one out!

Above $10, Competitive Games

Starwhal

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Tired of playing Call of Duty and Rocket League with your friends? Interested in finding a new, cheap game to play with your friends? Well, look no further! Welcome to the Weekly Co-Op!

 

Today’s recommendation will be Starwhal!

Players: 1-4

Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4, WiiU, PS3

Price: $11.99

Image from Steam

Starwhal was released a few years ago (2013), but it has taken the couch co-op world by storm. It is a simple game with only a few mechanics, but it is hard to master and fun to play! You are a narwhal set in an 80’s style theme. The 2-D game is focused on stabbing the other narwhals in the heart.

 

Violent, I know; however, it is not as bad as you might think. Since the game is already a goofy theme (narwhals stabbing each other with their noses set in an 80’s theme) the game follows suit with this. When you get close to other ‘starwhals”, time slows down. When you get to the other player’s heart, the heart explodes in a 2-D, non-graphic explosion. The game is safe for children and adults to play together.

There are multiple game modes in the game, specifically 4. There is a classic mode, a mode where one player has a special heart (plays like king of the hill except the hill is a special heart) called Heart Throb, Zones (which is like king of the hill), and Score Attack (instead of losing hearts, you gain score when you stab someone else).

There are plenty of customization options to make your Starwhal unique, and plenty of different options to change up the game every time.

The game is only $12, and has been giving my friends and I hours of fun since I bought it almost 4 years ago. Starwhal is a great game for any person on a budget and looking to play something new with their friends.

That’s all for the Weekly Co-op, check back in soon for another game! Have a great week!