Games are a great way to spend time with a group of friends, going on adventures together, solving problems, and teaming up to defeat the enemy. However, for some individuals, the conflicts that certain games present to the players can bleed over into their real relationships.
After all, it takes a very mature and level-headed person to not get at all upset by being robbed of 1st place with a blue shell in Mario Kart. Or stay calm when their build gets blown up in Minecraft, regardless of how old they are. Some games are even designed to sow conflict among people, testing the resilience and patience of even the closest friends.
10 Minecraft
By itself, Minecraft is a wonderful game that rewards creativity and lets players do almost anything with the surrounding world that is filled to the brim with interesting creatures and biomes to explore. However, in a cooperative setting where multiple people are involved in the act of building together, tensions can quickly rise.
From discussions on the location of a base to its design, players have often argued with their partners about ways to spend their hard-earned resources and materials. And should someone accidentally set fire to someone’s creation, the fallout might be predictably unpleasant.
9 Counter-Strike 2
The competitive nature of PvP shooters breeds toxicity like nothing else. Counter-Strike 2 is a great shooter that has evolved and thrived for many years, setting a strong standard with its Esports scene. However, in a game where teamwork and coordination are vital to victory, pressure can quickly mount when players feel like they’re losing, and start blaming their teammates.
The stakes are high, and players that are quick to turn to anger can really stress their teammates, and start arguments over the smallest things. Such shooters can either make or break a team, and it all depends on how the players handle these situations.
8 Super Smash Bros
A great and beginner-friendly fighting game that has been a beloved past-time for many players around the world for many years. With its massive roster and a myriad of game modes, players can enjoy battling people online and each other for hours on end.
For the most part, the game is well-balanced and allows different characters to succeed. However, there are certain notorious characters that induce eye twitches for those familiar with them, such as Kirby or Ness. And the extra game modes with additional powers around the battlefield can really test friendships, by essentially making the outcome of battles somewhat random.
7 Magicka 2
Magicka 2 was released back in 2015, and still remains an incredibly fun and chaotic game for up to four friends to enjoy. With different characters and powers, players can experiment with different elements and come up with creative and questionable uses for their powers.
The caveat that leads to players arguing, is the friendly fire. The characters wield massive, oftentimes barely controllable, and powerful spells that they fling at the enemies, and more often than not, their unsuspecting allies. Hitting friends with fire meteors can be quite fun, but don’t be surprised if a giant glowing laser starts coming in retaliation.
6 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes is a very creative approach to a co-op game, where only one player is required to be on their keyboard or controller. Their partner does their best to navigate them through the different puzzles located on the bomb, without looking at the screen itself.
It can be a very challenging and rewarding experience, however, everything hinges on teamwork and communication. Should the diffuser fail to notice a certain wire or the navigator fail to read all the way through the instructions, disaster becomes imminent, and blame may be flung around in the aftermath of the explosion.
5 It Takes Two
Ironically, It Takes Two is a game about fixing a couple’s relationship by going through a deep journey filled with obstacles and tests for them to overcome. For the players, however, it can be quite a stressful cooperative experience, especially with the many PvP minigames scattered all over the game.
For most of the game, the players get different abilities and need to use those abilities in sync to help each other out. However, there are plenty of opportunities to seriously mess with each other, and it’s all fun and games until someone’s patience runs dangerously thin.
4 Spelunky 2
Spelunky 2 allows up to 4 players to delve deep into the many dungeons, in search of legendary treasure (and the protagonist’s parents). In a game where one mistake can cost everything, having 4 people hectically move around and shoot without thinking twice can quickly turn a fun adventure into a bloody battleground.
Upon a player’s death, they can still help their teammates while they are in the form of a ghost, by pushing enemies and even shooting ice blasts. However, players can also hinder their living allies by pushing and freezing them just the same, testing out the exact limits of their friendship.
3 League Of Legends
It is no secret that League Of Legends can be an incredibly toxic and stressful environment, despite Riot Games’ best efforts. Some players make it their mission to bash and criticize their enemies and teammates alike, without too much care about the impact that they have.
Playing it with friends can be incredibly fun and enjoyable, given the right motivation and healthy communication. However, in a game where so many things can go wrong and spiral into defeat, it can be quite hard to keep a level head for some people, leading to harsh arguments and debates.
2 Mario Kart
Mario Kart is an incredibly popular racing game that can quickly ignite arguments due to its combination of intense competition, unpredictable gameplay mechanics, and competitive nature. The game's item system, which provides players with power-ups that can disrupt opponents' progress, can lead to accusations of unfairness and "cheap" tactics.
On top of that, the element of luck in the game, where players can be leading the race only to be hit by multiple items in a row, can result in understandable frustration. Despite its fun and lighthearted reputation, the game serves as a reminder that emotions can run high in especially competitive players.
1 Overcooked Series
Overcooked is a wonderful game where a group of players has to work together to prepare a series of complicated and delicious meals. While a simple concept on the surface, the game has a number of mechanics that make this fairly simple task incredibly stressful and demands total cooperation from the players.
High chances are that someone will accidentally throw a perfectly good bowl of soup into another dimension, or add the completely wrong ingredient to a dish, making it unfit for service. And should some player wake up and choose violence that day, the once peaceful kitchen can become an absolute chaos-filled warzone in a matter of seconds.