What are the best co-op games to play right now? Playing the latest console games can be fun, but good times are always ahead when you’ve got a friend involved. The best co-op games balance team work, emotional stories, and massive laughs to provide some of the fondest gaming experiences you’ll ever have.
The great thing about co-op games is that they span across multiple genre, whether you’re looking for the best FPS games, best survival games, or ace multiplayer games to play with friends. Many of our picks will have you roaring victoriously, and some will probably get you cursing in frustration (we apologize in advance for any friendships ruined as a result). So, here are the co-op experiences you need to try next.
The best co-op games are:
1. Helldivers 2
In a brave departure for Arrowhead Game Studios, Helldivers 2 takes the underappreciated twin-stick roots of the series and delivers an action-packed and immersive third-person shooter.
Taking down hoards of blood-hungry bugs or unfaltering robots alongside your friends has never been so satisfying, with incredibly punchy weapons and great enemy design. There’s also a variety of stunning locations to explore once you plummet down to a planet in your drop pod, eager to spread democracy to bug-infested planets. When you see a pack of Terminator-like robots patroling, their red eyes piercing through thick fog, it’s hard to not get chills down your spine and your blood pumping.
With all Helldivers 2 future updates being free, as well as the unique take on battle passes with the Helldivers 2 Warbonds mechanic, there’s a lot to dig into. Unfortunately, Helldivers 2 is exclusive to PS5.
2. The Quarry
We can’t write a best co-op games list without mentioning one of the best horror games of recent years, The Quarry. Taking inspiration from 80s pulp horror, Supermassive Games places you in control of nine teenagers during their final night at Hackett’s Quarry summer camp. Like all good horrors, things aren’t as they seem, and quite a few things go bump in the night.
Of course, all good horror games are best enjoyed with a friend, and in The Quarry, you can play this (or even watch it play out) both offline and online. This is one of the many reasons we gave the game a 9/10 in our The Quarry review. While horror games certainly aren’t for everyone, we recommend at least giving it a look – our The Quarry length and The Quarry chapter list guides will give you a better idea of what you’re in for (light spoiler warning).
The Quarry is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
3. It Takes Two
It Takes Two is arguably the best co-op game out there right now and has been since its release in 2021. You play as a husband and wife who have been turned into a pair of dolls by their daughter who is distraught about their intent to divorce. The story is a little questionable at times, but this co-op adventure, which basically features several games inside a game, will force you and your chosen partner to work together.
You might have a few friendly disagreements along the way, but the gameplay is incredibly fun and diverse, always giving you something new to mess around with. There’s a reason it won The Game Awards’ Game of the Year in 2021 – the same year that Jess nominated it for The Loadout’s GOTY award, as well.
It Takes Two is currently available on all major platforms.
4. Minecraft
Minecraft is at its best when played with friends. While it’s not available as a couch co-op game, it can be played online providing you all join the same world.
The beauty of Minecraft is that it can be played however you like. You can start gathering resources and building your world from scratch, creating the best Minecraft houses along the way. Or, you can join some of the best Minecraft survival servers and see how long you can last. The creative sandbox of Minecraft is its greatest strength, letting players find their own fun.
The possibilities are endless, especially since it’s available on all major platforms. Give it a go and see what you and your friends can make, be it a modest house, a castle, an obstacle course, or anything else you can think of.
5. A Way Out
A Way Out is another co-op adventure from the creators of It Takes Two, except instead of a troubled couple, you’ll play as two prisoners looking to escape jail. You’ll need to work together to set up the escape and avoid detection, which, let’s be honest, sounds like the perfect recipe for a co-op game.
As the predecessor to It Takes Two, there’s not quite as much variety in gameplay and scenarios, but it’s still a blast to play, boasting a gripping narrative to boot.
Unlike It Takes Two, A Way Out can only be played on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, so if you have a Nintendo Switch, you’ll have to pass on this one.
6. Fortnite
Fortnite is easily one of the best battle royale games out there and it’s great fun to play with friends. While securing Victory Royales solo is a rewarding experience, nothing quite compares to winning a match with a friend or two along with the ride. Whether you just want to mess around as your favorite characters from other franchises or aim big and win the match, it’s hard not to find something that interests you.
Plus, with full cross-play, plenty of new content drops, and a constant flow of Fortnite skins, there’s something for everyone in this free game. Even if you’ve played it in the past and bounced off, with so many changes and new additions, it’s almost like a different game. Just make sure you know which of the best Fortnite landing spots to pick before you jump from the battle bus.
There’s also the fun of Fortnite Festival, LEGO Fortnite, and Rocket Racing to be enjoyed too. Each of them brings Guitar Hero-style antics, RPG mayhem, and racing chaos to Fortnite in Epic Games’ own unique way. However, Fortnite Festival might just be the best of them all purely for bringing a band consisting of John Wick, Billie Eillish, and Peter Griffin together.
7. Warzone
If you’re looking for something a bit more realistic in the battle royale department, Warzone is the game for you. Building on the strong foundations of the traditional Call of Duty multiplayer experience, Warzone ups the takes with a massive map and player count, with only one winner left alive to take the crown by the end. The game also receives constant updates, including new weapons, maps, skins, and even fun cross-over events.
Like Fortnite, you can head into battle alone, but it’s much more fun if you go in with a friend or two across PS4/5, Xbox, and PC. Whether you want to go guns blazing or outsmart your opponents with clever tactics, you’re in for some exhilarating moments. Before you dive in, be sure to read up on the Warzone meta to find out the best Warzone loadouts you can use right now.
8. Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Do you reckon you and your friends could open a restaurant together and turn it into a successful business? Well, with Overcooked you can put your skills to the test. The All You Can Eat edition brings both the first and the second game into a neat little package, containing hundreds of levels.
You can play the game with up to four friends locally or online (across different platforms, too) and cook up a storm in no time. You’ll be required to work as a team to create dishes, fulfill orders, and extinguish fires. As you progress, the levels get increasingly unique, diverse, and complex, such as adding in verticality, segmented kitchens, or even slippery ice.
It’s utter chaos, but if you’re looking for a co-op game that you can pick up and play, this is the one for you.
9. Back 4 Blood
Sure, Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 are the original zombie co-op games out there, but let’s be honest, Back 4 Blood has modernized the format while giving us something new to chew on. The deckbuilding system gives you the ability to tailor your playstyle and if you play it online with friends, you can each build a deck using the best Back 4 Blood cards to cover all bases.
You can find out more about how this works in our Back 4 Blood review. While there won’t be any new content coming to the game anymore, there’s plenty of intense zombie slaying fun to be had with what’s on offer, especially if you’re diving in with friends.
10. Stardew Valley
For those of you looking for a slightly more peaceful gaming experience than getting chewed on by zombies, let us introduce you to Stardew Valley. Heavily inspired by the Harvest Moon games of yore, Stardew Valley gives you your grandfather’s old farm and tells you to get cracking.
While the original version of the game forced you to do this alone, the co-op update means you can bring up to three friends along for the ride. You can divide the farm up into four sections or you can work together to plant crops, rear animals, or make sweet, sweet jam. With lots of items to craft and upgrades to acquire, there’s lots to sink your teeth into.
Each one of your friends can also have customizable houses and can engage with the local community too, of which there are lots of interesting characters to meet. Who knows? With the right Stardew Valley gifts, there could be wedding bells on the horizon.
Stardew Valley is available on all major platforms, including Switch, and still receives updates, including new items and even new characters and festivals occasionally.
11. Phasmophobia
Do you believe in ghosts? Well, Phasmophobia will put that to the test. In this four-player online co-op game, you and your team of paranormal investigators will need to use their ghost-hunting equipment to discover and identify ghosts haunting particular locations.
Some ghosts are friendly, others are less so, so you’ll need to be on your guard at all times to get out alive. Just don’t forget to check behind you. While it might just be your friend playing a cruel trick on you, it could also be a malevolent spirit breathing down your neck.
While Phasmophobia blew up the internet on PC, it’s now on its way to consoles, letting even more gamers enjoy the thrill of ghost hunting. For more on that check out our Phasmophobia PS5 and Xbox release date guide.
12. Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise isn’t just one of the best RPG games out there, it can also be one of the best co-op games – as we cover in our Monster Hunter Rise review.
A hunting party isn’t a party without a couple of friends, and in Monster Hunter Rise you can connect with three other players to go questing. Party up and explore new worlds, hunt mighty beasts, and craft powerful new weapons from their parts.
With even more content available in the Sunrise expansion, there’s a lot for you and your hunting party to fight through. Having so many beasts to fight also means there are lots and lots of weapons and armor. So, whether you’re looking for intense boss fights with friends or a fashion show to flex your new feathery armor, dig in.
Monster Hunter Rise is available on all major platforms and even a part of Xbox Game Pass, so there’s no excuse for not giving it a go.
13. Gang Beasts
If you need something quite casual in your life that’ll give you a laugh, let us introduce you to Gang Beasts. Cuddly gelatinous characters are entered into a brawl where only one can emerge victorious. It sounds simple, but the controls are intentionally wonky, as is the ragdoll physics, which only leads to chaos.
Pull, punch, and push your way to the top in this hilarious fighting game that you can play on all major platforms, both locally and online.
14. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Lego games have always been made with co-op in mind and The Skywalker Saga is the best yet – especially if you like the best Star Wars games.
The Skywalker Saga takes you on an adventure to a galaxy far, far away to explore all nine films. Yes, you read that right. With more than 400 characters and dozens of planets, there’s never been a better Star Wars game – something our Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga review touches upon.
It’s the perfect little couch co-op game, particularly if the two of you like traveling through Hyperspace together. Both of you can play as different characters in proper couch co-op split-screen, although if your characters are close enough to each other, you’ll share the same view for even greater convenience.
The Skywalker Saga is available on all major platforms, including Switch, so dine on arguably the best Lego game to date.
15. Sea of Thieves
Arrr mateys, are you well-versed in parlay? Well, to play Sea of Thieves, one of the best co-op games out there, you’re going to need to scrub up on your knowledge of the Pirate’s Code.
Sea of Thieves is an action-adventure Xbox and PC game that puts you firmly in the shoes of a pirate on the high seas. You’ll need to complete quests to unlock treasure, new worlds, and ships, but the good thing about this is that you can do it with a friend online.
You’ll have to share your booty, but when you realize that deep sea creatures like the Kraken patrol the seas, three isn’t a crowd. While the game had a rocky launch in 2018, the game has seen many, many significant updates that have overhauled the experience. Now, it’s one of the most popular and unique co-op games out there.
And for those of you who may have played before and found it difficult to learn the ropes with enemy players attempting to plunder your treasure, the recent Safer Seas update has made it possible to play without worrying about other players. However, the various AI enemies like skeletons or mythical beasts like the Kraken will still harm you, so beware.
Sea of Thieves is also available on PlayStation 5 now, and with over 40 million players sailing the seas worldwide, you’ll be finding all that precious golden loot in no time.
Sea of Thieves is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X and PS5.
16. As Dusk Falls
Do you want to find out how each of your friends is guided by their moral compass in life? Then As Dusk Falls is the game for you. This interactive narrative drama tells the story of love, lust, revenge, and consequence, and it’s up to you (and your friends) to make the decisions of two families along the way.
With branching storylines for each character, every decision has a consequence leading you to one of the many As Dusk Falls endings. Co-op can be played both online and offline, provided your friends have their phones to hand or a handy little share code. The player with the controller controls the main quick-time actions, but when it comes to decisions, the majority wins. Inviting your friends into such a rich narrative experience, complete with important decisions, can either end in chaos or closer bonds, depending on who tags along.
It’s a stunning little game that we fell in love with in our As Dusk Falls review, and it’s one you have to play, especially if you’re a fan of co-op games. As Dusk Falls is available only on PC and Xbox – the latter also via Game Pass.
17. Nobody Saves the World
No, human, that isn’t two mustachioed aliens in a trench coat – it’s Dave the trucker… maybe… possibly…
Nobody Saves the World places you in the naked, androgynous body of Nobody, who after waking up with a pretty horrific case of amnesia comes across a magic wand. Thanks to its power, Nobody can transform into over 15 forms – from dragons to zombies, magicians to… slugs? What’s more, the powers and passives each form provides can be mixed and matched. So if you ever wanted to be a rabbit-conjuring horse, this is the game for you and your duo.
In this PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox RPG you’ll crawl through various dungeons while collecting and mastering your transformations as you work towards saving the world. With inventive gameplay and a charming world and story to pull you through, it would be very remiss of you not to try it out.
18. Remnant 2
If there’s a trio of you looking for something to do, and that something just so happens to be blasting the stuffing out of otherworldly creatures and deities, then Remnant 2 is the ideal way to go about it.
“A refined soulslike shooter sequel” to Remnant From the Ashes, according to our Remnant 2 review, Gunfire Games’ latest instalment in the RPG shooter series positively iterates on its predecessor in almost every possible way, making it one of the best Soulslike games out there.
It’s certainly a challenge, yet it’s a rare opportunity to play a soulslike that’s not only a shooter but also a full co-op experience. If that sounds like a bit of you, then be sure to check out Remnant 2 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
19. Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic takes a little while to get going, but once it does, you’ll be hooked. Packed with personality, this procedurally generated horde-shooter mining game will put your team to the test as you embark on a mining expedition on the diverse and deadly Hoxxes IV.
You’ll have to complete a variety of fun objectives all while holding off against waves and waves of creepy crawlies. If you succeed though, you’ll be well on your way to upgrading the four distinct classes and arsenal of weapons, as well as customizing your Dwarve.
With friends, you’re certainly in for some chaotic and captivating action while on a mission, and non-stop laughing when you’re lounging aboard the rig in between missions, downing beer, and dancing your heart out.
So, [New Dwarven Employee #2205], sign up to join the Deep Rock Galactic mining corporation today and recruit your friends to become, as Management puts it, an “essential gear in the machine of the most tenacious space mining corporation”. Your work is important.
Deep Rock Galactic is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC, so sorry Switch players! It’s even on Game Pass, so Xbox and PC players don’t have to fork out extra.
20. Destiny 2
Bungie’s Destiny 2 has had its ups and downs, but it’s always been a stellar shooter and one of the most engrossing co-op games out there. Since launch, Bungie has worked to improve almost everything about the game, adding new features like loadouts, mountains of new weapons and abilities, and tightening up the story.
Whether you and your friends would like to experience an enthralling sci-fi fantasy story with compelling characters or take on the hardest of challenges such as raids and dungeons, Destiny is the game for you. There are even PvP and competitive modes like Trials of Osiris, where your teamwork skills will be put to the test in return for great loot – including some of the best Destiny 2 weapons.
Check out our Destiny 2 Lightfall review to find out whether the latest expansion is worth it ahead of the Destiny 2 The Final Shape release date. Destiny 2 is available to try for free on PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC. If you’re in the US you can access it on the PS Store here or the Xbox Store here, while you can access it on the PS Store here or the Xbox Store here if you’re in the UK.
21. Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 blew many people away with just how intricate and deep the game is. From its many branching paths, hidden quests, and engrossing turn-based combat, Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most impressive games out there.
Even better though, everything can be experienced alongside your friends. In fact, there’s even split-screen local co-op. Much like DnD, you’ll be pulled into a rich world full of roleplaying potential, resulting in deep philosophical debates amongst your party or all-out chaos – with consequences for every approach.
Be warned though, BG3 is massive, so be prepared to disappear for weeks, if not months as you chip away at its superb story. To help you get started, we’ve prepared a tier list of the best Baldur’s Gate 3 classes and best Baldur’s Gate 3 party. The game is currently available on PS5 and PC, though a Baldur’s Gate 3 Xbox release date is on the way.
22. The Crew Motorfest
As our The Crew Motorfest review will attest to, this is one of the best open-world arcade racing games you can get, and it’s even more fun with others.
If you and your… crew are fans of more action-packed and chaotic racing, then The Crew Motorfest has it in spades. From racing through the neon-drenched city streets to the humid jungle, Motorfest has it all. There are even tracks reminiscent of Hot Wheels tracks with large loops and ramps.
And did we mention there are also planes and boats? That’s right, The Crew Motorfest isn’t just traditional car racing, you can also speed through the competition in the sky and on the sea. It’s by no means a racing sim, but the arcade feel only serves to up the ante as you go toe to toe with your friends and other players.
The Crew Motorfest is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC.
23. Party Animals
As the name suggests, Party Animals is a whacky brawling party game involving fluffy animals, akin to Gang Beasts and Fall Guys. With several fun maps, modes, and weapons, you can kick, climb, and grab your way to the top as you and your friends bumble around the arena.
As we note in our Party Animals review, the game “offers a fun time with friends thanks to its visually distinct art style and party antics”. Using the latest Party Animals codes, you can even unlock more cute characters to take into the arena.
Party Animals is available on Xbox and PC, and is part of the Game Pass service.
24. We Were Here Forever
The We Were Here series provides some of the best co-op puzzling out there, and will absolutely put the relationship with your partner in crime to the test. The most recent mainline experience, We Were Here Forever, is no exception to this and, as Aaron notes in our We Were Here Forever review, “lives up to the mantle of Total Mayhem Games’ most ambitious project yet.”
In this asymmetric medieval-meets-steampunk puzzler, you’ll be co-ordinating your way through Castle Rock in order to escape the dark forces lurking behind its doors.
We Were Here Forever is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
25. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
A spin-off of the Borderlands series, yet successful and fun in its own way, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is silly, chaotic, satirical, and exciting to play. Set in a satirical version of Dungeons & Dragons called ‘Bunkers & Badasses’, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will see you take on one of a few classes as you collect loot, upgrade your skills, and kill bad guys.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands can be played by yourself or with up to three friends through the entire story, with two different co-op modes – Cooperation, and Coopetition, the former allowing everyone to have their own unique loot, while Coopetition will require you to share loot fairly, or be greedy enough to grab it first.
Fortunately, despite being a part of the long-running Borderlands franchise, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands tells its own tale that’s worth watching play out and doesn’t tie into the overall narrative of the series. While it’s definitely a fun story, the focus is on constantly upgrading your character and collecting exciting and destructive loot. You can read our full thoughts in our Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands review.
26. Warframe
Despite being released back in 2013 on PC and eventually finding its way onto consoles, Warframe is still as prevalent today, receiving massive content updates that add new story content which is completely free for all players. Considering Warframe is free-to-play, the fact that it doesn’t have pay-to-win microtransactions, focusing on cosmetics and convenience, is staggering.
The best way to describe Warframe is that you play as a group of warriors called the Tenno, who awaken after a long slumber. The story gets exceedingly extensive and lore-driven from there, but the general idea is that you’ll progress through various planets completing different story arcs while unlocking new weapons, improvements to your ship, and the titular ‘Warframes’, combat suits with unique and distinct abilities.
There are a few solo-only bits of content in the game, but almost everything can be played with friends in co-op. Unfortunately, there isn’t a split-screen co-op in Warframe, but it’s almost on every platform now alongside having crossplay compatibility, so there’s no excuse not to give it a try.
27. Don’t Starve Together
Anyone who’s ever watched a Tim Burton movie will probably look at Don’t Starve Together and go “where’s Zero?” Well, while you won’t find any good spectral boys in Don’t Starve Together, you will find plenty of murderous hounds that would love to take you and your friends apart bite-by-bite in the spooky wilderness survival game.
Don’t Starve Together is the standalone multiplayer expansion of the original Don’t Starve, and one which will quite literally test the sanity of you and up to five other friends. Hunt, craft, and survive in this unforgiving world, or perish. Permanently. Okay, not permanently, as unlike the single-player mode your homies will be able to revive you should you lose your 1v1 with a Batilisk.
Don’t Starve has enjoyed three major DLCs since its release in 2013, each providing plenty of new characters, mobs, and biomes to explore. While most of these aren’t compatible with Don’t Starve Together, the multiplayer expansion continues to receive regular content updates which we think is neat.
Don’t Starve Together is available on PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox.
28. PHOGS
Anyone who’s played Bread and Fred will know that coordinating efforts with a partner in crime can be hellishly fun. PHOGS is similar in this sense, though unlike Don’t Starve Together there are two very good conjoined boys to frolic through its three puzzle-filled worlds with – Red and Blue.
Each world is themed around the core pillars of doghood – food, sleep, and play. As you bark, bite, bounce, and stretch your way through each trial you’ll undoubtedly learn more about your co-op compadre or, if you’re playing with a partner, who’ll end up in the doghouse by the end of the evening.
PHOGS is available on all major platforms.
29. Human: Fall Flat
The original floppy, physics-based puzzle platforming game, Human: Fall Flat has more than stood the test of time since its arrival back in 2016. It’s also one of the best couch co-op experiences you can enjoy on both PlayStation and Xbox thanks to both receiving dedicated ports in 2021.
Though not quite as expansive as its PC counterpart – the devil works hard but Steam Workshop works harder – the console version of Human: Fall Flat has received new levels since launch, though this output appears to have slowed following the announcement that a sequel is on the way. Nonetheless, there’s still plenty of content to pull your hair out over as you get to grips with controlling one arm at a time.
30. Diablo 4
‘Ah, Hell.’ It’s not only where you’ll see a fair amount of action in Diablo 4, but it’s also what you’ll be saying to your buddy – be it online or while chillin’ in couch co-op – as yet another small horde of demonic creatures come charging at you. Over the years Blizzard has mastered the recipe for an engaging, approachable dungeon-crawler and, as our friends over at PCGamesN note in their Diablo 4 review, the latest instalment “embodies the essence of what makes Diablo so great.”
This time around, you’re looking to take down the Queen of the Succubi and Mephisto’s daughter, Lilith, who is on a mission to bring sin to Sanctuary in order to corrupt and turn its inhabitants into a fighting force against both Heaven and Hell. If killing off demons sounds like a great way to spend your time, then read up on the best Diablo 4 build for whichever of the Diablo 4 classes you choose, hop on your Diablo 4 mount, and get slaying.
Diablo 4 is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
31. Grounded
With Xbox sending a few of its prized exclusives over other platforms, Grounded is one of those titles making the leap new lands. Backed up with the power of Sony’s PS5 and full cross-play support, you and your friends can face off against the elements and all manner of creepy crawlies. Shruken down to the size of ant, you’ll need to create a base from sticks, leaves and more, all while gaining some considerable upgrades along the way.
In our time with the game, we’ve befriended lady birds like the one seen above, evaded grizzly deaths at the hands of ants, and cursed the skies above when spiders dared to rear their heads. Luckily, the game features arachnophobia friendly settings, meaning you can completely get rid of those fearsome crawlers throughout your entire Grounded experience.
Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the same team behind Fallout New Vegas, Grounded is guaranteed to make you laugh, scream, and maybe even cry along the way. Just stay away from those damn spider.
Grounded is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
So there you have it, our list of the best co-op games you can play right now. If (for some ludicrous reason) none of these games take your fancy, here are all the new PS5 games and new Xbox games coming soon instead.
If you’re hoping to hop into couch co-op, then you’re going to want to make sure you have enough of the best PS5 controllers, best Switch controllers, or best Xbox controllers to go around. We can’t be having anyone miss out on the fun, after all.
#coop #games #console
