Announced in late 2023,Den of Wolvesis 10 Chambers' next game, and it has been gradually picking up momentum since its original reveal. The team behind the project is well-versed in co-op shooters, with the studio being founded by Ulf Andersson, who previously worked on the original twoPaydaygames. 10 Chambers' first outing wasGTFO, a horror co-op shooter that spent a few years in early access before making its full debut in 2021. Despite entering a fairly packed space, the title was and has continued to be relatively successful, finding adedicated Steam fanbasethat has stuck around for years by this point.
Den of Wolvesrevolves specifically around heists, with players taking on operations on Midway Island. The game seems to have a cyberpunk-esque aesthetic and themes, all the while delivering fast-paced gameplay that rewards preparation, coordination, and flexibility. While there are still plenty of unknowns,Den of Wolves' December 13 gameplayreveal helped shine a light on its direction.
While waiting for 10 Chambers' upcoming project, fans might wish to check out some existing co-op FPS games that might be able to scratch a similar itch.
ThePaydaygames are not included because, well, they are too obvious and have been played by most people already. Obviously,Payday 2is an all-time multiplayer staple.
On paper, recommending 10 Chambers' single previous game might seem unnecessary, especially sinceGTFOis also a co-op first-person shooter likeDen of Wolves. Obviously, people interested in the latter must already be familiar with the former. However, the upcoming shooter’s heist-driven missions and techno-thriller setting are notably different from the 2021 release, andDen of Wolvesseems more likely to attractPaydayfans.GTFOis also pretty darn difficult and very much lives up to its horror subgenre, making it a relatively niche release in the grand scheme of things.
Still,GTFOhighlights the developer team’s appreciation for co-op shooters, with the project specifically revolving around multiplayer. Basically, teams of four mustgo through rundowns, completing tasks and surviving an onslaught of monsters along the way. Teamwork is 100% necessary to have any chance of survival, especially sinceGTFOdoes not generally believe in hand-holding. Although best played with a few friends, the game has an active Discord for those looking to find a group to join.
Crime Boss: Rockay Citylaunched to a notoriously negative reception, earning criticism for its technical issues,voice acting, repetitive missions, and rough gameplay. Since then, Ingame Studios has released quite a few updates that significantly improved things, resulting in a game that is more than worthy of acting as an alternative to something likePayday 2. Just to be clear,Crime Boss: Rockay Citystill has rough edges and lackluster performance, so it is hardly perfect; however, the positives outweigh the negatives at this point.
Crime Boss: Rockay Cityhas a few different modes, but arguably the best one utilizes a roguelite structure. The core loop involves four heisters taking on missions, with the gameplay being quite similar to thePaydayseries. The ultimate goal is to take over Rockay City, which is easier said than done, especially since heisters can permanently die. A full reset is even possible if the main boss falls.
Crime Boss: Rockay Cityis part of PS Plus Extra for those who want to give it a try but are not sure if it is for them. Also, the game is part ofHumble Bundle’s December 2024 selection.
Not every game needs to take itself seriously, andOne-Armed Robberserves as a prime example. From the same team behindOne-Armed Cook, this 2023 release allows four players to live out their dreams of pulling off daring robberies, with five heists being free for everyone. Also, as implied by the title, each robber only has a single arm, which creates a recipe for pure chaos and laughter.
Look,One-Armed Robberis a very different beast than most heist shooters, and most of the fun comes from the wacky physics that arises from its gimmick. Players have to work closely together to pull off robberies, but they are also likely to cause as much trouble for each other as the cops who will eventually stand in the group’s way. Due to beingfree-to-play,One-Armed Robberis a risk-free option, and it is different enough from its contemporaries to warrant a try at the very least.
Despite lacking a “heist” element, games likeLeft 4 Dead,World War Z, andBack 4 Bloodare nevertheless solid recommendations for any group craving a co-op shooter, with their horde-focused gameplay being extremely addictive. While Valve’s zombie shooter series arguably represents the subgenre’s peak,Killing Floor 2is equally fun, at least if somebody just wants to shoot everything that moves.
Focusing on waves of enemies,Killing Floor 2sticks to a straightforward structure that makes it a good “throw on for an hour” type option, which is arguably one of its greatest strengths. That said, the game does not lack depth or variety either, largely thanks to its enemy designs, Perk system,extensive weapon roster, and respectable range of maps.
Hoxxas' riches await, but survival is far from guaranteed.Deep Rock Galactichas rightfully established itself as one of theco-op cornerstones of the 2020s, and it has even gone on to inspire a few spin-offs. While those projects are exciting in their own right, the original game is arguably still the standard setter. For the uninitiated,Deep Rock Galacticrevolves around dwarves who work for a mining corporation and are sent into an alien planet’s caves to (usually) pick up resources. Sounds easy enough, but they are not alone, nor are they particularly welcome. So, they will need to shoot their way through hordes of insects, all the while trying to complete their missions.
Deep Rock Galactichas five dwarves, which effectively serve as classes. Each one has a specific role, abilities, and weapon specialization, and they are designed to function as a unit rather than solo miners (that said, single-player is supported). While not technically framed as heists, the missions are essentially just that, with players generally having to infiltrate, discover, shoot, and escape.
