Does Resident Evil 2 Have Co-Op?

As a passionate gamer and content creator who loves diving deep into the latest releases, this is a question I get asked a lot. So let‘s settle it right off the bat – no, the main story campaign of Resident Evil 2 does not have a co-op mode. You have to brave the horrors of Raccoon City solo as either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield.

However, that doesn‘t mean co-op is completely absent from the Resident Evil series. In fact, several other titles do allow you to team up with a friend for some heart-pounding undead action!

In this article, we‘ll take a deep dive into Resident Evil co-op. I‘ll cover which games feature it, the different modes available, and even suggest the best co-op titles for those looking to survive the zombie hordes with a buddy. Time to strap in and get ready to blast some heads!

A Brief History of Co-Op in Resident Evil

Before diving into the specifics, let‘s take a quick look at the history of co-op in this legendary horror series:

• Resident Evil 5 (2009) – First mainline title to introduce full campaign co-op
• Resident Evil 6 (2012) – Built on RE5‘s co-op with some online cross-over moments
• Revelations titles (2012-2015) – Experimented with local and online co-op modes
• Re-releases – Added co-op options to older titles like RE5 (PC) and RE6 (Switch)

So ever since 2009‘s Resident Evil 5, co-op has become a staple inclusion for many games in the franchise. It‘s no longer a solo affair – you can tackle the nightmares with a friend by your side!

Breakdown of Resident Evil Games With Co-Op

Now let‘s get into the nitty gritty details on every Resident Evil game that allows you to play cooperatively:

Mainline Series

• Resident Evil 5 – Full two player co-op campaign, drop-in/drop-out online co-op for Mercenaries mode
• Resident Evil 6 – Full campaign co-op, special crossover moments between different character storylines
• Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City – Four player co-op in campaign and multiplayer modes

Based on the numbers, Resident Evil 5 is considered not just the best co-op title, but one of the strongest Resident Evil games period. The entire campaign supports two player co-op, allowing friends to team up for thrilling zombie action.

Resident Evil 6 built on that success by continuing two player campaign co-op, while also introducing cool crossover moments. During Leon‘s storyline, he may suddenly be joined by Ada Wong‘s campaign partner for an intense boss fight. This managed to keep the co-op experience feeling dynamic and exciting.

Resident Evil 5 remains the gold standard for mainline co-op

Side Story Titles

• Resident Evil: Revelations – Offline campaign & raid co-op, online raid co-op
• Resident Evil: Revelations 2 – Local campaign co-op, online raid co-op
• Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles – Local wireless co-op
• Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles – Local wireless co-op

The Revelations series has always been more experimental, trying out new concepts while staying a bit more grounded than the main games. Local split-screen co-op for the story campaigns made them feel fresher compared to RE5 and RE6.

And while the Chronicles rail shooters weren‘t traditional Resident Evil experiences, blasting bio-weapons alongside a buddy is pulpy fun. These helped pave the way for the upcoming RE: Verse online multiplayer which I‘ll cover shortly.

Re-Releases & Remakes

• Resident Evil 5 (PC) – Added local campaign split-screen in 2022 update!
• Resident Evil 6 (Switch) – Includes split-screen co-op
• Resident Evil 4 Ultimate Edition (2022) – Planned online and couch co-op for new game mode via 2023 DLC

I have to highlight Resident Evil 5 receiving split-screen on PC over a decade after its original release. This brought parity to the console versions and was a huge win for PC players. Couch co-op is integral to the experience, so it‘s excellent Capcom finally enabled this option.

Resident Evil 4 Ultimate includes VR, but sadly no current co-op option. However Capcom just announced upcoming DLC that will add local and online co-op to Mercenaries mode! So early 2023 you‘ll be able to jump straight into those cooperative high score runs.

Planned Resident Evil 4 co-op will make Mercenaries even more chaotic

Best Resident Evil Games for Co-Op

Okay, let‘s wrap up with my personal recommendations on which Resident Evil games are the most fun to play cooperatively:

1. Resident Evil 5 – Still the gold standard today. Must-play co-op.
2. Resident Evil Revelations 2 – Underrated campaign & raid modes.
3. Resident Evil 6 – Great co-op features, but polarizing entry.
4. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles – Simple lightgun fun with a friend!

I hope this deep dive clarifies exactly how co-op works across the Resident Evil series! Let me know if you have any other questions – I could talk zombie shooting all day long. And with the Resident Evil 4 co-op DLC and RE: Verse competitive multiplayer mode coming soon, there are even more cooperative options on the way!