Summary
- The 2020s saw the rise of exceptional co-op games, showcasing unique gameplay experiences that require teamwork and coordination.
- Titles like "It Takes Two" and "Spiritfarer" offer emotionally resonant and rewarding cooperative experiences.
- Co-op games like "Lethal Company" and "Helldivers 2" introduce new genres and bring intense action, humor, and challenges to players.
The 2020s have brought with them some of the best games of all time, and the co-op genre holds plenty of titles that broke new ground and demonstrated a new level of excellence in the world of gaming. This decade has brought new IPs and sequels for players of all kinds to enjoy, showing once again that video games have the power to bring people together unlike anything else.
Over the past few years, players have been spoiled for choice in terms of games to play together. Some offer complex puzzles and intricate levels full of teamwork, while others offer more action-oriented experiences that still require plenty of coordination to get through. In any case, it is clear that co-op games aren't going anywhere and that the future is as bright as it has ever been.
Best Co-Op Games On Steam To Play Right Now
From online multiplayer titles to local masterpieces, Steam has plenty of fantastic co-op games that cover a wide spectrum of genres.
7 Escape Simulator
Brain-Teasing Puzzles For Hours On End
Escape Simulator
- Released
- October 19, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Adventure, Simulation, Indie Games
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows, macOS
Escape Simulator sees players moving around levels, both by the developers and the community, solving puzzles and figuring out the various tricks that each room holds. It is the perfect virtual escape room that tests the patience and out-of-the-box thinking of everyone involved, pushing them to their mental limits at every stage.
What makes the game so entertaining is the simplistic yet deeply intricate solutions. Players can spend hours working through them, all while working together to achieve the same goal. Working with a partner makes the game incredibly entertaining, and when players finally figure out the solution, the feeling is hard to beat.
6 Deep Rock Galactic
Mining, Shooting, And Running Together
Deep Rock Galactic
- Released
- May 13, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ghost Ship Games
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Deep Rock Galactic is the dwarven mining game that the world never knew it needed. Players can jump into a mission as one of several roles, each with their own tools and weaponry. They are tasked with collecting minerals and achieving the level's objective, all while gunning down the gigantic bugs that lurk in the tunnels.
23 Best Story-Driven Games You Can Play In Co-Op
These games are perfect to be played between friends, featuring not just great gameplay but a deep and meaningful story.
The replayability is almost endless, as there are so many build and customization options that players will have a hard time running out of things to unlock and do. The teamwork feels incredibly rewarding too. Every player fits into a specific role within the team that becomes crucial to the success of every mission.
5 Lethal Company
Ushering In A Whole New Genre
Lethal Company
- Released
- October 23, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Lethal Company is a comedic cooperative horror experience that took over the world and brought with it a whole new genre for players to enjoy. In each stage, players enter a gloomy area in search of items to sell, with plenty of supernatural and alien threats that are set on stopping them from escaping.
What makes the game so entertaining is the proximity chat feature, which adds a level of humor to every encounter in what is otherwise a pretty scary game. Hearing a teammate scream in the distance or watching them fall down an endless void makes every run an absolute joy, with just as many laughs as scares for every player involved.
4 It Takes Two
The New Co-op Gold Standard
It Takes Two
- Released
- March 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It Takes Two takes the co-op genre to a whole new high. Everything about the game, from the story to the gameplay to the visuals, is made with love and takes players on a remarkable journey that is as emotional as it is fun. Players work together, traversing trees, towns, and bedrooms, encountering plenty of iconic characters along the way to keep them smiling throughout.
At its heart, it is a journey about love and memories, capturing what it means to be in a relationship and the hardships that go with it. It is the perfect game to play with a partner. With such a low barrier to entry, any player of any age can jump in and play one of the greatest co-op games ever made.
3 Spiritfarer
An Emotional Tale That Is Better Together
Spiritfarer
- Released
- August 18, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Spiritfarer is by no means a traditional co-op game, but beneath the surface, it offers one of the most emotionally resonant and satisfying cooperative experiences out there. In this hand-drawn management sim, one player takes on the role of Stella, a spirit guide ferrying souls to the afterlife. A second player can join in as Daffodil the cat, working together in perfect harmony.
Best Co-Op Open-World Games
Here are a variety of options for the best co-op games that can be experienced in an open world setting.
What sets the game apart is how it transforms co-op into a meaningful, comforting experience. It’s not about high-stakes action or frantic pacing, and is instead about building, bonding, and saying goodbye. Few co-op games allow players to share such a thoughtful narrative at their own pace, making it a standout for those who want a shared experience that’s heartfelt rather than hectic.
2 Helldivers 2
Cinematic Wars In Every Mission
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Helldivers 2 is as close as it gets to a blockbuster movie in the form of a video game. Every match is full of explosions and mayhem from start to finish, and it is hard to find a moment to breathe in the mess of bullets and flying corpses that fill the screen at all times.
Players can jump in with a squad of four and are tasked with completing several tasks across a battlefield full of several enemy types that each bring their own challenges and strategies to the fight. The guns always feel super satisfying, and there is never a dull moment, no matter when or where the players are.
1 Split Fiction
Unbelievable Sequences From Start To Finish
Split Fiction
- Released
- March 6, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Split Fiction is a masterpiece in the gaming space that delivers both heartfelt moments and incredible action sequences, all in the signature Hazelight split-screen that makes their games so iconic. Players leap across skyscrapers, ride on dragons, and transform into monkeys, all while solving puzzles and working together to get to the end.
After each level, players are hotly anticipating what comes next. No matter what ideas they may have in mind, the game will subvert them every single time. It is a generational title that really has to be experienced to fully understand and raises the bar for what cooperative gameplay can and should be in the future.
Best Co-Op Games That Actually Get Harder With More Players, Ranked
These excellent co-op games offer great fun when playing with friends, but they also become a lot harder when adding more players.