The 25 Best Co-Op Games To Play In 2024

[Gamespot]

While there are plenty of games that deliver a terrific single-player experience, the best co-op games can offer unmatched levels of enjoyment. You and some friends can hop on a game together and make memories that would be impossible to have as a solo player. Co-op games also have a wide amount of replayability, as your experiences in one playthrough can be completely different from the next depending on who you're playing with. These types of games are often the industry at its finest, but there are countless co-op games to choose from in 2024.

Below, you'll find our picks for the 25 best co-op games you can play in 2024. This list is in no particular order and highlights games you can easily play with one to several extra people. This is not meant to represent the best of all time, but instead, top co-op games that are widely available to play in the modern day. These are across all platforms, but if you're looking for something more specific, be sure to check out our lists of the best PC games, best Switch games, best PS5 games, and best Xbox games.
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Portal 2​

• Developer: Valve
• Release Date: April 18, 2011
• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Portal 2 is arguably one of the best overall games ever made, and while it can be played solo, it's at its best in co-op. The co-op experience is entirely different from the single-player mode, giving you new puzzles, dialogue, and an entire campaign you can't see by playing alone. The witty banter and hilarious hijinks present in the co-op campaign are worth the low price of entry in 2024, but don't be fooled, as Portal 2 still has some extremely difficult puzzles that can give you and a friend a major headache.

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Minecraft​

• Developer: Mojang Studios
• Release Date: November 18, 2011
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Android, iOS

Minecraft offers a co-op experience like no other game, allowing you and an entire server of players to do whatever you want. Whether that's building a custom town fit to your exact specifications, playing minigames, or creating your own challenges to complete, there are few limits when it comes to Minecraft. You can go anywhere, build anything, and take part in everything the game has to offer with dozens of friends or random strangers. Xbox and PC players can get access to Minecraft on Game Pass.

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It Takes Two​

• Developer: Hazelight Studios
• Release Date: March 25, 2021
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

It Takes Two offers perhaps the purest co-op experience that you'll find in a game in 2024. Only playable in co-op, the award-winning title from Hazelight Studios sees you take control of a girl's doll. Your co-op partner takes control of the other doll, and you must work together to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. Set against the backdrop of a rural house, the dolls are actually the girl's parents, who are about to get divorced. You and your partner are working to ensure the parents stay together, and every trial and tribulation you face is about working in unity. While the story and gameplay are fantastic, there are also dozens of minigames you can play at any point as either one of the dolls.

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Sea of Thieves​

• Developer: Rare
• Release Date: March 20, 2018
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Sea of Thieves was already one of the better co-op titles on the market, but it bolstered its status even more after the recent PS5 release. Now, you can party up with your friends on PS5, or any other available platform, and set sail on the open seas to look for treasure, complete quests, and get into open-water fights with other players. Sea of Thieves is continually receiving content updates in 2024, meaning there's always something new to do for veterans of the game. However, if you're a new player, then you and your friends have hours of content to experience in this open-world sandbox that lets you experience what being a pirate is really like. If you're on Xbox or PC, you can play this on Game Pass.

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Helldivers 2​

• Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios
• Release Date: February 8, 2024
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5

Putting aside the recent controversy between Steam players and Sony, Helldivers 2 continues to be an excellent co-op experience. The game forces you to party up with a squad most of the time, so it's a co-op game even if you don't have any friends to play with. If you and a couple of friends are able to link up together, though, Helldivers 2 becomes one of the most enjoyable and engaging games in recent memory. You and your squad have to work as a unit to complete a set objective on an alien planet and you're able to use a variety of weapons to accomplish that job. Not only that, but your squad's efforts affect the world at large, as the entire Helldivers 2 player base is working to eradicate the hostile forces from each planet. Add in friendly fire that can make for a hilarious, chaotic experience, and it's easy to see why Helldivers is such a great game to play with friends.

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Stardew Valley​

• Developer: Eric Barone
• Release Date: February 26, 2016
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android

Stardew Valley isn't confined to just one genre, as it's part farming simulator, part survival game, and part RPG. It's also a wonderful co-op title, as you and up to three friends can join the same world and experience the entire game together. However, similar to how Minecraft works, you and your friends don't have to be near each other at all times. You can develop your farm, go on adventures to find resources, head into town to meet people, and do whatever else completely solo. Of course, if you want, your friends can also come along and help you out. While Stardew Valley seems like a peaceful, cozy type of game, it can get fairly difficult in certain locations, so you'll want some assistance if possible, and that's where the co-op elements can come into play.

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Valheim​

• Developer: Iron Gate Studio
• Release Date: February 2, 2021
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

One of the best survival games on the market, Valheim sees you wake up on an island after being banished by the Norse god Odin. Like any other survival game, your job from there is to scavenge for resources, build a shelter, and explore the world to find more resources so you can craft higher-tier items. The unique parts of Valheim are the randomly generated map with five distinct biomes, the bosses in each biome, and the striking art direction. All of this blends together for a remarkable experience that you can have with several friends on the same server. Valheim is a much better experience when you have friends to aid you on resource missions or when going up against a boss.

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Baldur's Gate 3​

• Developer: Larian Studios
• Release Date: August 3, 2023
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

In addition to being our 2023 Game of the Year and one of our picks for the best RPGs in 2024, Baldur's Gate 3 also features one of the stronger co-op experiences. BG3 is a massive RPG that lets you take control of a character who's been trapped by a creature known as the Mind Flayer. Though the game's story revolves around this plotline, there are dozens of unique questlines to experience that feature some of the best writing ever seen in a video game. The co-op mode in BG3 is essentially the same as single-player, but your party can now consist of additional player-made characters. You and up to three friends can travel the world together as a party and even control different companions in the party.

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Monster Hunter World​

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: January 26, 2018
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Who wants to fight monsters by themselves? Monster Hunter World is arguably the best game the famed franchise has to offer, and it's fully playable in four-player co-op. You and your party can complete the game as normal, completing quests, defeating monsters, and crafting new gear. Of course, with the added players, your tactics in fighting the world's monsters will change, as you have some added firepower at your disposal. There's no feeling quite like taking down a monster in Monster Hunter, and experiencing that feeling with a group of friends makes it all the better.

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Borderlands 2​

• Developer: Gearbox Software
• Release Date: September 18, 2012
• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4

Revered as one of the best co-op games of its time, Borderlands 2 is still a timeless classic in 2024. While any of the Borderlands games are fully playable in co-op, it's the second mainline entry that gets the spot. Borderlands 2 features an iconic villain and lineup of characters, endless loot to acquire, and a gripping story that leaves you on the edge of your seat up until the very end. Co-op in Borderlands 2 is slightly different from the single-player experience, as there are more enemies to defeat and harder obstacles to overcome.

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Vampire Survivors​

• Developer: Poncle
• Release Date: December 17, 2021
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, iOS, Android

Vampire Survivors starts off slow, but after making some choices in-game, you can be swarmed by thousands of monsters and other enemies on an open battlefield. Your job is to survive using the weapons you have available, but you can also add couch co-op players to help you fend off the swarms following a free update released in 2023. Vampire Survivors is only available in couch co-op, so you can't play with friends on another system, but this mode is absolutely fantastic if you're looking for a family-friendly co-op experience.

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Factorio​

• Developer: Wube Software
• Release Date: August 14, 2020
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch

Factorio is another odd-looking game that allows you to construct and manage facilities to make more and more advanced items. It's a simulation game at heart, but Factorio is surprisingly deep, as you have to design your factories in specific ways based on certain circumstances around you. For example, some enemies are looking to raid your factories, and you have to protect what's yours or risk losing hours of progress. Factorio offers both couch co-op and online co-op, so you can play with whomever you'd like. The co-op experience in Factorio is all about finding places where you can contribute to the growth of the factories in the world, making it a truly team-oriented experience.

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Left 4 Dead 2​

• Developer: Valve
• Release Date: November 17, 2009
• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360

Left 4 Dead 2 is one of the best co-op games of all time and was plenty of players' first foray into co-op gaming. It's a simple zombie apocalypse game on the surface, but as you look deeper, Left 4 Dead 2 is a game that you can get hundreds of hours out of, even in 2024. You and your friends can travel across a map of the Deep South in the United States where you're simply looking to survive against hordes of zombies. On Xbox or PC, the game also added all the maps and characters from the first L4D, making the sequel a hub of all things related to one of the best zombie games ever made. And if you play on PC, there's essentially limitless content thanks to a modding community that stays busy even all these years later.

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Deep Rock Galactic​

• Developer: Ghost Ship Games
• Release Date: February 28, 2018
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Designed around co-op play, Deep Rock Galactic allows you and three other players to take on hordes of aliens across procedurally generated caves. These caves feature fully destructible environments, where you can use strategy or brute force to deal with the enemies that are always surrounding you and your team. The FPS is considered a looter shooter where your party gets to pick specific classes that determine their unique abilities. It's clearly inspired by Borderlands, so if you're a fan of those games, Deep Rock Galactic is not a co-op shooter you and your friends should miss.

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Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga​

• Developer: TT Games
• Release Date: April 5, 2022
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Described as the first-ever open-world Star Wars game, The Skywalker Saga is a massive game and a must-play for any fan of the franchise. Set across all nine films of the Skywalker film saga, the game features over 300 characters and 23 unique planets to explore. You and another player in split-screen co-op can experience everything The Skywalker Saga has to offer, but some planets' maps can get a little clunky when traversing them with another player. Overall, though, the co-op experience is terrific and lets you live out life as a Jedi.

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Destiny 2​

• Developer: Bungie
• Release Date: August 28, 2017
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Destiny 2 is a fully co-op game that you can play with any friend, regardless of what platform they're on. There's plenty on offer to keep you and your friends busy, as you can go through the story quests and participate in raids (the real high point of the game), Dares of Eternity, Gambit, or PvP. There's also new seasonal content and expansions arriving all the time, so you'll always have something new to experience. Destiny 2 is part looter shooter, part RPG in 2024, but it offers enough variety in terms of activities that it can be whatever game you want. Even if you don't have friends to play with, Bungie has introduced more in-game matchmaking options, such as the Fireteam Finder system, allowing you to team up with others to take on the game's most challenging (and rewarding) activities. Best of all, the base game is available for free, letting you get a good taste for what the full experience is like.

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Remnant 2​

• Developer: Gunfire Games
• Release Date: July 25, 2023
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5

If you're looking for a Souls-like experience that you can play in co-op, Remnant 2 is among your best options in 2024. While not as difficult as traditional games in the genre, Remnant 2 is still an incredibly hard game that you and your party will struggle to get through, no matter your skill level. The game sees you fight mobs of enemies and bosses across randomized maps, with an emphasis on ranged combat using guns in third-person. Loot and different paths are present regardless of what your map looks like, and it's often rewarding to go off the beaten path to find a new item. You can use guns and melee weapons alike to defeat your opponents, and you'll likely need to use everything at your disposal to get past some of the game's bosses.

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Grounded​

• Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
• Release Date: July 28, 2020
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Grounded is another survival game that you can experience with up to four players in co-op. You assume the role of a miniature character who has to fight and explore their way through an ordinary suburban backyard. Of course, with you being the size of a grain of sand, everything in the backyard is massive and presents different obstacles. You and your friends can scavenge for items to build a base, discover hidden areas, and fight several enemy types, including ants, spiders, and more. It's available on Game Pass.

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Risk of Rain 2​

• Developer: Hopoo Games
• Release Date: March 28, 2019
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

After you crash land on an alien planet in Risk of Rain 2, your main job is to survive and eventually reach the final boss. During this massive journey, you can encounter dozens of unique enemies, find loot that can be used to create new and powerful items, and master your character's abilities. There are 11 classes available in Risk of Rain 2, meaning your party can consist of four unique characters. Each playthrough of Risk of Rain 2 is made different depending on what class you use, so there's a ton of replayability if you want to see what each class has to offer.

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Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands​

• Developer: Ubisoft Paris
• Release Date: February 3, 2017
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Ghost Recon Wildlands is a true co-op experience that relies on sheer strategy, teamwork, and will. You and three other players can team up to attempt to take down the cartel across a gigantic map. Every situation in Ghost Recon Wildlands calls for a different strategy, and if any one of your team members makes a mistake, it could spell the end for your squad. In addition to playing through the game's story mode, you can also compete against other players in online multiplayer and take part in various multiplayer activities on the map. However, Ghost Recon Wildlands is at its best when you and a squad get together to complete objectives using the power of teamwork.

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A Way Out​

• Developer: Hazelight Studios
• Release Date: March 23, 2018
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4

The same developers who brought us It Takes Two first delivered A Way Out. The two games are extremely similar in that two people assume the role of a different character in split-screen co-op. Both characters are in the same world and controlled independently by either player. The game starts out with both characters in prison, having never met before. However, after some time, the characters meet and devise a plan to escape the prison. What follows is an endearing tale of the two men and how far they'll go to ensure the other survives.

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Palworld​

• Developer: Pocket Pair
• Release Date: January 19, 2024
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Palworld, while taking ideas from another successful franchise, is a blast to play and is only made better by having other players join you. It's essentially a co-op, open-world Pokemon game with survival elements. You and up to three friends can join a world together and go through the entire game as a group. While you're not able to battle your Pals against each other yet, that feature is seemingly coming soon with the Pal Arena. As we wait for that feature, you and your friends can build bases, catch different Pals, and discover a massive map separately or as a group.

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Lethal Company​

• Developer: Zeekerss
• Release Date: October 9, 2023
• Platforms: PC

Lethal Company came out of nowhere in late 2023, skyrocketing to the top of the Steam best-sellers list. The game is a co-op horror FPS that sees you and your party attempt to find resources across different lunar locations. You can then turn around and sell those resources to the company for currency. While the game sounds simple, it's extremely entertaining, as you and your friends can get into all sorts of mischief as you're scavenging the various maps. The horror elements of Lethal Company are solely based around the creatures you can discover, but these encounters can lead to some hilarious moments if you're talking in real-time with your party.

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Phasmophobia​

• Developer: Kinetic Games
• Release Date: September 4, 2020
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5

Now, if you're looking for more of a classic horror game experience, look no further than Phasmophobia. While it does have its funny moments as well, you won't be laughing much as you hunt down ghosts across a wide variety of dark and mysterious locations. You and a team of up to three other players need to work together to find the paranormal activity that's occurring in a location using various equipment. The graphics and sounds in Phasmophobia make for a chilling and psychological experience that you can share with your friends.

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Overcooked 2​

• Developer: Team17
• Release Date: August 7, 2018
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

The final spot on the list goes to Overcooked 2, a cooking simulator that you can experience in couch co-op or online co-op with up to four players. You can play with or against other players to try and achieve the highest score possible in the multiplayer mode. Teamwork is the most important element of Overcooked 2; if one team member doesn't do their job, it can ruin the entire flow of your cooking. This is not a relaxing experience, as the stress and tension can get fairly high, but it's especially fulfilling to complete tasks and see your score improve.

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