16 Co-op games like Dark Souls II that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Dark Souls II does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. It sets itself apart with open world exploration and online features.

If Dark Souls II worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is combat: open world exploration.

If Dark Souls II worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and fantasy world, the same is here. To that it adds single-player focus and a third-person camera. They part company on setting: this one brings horror setting.

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Dark Souls II on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in progression.

On paper it is what Dark Souls II is — punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds skill tree progression and a third-person camera. They part company on setting and combat: this one brings tactical combat and a sci-fi setting.

Held in common with Dark Souls II: deep RPG systems, magic-based combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to PvP competition and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting: offline play.

If Dark Souls II worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, the same is here. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and skill tree progression. The distance is in progression.

Genre puts it alongside Dark Souls II, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and co-op play. Where the two diverge is visuals and setting: horror setting and 2D presentation.

What brings it close to Dark Souls II is punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, tone and setting. To that it adds a third-person camera and single-player focus. They part company on game mode: this one brings online features.

The genre is the same as Dark Souls II’s, and with it punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on progression and combat: this one brings survival mechanics and open world exploration.

The genre is the same as Dark Souls II’s, and with it punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on a third-person camera and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and combat — its own ground is post-apocalyptic world.

Same family as Dark Souls II: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on co-op play and skill tree progression. The distance is in setting and combat — its own ground is post-apocalyptic world.

Shelved next to Dark Souls II for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on setting and progression: this one brings historical setting and 3D presentation.

Genre puts it alongside Dark Souls II, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and combat — its own ground is historical setting.

Same family as Dark Souls II: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in setting and progression — its own ground is horror setting.