Nearly two decades later, fans ofBaldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance IIstill view that game as a classic. It was a PS2 and Xbox RPG that released in 2004. Also out in 2004 wasChampions of Norrathwhich was a PS2 exclusive with a similar gameplay style. Sadly both of these games have not been re-released since despite fan demand.
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Will they ever become backwards compatible? There is always hope, but for now, let’s recommend some more modern games to jump into. The theme for all of these games involves action RPG gameplay, many from top-down perspectives, and all of them including multiplayer.
10Diablo III
Diablo IIIfirsthit PCs in 2012, but it is still alive and kicking thanks to console ports, expansions, and plenty of free updates. The only home console it never touched in the past nine years was the Wii U which Nintendo helped rectify with a Switch port. This top-down hack and slash RPG probably doesn’t need much introduction, but for those in the dark, it has classes, a variety of weapons, spells, and gear. Best of all, it supports four-player co-op.
9Torchlight III
Torchlight IIIis the latest Diablo clone to have come out as of last year. It too supports four-player co-op and is available on PS4, PC, and Xbox One plus the new consoles via backwards compatibility. The gameplay loop is virtually the same asDiablo IIIbut pet companions help set the overall series apart. Furthermore, it is less demonic in tone and more vibrant in terms of its color pallet.Torchlight IIisolder, but also a good pick.
8Dragon’s Crown Pro
This game first hit the PS Vita and PS3 in 2013. This four-player co-op game would be considered an old game if not for an HD remaster on PS4 in 2018.
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It is an homage to classic brawlers likeFinal Fightwhile also containing many RPG elements from games likeDark AllianceorDiablo IIIbut in 2D. Choose a character that represents a class, group up with friends on the couch or online, and dive into a variety of dungeons to grind for loot and experience.
7Children Of Morta
Children of Mortastrays a little away from what might think aDark Alliancefan might like. It is a dark fantasy set in a top-down perspective as a roguelike RPG centered around one family. Dive into the crypts below the family house alone or with one friend. Death is pretty forgivable for a roguelike in that nothing grand gets lost and every upgrade made helps the whole family out. It launched in 2019 on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.
6Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeonsreleasedlast year on every major console including PS4, Xbox One, and Switch along with PC. It is a more family-friendly dungeon crawler which is a great thing to have for a family of four gamers. It’s not too violent or long. On top of that, the controls and depth of the gear and overall progression are simple enough for any aged gamer to understand. It’s also free if one has Xbox Game Pass, probably forever.
5Dragon Quest Builders 2
ThisDragon Questspinoffis moreMinecraftthanMinecraft Dungeons. That is to say, it is an open-world RPG in an environment set up much like the originalMinecraft. One can build besides hacking away at enemies. There is one downside to the four-player co-op, as it is only supported in a certain play area. That means the campaign is not co-op but building with others and slaying monsters is still fun even with this restriction. It released on PC, PS4, and Switch in 2019.
4Gauntlet (2014)
Gauntletis a tad older than some of the other releases on here. It was a reboot to the classic arcade series that first hit PCs in 2014 with just a single console port in 2015 via PS4. Like the classic games, it supports four players in this dungeon crawling adventure. What sets it apart from others is the branching pathway system. This adds some replay value to it if one wants to see everything not to mention trying out and or mastering every class.
3Darksiders Genesis
This is a 2019 spinoff to the main series which took the hack and slash apocalyptic action and turned it into a two-player,top-down RPG. That said, the combat is still as fluid and robust as the main games, surprisingly, which makes it stand out even next to behemoths likeDiablo III. The 2019 version was for PC while it didn’t hit consoles until 2020 via PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. The two playable characters in this prequel are War and Strife with Strife being new to the series overall.
2Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl Gold
This game originally came out in 2017 on the 3DS but in Japan only. This 2020 Switch port then was the first time it hit the West. LikeMinecraft Dungeons, it is a more whimsical and simple adventure aimed primarily at kids.
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That doesn’t mean four adult friends can’t get together and have a good time with it. The game is just more repetitive than others and isn’t the deepest RPG around but is still a worthy recommendation forDark Alliancefans.
1The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Onlineis the most epic multiplayer recommendation on the list as it is an MMO and thus supports way more than four players. It first hit PC in 2014, but has hit every major console since except anything Nintendo has put out. As the Switch did getSkyrim, it is not impossible to think that it might hit the hardware eventually. It’s even properly coming to PS5 Xbox Series X on June 8th. Thanks to these various ports and Bethesda’s continued set of expansions, the game is alive and well seven years later.
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