GAMES TO PLAY DURING STAYOVERS

Local co-op with friends is possibly one of the best gaming experiences one can have. Finding the good ones for the PC is difficult. We've compiled a list just for you. 

SIDE-SCROLLING ARCADE GAMES
There are countless arcade games that can be played on PC. Most arcade games allow two or more players to join in on the fun at once and as the saying goes, "the more the merrier." The most common arcade game in Bangladesh is Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, commonly mistermed as "Mustafa." You can go all retro as you embark on the 8-bit journey with your friends and family.

RAIL SHOOTERS
Rail shooters have always been one of my favourite genres of videogames. However, over the course of time, rail shooters lost their magic and last year's Rambo was a clear indicator. This does not undermine the previous rail shooters though. Even though we have played them a gazillion times, rail shooters like The House of the Dead and Virtua Cop 2 continue to impress us even today. Both these games support local co-op without you needing a controller.

FIGHTING GAMES
Like rail shooters, fighting games are an old genre but they still hold up today. If you have a really old PC, then you can try out the older versions of Street Fighter, King of Fighters and Mortal Kombat. If you are too bothered by visuals and want something graphically superior, go for the newer versions of the aforementioned franchises and Injustice: Gods Among Us. With all the superhero hype going around, Injustice may be a bit more relatable than the others in this category.

RACING GAMES
Everybody likes racing games more or less. The PC versions of Need for Speed after 2000's Porsche Unleashed unfortunately do not support local co-op. Unless you have a console, you may have to make do with the previous iterations of the franchise. The console exclusive Burnout 3: Takedown is my favorite for playing with friends and family. Burnout Paradise does not support split screen co-op but it does have a pretty sweet turn-based co-op mode. If you are more into bike racing, Jacked is a must try. It is basically Road Rash in 3D and it supports split screen co-op. Other mentions: Road Redemption, Sonic & All-Stars Racing, GRID Autosport.

SPORTS GAMES
If both you and your partner are sports fans then this might be the best option for you. Cue Club is a great pool game with lots of game modes and the ability to play with 8 players. FIFA needs no introduction when it comes to playing with friends and family. FIFA '98 can be played between two players without the need of a controller but the next installments require at least one controller to play in 2P Mode. If you are a cricket fan, Don Bradman Cricket is your best option but this game cannot be played with Keyboard/Mouse even on PC.

Nony Khondaker is an introvert with immense passion for tech and music. Feel free to send your constructive feedback at nonykhondaker@live.com