Keep the Holiday Peace with These Xbox Game Pass Co-op Picks
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Xbox Game Pass has plenty of cooperative titles that help pass the time during holiday family gatherings, ranging from nostalgic beat 'em ups to chaotic cooking simulators.
Holiday gatherings come with a familiar script. You finish dinner, migrate to the living room, watch a lackluster football game, and wait for political small talk to cross a line. Instead of retreating to another room for a solo session, you can pull your family into the fold. Xbox Game Pass offers a reliable lineup of multiplayer titles that turn the living room into a shared arcade. Handing out controllers is often the fastest way to defuse holiday tension and give everyone a common objective.
For pure nostalgic comfort, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge captures the energy of crowded arcade cabinets without requiring a pocket full of quarters. It is an accessible beat 'em up that lets players pick their favorite turtle and mash buttons against waves of Foot Clan goons. If your relatives need something slower paced after a heavy meal, PowerWash Simulator 2 offers split-screen cooperation that turns digital cleaning into a surprisingly relaxing group activity. It provides a great backdrop for casual conversation while letting you zone out together.
Of course, if your family dynamic leans more toward friendly chaos, you can always test your relationships in the kitchen. Overcooked! 2 pushes cooperative play to its absolute breaking point with frantic cooking orders, kitchen fires, and plenty of screaming matches over who forgot to chop the tomatoes. Whether you want to destress or accelerate the family arguments, these Game Pass titles prove that playing together remains one of the best ways to spend a holiday weekend. Original reporting by Austin Manchester, Giovanni Colantonio, and Ari Notis over at Polygon.
Tags: Xbox Game Pass, Co-op Gaming, Multiplayer, Holiday Gaming, Gaming Culture
Original article: Polygon