Summary
- 4-player co-op games are popular, with numerous titles ensuring an engaging experience with friends.
- Games like The First Descendant, Phasmophobia, and Sons of the Forest offer thrilling co-op experiences.
- Titles like ARK, Minecraft, Divinity: Original Sin 2, and Baldur's Gate 3 provide fun, engaging multiplayer experiences.
Multiplayer games are among the most fun types of titles that gamers can get into, whether it be within a competitive multiplayer experience or a co-op campaign. 2-player co-op games have also been on the rise, with It Takes Two and A Way Out taking over the couch co-op market.
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Xbox Game Pass features a trove of multiplayer titles, both competitive and co-op. These are the best of them.
But, from what old-school gamers might remember, 4-player co-op games are a blast. There are plenty of 4-player cooperation video games out there that gamers and friends can jump into for an incredible experience. This is true whether it's couch co-op or through online services. Even some older titles remain relevant today with 4-player co-op.
Updated April 5, 2025 by Mara Cowley: Co-op games are among the most fun and popular titles on the market, as they allow players to gather a few friends and delve into some chaotic team-oriented fun together. From horror games to platformers to RPGs, co-op games cover a wide variety of genres, ensuring there is something for every group of friends to enjoy.
By far, 4-player co-op games seem to be among the most popular types of co-op games, with hundreds available on the market and more sure to come. While this article covered a great many entries for groups of friends to try, it has been given an update to include more of the best 4 player co-op games on the market.
1 Shadow Warrior 2
Experience Wang's Story With Up To 3 Friends
Shadow Warrior 2
- Released
- October 13, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Nudity, Drug Reference, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Flying Wild Hog
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Many multiplayer games have very little or even no story at all, as the main focus is on creating fun gameplay for all the players. But sometimes, gamers want a story they can immerse themselves in, even when playing with friends. Enter Shadow Warrior 2, a game that lets 4 players share in Wang's story, and his struggle against demons.
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Working under orders from the Yakuza, Wang finds himself as the hero for Kamiko, who was kidnapped by Zilla, and subsequently injected with a mysterious substance. Her soul is then transferred into his body until a cure is found, a quest that will take him to many different locations and confront dangerous enemies. The gameplay is fun enough, with fast-paced hack-and-slash antics sure to keep everyone entertained.
2 7 Days To Die
Friends Can See How They Would Fare In A Zombie Apocalypse
7 Days to Die
- Released
- June 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- The Fun Pimps
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Platform(s)
- Linux, macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Most likely, every friend group has already discussed it at one point or another - if and how they would survive a zombie apocalypse if it were indeed to happen. If they want to put it to the test, they can always try their hands at multiplayer zombie games, such as 7 Days to Die.
In this game, players are tasked with surviving dangers such as the zombies, of course, but also making sure their character is fed and watered enough, as it takes a more realistic approach to the survival elements. While this may not be for everyone, these hardcore survival challenges are perfect for those who want more realism from these types of games, and they are a great way for immersing gamers into the world.
3 R.E.P.O.
The Most Hilarious Meet The Quota Game
R.E.P.O.
- Released
- February 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Though Lethal Company pioneered the quota-meeting game genre, games such as R.E.P.O. Borrowed the formula and made it their own, putting their unique spin on things. Playing as adorable robot avatars, players need to find enough valuables, transport them to an extraction point, and then safely extract themselves.
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It sounds simple in theory, but then, enter the monsters. There is a variety of creatures players can encounter that will not only try to kill the player, but any loot they might be carting around with them. It results in a lot of hilarious mayhem and antics, stressful but addictingly fun at the same time. So, if players feel like they have seen all Lethal Compan y has to offer, consider giving R.E.P.O. A try. They sure won't regret it.
4 The First Descendant
Fight For Humanity's Survival
The First Descendant
- Released
- July 2, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nexon Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Third-Person Shooter
What's better than a fun looter shooter that gamers can enjoy with their friends? One that is free, and this is a succinct way to describe The First Descendant. Players will have their choice from a roster of characters, all with their unique design in terms of visuals and gameplay, creating a dynamic experience that never grows stale. The ability to play with 3 friends makes this game even more fun, so players can be assured that they can spend plenty of hours here.
With thrilling boss fights, stunning visuals, fun gameplay, and the spoils of victory waiting to be looted, there isn't much more players could want from a game.
5 Phasmophobia
Diagnose The Haunting Or Join The Legion Of The Undead
Phasmophobia
- Released
- October 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Kinetic Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Puzzle
Facing ghosts alone can be terrifying, and in Phasmophobia, it is still terrifying even with friends. Here, players assume the role of a group of underpaid paranormal investigators who must travel to the reportedly haunted locations and use the tools at their disposal to discover what entity haunts the premises. It comes at a risk, however, as the ghosts can be hostile and may kill whoever investigator is unlucky enough to be on their path.
Phasmophobia has received many updates since its release, expanding the roster of ghosts, and what players can use during their investigation. Each of the ghosts is terrifying in their own way, and when they enter hunt mode, they only grow even more fearsome.
6 Sons Of The Forest
Work Together To Survive The Dangers Of The Island
Sons of the Forest
- Released
- February 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Endnight Games
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World, Survival Horror
It would seem that the lessons from The Forest were not learned, as a team dispatched to a deserted island known as Site 2 crash down on the island after their helicopter is shot out of the sky. Now, they must learn how to survive on the island using resources to create shelter, stave off dehydration and hunger, and contend with the dangerous cannibals that call this island home.
But gamers don't need to brave the dangers alone, as they can bring their friends to the island with them to join in their struggle for survival. From exploration and combat to crafting, there is so much that players can do in Sons of the Forest, guaranteeing that the game won't grow stale any time soon.
7 Sea Of Thieves
A Thrilling Pirate Adventure
Sea of Thieves
- Released
- March 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rare
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Sea of Thieves is right up there with Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag as one of the best pirate games out there. In Sea of Thieves, gamers will become pirates (who are customizable) and sail the oceans while taking on various quests called "voyages." The game offers an incredible pirating simulator of sorts, where players need to be dedicated to sailing correctly (lowering/raising masts, setting sailing angles, repairing the ship, etc.) And looting various islands of treasure.
Up to four players can be grouped on a crew, which allows them to use the largest ship (Galleon). With so many stories and quests to check out in Sea of Thieves, fans should expect to sink hours into the ultimate pirating game.
8 Outlast Trials
Survive Or Die Together
The Outlast Trials
- Released
- May 18, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Red Barrels
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
For friends who want a truly frightening experience, they should try their luck in the trials that take part in the Outlast universe, which introduces a co-op game to the terrifying and popular survival game franchise.
And survival is the name of the game here, as players will be tasked to embark on missions in places that are rife with danger and inhabited by all manner of scary and hostile people that will kill the gamer as soon as they look at them. By working together, players can further their chances of survival; going it alone is not an option.
9 Helldivers 2
Enjoy Excellent And Exciting Gun-Play
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
For fans of shooters, Helldivers 2 is the game for them. Set an entire century after the rising of Super Earth, the insect creatures known as Terminids stored on human-managed farms have managed to escape and are now wreaking havoc. But as if that wasn't enough of an issue, humans also need to contend with a machine uprising that is intent on wiping mankind off the face of the universe.
In Helldivers 2, players will need to stock up and call on their friends to be their reinforcements as they take on the dangerous, adrenaline-pumping task of kicking bug and automaton backside.
10 Content Warning
Make Scary Memories With Friends
Content Warning
- Released
- April 1, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Content Warning is a fun 4-player co-op game in which players hunt down spooky occurrences with a video camera in hand to film said scary encounters, even if it costs them their very lives, in an attempt to go viral in the very competitive world of content creation.
Content Warning: Scariest Monsters, Ranked
Despite its amusing antics, Content Warning is still a horror game, as these terrifying monsters remind players.
There are a number of terrifying entities that gamers have a chance of coming across, so players who want to hunt them all down will have their work cut out for them. One of the best elements of this game is that players can watch back their own recording, complete with their own commentary at the end of a round, which will result in very hilarious game clips they can relive together.