Category Archives: High Seas

The past week has been a momentous one in football history, as one of Santa Fe Province's favourite sons, famed for his goals at Barcelona, was suddenly forced to look for alternative employment.

But that is enough on Juan Antonio Pizzi's abrupt exit from Racing Club; you may also have heard that one Lionel Messi has made a fresh start after more than two decades of glittering success at Camp Nou.

Argentina's Copa Amrica hero, who just 10 days ago looked to stick it out at Barcelona, will now line up for Qatari-backed French titans Paris Saint-Germain.

Granted, Messi moving to the richest team on earth, which could buy and sell not just every player in Argentina's Liga Profesional but likely most of the clubs too, is hardly a fairytale story, but to judge from the fervent reaction to the news in Paris and across the world this blockbuster transfer is set to go down as one for the ages.

"The vision of the club is in line with my ambitions," Messi said during his presentation on Wednesday, accompanied by PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

"I know how talented the players and staff are here. I am determined to build, alongside them, something great for the club and for the fans.

"I can't wait to get out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes."

There are several interpretations possible here. Football's hopeless romantics (who can usually count this writer among their number) might gripe over the cold mathematics which seem to have motivated this transfer, maintaining Messi's status as one of the game's best paid as well as best performers.

Why not choose to follow Diego Maradona's footsteps at Napoli, they may cry, or even better take advantage of that jobless status and make a triumphant, emotional return to Newell's Old Boys, who heaven knows could use some of his magic after years of under-achieving.

Others, engaged as they are in the battle for souls, point the finger at the Qatar Investment Authority and their state-sponsored project in Paris, accusing Messi of being complicit in ruining football as we know it as if that particular vessel had not already left port for the high seas some time ago.

Each side has a valid argument in part, but that does not constitute the full story. While acknowledging the alarming state of the game even at its highest levels the only reason Barcelona have not kept hold of their gem, after all, is that the elaborate house of cards made up of crippling debts, ridiculous salary commitments and a level of mismanagement that would make even your average Liga Profesional president blush finally collapsed in the past few weeks, leaving them practically insolvent there is one great positive.

At 34, having won almost everything the game has to offer, Messi will continue to delight us on a regular basis, and he has chosen a side which will give him every tool necessary to keep fighting for the biggest honours. His competitive spirit has not been dimmed or sated by success; if anything, it has only grown over the years.

PSG supporters, meanwhile, embarked on a week-long bacchanalia, beginning when the first reports of Leo's arrival began to arrive in the press, feting their new player with an intensity rarely if ever seen before.

The reason is self-explanatory. Just two teams, Barcelona and Argentina, have to date held the privilege of hosting the little No. 10's talents. For fans across the world, merely seeing him once in the flesh from the stands represents the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

Now Parc des Princes will have that privilege; and while it might take the rest of us some getting used to, there can be little doubt that the star will further illuminate the City of Lights in the same manner as he has electrified stadiums across the world since bursting onto the stage to change football forever.

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Messis hunger for more means star is sure to shine in City of Lights - Buenos Aires Times

China's polar icebreaker Xuelong 2 on a prior mission in Antarctica (China State Council Information Office/Xinhua)

PublishedAug 12, 2021 1:18 PM by The Maritime Executive

China is advancing its Arctic ambitions with the icebreaker Xuelong 2 undertaking the second scientific expedition in Arctic waters.The vessel departed from Shanghai last month and is currently engaging in a three and half month odyssey in the Arctic Ocean with a mission of advancing Chinese interests in the region.

The vessel, which conclude an Antarctic expedition in May, is expected to make a voyage of about 15,000 nautical miles before returning to Shanghai in late September, according to state media CGTN. According to Chinese officials, the expedition plans to monitor sea, marine ice, atmosphere, microplastics and ocean acidification in the high seas of the Arctic through navigation observation, cross-sectional survey and satellite remote sensing to obtain hydrological, meteorological and biological data of the region. It will also conduct scientific surveys in the Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean to learn about the formation of rocks and magma and the geomorphic features there to further enhance knowledge of the natural environment in the North Pole.

The Xuelong 2 voyages form part of Chinese ambitions to take a leadership role in the North Pole after declaring itself a Near-Arctic State in its 2018 China Arctic Policy, a declaration that has raised concerns among the global community and environmentalists.

Chinas policy goals on the Arctic are to understand, protect, develop and participate in the governance of the Arctic, so as to safeguard the common interests of all countries and the international community in the Arctic, and promote sustainable development of the Arctic, states the policy.The policy is based on the assertion that the Arctic is critical to its strategic, economic and environmental interests, something that grants China rights to scientific research, freedom of navigation and overflight, fishery, cable and pipeline laying and resource development.

The natural conditions of the Arctic and their changes have a direct impact on Chinas climate system and ecological environment, and, in turn, on its economic interests in agriculture, forestry, fishery, marine industry and other sectors, states the policy.

Notably, China is not a member of the Arctic Council that brings together eight Arctic states, includingCanada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and the United States.

Owned and managed by the Chinese Polar Institute, the Chinese-built Xuelong 2 measures 400 feet long with a 73-foot beam. The icebreaker has a displacement of nearly 14,000 tons and a navigation capability of 20,000 nautical miles.The vessel is designed to break 1.5-meter-thick ice at speeds of two to three knots in both ahead and astern directions and can operate in temperatures down to -30oC. It has a maximum speed of 15 knots and can accommodate 90 crew and researchers.

The Xuelong 2's current voyage is Chinas twelfth Arctic expedition. The country has also conducted 37 Antarctic expeditions.

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China Advances Arctic Ambitions with Icebreaker Xuelong 2 - The Maritime Executive

The Irish Coast Guard is warning the public to have a "heightened awareness" if travelling to the coast over the coming days as "unseasonably" windy conditions may result in hazardous coastal waters.

On Thursday, Met ireann issued a status yellow wind warning with winds likely to reach speeds of 50km/h and gusts of up to 90km/h, with "fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, reaching gale force on Atlantic coasts."

Michel O'Toole, operations manager with the Coast Guard, says that while the strong winds might have abated, high-speed gusts of up to 90kmph along the coast could result in rough, high seas.

Speaking to RT's Morning Ireland, Mr O'Toole warned people to avoid exposed or hazardous coastal spots, while paying attention to advice issued by authorities and lifeguards.

We would like to draw your attention to the following Press Release.

Please remember to exercise caution when on or near the water.

Stay Back, Stay High and Stay Dry and if you see anyone in trouble, dial 112/999 and ask for the Coast Guard.https://t.co/8SGA9v9OSE pic.twitter.com/BsI4ZZASID

"Although the winds might have abated over today and indeed tomorrow, we will have a residual effect in terms of a heightened sea and swell," he said.

"Areas that you may presume have been safe and that you have been enjoying during this week may now present an additional hazard and challenge."

Mr O'Toole added that people should consider "re-planning or rescheduling" their activities over this weekend.

With Irish people embracing staycations this summer, the Coast Guard has received an increased number of call-outs "to assist the public and rescue people in distress".

Mr O'Toole said: "The Coast Guard's message is quite clear, just to ensure that you've planned effectively for your activity that, you have the correct equipment, and very importantly that you have a means of alerting if you become in distress."

Anyone who is in distress or needs emergency help should contact the Coast Guard on 999 or 112, Mr O'Toole concluded.

Wind warning - A windy day today, especially along Atlantic coasts. Wind warning in place https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/eF4piWEZAf

Met ireann says Friday will be blustery with "fresh or strong westerly winds" which will ease as the day progresses.

Saturday will see wet weather move further north, being heavy in places with some spot flooding likely, however, the flooding risk is greatest in the southwest.

And, while Ireland is facing a wet and windy few days, our continental neighbours are facing an entirely different prospect.

Spain and Portugal are bracing for the arrival of a dangerous heatwave that has grilled south-eastern Europe and is starting to push west toward the Iberian peninsula.

Sicily recorded, on Wednesday, what may be a new European temperature record, with the regions agriculture-meteorological information service, SIAS, reported a temperature of 48.8C.

The highest temperature ever recorded on the European continent is 48C in 1977 in Athens.

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Coast Guard: Avoid hazardous conditions on coasts brought by gale force winds - Irish Examiner

In 2020, at the same time the nation was contending with the COVID-19 pandemic, huge wildfires swept across the western U.S., including some of the largest ever in California and Washington. Wildfires produce high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which has been linked with a host of negative health outcomes, including premature death, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and other respiratory illnesses. In addition, recent studies have found a link between short- and long-term exposure to PM2.5 and COVID-19 cases and deaths.The researchers from Harvard Chan School, the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard, and the Environmental Systems Research Institute in Redlands, Calif.built and validated a statistical model to quantify the extent to which wildfire smoke may have contributed to excess COVID-19 cases and deaths in California, Oregon, and Washington, three states that bore the brunt of the 2020 wildfires. They looked at the connection between county- and daily-level data on PM2.5 air concentrations from monitoring data, wildfire days from satellite data, and the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in 92 counties, which represented 95% of the population across the three states. The researchers accounted for factors such as weather, population size, and societal patterns of social distancing and mass gatherings.

The researchers relied on satellite data of smoke plumes to identify the locations and days affected by wildfires.

By combining satellite data with ground measurements of total PM2.5, we could more confidently distinguish smoke from other types of particles, said co-author Tianjia (Tina) Liu, a fifth-year graduate student in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, who led the validation of the satellite data.The study found that from August 15 to October 15, 2020, when fire activity was greatest, daily levels of PM2.5 during wildfire days were significantly higher than on non-wildfire days, with a median of 31.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air (g/m3) versus 6.4 (g/m3). In some counties, the levels of PM2.5 on wildfire days reached extremely high levels. For instance, from September 14 to September 17, 2020, Mono County, Calif., experienced four days in a row with PM2.5 levels higher than 500 g/m3 as a result of the Creek Fire. Such levels are deemed hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Wildfires amplified the effect of exposure to PM2.5 on COVID-19 cases and deaths, up to four weeks after the exposure, the study found. In some counties, the percentage of the total number of COVID-19 cases and deaths attributable to high PM2.5 levels was substantial.On average across all counties, the study found that a daily increase of 10 g/m3 in PM2.5 each day for 28 subsequent days was associated with an 11.7% increase in COVID-19 cases, and an 8.4% increase in COVID-19 deaths. The biggest effects for the COVID-19 cases were in the counties of Sonoma, Calif., and Whitman, Wash., with a 65.3% and 71.6% increase, respectively. The biggest effects for the COVID-19 deaths were in Calaveras, Calif., and San Bernardino, Calif., with a 52.8% and 65.9% increase, respectively.

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Wildfire smoke may have contributed to thousands of extra COVID-19 cases and deaths in western US in 2020 - Harvard School of Engineering and Applied...

A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) finds that the world may warm by 1.5C by the early 2030s, much earlier than previously estimated. Its terrible news for the Pacific. With temperatures rising above 1.5C, Pacific communities are likely to experience increasingly devastating climate change impacts.

The key takeaway from the IPCC report is that the more we know, the worse it looks. The planet is now already between 0.8C and 1.3C warmer than in pre-industrial times moving frighteningly close to the 1.5C threshold. This warming has already worsened temperature extremes, such as marine heatwaves that cause coral bleaching and heatwaves on land, with dangerous consequences for human health. Temperature and other climate extremes will become more intense, frequent and appear in more locations with every fraction of a degree that the planet warms.

Some of the worst impacts will be in the Pacific. Particularly concerning for the region are some of the historical sea level rise analyses and projections in this new IPCC report.

In the western Pacific, sea levels rose faster than anywhere else in the world between 1993 and 2015, and by 2050 they will continue to rise by an additional 0.100.25 metres, irrespective of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. By 2100, Pacific communities will experience extreme coastal impacts unless the world takes strong action to reduce emissions now; one in 100-year coastal inundation events will occur annually (or more frequently) by 2100 at 20% more locations under a high-emission scenario.

This impending sea level rise will create compound events with other climate factors. Although the Pacific is projected to generally face fewer cyclones under future warming, they are likely to become more intense. This, coupled with sea level rise, will worsen already deadly storm surge events in countries such as Fiji and Vanuatu.

Additionally, despite a projected increase in rainfall with future climate change in the equatorial Pacific, many locations will likely face greater water scarcity due to saltwater intrusion from rising seas and higher rates of potential evaporation due to increased temperatures. For example, a 20% decline in groundwater availability is projected by 2050 in the coral atoll islands of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Under a high sea level rise scenario, the availability of fresh groundwater in FSM could decline by more than half due to ocean water intrusion and drought events.

The report confirms that it is not possible to achieve the low level of warming aimed for in the Paris agreement unless we stop emitting high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, a point that has long been argued by Pacific peoples. This is because we now better understand and are more certain about how temperatures would increase based on a doubling of CO2 concentrations (a measure known as the equilibrium climate sensitivity). The range is now estimated to be 2.5C4.0C, up from 1.5C4.5C in previous IPCC reports. This means less chance of low temperature rises and more chance of high temperature rises for a given level of CO2.

If greenhouse gas emissions do not start to decline significantly before 2050, the world is extremely likely to exceed 2C warming during the 21st century. To avoid the more extreme future climate scenarios detailed in the report requires serious emissions reductions. The emission scenarios that lead to lower levels of warming all require removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, as well as aggressive reduction of emissions. Declining emissions from the 2020s onwards and reaching net zero in the 2050s is the best-case scenario for keeping the planet below 1.5C. Fortunately, there are many emerging opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes transitioning to 100% renewable energy as rapidly as possible, decarbonising transport, reducing emissions from agriculture, and drawing down and storing atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions.

The findings from this IPCC report will be at the forefront of discussions at the forthcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26). Countries in the Pacific, along with other small island developing states, will lead the fight for a sub-1.5C world by advocating for ambitious updates to all national commitments. They will do this by leading by example: setting the targets high and uniting under a common vision a world in which we do not cross the line of 1.5C in the next 10 years, or ever.

It is vital Australia and other non-Pacific nations join them.

Professor Mark Howden is a vice-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and director of the Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions at the Australian National University

Dr Morgan Wairiu is a coordinating lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change based in the Solomon Islands

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The world could hit 1.5C warming in a decade. Thats terrible news for the Pacific - The Guardian

The Irish Coast Guard has warned people to have a "heightened awareness" regarding the risks on the coast after Met ireann issued Status Yellow warnings for windy conditions.

Met ireann said it will be "unseasonably windy today" with fresh to strong, gusty southerly winds, reaching gale force on Atlantic coasts with rough seas. There will be rough conditions on inland lakes too.

A Status Yellow wind warning for Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo is in place until 3pm.

A similar alert for Cork has been lifted.

Two gale warnings are in effect.

On the Irish Sea, north of Anglesey, southerly winds will occasionally reach gale force eight until 6pm.

Elsewhere, south to southwest gale force eight or strong gale force nine winds, becoming southwesterly, are forecast on coasts from Slyne Head to Erris Head to Malin Head until midnight.

Michael O'Toole, Operations Manager with the Irish Coast Guard, said this short period of severe weather could mean gusts of up to 90km/hr and, with gale warnings, could result in rough and high seas.

On RT's Morning Ireland, he said his advice is, where possible, for people to avoid exposed or hazardous coastal spots and to heed the advice of authorities and lifeguards.

Mr O'Toole also said people should consider rescheduling activities over this weekend in the context of the weather alerts.

He also warned that when winds abate there could be heightened sea and swells and areas where people have been enjoying water activities may pose a challenge.

Mr O'Toole said the Irish public is embracing the coast and with the phenomenon of staycations, the Coast Guard has been busier this year compared to last year, assisting people and rescuing those in distress.

Met ireann said it will remain windy tonight near northern and western coasts but southwest winds will moderate elsewhere.

Scattered showers will continue in the west and north, but showers will be isolated over the rest of the country with long clear spells.

Tomorrow will be blustery with fresh or strong westerly winds. There will be a mix of sunny spells and showers.

Saturday will see wet weather edge further northwards and the forecaster said the rain is likely to be heavy in places with spot flooding.

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Coast Guard warning over 'unseasonably windy' weather - RTE.ie

The total area of the oil spill in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia's Novorossiysk is almost 80 square kilometers against 200 square meters, as previously stated by authorities.

Thats according to Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ukrinform reports.

"The spill is much larger than stated, as the area of oil pollution at the time of radar screening was almost 80 square kilometers. On August 8, the oil slick was pulled from the shore to high seas at a distance of 19 kilometers, the institute said in a statement.

Read also: Ecology Ministry dispels Kremlin's myths about North Crimean Canal

Satellite imagery of the area has also been released.

Russia's Caspian Pipeline Consortium, reporting a "volley oil spill" in the process of pumping it onto the Minerva Symphony tanker (Greece), estimated the contaminated area at 200 square meters.

Therefore, the area of the oil spill may be 400,000 times larger than stated.

The spill was reported on August 7. The CPC claimed the emergency situation had been eliminated by evening.

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Black Sea oil spill area off Russias Novorosiysk coast 400,000 times wider than reported - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

A Japan Meteorological Agency sign is seen in Tokyo's Minato Ward. (Mainichi/Shinji Kurokawa)

TOKYO -- Low atmospheric pressure over the Sea of Japan could bring severe weather to eastern and northern Japan on Aug. 10, triggering mudslides, swollen and flooded rivers, inundation in low-lying areas, violent winds and high seas, the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned.

According to the weather agency, a low-pressure front was hanging over the Sea of Japan's central area and moving east-northeast, bringing strong winds to a wide area from eastern to northern Japan. Heightened mudslide risks due to preceding heavy rains were reported for northern Japan. Thunderstorms are also expected for eastern and northern Japan on Aug. 10.

The agency forecasts up to 200 millimeters of rain in Hokkaido and surrounding areas in the 24-hour period through 6 a.m. Aug. 11. In the same period, up to 180 millimeters of rain is expected in the Hokuriku region on the Sea of Japan coast in central Japan, while forecasts say the Tohoku region in the northeast will have up to 150 millimeters of rainfall.

Meanwhile, the agency is also warning of mudslides in the Chugoku region in western Japan due to heavy rains that hit the area.

(Mainichi)

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Heavy rains, strong winds warned for east to north Japan - The Mainichi - The Mainichi

A file photo of Xuelong 2, Chinas first domestically-built icebreaker, during a launch ceremony at a shipyard in Shanghai on September 10, 2018. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

The Xue Long 2 (Snow Dragon 2) is on its second Arctic voyage during which it will conduct scientific surveys in the Gakkel Ridge.

The 122 meter long vessel on the 12th of July set out from Shanghai on an odyssey across Arctic waters. In the course of 3,5 months, the icebreaking ship will sail about 15,000 nautical miles.

It is the first scientific voyage to the region during Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), state media company CGTNinforms.

On the 4th of August the ship was sailing north of Russias New Siberian Islands and two days later north of Severnaya Zemlya.

According to the Chinese, theSnow Dragon 2will sail across the North Pole. On its way, it will explore the Gakkel Ridge in order to learn about the formation of rocks and magma and the geomorphic features there, CGTN reports.

The Chinese vessel is this week believed to have sailed south through theGreenland Sea, the waters that separate Greenland with the archipelago of Svalbard. The vessel is no longer visible on ship tracking services.

The researchers on board are reported to engage inmonitoring of sea and sea-ice, atmosphere, microplastics and ocean acidification in the high seas of the Arctic, and carry out navigation observation, cross-sectional survey and satellite remote sensing.

TheXue Long 2(Snow Dragon 2)is owned and managed by the Chinese Polar Institute. The institute has been instrumental in all of the countrys previous 10 research expedition to the Arctic.

It is thesecond timethat the Xue Long 2 takes part in the expedition. The ship is Chinas first full domestically madevessel of the kind. Construction was competed in 2019.

The ship has advanced oceanographic and research equipment and can carry out a wide range of scientific expedition tasks.

Until now, it has been sister shipXue Long that has been applied on the Chinese Arctic expeditions, that have proceeded along Russias Northern Sea Route, across the central Arctic Ocean and through Canadas Northwest Passage

In acomment made during the Arctic Circle China conferencein 2019, Chief of Chinas State Oceanic Administration underlined that protecting the Arctic environment is a common responsibility and China will make its contribution to this.

He also stressed that China sees itself as a near-Arctic state and it will actively participate with wisdom and strength to future protection and development.

In early 2018, the country adopted andArctic policy document. Ithighlights joint efforts and cooperative approaches, and at the same time underlines that China is determined to participate in Arctic governance and that it has legitimate interests and rights in the region.

Related stories from around the North:

Canada:44 per cent increase in unique ships entering Canadas Northwest Passage, says report, Eye on the Arctic

Estonia:Estonian president favorable towards Arctic railway project, cautious about future of Arctic shipping, Eye on the Arctic

Finland:Lapland Regional Council in Finland rejects Arctic railway, The Independent Barents Observer

Norway:Shipping, climate & business opportunities in the North: Q&A with the Arctic Economic Council, Eye on the Arctic

Russia: Russian nuclear-powered cargo ship returns to Arctic after troublesome year, The Independent Barents Observer

United States:Cruise ship arrives in Skagway, Alaska after passenger flown home with COVID-19, CBC News

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Chinese icebreaker sails to North Pole, explores remote Arctic ridge - Eye on the Arctic

The best co-op games mean that playing with your mates is the most fun youve ever had. OK, maybe not quite the most fun ever but the kind of experience that youll end up talking and laughing about for a while to come. Plenty of games offer co-operative experiences these days although the focus is generally on playing online rather than locally on the sofa, but it can be hard to know which games are worth your time. Thats where were here to help.

Weve played countless co-operative games so we know whats genuinely fun and whats only really fun because youre having a laugh with your friends. Weve focused on games that are available for different formats so whatever console (or PC) you own, theres something here thats worth playing alongside someone. Of course, you can play most of these games co-operatively with a stranger but thats not really the point. Youre creating memories here (no matter how cringeworthy that phrase may feel to you) and were confident youll remember some key events.

Without further ado, here are the best co-op games to play with your friends, either online or on the sofa.

Overcooked 2. Credit: Team 17

Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Want to ruin a lifelong friendship in the most bizarre way possible? Cook with them. I mean, you can cook with them in person but Overcooked 2 is far zanier than rustling up a regular dinner. A cooking simulator, teams of up to four players have to prepare and cook orders in weird restaurants. Theres the usual need to gather, chop, and cook ingredients before combining them on a plate but the restaurants themselves offer some challenges.

These can include moving walkways, portals, and even impassable fires so its important you all plan carefully to work out how to avoid these perils. And, of course, everything is timed and customers get grumpy if you mess up or take too long. Its frantic but great fun too. Teamwork is essential so dont be surprised if you fall out briefly from time to time. Youll still end up laughing and thats what the best co-op games need to make you do.

Sea of Thieves. Credit: Microsoft

Playable on: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

If you and your friends have ever wanted to become pirates, we wont judge. Well direct you to Sea of Thieves instead where you can do exactly that. Groups of players can encounter each other in an open-world environment so its important you work well together to avoid being plundered. Theres a lot of freedom here with the ability to be as nasty as you want or simply explore the high seas.

Looking good with the ability to track down treasure, form alliances, complete quests, or simply attack everyone going, theres a lot of freedom here. Sea of Thieves doesnt quite work solo but with some friends, its oddly liberating.

Diablo III. Credit: Activision Blizzard

Playable on: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

A classic hack and slasher, Diablo III is almost mindless fun. Sure, you can pick classes carefully and dive into complex statistical analysis and so forth, but mostly, its just a lot of fun to team up with your mate and beat up a demon. Gear is dropped liberally so youve always got the sense of satisfaction that comes from feeling like youre getting somewhere plus its easy to achieve quite a lot in a short space of time.

A hardcore mode is available if you fancy the challenge of not being able to resurrect yourself after a death, but you really need to both be pretty confident of your abilities to risk this mode. Either way, Diablo III is satisfyingly loot-gaining based fun.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Credit: Microsoft

Playable on: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Halo: The Master Chief Collection offers every single game in the main Halo franchise which means Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach and Halo 4. Thats a lot of co-op Halo action and the games come into their own when you team up with friends, easily making this one of the best co-op games out there. Besides being great first-person shooters in their own right, they defined a lot of the genre in recent years and provide plenty of nostalgia too.

When teaming up with friends, bump up the difficulty level and youll really appreciate the adrenaline rush of wrapping up the frantic end to Halo 3 or taking on a fearsome boss in Halo 4. Its these kind of experiences that stick in your mind for a long time to come and you certainly wont run out of options any time soon.

A Way Out. Credit: EA

Playable on: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Unlike most games, you can only play A Way Out co-operatively which means its well-designed for the purpose. Players control Leo and Vincent, two convicted prisoners, who must break out of prison and stay on the run. Working together is, predictably, vital to success here with scenarios where one player must form a distraction while another works on their escape requiring some careful teamwork.

Theres a storyline to pursue too along with a series of minigames to participate in. The key here is it truly feels like an experience that you wont get elsewhere and the person you choose to team up with really will make a difference to how much you enjoy A Way Out. Pick a good and reliable friend, and youll get to enjoy the bizarre twists and turns of this

It Takes Two. Credit: EA

Playable on: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Another co-op only game, It Takes Two has you play a married couple on the brink of divorce. That might not sound like fun but things change rapidly with different levels offering different challenges. For instance, one character is able to rewind time during one portion while the other can replicate themselves.

By using these abilities to solve puzzles, you and your friend progress the story and work on rebuilding the relationship between the two characters. Its a lovely change of pace from so many other co-operative experiences and one that may just draw couples closer together.

Monster Hunter Rise. Credit: Capcom

Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PC

Fancy taking on ridiculously massive monsters with your bestie? Thats the premise of Monster Hunter Rise. It wont be easy as the monsters are suitably huge. Youll need to master complex weapon types, tools, and environmental challenges along the way but the sweet sense of satisfaction is vast afterwards.

Thanks to the challenge, youll need solid teamwork skills here, especially if you choose to team up with up to four hunters at a time. Besides being one of the best co-op games, it works well as a single-player experience too providing youre up to the challenge.

Among Us. Credit: Innersloth

Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Trust no one? Youll love Among Us. Theres a reason its one of the best co-op games of the last few years. Up to 15 players take part with up to three of those being randomly chosen to be an imposter. Its down to you and the others to figure out whos the imposter and who isnt. There are tasks to complete in the form of minigames with imposters given a fake list of instructions to attempt to blend in.

Its all a bit of a sociological experiment in terms of figuring things out and you may be surprised to learn that your friends are better at lying and hiding things than you thought they were. Discussions of who might be the imposter can turn lively which is where the fun is most had. Its a fun way of doing things a little differently.

Streets of Rage 4. Credit: Dotemu

Playable on: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

The Streets of Rage series may have been your first experience of co-operative gaming if you owned a Sega Mega Drive. Now you can recreate that experience with the sublime Streets of Rage 4. Seriously, its a dream to play. The combat is similar to before with it being simple to learn yet complex to master as you figure out the rhythm that works for each character. Combo attacks are everything for building up a strong high score with a huge sense of satisfaction when you take down a boss together without taking a blow.

Besides the main story mode, theres also Arcade mode that requires you to survive the game on one credit plus a series of difficulty levels means you can up the challenge to a quite fearsome level if you want. Just look out for accidentally punching your buddy. It can turn into quite the brawl, and thats not what you want from one of the best co-op games

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The best co-op games to play with your mates in 2021 - NME