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What are the best casual co-op steam games with RPG elements?

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Path of Exile vs Magicka vs Broforce

 vs Gauntlet: Slayer Edition vs Lost Castle

Specs

Platforms

Windows, Mac

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Dungeon Crawler RPG

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Platforms

Windows

Steam Rating

Mixed

Genre

Action RPG

Co-Op

4 Player Online / 4 Player Couch / 4 Player LAN

Controller Support

Full

Platforms

Win / Mac

Steam Rating

-

Genre

Action / Indie / Platformer

Co-Op

4 Player Online / 4 Player Couch

Controller Support

Full

Platforms

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Platforms

-

Steam Rating

Mixed

Genre

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Pros + Cons

Con
 Endgame can get really repetitive

It takes an exceptionally long time to get any wealth, useful items, or access to endgame bosses in this game. You endlessly farm the same maps, hoping you'll get lucky with a few good items, but that usually won't be the case, which can be really discouraging to keep playing. This is made worse by the fact that your character progression comes to a grinding halt near the upper 80s of character levels, requiring you to buy insanely expensive items to feel any progression at all. If you don't like grinding, you'll get quickly bored of Path of Exile.
Comment

Con
 Very high learning curve

There's quite a lot to learn when starting to play Path of Exile. There are the mechanics, the crafting system, and the skill gem system. However, the most intimidating factor is the massive skill tree with over 1000 skill nodes, 6 classes and 19 subclasses, allowing you to create hundreds of unique builds. Unfortunately, creating a functional build is really difficult, taking hours of theorycrafting, so it might be better to stick to guides as you're starting out, unless you're fine with possibly messing up.
Comment

Con
 Anti-experimentation for new players

The game heavily punishes any experimentation for new players. Unless you have near perfect understanding of late game and the various viable build-options you are more or less unable to experiment your way into viable builds (and the options for correcting mistakes are limited at best). So, unless you are fine with having to scrap a bunch of characters for being sub-optimal, you are more or less forced into following player-made guides to learn the game rather than through engaging with the game itself. This may or may not be a problem for you.
Comment

Con
 Clunky trading system

The western PC version of Path of Exile currently requires using an external site to find deals or sifting through scam attempts in the trade chat. After you find an item you want to buy, you need to message the seller, and if they respond, enter the same area as them to make a direct trade. There is no auction house, no mail, no automated trading posts, and to sell stuff you have to buy a premium stash tab via a microtransaction.
Comment

Pro
 As good or even better than Diablo

Comment

Pro
 Great setting

Path of Exile is set in a dark fantasy world where everything is gradually becoming worse. At the foreground, you have the massive continent of Wraeclast that once was the home to a flourishing empire, but now is a place filled with the undead, evil spirits, ruins, and echoes of the past. To make matters worse, malicious entities from another dimension seek to corrupt the world and its inhabitants, giving birth to disfigured monstrosities that seek to end you. The end result is an immersive setting with dark motifs, body horror, loads of gore, and a very tense atmosphere, which is refreshing in an era dominated by family friendly content.
Comment

Pro
 Regularly updated

Every 4 months or so, Path of Exile has major updates, adding new interesting mechanics, skills, items, and various other content. As a result, every time you come back to Path of Exile after taking a break, it feels like a new game.
Comment

Pro
 Completely free without pay to win mechanics

You can just download and install the game without any purchases. On top of that, there are no pay-to-win mechanics and the only things locked behind paywalls are cosmetic effects, pets, and additional storage space. You can easily play the game for hundreds of hours without spending a dime.
Comment

Pro
 Hundreds of possible character builds

There's a staggering amount of builds and skills you can try out in Path of Exile. There are 7 classes, 19 subclasses, 194 active skill gems, 107 support gems, and over 1000 skill nodes on the expansive skill tree. As a result, there are hundreds of possible combinations, allowing you to spend hours theory-crafting just to create the perfect build. Even if you don't feel like planning out a build from scratch, you can just look up one of the many guides online and get straight into the action.
Comment

Pro
 Price is relatively reasonable

Full price is £11.99 (Steam default price), but if you shop around at the right time, it's been known to go as low as £2.49. Plus, the game is constantly being updated by the devs and these devs actually frequent the discussions page for their game and, if you have good suggestions or post about a bug or whatever, they listen to the players and get it sorted.
Comment

Pro
 A good selection of characters to unlock as you're going along

You unlock different characters by how many "prisoners" you've released from their cages, and even playing the Custom Maps add to this "released prisoner" count. The list of available characters is; ahem Rambro, Brommando, B. A. Broracus, Brodell Walker, Bro Hard, MacBrover, Brade, Bro Dredd, Bro in Black, Snake Broskin, Brominator, Brobocop, Indiana Brones, Ash Brolliams, Mr. Anderbro, The Boondock Bros, Brochete, Bronan The Brobarian, Ellen Ripbro, Time Bro, Broniversal Soldier, Colonel James Broddock, Cherry Broling, Bro Max, The Brode, Double Bro Seven, The Brodator, The Brocketeer, Broheart, The Brofessional, Broden, The Brolander, Dirty Brory, Tank Bro, and Bro Lee.
Comment

Pro
 It's 80's/90's Action Movie Stars, mainly, but with "Bro" added somewhere in their name, (e.g. The Terminator = The Brominator) and what's not to like about that

Comment

Pro
 Custom maps are available to subscribe to, and there's a lot of them

Comment

Pro
 Simple graphics that even an old PC should be able to handle

Comment

Con
 Pixel graphics aren't everybody's cup of tea

Comment

Pro
 Frequent updates

The devs are updating this title frequently, as opposed to some other indie games that are....well....not doing that. As an example of what kind of things the devs implement on updates, this Youtube vid is a decent example; CLICKY CLICKY
Comment

Pro
 The Multiplayer portion of the game can be played online or locally

Don't really play online but want to try MP without having to face the usual "Git Gud/Saw your Mom last night.../I'm going to ignore trying to help you and will start a flame war on anything you post that's asking for advice because, like me, you should have been born with this knowledge. If not, you're just a dumb n00b!!"etc, etc, type of players? Well, you and your friends can try the game out on just your PC using Split Screen or using 2 PCs Networked, should you wish to, before deciding on whether it's worth it to take that big ol' online gaming plunge.
Comment

Pro
 Fast-paced and action packed

It's a Gauntlet game. You go fast, you slaughter tons of enemies, and have to deal with the dangers of the opposing forces. There's environment effects, magic to watch out for, and loot to horde.
Comment

Pro
 Unlimited playability

There's 3 difficulties. Easy, Normal, and Hell. Easy would be for the ultra-casual player, or perhaps a player that hasn't played something similar before. Normal is where you'll find most people, as it's challenging but overly so. Hell mode is one you don't take too lightly, it's pretty ridiculously hard. On top of that, Gauntlet gets harder and harder every time you clear a map. You can play over 40 hours and still enjoy yourself.
Comment

Pro
 Multiplayer isn't limited to pre-formed parties

Gauntlet has online lobbies for you to find your perfect party if you're an adventurer or two short.
Comment

Pro
 Great on a budget

Gauntlet is regularly on sale for as little as $5 on Steam. If you must have it now it'll cost you $20, but if you buy the 4 pack you'll save $20 that way.
Comment

Pro
 Not your typical hack and slash game

In Gauntlet, there are horrendous traps, hard boss fights, and even your own allies can pose a threat to you. It takes away from the mindless grinding.
Comment

Con
 No true end-game

Also like most ARPGs, there's no overlying goal to the game other than completing the story, which is short. This is a game you get so you can go wreck people with some buddies, and let everything else fall to the wayside.
Comment

Con
 It can be a little grindy

Like most ARPGs, grinding for achievements can be get annoying. Luckily, achievements aren't why most people play ARPGs.
Comment
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