Reimagining Co-op: Why More Games Should Use a "Friend Pass"

Cooperative gaming has always been one of the best ways to experience video games. There’s something uniquely satisfying about tackling a challenge with a friend, whether it’s surviving against waves of enemies, solving intricate puzzles, or making tough narrative choices together.

Recently, our team has been discussing one of our favourite mechanics in modern co-op games: the Friend Pass.

The Friend Pass: A Game-Changer for Co-op Titles

The concept of a Friend Pass—allowing one player to own the game while inviting a friend to play for free—has been a game-changer for multiplayer experiences. Titles like It Takes Two and A Way Out have successfully implemented this system, making co-op gaming more accessible while encouraging more players to dive in.

But while some games have embraced this model, we believe many more could benefit from it—especially games where cooperative play isn’t just an option, but a requirement.

Why More Games Should Use a Friend Pass

1. Encourages More Players to Try the Game

   • Many players hesitate to buy co-op-only games because they don’t always have a consistent gaming partner willing to pay full price. A Friend Pass eliminates this barrier, making it easier for people to try out a game together.

2. Strengthens the Social Aspect of Gaming

   • Some of the best gaming moments come from shared experiences. A Friend Pass naturally promotes these social interactions, helping games build strong communities.

3. It’s Just the Right Thing to Do

   • While businesses understandably focus on profit, giving players a way to experience the game together without both needing to pay full price just feels like a consumer-friendly approach.

   
   

That said, not every game needs a Friend Pass. But we started thinking about which games—or even game genres—could benefit from it.

Expanding the Concept: Could Narrative Games Use a Friend Pass?

One idea we’ve been toying with is how a Friend Pass could work in narrative-driven games—especially visual novels or choice-based adventures.

Take a game like Detroit: Become Human. In that game, one player experiences multiple storylines by switching between characters. But what if... each player had their own character and played separate but parallel stories?

Imagine a narrative game designed for two (or even four) players, where:

• Each player experiences different parts of the story, gathering unique information.

• The characters' paths cross at key points where they must work together to solve bigger challenges.

• Players need to share their experiences and combine their knowledge to make critical decisions.

This would fundamentally change the way players approach story-driven games. Instead of being a solo experience with choices, it could become a collaborative storytelling adventure where players must communicate and strategize based on what they’ve seen.

Which Games Could Benefit From This?

So, what kinds of games could actually implement this system?

• Co-op puzzle games (Portal-style mechanics where both players gather different clues).

• Narrative adventure games (Detective-style games where players investigate different locations and piece things together).

• Survival horror games (Imagine a Resident Evil-type experience where two players start in separate locations and must reunite to escape).

• Social deduction games (A mystery thriller where players uncover secrets but must figure out who they can trust).

Final Thoughts

Co-op games are evolving, and mechanics like Friend Passes are paving the way for more accessible and engaging experiences. While not every game needs it, we believe many more titles—especially co-op-driven and narrative-heavy games—could benefit from embracing this model.

We’d love to hear from you:💬 What do you think about the Friend Pass feature? Are there any games you wish had it?