Co-op Archives

AppWizard

February 11, 2026

Steam’s most‑wishlisted games reveal an unexpected frontrunner — and Xbox Game Studios is holding strong

Alinea Analytics has identified the most-wishlisted games on Steam for release in 2026. The top three are: 1. Subnautica 2 - 3.8 million wishlists, featuring co-op multiplayer, Xbox Play Anywhere support, and availability on Xbox Game Pass, delayed from 2025 to 2026. 2. Forza Horizon 6 - 2.6 million wishlists, has sold 220,000 copies on Steam, set in Japan, also supports Xbox Play Anywhere and will be available on Xbox Game Pass, releasing on May 19, 2026. 3. Resident Evil Requiem - 2.5 million wishlists, features characters Leon and Grace Ashcroft, blending survival horror with combat, not available on Game Pass or Xbox Play Anywhere, releasing on February 26, 2026.

BetaBeacon

February 1, 2026

This Meta Quest game channels the best of R.E.P.O and Lethal Company with a clever twist

- Deadly Delivery is a co-op VR game where players take on the role of goblin delivery persons delivering packages to dangerous locations. - Players must navigate through levels, avoiding traps and monsters while collecting delivery fees. - The game has unique mechanics such as storing items on your body and using special items like carts. - Players have to meet monetary goals within a three-day work week structure to continue their service. - Failure to meet goals results in being removed from service, but players can start anew with unlocked skills and cosmetics. - Deadly Delivery offers a mix of fun, challenge, physics-based gameplay, and a touch of horror. - The game's art style and gameplay mechanics make it a standout in the co-op VR genre, providing entertainment for players of all ages.

AppWizard

January 31, 2026

A Pokémon-like gacha game should be such an obvious win that I’m shocked I can’t find much to like about Aniimo

Aniimo is a creature-collecting gacha game currently in closed beta, aiming for a broader launch in 2026. It features multiplayer functionality, allowing players to explore and battle together, and includes interactive elements with aniimos in the open world. Despite some intriguing features, Aniimo struggles to stand out in a crowded market of gacha games. Industry sentiments indicate growing fatigue with the genre, and competition from upcoming titles like Hoyoverse's Honkai: Nexus Anima may impact its success.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Trains are taking over the survival genre: there are a half-dozen survival base-builders on rails coming in 2026

A shift in survival gaming is occurring with the introduction of mobile bases on trains, with at least six or seven games set for release in 2026. Frostrail, developed by FakeFish, is a solo or co-op first-person shooter where players navigate a frozen world aboard a train, scavenging for resources and upgrading their engine for survival. EverRail allows up to four players to use drones for reconnaissance and engage in combat, featuring a respawn mechanic where players take on new characters after death. Enginefall is inspired by Snowpiercer, featuring a megatrain where players loot and battle through various train cars, transforming them into strategic bases. Frostliner combines city-building with survival as players manage a train filled with citizens, upgrading it and ensuring their safety while exploring with additional vehicles. Steel Artery: Train City Builder focuses on constructing a steampunk city on rails, requiring resource management and strategic planning for economic success. Railborn features a customizable train system for traversing different biomes, allowing players to scavenge and rebuild ecosystems while creating unique train cars.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

This week in PC games: is Highguard a nothingburger? Plus, Winnie the Cthulhooh, Code Vein 2 and a plant-based RTS

- John Highguard: A sci-fantasy raid shooter developed by former creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall. - Winnie’s Hole: An early access title that transforms Winnie the Pooh into a cosmic horror roguelite. - Echoes Of Elysium: An early access game featuring six-player co-op in a procedural clockwork world. - Earth Must Die: A point-and-click sci-fi comedy from the creators of The Swindle and Lair of the Clockwork God. - The Spirit Lift: A roguelite deckbuilder set in a haunted hotel. - Roots Devour: A game where players control a malevolent tree deciding the fate of humans. - DON’T LET THEM IN: A horror game where players are supermarket clerks dealing with cautious customers. - Lanesplit: A first-person biking simulator with a cinematic style. - Ghost Keeper: An early access title where players manage a house full of ghosts. - Nova Antarctica: A post-apocalyptic game set in Antarctica focused on mysterious signals. - The Midnight Walkers: An early access extraction shooter set in a megamall with a poison gas mechanic. - Calyx: An RTS game featuring a military force against plant life. - Feastopia: A city-builder roguelite where players feed an infant god to avoid becoming part of the menu. - Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator: A sequel that escalates the absurdity of its predecessor. - Cairn: A climbing adventure game with narrative depth. - I Hate This Place: A survival crafting horror game inspired by comic books. - Don’t Stop, Girlypop: An arena shooter with Y2K aesthetics. - Code Vein 2: The latest entry in the anime Soulslike genre featuring time travel mechanics. - Half Sword: An early access physics-based medieval combat game. - Front Mission 3: A remake of the classic turn-based mech game.

AppWizard

January 21, 2026

The death and reincarnation of game discoverability

Guy Ulmer leads platform partnerships at Plarium, part of the Modern Times Group, which develops and publishes games like Raid: Shadow Legends and Stormfall: Saga of Survival. The gaming industry is experiencing a shift in discoverability, with nearly one-third of developers identifying it as their primary challenge by 2026. Players increasingly discover new titles through platforms like YouTube (64%), TikTok (38%), and Instagram (36%), surpassing traditional storefront promotions. Developers must engage players through social media and creator ecosystems rather than relying solely on major storefront placements. Storefront interactions require strategic optimization, as platforms like Google Play and Apple are expected to prioritize games that align with new features. Developers must treat every game as a service, engaging in continuous updates and sales events. Successful developers will design games with marketing in mind, utilizing strategies like incentivized referrals, stream integration, and generative AI for content creation. The focus has shifted from maximizing visibility at launch to ongoing optimization throughout a game's lifecycle, making discoverability a fundamental design principle.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

Hitman’s getting cross-progression as IOI limbers up for that co-op mode it announced last year

Hitman: World of Assassination will implement cross-progression on February 3, allowing players to share their in-game progress across platforms. Players will be able to transfer their experience, player level, challenges, location mastery, unlocks and inventory, achievements/trophies, Freelancer mode progression, and campaign story progress. However, game and DLC licenses will not transfer between platforms, requiring players to repurchase titles. The option to import progress from Hitman 2 to Hitman 3 will no longer be available after February 3, 2026, as the carryover process will be closed to enable cross-progression. Additionally, a co-op mode titled "Stone and Knight" will be introduced.

AppWizard

January 20, 2026

I can’t put down this dark fantasy roguelike that’s basically Elden Ring Nightreign, and it just got a magical new character

Ravenswatch is a dark fantasy roguelike ARPG that blends elements from top-down action games and power-leveling titles. The game features a roster of fairytale characters and has introduced its first DLC character, Merlin, along with a significant update that includes an overhaul of magical objects and balance adjustments. Merlin has a unique skill set with two-button combinations that allow him to cast nine distinct spells across three categories: nature, arcane, and defense. His passive trait enables him to build runes of potency through basic attacks, enhancing his spells. The game also includes a complimentary update with five new magical objects, improvements to the enemy aggro system, and guaranteed rare or epic items from certain chests. Merlin will be available on January 19 for .99 / £6.49, and the game has an 86% approval rating on Steam.

BetaBeacon

January 16, 2026

Cooperative Puzzle Pepelo 2: Around the World Now Available on iOS and Android

Tafusoft studio has launched Pepelo 2: Around the World, an adventure puzzle game available for iOS and Android users. The game offers the first ten levels for free, with the full version priced at 199 rubles. Players can solve logic puzzles in real-world locations like Quebec, New York, Thailand, India, and Australia. There are 50 unique levels with skins inspired by traditional costumes. The developers aim to surpass the success of the original Pepelo game released in 2021.

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

Monster Hunter Wilds sleuth has seemingly uncovered bizarre reason for performance drops: “I refused to believe what I was seeing”

Monster Hunter Wilds, a popular co-op game, is facing ongoing performance issues, particularly on PC, despite Capcom's efforts to address them. A player on Reddit, de_Tylmarande, theorized that the game's performance may be linked to the amount of downloadable content (DLC) owned by players. They observed that their friend's Steam account, which has a complete collection of DLC, performed significantly better than their own account with less DLC. This player created a mod that allowed the game to bypass checks for DLC, resulting in improved frame rates on an account mimicking full DLC ownership. They have contacted Capcom for further investigation and have gained interest from Digital Foundry. If unresolved, they may release their mod as open source. Potential adjustments in upcoming patch notes could address these performance issues related to DLC.