play as a team: a magazine about co-op gaming

Questthebest

An independent magazine about teamwork in video games. We organize no events or quests, sell nothing and don't cover gambling; we are not connected with the former site on this domain.

Updates

Game updates

Co-op games change all the time: new group modes appear, along with matchmaking rules, limited-time events and new ways to signal your teammates. We don't recap news about specific games. Instead, we cover the kinds of changes that most often affect teams and how to talk them over before your next session.

An update is a good excuse not only to download what's new but also to revisit how your group handles the usual things.

— From the editors

How this section works: the entries describe kinds of changes that regularly show up in co-op game updates, without names and without news about specific titles. They'll help your team know what to look out for after the next patch.

What changes for teams

Six kinds of changes after which a group should revisit its agreements.

  1. New pings and signals

    Extra markers, quick chat phrases or a ping wheel show up. Spend a couple of minutes trying them out together; it pays off in the very first tough fight.

  2. Seasonal events

    Limited-time challenges are often designed for co-op play. Agree on which ones the whole group cares about so you're not chasing everything at once.

  3. Matchmaking changes

    The rules a game uses to add random players to your group sometimes change. Check that your private group settings are still the same.

  4. Shared progress and rewards

    An update can change who gets loot and whether guests keep their progress. If the rules have changed, talk again about how to split what you find.

  5. Reporting and blocking tools

    Games keep improving the ways to report or mute a player. Take a look at the settings and show the new options to younger players.

  6. New group modes

    Games add team challenges or modes for larger squads. Before inviting everyone, find out how many players you need and whether the mode is newcomer-friendly.

How a team should read patch notes

  1. Find the official notes

    Update notes are usually published on the game's website or in the game itself. Secondhand summaries can be incomplete, so check the original source.

  2. Look for co-op sections

    Pay attention to modes, matchmaking, voice, pings and rewards. These are the items that most affect how your group plays.

  3. Check your progress

    Find out whether shared achievements, seasonal challenges and saves get reset for players who join someone else's game.

  4. Share a quick summary

    Have one player sum up what matters for the team in a few lines and post it in the group chat. That way nobody else has to read the whole long list.

  5. Update your agreements

    If rewards, roles or signals have changed, discuss it at the start of your next session. A couple of minutes of talking saves an hour of misunderstandings.

  • Games

    A catalog of co-op formats, from a single shared screen to large groups, plus questions that help you pick the right format for your team.

  • Mechanics

    Mechanics that change team play: shared rewards, revives, friendly fire, pings, shared progress and matchmaking.

  • Reviews

    What to look for when choosing a game for your team, and how to read reviews from a group's point of view rather than a solo player's.

  • Glossary

    A team play dictionary: roles, communication and co-op formats in plain words.

What we draw on

  • Codes of conduct and reporting tools in online games (in general terms)
  • Questthebest editorial materials

We describe general principles of team play. Voice, ping and matchmaking settings work differently in every game and change with updates, so look up the exact menu options in your game's official help pages.