Tom Clancy's The Division 2

Tom Clancy's The Division 2 moved the fight to rebuild civilization from New York to Washington, D.C., where seven months after the outbreak of the epidemic, military militias, bandits, and the last remnants of government are fighting for control of the capital. The player once again embodies an agent of the special unit, moving through iconic locations such as the White House, the Capitol, or the Smithsonian museums, which the game transformed into overgrown, nature-reclaimed ruins breathing with their own oppressive summer heat.

Compared to the first game, this installment offered a more elaborate specialization system with unique back-mounted weapons, more distinctive enemy factions with their own combat tactics and behavior, and a more expansive endgame with seven-player raids that ranked among the most demanding co-op content of the generation. On Xbox One, the game ran smoothly even in hectic firefights against many opponents at once and offered a richly detailed environment where lush summer vegetation mixed with the remains of government buildings and abandoned equipment. The sound design, radio chatter from the surviving factions, and the city's ambient noise rounded out the impression of a metropolis falling apart yet still desperately fighting on.

The Division 2 was received considerably better than its predecessor, especially thanks to content that was ready right from launch and ongoing support through seasonal updates and new areas. The game proved that Ubisoft had learned from the first game's mistakes and cemented the series' position as one of the established looter shooters of the generation. Even years later, it offers a functional and still-active co-op experience for players seeking a more tactical, somewhat slower alternative to faster arena shooters, and thanks to continued support it remains, even after years, among the titles with an active community of players returning for new seasons and content. Moving the action to recognizable Washington landmarks also gave the game a symbolic weight that the first game, set in New York, lacked.

Why play it: For players seeking a more tactical, slower co-op alternative to fast arena shooters, it still offers, even years later, an active community and regular new content.