In the modern world of multiplayer gaming, there can never be enough players allowed to get together to play a game in online co-op. From massively multiplayer games to more intimate lobbies with just friends, there are a lot of ways to experience games today alongside other people.

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The Best Local Co-Op Games on Steam (Couch & Split-Screen Included)

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While three or four players might be a more common number to play together, there are a lot of games today that will support lobbies of a much larger size. It can be difficult to choose what type of game will be good for everybody to play together, but there are some marvelous options available that can include anybody, from veteran gamers to relative newcomers.

We are primarily focusing on PvE games.

Updated on January 13, 2026, by Mark Sammut: Co-op games are relatively plentiful, but they tend to target either 2 or 4 players. While they might be rare, some projects shine with larger groups, and we have added two more examples: Tribes of Midgard and Barotrauma.

18 Jackbox Party Pack

Various Games For Many Players All In One

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The Jackbox Party Pack
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8 /10
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Released
November 26, 2014
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DIGITAL
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Developer(s)
Jackbox Games
Genre(s)
Party Game

The Jackbox Party Pack is a fascinating series of games, all of which are easily played among either a group of friends or an entire chat's worth of Twitch viewers. These games are hilarious fun, and their variation with five games in each pack means that players aren't likely to get bored as quickly as they might with some other party games.

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Games like Quiplash, Trivia Murder Party, and Talking Points have helped turn Jackbox into a major hit among larger groups of gamers looking for something fun for an evening. This is the perfect answer to a group that features a mix of veteran gamers and more casual players.

17 Pico Park

A Wonderfully Chaotic Puzzle Game For Whole Groups

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Pico Park
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Puzzle
Platformer
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Systems
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Released
May 7, 2021
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DIGITAL
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Developer(s)
Tecopark
Platform(s)
PC, Switch
Genre(s)
Puzzle, Platformer

Pico Park is one of the most unusual co-op games ever released. Supporting up to ten players in a single game, this puzzle title lets players work together as a larger group to try and find a key that will allow them to unlock the door at the end of the stage, permitting them to move on.

Pico Park comes with a huge variety of levels and game modes, making it a great party game for larger groups to play. The standard world mode comes with 48 different levels split into 12 different styles, while players can also play together locally or in battle/endless modes.

Pico Park 2 is just as good as the first.

16 Project Zomboid

Fantastic And Challenging Open-World Zombie Survival

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PROJECT ZOMBOID
Project Zomboid
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Released
November 8, 2013
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DIGITAL
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Developer(s)
The Indie Stone
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

Although there are a lot of survival games and zombie survival games, few allow so many players to come together and work to loot, build, and survive. Project Zomboid is special for this, and players have been hugely enjoying the isometric open-world aspect. Not just this, but also the many different elements of survival within this game, and, of course, the co-op aspect.

Being able to work alongside so many friends to try and survive the onslaught makes for a charming but dangerous time. Players get to live the simple life at times, crafting and fishing, and other times they have to grab loot where they can in deadly areas and try to take on hordes of zombies. The blend of simple base-building and tension-filled moments makes for a great experience alongside large groups of friends.

15 Valheim

Norse Survival Made Easier With Friends

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Valheim
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Released
February 2, 2021
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Developer(s)
Iron Gate AB
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Genre(s)
Sandbox, Survival

Valheim can be incredibly difficult to get to grips with and to make progress in. This is definitely one of the more grind-filled survival games, set in a procedurally generated world that is inspired by Norse Mythology. That said, Valheim is still exciting, even if it takes a lot of work to move forward; fortunately, the process becomes a lot easier with friends along for the ride.

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There are a lot of excellent things to do in Valheim. Fights to be fought and builds to be created, but the most glaring thing that stands out to fans is the brutality. Valheim truly is a game that is great alone, but greatly improved with friends coming along for the ride.

14 Human Fall Flat

A Floating Dreamscape Party Platformer

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Human Fall Flat
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Released
July 22, 2016
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Developer(s)
No Brakes Games
OpenCritic Rating
Fair
Genre(s)
Platformer, Puzzle

One of the best party games for a group of gamers ever seen, Human Fall Flat is a physics platformer that can be played by up to eight people online. It encourages players to work together to try and navigate puzzles and levels, many of which can be solved in a variety of different ways.

The fun in Human Fall Flat is the completely ridiculous physics and the openness of the levels, allowing players to find their own solutions creatively. Working together in a larger group makes the game even more fun, making this a perfect single-evening experience for a party of six.

13 Barotrauma

Work Together To Survive Or Sink To The Bottom Of An Alien Ocean

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Barotrauma
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Released
March 13, 2023
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DIGITAL
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Developer(s)
Undertow Games, FakeFish Games
Genre(s)
RPG, Survival
Platform(s)
PC

Now, here is a co-op game that is not for the faint of heart. Barotrauma tasks your crew with managing a submarine, with each person being assigned a role that comes with specialized assignments. Depending on the chosen mode, you might have a specific goal like finding the Eye of Europe or be able to just explore without any specific objectives. Either way, you will likely be in for a tough time, as the game demands that everybody pulls their weight, and failure to do so transforms that person into an anchor.

Although supporting up to 16 players, Barotrauma has a wide range of submarines that are designed around different group sizes, with the intermediate ones being suitable for 6 players. In fact, the game has 6 roles, so this group size is pretty much perfect. If you have fewer players, some people will have to take on multiple roles, which can actually make things easier as playthroughs tend to get harder as you expand your crew.

12 Killing Floor 2

A Great Retro-Styled Co-Operative Shooter

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Killing Floor 2
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Released
November 18, 2016
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DIGITAL
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Platform(s)
PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
OpenCritic Rating
Strong
Genre(s)
FPS, Survival Horror

Another FPS game that is perfect for a group of six players, Killing Floor 2, was released in 2016. Set in a world overtaken by military clones that have spread across Europe following the events of the first game, Killing Floor 2 allows up to six players to work together in the campaign against hordes of zombie-like creatures, making it one of the best co-op zombie games on the market.

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These co-op experiences are going to be vastly different depending on whether your friends are a serious bunch or a group of trolls.

Though there was some criticism leveled at the plot, the actual gameplay has been much praised, making Killing Floor 2 another perfect party game for a group of players looking to relax and turn off their brains. Players can work together to try and survive each mission or compete for the most kills and points.

Killing Floor 3 is worth a shot as well, even if it is rough around the edges in places.

11 Terraria

Base-Building & Sandbox Action With Large Groups

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Terraria
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7 /10
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Released
May 16, 2011
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Developer(s)
Re-Logic
OpenCritic Rating
Strong
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure, Sandbox

Another game that allows a large group of players to enter a single world, Terraria has often been cited as having similarities to Minecraft, but in two dimensions. There are a lot of things that make Terraria unique, though, including the intricacy of the crafting system.

This can be an overwhelming game to get into initially, but with a few friends along for the ride, Terraria is much easier to get to grips with quickly. As of version 1.4, up to 16 players can join a single server, making this a perfect cooperative experience with a lot of replayability for six players or more.

10 Tribes of Midgard

The Co-Op Saga

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Tribes Of Midgard
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6 /10
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Released
July 27, 2021
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Developer(s)
Norsfell Games
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Tribes of Midgard is somewhat polarizing, but it warrants a mention as it can really hit the mark with certain groups. An action RPG that also focuses on survival and crafting, the game features two modes: Saga and Survival. The latter challenges you to survive for as long as possible, which is not actually all that difficult; meanwhile, the former revolves around beating a boss before an endless night falls that makes it impossible to leave your base. Both modes allow for standalone runs, and they are fairly different from each other.

Although the gameplay loop can get repetitive, Tribes of Midgard works way better in co-op than solo. The game has 10 classes, so everyone can pick one that suits their gameplay style. Although billed as an action RPG, Tribes of Midgard facilitates other playstyles as well, so not everyone in the party has to focus on hacking and slashing their way through a campaign. Want to focus on base building? Then you can do thatr.

9 Minecraft

The Ultimate Co-Op Game For All Adventures

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Minecraft
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Released
November 18, 2011
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Developer(s)
Mojang
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Genre(s)
Sandbox, Survival

One of the greatest games of all time, Minecraft, has proven its popularity many times over the last decade by retaining player numbers almost unheard of over a lengthy time. Minecraft offers gamers many ways to play, and a group of friends can come together in an online server or Java realm to do anything from creative builds to attempting to defeat the Ender Dragon together.

The wide range of capabilities available in Minecraft means that players can potentially keep engaging together in new projects endlessly. With such an active modding community and so many great multiplayer servers to try out, Minecraft is the ultimate party game for larger groups of six to ten or even smaller groups of friends.