{"id":1934864,"date":"2026-05-14T12:40:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T09:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1934864"},"modified":"2026-05-14T12:40:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T09:40:40","slug":"rest-in-peace-party-animals-review-bombed-over-ai-video-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1934864","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Rest in Peace&#8217; \u2014 Party Animals Review-Bombed Over AI Video Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-28683165 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Co-op game <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/party-animals\"><u>Party Animals<\/u><\/a> has been spammed with hundreds of negative reviews after it announced a $15,000 AI video contest.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">As detailed on the game&#8217;s official <a href=\"https:\/\/forum.partyanimals.com\/d\/12604-party-animals-1st-ai-video-contest-golden-paw-awards-coming-soon\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>website<\/u><\/a>, Recreate Games is running a competition, inviting short films, drama series, animations, music videos, and more on any theme as long as it&#8217;s &#8220;positive&#8221; and connected to the Party Animals game.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">So far, so what, right? Well, it&#8217;s the next bit of the rules that&#8217;s caused a little commotion.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2021719738 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;[AI-generated content] must be the core creative tool, including but not limited to AI-generated images, video, music, voiceovers, 3D assets, etc.,&#8221; the competition insists. The winner secures a whopping $15,000, with cash awards of $1,500-4,500 also available for runner-ups.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While Party Animals maintains a &#8220;very positive&#8221; Steam user review rating for all English reviews, recent reviews are now &#8220;mostly negative&#8221; after over 800 negative reviews were left since the competition was announced. &#8220;Rest in peace, loved this game but they&#8217;re leaning into AI now so I will no longer support this company,&#8221; reads the &#8220;most helpful review,&#8221; posted by someone with over 26 hours on record.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;I genuinely wonder if any company ever takes even a single glance online, to see what the general consensus is around AI, before they do something like this,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olnef2h\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>commented<\/u><\/a> one unhappy player.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The 10 Best Co-Op Games<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Some of the best memories playing games are those you share with others. In honor of that and to help you make new ones, we've created a list of what we believe are the 10 best co-op games of all time.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;10. Splinter Cell Conviction&lt;\/h3&gt;Even as a complementary mode to Splinter Cell: Conviction's main story, the co-op campaign absolutely shines as a thrilling and fun way to team up with a friend to eliminate tons of bad guys from the shadows. Set as a prologue to Sam Fisher\u2019s story, you take on the roles of a US and Russian agent working together to stop a deadly black market sale, and can use the \u201cMark and Execute\u201d mechanic in tandem to pull off some amazing, cinematic takedowns. Communication is key when crouching through the dark, ratcheting up the tension as you split up to take different paths or protect your friend as they put themselves in a vulnerable situation, cleanly and quietly picking off interlopers as they try to attack your exposed partner. This surprisingly meaty campaign caps off with one of the most surprising and exhilarating endings to a co-op story ever, which may end up putting a slight strain on your friendship. The one bummer is that servers were turned off in 2019, making it exceptionally hard to play in 2021. Just another reason why it's high time to bring both Splinter Cell and this incredible co-op mode back for all to play. \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 11 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;9. Overcooked 2&lt;\/h3&gt;Overcooked became the foundation for a job-based co-op genre that has spawned many similarly frantic experiences, but there's a level of polish and iconic charm that keep us coming back to Overcooked specifically. With the addition of the throwing mechanic in Overcooked 2, level design transformed from teetering on the edge of somewhat manageable to total, gleeful kitchen chaos. Story campaigns have chefs running back and forth between moving food trucks, pirate ships on the ocean, tossing food over active volcanoes and other varied locales that you wouldn\u2019t normally plan to cook a plate of spaghetti at. Nailing perfect coordination and understanding the fine tuning of each kitchen's quirks is the key to going for perfect ratings, and it's truly a feat that only the most iron-willed chefs working in tandem can pull off.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;8. Streets of Rage 4&lt;\/h3&gt;Street of Rage 4 is anything but a nostalgia play, despite coming out over 15 years after the last entry in the series. This is one of the best beat-em-ups of all time, straight up, and it shines even brighter in co-op mode, and not just because you\u2019ll have a much better chance to survive it\u2019s challenging difficulty. More than anything else, what makes Streets of Rage such a great co-op game is its balance of approachability and depth. It\u2019s super easy to jump right in, adjust the difficulty and assists to your preference, and have a blast even with someone who doesn\u2019t know all of the ins-and-outs of the franchise. But gather together a group of veterans who know how to really dig into Streets of Rage 4\u2019s mechanical depth, and it\u2019s even more fun to challenge yourself to get as far as you can, especially with the Mr. X Nightmare Survival mode DLC released after launch. Whichever side of the fence you\u2019re on, grab a metal pipe off the ground, an apple for health out of a trash can, and jump into one of the most fun co-op games around.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;7. Divinity Original Sin 2&lt;\/h3&gt;Much like its clear inspiration, Dungeons and Dragons, Divinity Original Sin 2 is a tremendously fun cooperative experience, but it does require finding the right partner or group to play with. After all, it\u2019s an incredibly dense RPG with tons of dialogue, character customization options, and turn-based combat, but if you do find that right person or people willing to engage with its depth and commit to a full campaign much like you would with a D&amp;D group, Divinity Original Sin 2 is an unforgettable co-op experience. Every fight is its own cooperative puzzle where you must coordinate with your party, plan moves ahead, and make careful use of your own character's unique skills in order to overcome some truly tough battles. And just like a good D&amp;D game, it\u2019s all about exploring the story as a group, discovering how your choices impact the world, and working together to achieve your goals.  \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;6. Monster Hunter World&lt;\/h3&gt;Monster Hunter: World brilliantly retains its intricacy, difficulty, and sense of wonder through multiplayer. A great single-player experience is catapulted into the amazing category with fellow hunters in co-op. Whether on the hunt against a fantastic beast, or back at the hub just getting silly, sharing the exhilarating process of prepping for a difficult battle and barely making it by the skin of your teeth is one you have to experience with your pals, and not just your Palicos. Admittedly, playing through the main story with friends can be a bit of a tedious task at times, but the story missions are just a ludicrously small fraction of the hundreds of hours of adventure Monster Hunter: World has to offer, especially when much of the \u201cpost-game\u201d content is at its best when played in teams, like the intimidating Behemoth with recognizable MMO mechanics from the Final Fantasy 14 crossover, or the sincerely difficult arch-tempered Elder Dragons, and the most challenging of all, Fatalis. Defeating these fiercest of foes with your bestest of buds will strengthen those bonds even more - or make you want to disown someone for not drinking their Armorskin. Either way, it\u2019s a great time.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Another more moderate take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olnnt7b\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>said<\/u><\/a>: &#8220;I think the general consensus is not the same as a vocal minority. The general consensus still just views AI as a novelty with no strong feelings for or against it.&#8221; Another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olnj1of\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>replied<\/u><\/a>: &#8220;This is similar to the massive push of gambling in and around all sports things. They want to normalize it so more and more of their potential customer base doesn&#8217;t know a world where it wasn&#8217;t ubiquitous to some degree.&#8221; Someone else <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olo26hl\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>wrote<\/u><\/a>: &#8220;We saw this exact same song and dance when NFTs were the hot new buzzword.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"light\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Party Animals AI Video Contest is about to begin!<\/p>\n<p>What wild ideas have you had for Party Animals? Join the &#8220;Golden Paw Awards&#8221; now \u2014 Party Animals 1st AI Video Contest!<\/p>\n<p>A short film you&#8217;ve been dreaming of making, a story that breaks all the rules, a character tribute to your\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kWgY4zvQT0\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/kWgY4zvQT0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Party Animals (@party_animals) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/party_animals\/status\/2054417230428074225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The rules are pretty funny too,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olnipz9\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>pointed<\/u><\/a> out another commenter. &#8220;&#8216;Any plagiarism or unauthorized used of others&#8217; work will result in disqualification. Like, do y&#8217;all know how generative AI even works&#8230;?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Developer Recreate Games has yet to respond to the complaints.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The issue of generative AI&#8217;s impact on the creative industries remains one of the hottest topics in all entertainment, and some are all-in on the emerging tech. The CEO of Genvid \u2014 the company behind choose-your-own-adventure interactive series like Silent Hill Ascension \u2014 recently <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/gen-z-loves-ai-slop-former-square-enix-exec-claims-a-lot-of-ai-sentiment-is-driven-by-emotion-rather-than-logic\"><u>claimed &#8220;consumers generally do not care&#8221; about generative AI, and stated that: &#8220;Gen Z loves AI slop.&#8221;<\/u><\/a> EA CEO Andrew Wilson has <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/ea-says-ai-is-the-very-core-of-its-business-what-does-that-mean\"><u>said AI is &#8220;the very core of our business,&#8221;<\/u><\/a> and Square Enix recently implemented mass layoffs and reorganized, saying it needed to <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/square-enix-undergoes-mass-layoffs-as-it-reorganizes-to-consolidate-development-in-japan\"><u>be &#8220;aggressive in applying AI.&#8221;<\/u><\/a> Dead Space creator Glen Schofield also recently detailed <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/dead-space-creator-glen-schofield-thinks-the-games-industry-is-broken-beaten-and-battered\"><u>his plans to \u201cfix\u201d the industry in part via the use of generative AI in game development<\/u><\/a>, and former God of War dev Meghan Morgan Juinio said: &#8220;&#8230; if we don\u2019t embrace [AI], <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/former-god-of-war-dev-on-the-use-of-ai-in-games-development-if-we-dont-embrace-it-were-selling-ourselves-short\"><u>I think we\u2019re selling ourselves short<\/u><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Strauss Zelnick, boss of Rockstar parent company Take-Two, however, recently called the idea of AI making games like GTA 6 &#8220;laughable.&#8221; Reflecting on the reception to Google&#8217;s Project Genie, which can <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/google-ai-project-genie-allows-you-to-create-playable-worlds-from-prompts-so-of-course-its-been-used-to-rip-off-nintendo-games-like-mario-and-zelda\"><u>generate interactive worlds from a text prompt<\/u><\/a> \u2014 the tech demo for which <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/googles-project-genie-seemingly-causes-some-investors-to-lose-faith-in-roblox-unity-andgta-6\"><u>briefly sent game company share prices tumbling<\/u><\/a> \u2014 Zelnick insisted: &#8220;These tools may help you create assets, but that won\u2019t help you create hits.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world&#8217;s biggest gaming sites and publications. She&#8217;s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/vixx.bsky.social\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>BlueSky<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Co-op game <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/party-animals\"><u>Party Animals<\/u><\/a> has been spammed with hundreds of negative reviews after it announced a $15,000 AI video contest.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">As detailed on the game&#8217;s official <a href=\"https:\/\/forum.partyanimals.com\/d\/12604-party-animals-1st-ai-video-contest-golden-paw-awards-coming-soon\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>website<\/u><\/a>, Recreate Games is running a competition, inviting short films, drama series, animations, music videos, and more on any theme as long as it&#8217;s &#8220;positive&#8221; and connected to the Party Animals game.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">So far, so what, right? Well, it&#8217;s the next bit of the rules that&#8217;s caused a little commotion.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2021719738 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;[AI-generated content] must be the core creative tool, including but not limited to AI-generated images, video, music, voiceovers, 3D assets, etc.,&#8221; the competition insists. The winner secures a whopping $15,000, with cash awards of $1,500-4,500 also available for runner-ups.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While Party Animals maintains a &#8220;very positive&#8221; Steam user review rating for all English reviews, recent reviews are now &#8220;mostly negative&#8221; after over 800 negative reviews were left since the competition was announced. &#8220;Rest in peace, loved this game but they&#8217;re leaning into AI now so I will no longer support this company,&#8221; reads the &#8220;most helpful review,&#8221; posted by someone with over 26 hours on record.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;I genuinely wonder if any company ever takes even a single glance online, to see what the general consensus is around AI, before they do something like this,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olnef2h\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>commented<\/u><\/a> one unhappy player.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The 10 Best Co-Op Games<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Some of the best memories playing games are those you share with others. In honor of that and to help you make new ones, we've created a list of what we believe are the 10 best co-op games of all time.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;10. Splinter Cell Conviction&lt;\/h3&gt;Even as a complementary mode to Splinter Cell: Conviction's main story, the co-op campaign absolutely shines as a thrilling and fun way to team up with a friend to eliminate tons of bad guys from the shadows. Set as a prologue to Sam Fisher\u2019s story, you take on the roles of a US and Russian agent working together to stop a deadly black market sale, and can use the \u201cMark and Execute\u201d mechanic in tandem to pull off some amazing, cinematic takedowns. Communication is key when crouching through the dark, ratcheting up the tension as you split up to take different paths or protect your friend as they put themselves in a vulnerable situation, cleanly and quietly picking off interlopers as they try to attack your exposed partner. This surprisingly meaty campaign caps off with one of the most surprising and exhilarating endings to a co-op story ever, which may end up putting a slight strain on your friendship. The one bummer is that servers were turned off in 2019, making it exceptionally hard to play in 2021. Just another reason why it's high time to bring both Splinter Cell and this incredible co-op mode back for all to play. \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 11 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;9. Overcooked 2&lt;\/h3&gt;Overcooked became the foundation for a job-based co-op genre that has spawned many similarly frantic experiences, but there's a level of polish and iconic charm that keep us coming back to Overcooked specifically. With the addition of the throwing mechanic in Overcooked 2, level design transformed from teetering on the edge of somewhat manageable to total, gleeful kitchen chaos. Story campaigns have chefs running back and forth between moving food trucks, pirate ships on the ocean, tossing food over active volcanoes and other varied locales that you wouldn\u2019t normally plan to cook a plate of spaghetti at. Nailing perfect coordination and understanding the fine tuning of each kitchen's quirks is the key to going for perfect ratings, and it's truly a feat that only the most iron-willed chefs working in tandem can pull off.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;8. Streets of Rage 4&lt;\/h3&gt;Street of Rage 4 is anything but a nostalgia play, despite coming out over 15 years after the last entry in the series. This is one of the best beat-em-ups of all time, straight up, and it shines even brighter in co-op mode, and not just because you\u2019ll have a much better chance to survive it\u2019s challenging difficulty. More than anything else, what makes Streets of Rage such a great co-op game is its balance of approachability and depth. It\u2019s super easy to jump right in, adjust the difficulty and assists to your preference, and have a blast even with someone who doesn\u2019t know all of the ins-and-outs of the franchise. But gather together a group of veterans who know how to really dig into Streets of Rage 4\u2019s mechanical depth, and it\u2019s even more fun to challenge yourself to get as far as you can, especially with the Mr. X Nightmare Survival mode DLC released after launch. Whichever side of the fence you\u2019re on, grab a metal pipe off the ground, an apple for health out of a trash can, and jump into one of the most fun co-op games around.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;7. Divinity Original Sin 2&lt;\/h3&gt;Much like its clear inspiration, Dungeons and Dragons, Divinity Original Sin 2 is a tremendously fun cooperative experience, but it does require finding the right partner or group to play with. After all, it\u2019s an incredibly dense RPG with tons of dialogue, character customization options, and turn-based combat, but if you do find that right person or people willing to engage with its depth and commit to a full campaign much like you would with a D&amp;D group, Divinity Original Sin 2 is an unforgettable co-op experience. Every fight is its own cooperative puzzle where you must coordinate with your party, plan moves ahead, and make careful use of your own character's unique skills in order to overcome some truly tough battles. And just like a good D&amp;D game, it\u2019s all about exploring the story as a group, discovering how your choices impact the world, and working together to achieve your goals.  \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;h3&gt;6. Monster Hunter World&lt;\/h3&gt;Monster Hunter: World brilliantly retains its intricacy, difficulty, and sense of wonder through multiplayer. A great single-player experience is catapulted into the amazing category with fellow hunters in co-op. Whether on the hunt against a fantastic beast, or back at the hub just getting silly, sharing the exhilarating process of prepping for a difficult battle and barely making it by the skin of your teeth is one you have to experience with your pals, and not just your Palicos. Admittedly, playing through the main story with friends can be a bit of a tedious task at times, but the story missions are just a ludicrously small fraction of the hundreds of hours of adventure Monster Hunter: World has to offer, especially when much of the \u201cpost-game\u201d content is at its best when played in teams, like the intimidating Behemoth with recognizable MMO mechanics from the Final Fantasy 14 crossover, or the sincerely difficult arch-tempered Elder Dragons, and the most challenging of all, Fatalis. Defeating these fiercest of foes with your bestest of buds will strengthen those bonds even more - or make you want to disown someone for not drinking their Armorskin. Either way, it\u2019s a great time.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Another more moderate take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olnnt7b\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>said<\/u><\/a>: &#8220;I think the general consensus is not the same as a vocal minority. The general consensus still just views AI as a novelty with no strong feelings for or against it.&#8221; Another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olnj1of\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>replied<\/u><\/a>: &#8220;This is similar to the massive push of gambling in and around all sports things. They want to normalize it so more and more of their potential customer base doesn&#8217;t know a world where it wasn&#8217;t ubiquitous to some degree.&#8221; Someone else <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olo26hl\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>wrote<\/u><\/a>: &#8220;We saw this exact same song and dance when NFTs were the hot new buzzword.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"light\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Party Animals AI Video Contest is about to begin!<\/p>\n<p>What wild ideas have you had for Party Animals? Join the &#8220;Golden Paw Awards&#8221; now \u2014 Party Animals 1st AI Video Contest!<\/p>\n<p>A short film you&#8217;ve been dreaming of making, a story that breaks all the rules, a character tribute to your\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kWgY4zvQT0\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/kWgY4zvQT0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Party Animals (@party_animals) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/party_animals\/status\/2054417230428074225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;The rules are pretty funny too,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Games\/comments\/1tcdpcs\/comment\/olnipz9\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>pointed<\/u><\/a> out another commenter. &#8220;&#8216;Any plagiarism or unauthorized used of others&#8217; work will result in disqualification. Like, do y&#8217;all know how generative AI even works&#8230;?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Developer Recreate Games has yet to respond to the complaints.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The issue of generative AI&#8217;s impact on the creative industries remains one of the hottest topics in all entertainment, and some are all-in on the emerging tech. The CEO of Genvid \u2014 the company behind choose-your-own-adventure interactive series like Silent Hill Ascension \u2014 recently <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/gen-z-loves-ai-slop-former-square-enix-exec-claims-a-lot-of-ai-sentiment-is-driven-by-emotion-rather-than-logic\"><u>claimed &#8220;consumers generally do not care&#8221; about generative AI, and stated that: &#8220;Gen Z loves AI slop.&#8221;<\/u><\/a> EA CEO Andrew Wilson has <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/ea-says-ai-is-the-very-core-of-its-business-what-does-that-mean\"><u>said AI is &#8220;the very core of our business,&#8221;<\/u><\/a> and Square Enix recently implemented mass layoffs and reorganized, saying it needed to <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/square-enix-undergoes-mass-layoffs-as-it-reorganizes-to-consolidate-development-in-japan\"><u>be &#8220;aggressive in applying AI.&#8221;<\/u><\/a> Dead Space creator Glen Schofield also recently detailed <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/dead-space-creator-glen-schofield-thinks-the-games-industry-is-broken-beaten-and-battered\"><u>his plans to \u201cfix\u201d the industry in part via the use of generative AI in game development<\/u><\/a>, and former God of War dev Meghan Morgan Juinio said: &#8220;&#8230; if we don\u2019t embrace [AI], <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/former-god-of-war-dev-on-the-use-of-ai-in-games-development-if-we-dont-embrace-it-were-selling-ourselves-short\"><u>I think we\u2019re selling ourselves short<\/u><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Strauss Zelnick, boss of Rockstar parent company Take-Two, however, recently called the idea of AI making games like GTA 6 &#8220;laughable.&#8221; Reflecting on the reception to Google&#8217;s Project Genie, which can <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/google-ai-project-genie-allows-you-to-create-playable-worlds-from-prompts-so-of-course-its-been-used-to-rip-off-nintendo-games-like-mario-and-zelda\"><u>generate interactive worlds from a text prompt<\/u><\/a> \u2014 the tech demo for which <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/googles-project-genie-seemingly-causes-some-investors-to-lose-faith-in-roblox-unity-andgta-6\"><u>briefly sent game company share prices tumbling<\/u><\/a> \u2014 Zelnick insisted: &#8220;These tools may help you create assets, but that won\u2019t help you create hits.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world&#8217;s biggest gaming sites and publications. She&#8217;s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/vixx.bsky.social\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>BlueSky<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Co-op game Party Animals has been spammed with hundreds of negative reviews after it announced a $15,000 AI video contest. As detailed on the game&#8217;s official website, Recreate Games is running a competition, inviting short films, drama series, animations, music videos, and more on any theme as long as it&#8217;s &#8220;positive&#8221; and connected to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-1934864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1934864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1934864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1934864\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1934864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1934864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1934864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}