When you upgrade your PlayStation Plus membership to tiers above Essential, you’re going to get a lot more games. But, of all the current PS Plus games?? in the catalog, which ones are the best in terms of multipl??ayer?

We have some recommendations below.

The 10 best PS Plus multiplayer games

There are two other tiers for PS Plus, so we’ll also note which on?e is for which service to give you a better idea of which one to get or what’s available in your current subscription.

For Honor - Extra

For Honor has been around for over seven years at this point, but has received so much content ranging from new maps, characters??,?? customizations, and progression options. Team up with some friends to take on the PvE or PvE modes in this brawler. 

It takes a while to get good at a game like this since it’s different than many other games in this genre, but once you get some decent combos and defensive plays down, this ??opens up tenfold.

Monster Hunter Rise - Extra

With Monster Hunter Wilds on the horizon, now is the best time to get into the latest installation of the franchise to prepare for it. Rise is more akin to the classic formula of the MH games, borrowing a lot of the more modernized stuff from World, but also making it better.

The cooperative aspect is seamless and just more fun with more people coordinating awesome methods to hunt, trap, and beat the monsters. If you’re looking for a game to introduce you to the franchise, you will not be disappointed with Monster Hunter Rise.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege - Premium

Similar to For Honor, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege has been out for a long time, having so many maps, operators, and content that awaits. Admittedly, this game is a sweat fest, but? as long as you ignore the ranked side and team up with some friends? for casuals, it’s a great time.

This game breaks away from the twitch shooter aspect that many may have grown tired of from games like Call of Duty. It’s sl??ower, more tactical, and methodical. You still need to be a decent shot, but each operator has their own set of weapons and gadgets that can help snag that win.

Killing Floor 2 - Extra

Killing Floor 2 is a round-based zombie shooter gam?e with classes. The cooperative aspect of it makes this so much fun, especially when pitted against the hundreds of zombies (or Zeds as they are called in-game). 

With so many maps to choose from and so many builds in the game, you can easily have dozens of hours slaying these Zeds. There’s even a PvP asp?ect of the game if you and your gr?oup are feeling competitive.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge - Extra

If you want a classic beat ‘em up in the modern era, TMNT Shredder’s Revenge is the best you’ll get from the PS Plus collection. It’s an awesome party game that’s so ?reminiscent of the Sega Genesis and arcade era of 16-bit games. 

The best part is, if you have a group above four people, you ?can play up to six players at once!

Worms W.M.D - Extra

The Worms games were all wacky fun with hilarious physics, explosions, and interactions. To break away from games that have a more cooperative aspect, Worms W.M.D is all?? about blowing up all the competition to be the one to get out on top. 

It’s an easy game to get into, whether you have ever tried 2?D tank-styled games or not.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 - Premium

The Division 2 is one of the bigger looter shooter games out right now that isn’t free to play. It has only gotten better since it was fi??rst released. Having a full-on cooperative aspect, PvP, and a sizeable community, this is something you can easily sink over a hundred hours into.

The gunplay and all the builds are for the hardcore, but the initial playthrough of ??the base campaign will still provide plenty of fun for casuals.

Serious Sam Collection - Premium

If you want a more cooperative experience with a shooter, the Serious Sam Collection is going to be a blast. Being more akin to early 2000s boomer shooters, this colle??ction of games will provide you and your friends with dozens of hours of high-octane shooter ?gameplay.

While highly unlikely, you can play cooperativ?e mode with up to 16 players. T??he action will be insane and hilarious all at the same time.

Moving Out - Extra

If you want a more party-centric multiplayer game in the PS Plus catalog, Moving Out will scratch that itch and then some. Think of these games being an extension of the Overcooked ga??mes. You’re constantly walking over your teamm??ates and other obstacles to get the job done.

You might break a few things or have a huge f?ail al?ong the way, but it’s all in good fun.

Overcooked 2 - Extra

Carrying the momentum forward from Moving Out, Overcooked is the OG of birds-eye view, cooperative, item-moving games. The experience in the second game is different almost every s?ingle time since everyone is frantically trying to get their tasks done and efficiently. 

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A list full of frustrating, chaotic fun

Fall Guys seems to have just caught the end of the battle royale trend, but it's easily one of the silliest and fun games to take on the genre. You and your friends all take on the role of a little bean-shaped creature and run the gauntlet of different obstacle courses akin to the slapstick fun of the classic American gameshow, Wipeout. Don't forget you ca?n also dress your bean up in all kinds of goofy costume??s to make your run all the more giggle-inducing.

Of course, as much as we all love Fall Guys, any game is going to get a bit stale after we play it for a certain number of hours. That's why we've compiled this list of awesome games to check out if you want to play Fall Guys, but you also don't want to play Fall Guys. In other words, here are seven gam?es that are ??just like your favorite platformer battle royale game, but different, and also ranked.

7. It Takes Two

It Takes Two's gameplay has a much greater focus on cooperation than Fall Guys, but maybe this Game of the Year-winning co-op adventure game could be a nice way to make up after you sabotage a friend. The game might be a bit different than what you're used to if don't usually reach for on-rails, storytelling-centric titles, but it could be a good change of pace if you're up for it. You'll certainly still have to do plenty of platforming, and It Takes Two has a beautiful, colorful art style that should satisfy even the stuffiest of Fall Guys players �if such a thing even exists.

6. Among Us

The game that took the world by storm! Among Us is another great option if you're looking for some goofy fun with a social deduction twist. It would be the perfect time to jump in, as well, because the developers just announced a new game mode: Hide n Seek. Players have to complete tasks like usual, only the votes and decision-making have been removed to make for a more fast-paced experience, if ?that's your kind of thing. All you have to focus on is doing your tasks and staying alive, which kind of sounds similar to a particular platforming battle royale game, does it not?

5. Stick Fight

Do you ever think about those old-school stick figure animations from the golden days of the internet? Because I certainly do. Now you can take on the role of your very own stick figure and beat the crap out of your friends �that's what video games are all about, after all. Maybe you need a way to take on your friends after they threw you off of the Big Shots stage in Fall Guys, and the co-op fighting game Stick Fight absolutely has you covered.

4. Golf With Your Friends

As a lifelong mini-golf fan, I'm willing to admit that I'm partial to the sport �and that includes any silly, albeit unrealistic video game interpretations. Golf With Friends is the perfect title if you're looking for silly ways to sabotage your friends, and lets you do it in style. You can play with up to 12 players in a game, and with a grand total of 234 different holes to play on in 13 different themed courses, it's not likely you'll run out of games to play anytime soon. Just ??get eleven of your closest frie?nds together, and try not to wail on each other with your proverbial putters.

3. Overcooked 2

Overcooked 2 is widely considered one of the best co-op party games ever made, and I'm inclined to agree. You and your friends will be thrown into the kitchen, and will make progressively more complicated food in progressively precarious situations. Want to see if you can make a delicious pasta dinner in a kitchen suspended by multiple hot air balloons? You've got it! Want ?to try your hand at making mouth-watering steak over a horrifying lava pit? This one's all you! Just make sure you don't take things too seriously, because this game has threatened some? of my friendships in a very real way.

2. Ultimate Chicken Horse

Ultimate Chicken Horse is one of my personal favorite party games of all time. The premise is simple �you ??and up to three other friends play as a delightfully adorable barnyard animal, and have to reach the goal at the end of a platforming stage to progress. The catch is that you play each map repeatedly until only one player is left standing, and in betwee??n each round, players can choose an obstacle to add to the course. Things get really chaotic really fast, and its fostering of friendly trash talk and occasional self-sabotage makes for an awesome game you won't want to put down.

1. Gang Beasts

If you need something that's going to capture the same slapstick-y, ragdoll ridiculousness of Fall Guys, Gang Beasts is your best bet. This beat-em-up co-op title can be played with up to four players, where you enter a?re?nas full of various hazards and attempt to take out your opponents.

Gang Beasts blew up a bit on YouTube's Let's Play scene in the late 2010s, and it's been a friendship-threatening staple of parties ever since. As if that wasn't good enough, the game also still has that dress-up mechanic that we all just can't get enough of, so you can don a silly hat or pair of glasses as your friend throws you into an indu?strial-grade grinder.

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Play the full game from February 10�6 and try to be civil

I don't always make the most of ??my Nintendo Switch Online membership, but it's cheap enough annual??ly that I'm not too bothered, and lately, I've enjoyed seeing more limited-time game trials pop up.

The next Switch Online trial is for Overcooked 2, a game that doesn't need an introduction other than to say it's a fa?ntastic local co-op game that speaks to a wide range of players. I personally adore this frantic cooking series. I honestly couldn't tell you how many hours I've spent replaying it. Too many.

If you have a Nintendo Switch Online account, you'll be able to go to town with the full version of Overcooked 2 from February 10 at 9:00 am Pacific until Feb. 16 at 11:59 pm Pacific. Download it here.

Should you want to keep playing after the trial, the full game is down to $12.49 and the Overcooked 2 Season Pass is down to $9.99 right now – that's h??alf price in both cases. The DLC is worth it!

Maybe, uh... maybe save this game for any day other than Valentine's. You've been warned!

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I'm not walking on sunshine

I like to start Overcooked 2 levels with a "pra?ctice run" – a chance to see where the ingredient?s are, how we're meant to flow around the room and navigate obstacles, and who should be on top of each duty.

I can already tell the very temporary (and very narrow) lily pad walkways in the Moon Harvest update are going to be trouble for me. The free Overcooked 2 update went out earlier today on all platforms. On the bright side, mooncakes. We'll be whipping ??up cute fruit-filled treats for the ravenous crow??d.

Like other recent updates, this one can be ??accessed from the Seasonal Updates option in Extras.

With the PS5 and Xbox Series X getting Overcooked: All You Can Eat, this might be one of the final updates for Overcooked 2. It's be?en wonderful! (Aside from all the times I pissed off my girlfr?iend.)

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The summer update rolled onto consoles today

Can you feel it in the air? It's an Overcooked 2 sorta night. The? living room is gonna get heated.

After a Steam launch earlier this month, the Sun's Out Buns Out update is ready and waiting to be played on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. The free level pack has hot d?ogs, ice cream floats, and summer salads to prep while fireworks and parade floats do their best to frazzle your team. The fireworks shoot off at ?random and clog the kitchen, so you'll want to have a fire extinguisher handy.

After updating Overcooked 2, you'll find these levels tucked in the Seasonal Updates menu. The scoring thresh??old for three stars is surprisingly low on mos??t of them, for better or worse. They'll go by quick.

I have a lot o?f rust to shake off, and I don't want to look like an idiot sandwich.

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Sun's Out Buns Out

We'll have a new reason to boot up Overcooked 2 in July. Sun's Out Buns Out, the latest in a string of?? free seasonal level packs, is comi?ng to PC on July 5?? and consoles soon after, according to IGN.

Cold drinks, corn on the cob, hot dogs, fireworks, a parade, and dispensers – there's a lot to love. The trailer for Sun's Out Buns Out shows five chaotic summer-th?emed levels and a pair of pooches.

I'm less thrilled about that one level with another dreaded joystick-controlled platform (I always struggle to keep the kitchen combo going in stages with pitfalls), but at the same time, I'd rather not breeze all the way through. I mean, it's been a minute. I want to savor Overcooked 2 while I still can.

These free updates aren't typically Overcooked's best material, but this them?e is j??olly, and I'm into it.

Overcooked 2: Sun's Out Buns Out DLC Revealed - IGN?? Expo [IGN]

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The ultimate relationship test

If you were holding out for an all-in-one, game-of-the-year-style package for the indelible Overcooked 2, that's an option on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Pla?yStation 4 starting t??oday. It's under $50.

Overcooked 2: Gourmet Edition comes with the base game, the four major DLC packs – Surf 'n' Turf, Campfire Cook Off, Night of the Hangry Horde, and Carnival of Chaos &ndash??; plus the Too Many Cooks pack for a total of 58 playable chefs. For whatever it's worth, this is my favorite couch co-op game?? ever.

As noted by publisher Team17, there are over 130 levels. It's a long game! Gourmet Edition is supposed t?o be $36.37 during a "launch discount" window, but that sale?? price isn't live yet at the time of writing.

The PC version of Overcooked 2: Gourmet Edition is coming a little later on April 16, 2020.

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Five free levels to kick off the Year of the Rat

The end is in sight for Overcooked 2, but ??there are still a couple empty spots left to fill on the map.

The latest batch of free content for Overcooked 2, the Spring Festival update, is available this week on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4 (with the Xbox One version coming a little later after an "unforeseen delay"). The update is a Year of the Rat celebration, so yep, there's a rat chef – and a turtle!

Between the sushi, steamed dumplings, and hot pot, my empty?? stomach is getting agitated??.

You probably know the drill by now, but you can find the Spring Festival levels (and other free content) in Overcooked 2 ?by choosing Story from the main menu, then Extras, and finally Seasonal Updates.

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Watch out for candy cane zombies

Overcooked 2 has a new batch of holiday-themed levels for 2019 with killer candy?? canes and cookies.

The Winter Wonderland update launched today on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and it's totally free. There are five new levels – one that borrows from Campfire Cook Off, two inspired by Carnival of Chaos, and two that adapt the brilliant wall-building horde survival mode from Night of the Hangry Horde. As such, you'll see some ?familiar recipes like ho??t chocolate and strawberry pancakes.

You can find these levels in the Seasonal Updates category of the Extras menu. Once you load in, you might need to warp bac??k to the hub to find the portal? that leads to the Winter Wonderland stages.

There's also a Reindeer Chef and Presen?t Head Chef, but I'm sticking with th?e Eagle.

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Launching December 17, 2019

Kevin's Christmas Cracker was a pleasant surprise for Overcooked 2 fans last year, but I wasn't expecting anything new – much less anything substantial – for the holiday 2019 season. Folks, it's great to be wrong. Ghost Town Games has another free update planned for Decem?ber.

Ooh my...if only there was something to warm our spi??rits & fill our &acir?c;¤ï¸ with festive joy...

*DING DONG*

Who could that be...?

*GASP*

Reindeer Chef & Present Head Chef!What? You’re part of the FREE Winter Wonderland DLC? You brought laughter & silliness?!😛#Overcooked2 #17thdec pic.twitter.com/fkGocLJSKz

— Overcooked 🽠(@Overcookedgame) December 13, 2019

The developers ??are keeping the scope a secret, but you'll be able to download the Winter Wonderland update on December 17, 2019. That goes for PC, PlayStati??on 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

For reference, last year's holiday update brought five free levels ce?ntered around hot cocoa and mince pies. I jus??t re-played some of those stages the other day, and geez, they're surprisingly tricky.

If this is the final update for Overcooked 2, it'll be bittersweet. So many memories.

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I don't trust the clown chef

As much as I'd be fine playing Overcooked 2 indefinitely, it's getting to be that time. The third and final DLC release in the season pass, Carnival of Chaos, is out now for players on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. I??t's included as part of the $19.99 pass and also sold individually for $5.99.

There are 15 circus-themed levels, some of which let you fire your well-meaning chef out of cannons. As for recipes, we're talking donuts, hot dogs (complete with condiment dispensers), and combination meals. I'll never look at combo-meals the same after playing the culinary mind-bender Automachef.

Carnival of Chaos seems a little more straightforward than Campfire Cook Off and especially Night of the Hangry Horde, but you know I'm going to burn throu?gh it the first chance I get this weekend.

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Popcorn is the best snack and you can't change my mind

Another helping of Overcooked 2 next month? Don't mind if I do!

The third and final slice of Overcooked 2's Season Pass is going all out with a circus theme, complete with a new stage-traversal mechanic – human cannonballs! – and junk-food staples. The Carnival of Chaos DLC is set for release on September 12, 2019 acr??oss Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

As ever, you'll be able to pick up the DLC as its own purchase, or you can access these levels with the $20 pass which also includes Campfire Cook Off and the unmissable Night of the Hangry Horde.

I keep fearing that I'll eventually have to grow tired of playing Overcooked, but the day hasn't come – it's still my co-op game of choice. Not even t?he imminent threat of clowns can keep me away.

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New chefs: Vampire, Ghost, Werewolf, and the Boxhead (from the first game)

Overcooked 2 has go??tten a lot of DLC so far. since it??s August 2018 launch. Some of it has been free (seasonal levels), some is paid (Surf 'n' Turf, Campfire Cook Off, a chef pack), and now there's another one on the way: the cleverly titled "Night of the Hangry Horde."

While most of the info on the pack has been und?er lock and key, Ghost Town Games made an appearance at E3 this year during Nintendo's Treehouse segment to give us a look at what's to come. As you might imagine the DLC is horror-themed, and a new mechanic has been introduced: the guillotine. It basically serves the same function as a cutting board, but it's done automatically, requiring a bit more coordination and speed.

There's also a brand new gametype: horde mode. It? involves the return of the Unbread from the core story line, and instead of casually making food for hungry customers, you'll be fending off angry zombies to keep them at bay. It'll also sport new chef characters: a Vampire, Ghost, Werewolf, and the Boxhead chef. As a developer noted in the strea??m, he was one of the most-requested characters that folks wanted to see return from the original game.

It's amazing how Ghost Town Games keeps coming up with new ideas after all this time (and with a sequel no less), but they're doing it! Night of the Hangry Horde is actually out today.

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One of three upcoming DLC packs

My craving for more Overcooked 2 hasn't let up yet, and it's not showing any signs of slowing down this year. I'm insatiable! Ghost Town Games has kept us occupied with numerous additions since launch -- some free, some paid -- and there's more content planned for next month (and?? beyon?d).

April 18, 2019 will mark the release of Campfire Cook Off, a new mini-a?dventure with 12 levels, four more playab??le chef characters, and two new as-yet-unknown meal types. Here's a super short teaser.

This DLC will cost $5.99, but Overcooked 2 is also getting a season pass for $18.99. The pass covers Campfire Cook Off and two mo??re upcoming DLC packs with "more meals, mechanics, and mayhem."

I wish I were half as into real-world food prep as I am slicing and dicing in Overcooked.

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You can't beat free

I tried keeping my expectations in check for the latest Overcooked 2 up?date, but that has proven unnecessary. Not only has Ghost Town Games added seven levels themed around Chinese New Year, it's also included a Survival Mode in which every meal you deliver adds precious seconds to the clock.

Oh, and did I mention it's free?? The ??Chinese New Year update is live on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.

There's a roaming dragon to avoid, and based on how we handled some of the environmental threats in Overcooked 2's Surf 'n' Turf DLC, I am?? deeply afraid. In line with the traditional theme, the new recipes are hot pot and a fruit platter while the new playable chefs a??re a Chinese dragon and a pig.

As for Survival Mode, it's another chance to revisit all the existing levels. Ghost Town has also added a sorely needed Replay option so playe??rs can ??jump back into a kitchen right from the results screen.

In a fun coincidence, I had hot pot for the very first time this past weekend. Aside from consistently forgetting to use our desig??nated chopsticks for handling raw ingredients, I had a blast. I wanna go back!

Overcooked! 2:?? Chinese New Year – FREE update available now! [Team17]

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Xin Nian Hao!

Team17 has released a super-short, blink-and-you'll-miss-it trailer, announcing a new update for their chaotic and colourful culinary battle, Overcooked 2. The update will be free for all players.

Very little is know?n about the content of this new add-on, but it is believed to be a seasonal update which will align with Chinese New Year, which takes place on February 5. The short trailer gives a glimpse of a water garden-type environment, a porcine chef (2019 is The Year of The Pig)... and that's about it!

No doubt we can expect this update in the very new future. Overcooked 2 is av??ailable now on PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

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Kevin's Christmas Cracker

I'm not ready to stop playing Overcooked 2, and thankfully, I don't have to! Ghost Town Games has come out with Kevin's Christmas Cracker, a free batch of DLC with five new holiday-themed levels and fresh recipes including Christmas pudd??ing and mince pies. It's out now on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.

Along with the festive celebration, Overcooked 2 has also gotten a Practice mode that works in every level in the base game and DLC. You can turn off the timer and won't be punished by late food orders. It's not quite the "endless" mode some fans have asked for, but it's a worthwhile addition all the s??ame.

The timing here is impeccable. I just finished revisiting the original Overcooked and its expansions this month because I ran out of things to do in Overcooked 2 but couldn't give up my hectic cooking habit.

I know what I'm playing tonight.

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Sorry, 'chefs'

I've got my money's worth out of Overcooked 2. My wife and I blitzed through every stage (including bonuses) with three stars over the? course of a few week??s, and now there's a dreaded fourth star New Game+ mode ready and waiting for free. For those of you who don't want to beat the entire game over again there's more new hotness style stuff too.

As was previously teased, the first major DL?C is Surf ‘n’ Turf, and will run you $5.99. It comes with 12 new story levels, three chefs, more recipes (BBQ skewers and smoothies), as well as the ability to "bla??st your plates clean" with a water pistol. The bellows also has a risk-reward mechanic involved where you can burn your BBQ if you're overzealous.

Yep, keep all this kind of stuff coming. The relaxing vibe of Surf ‘n’ Turf is cool, but a "Hell on Earth" second DLC that's inherently hard without resting on the four star requirement woul?d be great too.

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The DLC launches tomorrow

It's now October and along with censored-for-TV horror movie marathons and copious Halloween bake-offs, it's time for that promised Overcooked 2 update. The console versions have added New Game+ mode. If you're up for the challenge, there's a new f?ourth star to earn on every last level.

I appreciate that you don't actually have to reset your save file and begin again; you can just continue where you left off, picking and choosing the levels you want t?o replay. As an example,?? level 1-1 requires a score of 20 points for one star, 60 for two, 240 for three, and a whopping 1,000 points for four stars.

The update is free and live righ??t now on Nintendo Switch. Upon booting up the game (note: I had to manually initiate the update from my home screen), I also found more info about the first real DLC.

...🍍 pic.twitter.com/kR5UA9IPAt

— Overcooked 🍽 (@Overcookedgame) September 26, 2018

We knew the DLC would be beach-themed based on this teaser, and while it hasn't appeared in the eShop yet, here's how the in-game listing describes Surf 'n' Turf ahead of the official October 3 launch:

"Get your sunglasses on, gather your chefs, and fire up the barbecue... IT'S TIME TO GO TO THE BEACH! You'll be having a whale of a time, cooking up kebab skewers and smoothies as the ever so exotic parrot chef, the spicy skillful island chef, and a returning hero chef from Overcooked."

Chasing high scores for stars stresses me out, but I ??am super dow?n for smoothies.

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Fourth star, same tree

My wife and I made it our mission to three-star everything in Overcooked 2. We unlocked every secret level and character and kept pushing on until it was done. A lot of people seemingly felt the same, so Ghost Town Games and Team 17 whipped up a New Game + mode to sate?? their appetites.

It's been in the works for a while for consoles, but now we finally have a release window for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch: "early October." As a reminder this mode is basically a hard mode and an extra challenge gametype in one. You'll need to earn four stars now (whoa) and the game will be tougher overall. It'll allow you to replay every stage in the game wi?th these new parameters.

The PC edition got New Game+ back in August, and just like ?on PC, the console update is free.

Team 17 [Twitter]

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New Game+ coming soon to consoles

That wasn't long at all! And now I'm low-key panicking because I have less time than I thought to get ready for New Game+ mode in Overcooked 2. ??The update launched today for PC, adding a new fourth star to earn on every level once you beat the game. It'll be her?e "very soon" on consoles.

• New Game + added (unlocks once all the story mode levels have been completed in Campaign)
• Added a couple of treats for players who complete New Game+
• Story mode: Chefs can now be changed through the pause menu when on the World Map
• Star boundaries for all levels are now displayed on the world map, loading screen, and the results screen
• Story mode: Levels now display a preview image on the World Map
• Updated description for "Dinner Party Posse" achievement text to specify Arcade mode.

I'm particularly looking forward to the pre?view image on the map. It's a bummer to load up a level only to realize it's a stressful kitchen that makes you holler (more than the normal amount, I mean).

New Game+ Update - Now Live! [Steam]

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Bring on the four-star challenge!

While I still have a few secret levels to master in Overcooked 2, my time has pretty much come to an end. I was planning on revisiting the co-op cooking action title again sooner than later since it's the type of game that feels fresh when you're playing with a different co-chef, but now I have even more incentive. Ghost Town Games is planning to add a challenging New Game+ mode to Overcooked 2.

"This will give you a reason to go back through all 45 levels and work to get 4 stars," said the studio. "New Game+ will be coming soon and will be sharing more details as we get closer to ??its launch."

I had expected eventual DLC like the firs?t ga?me, but NG+ mode is a pleasant surprise.

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The right recipe

I'm so glad Overcooked found a sustainable, adoring audience in the almost two years since I first tried it?? on a whim. This simple yet hectic cooki??ng game is one of the best co-op titles around.

The basic concept is easy -- you assemble food orders component by component without missing deadlines or setting the whole kitch?en ablaze? -- but it's spontaneous enough to keep you on your toes.

I'm also glad Ghost Town Games didn't take long to make a sequel. The original Overcooked was a joy through and through. Even after earning three stars on every stage and burning through the DLC, I just wasn't ready to stop playing. I needed more. Overcooked 2 adds online multiplayer, new recipes, and more dynamic stage hazards, but it's fundamentally the same experienc?e. I'm perfectly fine with that.

Overcooked 2 (Nintendo Switch [reviewed], PS4, PC, Xbox One)
Developer: Ghost Town Games
Publisher: Team17
Released: August 7, 2018
MSRP: $24.99

A typical level in Overcooked 2 starts quiet. You form a game plan with your partner(s), dole out tasks, and try to waste no time cooking??, plating, and delivering meals. But pressure mounts as the timer ticks down, and then it happens: someone falls off a ledge or has a brief lapse of concentration. Suddenly, things get loud. You bark orders at each other and scramble to get something edible on the plate.

That's the key -- the reason Overcooked 2 is so much fun and crucially stays fun. No matter how streamlined your process is, at a certain point, you're going to have to adapt to avoid bottlenecks. No two runs play out the same way. While making cheeseburgers, you might be in charge of prepping meat and frying patties while your partner is on cheese/tomato/lettuce duty. Tha?t'll work for a bit. But dirty dishes will soon pile up and the kitchen might transform, leaving one of you stranded from your self-set responsibilities. If you can't seamlessly finish each other's work, those burgers will catch on fire.

To do well, you need to stay in constant communication. The more people participating, the rowdier it'll get. Overcooked 2 fully supports solo play (you swap between control of two characters), but I don't recommend it. The game is without a doubt best played in groups of two, three, or four players. While a couch co-op setting is ideal, online multiplayer can do the trick if you don't ha??ve enough controllers.

The biggest point of differentiation between the two games is that the level designs feel much less static now. You might start your cook-off in a hot air balloon? only for it to crash and leave you prepping different meals in the fiery wreckage. Some levels use roaming teleporters that can spit you out in the wrong spot if you mess up yo??ur timing, while other stages are set above chasms and require you to maneuver walkable platforms using a physical joystick. You're always up against some new challenge.

Th??e recipes themselves aren't wildly different (think sushi, pizza, pasta, and ??cakes), but the lively new level gimmicks help make up for it. Still, I would've liked to see more elaborate or unexpected dishes.

There's also more of a focus on strategically throwing ingredients (as opposed to just stockpiling them on the floor like in the first Overcooked). You can pass certain items to your partner or, better yet, toss them into pots and pan??s. This is a godsend in later levels where hazards constantly block access.

Every so often your chef won't quite do what you w?anted and it'll feel like it's more the game's fault than it is you simply fumbling with the controls. Specifically, placing items doesn't feel as consistent or snappy as it could. I experienced this far more on Nintendo Switch than I did with?? the high-frame-rate PC version but, that said, it's only a minor frustration in what is intended to be a frantic game.

If you enjoyed the original or skipped it purely because you needed online multiplayer support, Overcooked 2 should be a no-brainer. While the sequel runs the risk of being slightly too familiar and lacks any big surprises, it's still a winning ?formula. Co-op gaming doesn't get much better than this.

_{[This review is based ?on a retai?l build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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That fire has a mind of its own

I'm not exaggerating when I say that there are very few games revealed at E3 that I want in my hands right here, right now, more than Overcooked 2. The original is at the top of my list of co-op favorites. The sequel is the same, but more, and it lets you strategically chuck food aroun?d your chaotic kitchen.

CJ already gave us the full rundown on Overcooked 2 at E3, but now that we're all back home recovering from post-show sickness, Team17 was thoughtful enough to send over a preview build of the upcoming game on PC. Here's a calm, cool, collect??ed (see: voiceless) playthrough of five different levels.

Trust me when I say that there was so much hollering du??ring the ??recording of this footage. The game is due out August 7 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Now I must sleep.

The post I played five levels in Overcooked 2 and now I want to sleep until Aug??us??t appeared first on Destructoid.

The must-play party game of 2018

Overcooked has been nothing short of a rousing success on Nintendo Switch. It had a rough launch, but with updates and improvements, it’s become a stand-out seller on the system, with Nintendo going so far as to mention the title by name in its 2017 Fiscal Year Results Briefing. It’s no wonder Nintendo decided to include the sequel, Overcooked 2, as part of its E3 this year.

I took the demo for a spin with two Nintendo representatives -- getting into it so much I missed Charles Martinet walking right behind me -- and had the time of my life with one kitchen in particular. Overcooked 2, like its predecessor, ?is a multiplayer cooking game where a t?eam of up to four players manages a kitchen preparing food, filling orders, washing dishes, and dealing with whatever issues come up. Each kitchen is a timed challenge and players are rewarded with stars based on how well they do.

The first kitchen of this demo is pretty standard. It’s not the first in the game, but it is simple enough to get the basics across. All we are asked to do is prepare sushi, giving me the chance to re-familiarize myself with how the game plays. A new mechanic in Overcooked 2 is the ability to throw food. If there is another player across the kitchen who needs an ingredient, I can throw it to them rather than run it over myse??lf or have them come and get it themselves. With the three of us, this element didn’t add much to our strategy, but I can’t imagine the game won’t somehow work it into the core concepts of later kitchens.

So this first kitchen is pretty run of the mill. The second adds moving walkways that keep players going in a big circle around it. Completely manageable as well as approp?riately chaotic. But it’s this third kitchen that blows me away.

It starts with the three of us in a tiny hot air balloon basket making salads -- as you do -- when storm clouds start to roll in. The basket begins to sway and the settings of the kitchen start shifting from one side of the basket to the other. Our once idyllic and highly organized kitchen is shuffling around like tables on the Daisy Cruiser. Also, there are spot fires, because as any seasoned hot air balloonist will tell?? you, baskets catch fire.

So we’re preparing salads in a swaying basket that’s partially on fire, still filling those orders I assume are being sent out to the other hot air balloon enthusiasts, when this storm has had its fill of us. The action stops as the kitchen is caug?ht in some violent weather that sends it crashing down into a sushi shop, just in time for the lunch rush. So now, not only do we have to make salads in our original kitchen space, but we have to prepare sushi as well, taking the ingredients off conveyor belts located in th?e corners of the space. Also, there are spot fires, because as any seasoned chef will tell you, kitchens catch fire.

This game is fire. My memory may not be stable enough to remember everything I experienced at E3, but my trip through that kitchen is burned into my mind. It is pure fun and I can’t wait to see what other crazy challenges await when Overcooked 2 launches August 7, 2018.

The post Let me tell you?? about this one kitch?en in Overcooked 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Local and online play

Overcooked is one of the best co-op games in recent years and it delights me to know that we're getting a sequel so soon. Overcooked 2 is coming on August 7, 2018 to Nintendo Switch.

There's baking, there's broiling, there's barbecuing, and there's getting mad at your friends and never talking to them again but then realizing you really want to play more Overcooked so you make amends.

The post We don’t have to wait too long for Overcooked 2 appeared first on Destructoid.