What are some good games to just sort of hang out in?

Dirty

This feels like such a lame topic, but my friends and I used to play a lot of Skate online. It was great because there were plenty of challenges to do if you were in the mood for structure, but you could also just shoot the shit and skate around town. But with the franchise being dead, it's gotten boring. We need new places to go.

The problem is, most online co-op games are action-packed shooters. And those are a lot of fun, but the game just keeps pushing you forward, and 8-10 hours later, you're done. And of course, everyone needs to shut up so you can follow the story.

I was looking at Minecraft. I played a demo before, and I wasn't really into it, but maybe the social aspect of building something together might make it more fun. Is it possible to get a feel for that in the demo? Or is the demo single-player only?

But really, I'm looking for just about any game with online co-op that's good for just dicking around, but having structured missions as well is a nice bonus.

Echo

Burnout Paradise.

edit: that's not co-op though.

edit edit: though I never played it in multiplayer so I'm not sure how it actually works.

Dirty

Thanks for the suggestion. That actually used to be our go-to game prior to getting into the Skate series. But that is the kinda thing I'm talking about.

POKÉMON MASTER WT SHERMAN

Well shit I came in here to suggest Skate. Having given the question some more thought, the Test Drive Unlimited games have open-world driving. There's also GTA IV or Red Dead Redemption.

Dirty

The thing about GTA4 is that it's great for a few days, but after a while, you realize that the only things to do in free mode are a) murder cops; b) murder each other; and c) crash vehicles.

Darkewolfe

Man, I feel pretty confident that as long as you enjoy the building aspect of Minecraft, that should fit your bill really nicely. Minecraft is the ultimate game to simply fuck about in.

Skull2185

MInecraft would probably be what you're looking for. I don't remember if the trial had online, though.

POKÉMON MASTER WT SHERMAN

Dirty wrote: »

The thing about GTA4 is that it's great for a few days, but after a while, you realize that the only things to do in free mode are a) murder cops; b) murder each other; and c) crash vehicles.

Well yeah

We realized that and then kept playing

But if it don't appeal, it don't appeal

mere_immortal

Echo wrote: »

Burnout Paradise.

edit: that's not co-op though.

edit edit: though I never played it in multiplayer so I'm not sure how it actually works.

Online does have a neat co-op/playground type mode.

Actually the new Most Wanted has something similar online too, not surprising as they're both Criterion. Every few minutes a new random event pops up, could be a race, stunt thing, silly event like drive around a big sphere statue the most times, it's a lot of fun.

Both Crackdowns will be cheap now too, running and jumping around a city together is super fun.

Xenogears of Bore

Despite being a strictly timed chore simulator Harvest Moon games can be delightful to just run around in, talking to random people and taking in the chill music and sights. A Wonderful Life is a great example of it. I don't really like the farming mechanics in that one at all but some of the sunsets/sunrises are truly lovely.

quarthinos

mere_immortal wrote: »

Echo wrote: »

Burnout Paradise.

edit: that's not co-op though.

edit edit: though I never played it in multiplayer so I'm not sure how it actually works.

Online does have a neat co-op/playground type mode.

Actually the new Most Wanted has something similar online too, not surprising as they're both Criterion. Every few minutes a new random event pops up, could be a race, stunt thing, silly event like drive around a big sphere statue the most times, it's a lot of fun.

Both Crackdowns will be cheap now too, running and jumping around a city together is super fun.

Except that if you don't want to do it, you're teleported to the start point so that you have to do at least start.

Overstrike

You might want to look at Starbound, Its not out yet but should be this year.

Lars

Though it would be limited to just you and one other friend, I would suggest Saints Row 2 and Dead Rising 2: Off the Record.

Big Dookie

Does anyone still play Wurm Online? I remember wasting many, many hours doing virtually nothing in that game except hanging out with other PA dudes while growing crops or digging out hills or something equally asinine. Great times. I ended up having to quit playing entirely though because I was spending way too much time on it instead of actually getting things done in real life. If that's what you're going for though, it might be worth looking into.

Shadowfire

I wasn't really into Minecraft either, but maybe try Terraria? I fell into a deep hole with that one..

Dirty

Maybe we'll check out Terraria first.

Does Minecraft ever go on sale? Or is it always $26.95?

TychoCelchuuu

If you play the Soldiers: Heroes of World War II or Men of War coop campaigns, the dicking around possibilities are endless and amazing. Some of my fondest coop memories include stealing an enemy Panther tank only to have my friend shoot me because he didn't check to see that it was me before firing, or capturing a bunch of enemy munitions, sticking them in a pile, then blowing them all up.

Roe

Jedi Outcast has some people still hanging around after work hours. Basically you can run around and do FFA, saber duels with other players, or kill people with powers if you are on a force server.

Drake

Saints Row 2 and 3 have amazing two player co-op that's great for screwing around. There's coop specific activities and just a huge amount of insane shit to get into.

Zombiemambo

Big Dookie wrote: »

Does anyone still play Wurm Online? I remember wasting many, many hours doing virtually nothing in that game except hanging out with other PA dudes while growing crops or digging out hills or something equally asinine. Great times. I ended up having to quit playing entirely though because I was spending way too much time on it instead of actually getting things done in real life. If that's what you're going for though, it might be worth looking into.

Oh man, Wurm Online was awesome. I remember the pilgrimage I had to make to find PA's very secluded spot. It involved being very, very lost and getting attacked by a lot of giant spiders. Good times.