Quite easily the best addition to the Modern Warfare franchise this year came in the form of the fantastic “Spec-Ops” mode. A mode that bundled all the fun and frustration of the Mile High Club from Call of Duty 4 into one teamwork driven package. With 23 challenges in all, Spec-Ops mode is a barrel of laughs, a test of skill and something that adds another dimension to co-op. Unfortunately as we all know, the more the better when it comes to co-op and we wish that Infinity Ward would have adapted the mode to fit 4 players. Despite that, it contains hours and hours of goodness for you and a buddy. 

The original to our number two spot was voted as the best co-op game in our Game of the Year awards last year. The sequel to that came as a shock to pretty much everyone when it was announced at E3 this year. Not only was this Valve’s shortest ever turnaround for a sequel, but it was coming out less than a year after the original.

Borderlands takes our top spot this year and rightly so. Offering the chance for 4 players to hit the wastelands of Pandora and do something consoles players have never really been able to do together is a true success story. What’s this new thing I’m talking about? Looting of course! Proper hardcore looting! There’s nothing like rolling through a town full of bandits, making short work of them and looting their dead bodies and chests to take all you can. All you can do then is marvel at the lucky son-of-a-bitch that gets the rare weapon. Did I say marvel? I meant be supremely jealous.

The procedurally created weapons gives players an incentive to keep slugging on to find just one more and being able to do that with friends in a beautiful environment is what makes the game our number one. Played alone, Borderlands is a decent game. Played with friends, Borderlands is definitely the co-op experience of the year.