10 best co-op games to play with friends in 2023

The best co-op games are an amazing experience for gaming fans. While there’s always something wonderful about losing yourself in a solo adventure, co-op gaming certainly has its perks. It’s an opportunity to enjoy a laugh with friends, bond with your other half, and take on some hardcore missions and challenges that you can’t handle alone.

Not only can you make some great memories with a good co-op game, but you can learn new skills, unlock new achievements, and even discover some amazing titles in the process. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the exceptional cooperative games the market has to offer, designed specifically for you and your loved ones.

For the purpose of this list, we’re focusing on cooperative games you can play with people you know rather than online multiplayer titles. Let’s dive in.

1. Don’t starve together

A cult classic game for PC gaming fans, Don’t Starve is one of the most popular titles on Steam with a ton of mods for community gamers to check out. When “Don’t For Together” was introduced, it unlocked a whole new world of adventure that you could enjoy together with friends. The game is very similar to the solo option, with a hugely expansive and randomly generated map to explore.

You choose a character to play at the start of the game and each has its own unique traits and characteristics. Some can stay sober longer, while others have their own ability to grow a beard (trust us, it comes in handy). Throughout the game, you and your friends will find resources, collect trinkets and fight monsters. Additionally, you are constantly on the lookout for food to ensure you don’t suffer from pesky hunger pangs.

The title is a bit challenging to start with, but it’s worth learning, once you get the hang of it, you’ll have hours of gaming fun!

2. Sea of ​​Thieves

One of the most popular nautical-themed games out there, Sea of ​​Thieves is all about exploring, looting, and collecting treasure across various lands. At the beginning of the game, you are assigned your own ship that you can navigate across the ocean, completing deliveries and tasks while interacting with various threats.

There are other players to deal with in Sea of ​​Thieves, which can lead to battles or partnerships depending on how you play the game. You can assign different tasks to members of your team on your ship and work together to come up with a plan to find more loot. Of course, you’ll probably spend a lot of time wrecking, but that’s only part of a pirate’s life.

There’s always something new in this game, so you can play for hours on those much-needed game nights without getting bored.

3. Rainbow Six Siege

It’s hard to have a list about the best co-op games without giving Rainbow Six some love. The game is known for its co-op modes like Terrorist Hunt, which is great fun for all types of players. You can also engage in tactical PvP battles if you want something a little different.

In the Terrorist Hunt version of the game, your task is to clear your level of terrorists as quickly as possible, using traps and skill to coordinate with your other squad mates. This is a game that requires a fair amount of strategy and skill, so don’t expect guns blazing. However, once you get the hang of the gameplay, you will increase the difficulty as much as possible to give you a fresh challenge every time.

There’s something deeply satisfying about getting to the point with your friends where you can sweep every map like a professional SWAT team.

4. Overcooked 2

Filled with fun, deceptively simple and charming elements, Overcooked 2 is a beautiful game to play with your partner or your friends. Ideally, you will have more than one person to add to this game because you want as many people on deck as possible. In this title, you play in different environments, cooking meals of different levels of complexity.

The challenge of this game is that it gets more complicated as you go along, moving parts that make it impossible to access certain resources at certain times and maintaining a series of different orders. Sitting around waiting for food to cook while your orders pile up can be tiring, but if you keep at it, you’ll love the pay.

The cooperative aspect of this game is essential as you need to have different players managing certain areas to make sure you can complete everything from cooking, cleaning and chopping vegetables.

5. Boundaries 3

One of the most popular game franchises of all time, Borderlands is always the most fun when you play it with friends. Although the title can be played solo, it’s best to take on bosses and match the loot with your loved ones. Plus, you can laugh together about hilarious storylines and characters.

Borderlands lets you choose from a range of 3 different characters, each with their own unique skills. As you progress through the game you’ll be able to put skill points into different trees, giving you a wider range of talents. However, the most fun part of the game is finding wacky weapons to use.

The best thing about Borderlands 3 compared to other options in the series is that you don’t fight your opponents with guns. Everyone gets their own pile of weapons after defeating an enemy, so there’s no need to share.

6. It takes two

One of the most popular cooperative games to ever emerge on the PC landscape, It Takes Two follows the story of a married couple planning a divorce. Their youngest daughter, of course, has other plans and decides to hide in the shed, playing with her toys assigned to her mother and father roles. The dolls will magically transform into the parents of the children when you and your friend start playing the game.

In pairs, you must work together to complete a wide range of different challenges and games. It’s a fun and lighthearted adventure platform where each level presents new challenges. You’ll also learn many different game mechanics along the way.

It Takes Two is a wonderful insight into what cooperative gaming is all about. The plot is fun and the adventure spans a range of different genres.

7. Phasmophobia

Playing horror games alone can be a terrifying experience, but playing them with friends is a recipe for laughter and memories. Fast becoming a cult classic among gamers, Phasmophobia allows groups of four players to hunt ghosts and investigate their habits. You get into a van with your friends, explore different locations and try to find out which scary creature is causing trouble before they murder you and your friends.

This is a great game for cooperative play as you need to negotiate with your friends and assign different tasks to each person as you work. You must work together to lure the spirit in question to the right place and perform a proper exorcism ritual. However, most of the time, someone gets killed along the way.

The great thing about this game is how varied it is, there are so many different situations, souls and spaces to explore.

8. Cup head

Designed for gamers who aren’t afraid of a challenge, in 2017 Cuphead surprised the world with its unique art style. Since then, the game continues to be a huge hit among many gaming groups. The story really gets you moving in the action as you play as Cuphead or Mugman to face various challenging bosses including the Devil.

Each level in Cuphead offers a new challenge and a new style of gameplay to get used to. You’ll need to purchase some add-ons and weapons to help you along the way, as well as learn how to dodge attacks and keep each other alive during tough battles.

Although Cuphead is definitely not an easy game for beginners, it is a great choice for those who want to work on their gaming skills. Plus, you get a great sense of accomplishment when you finish it.

9. Brophors

A hugely popular game about guns and side-scrolling action, Broforce is ideal for those looking to recreate some of their retro gaming adventures. This title feels a lot like the old Metal Slug games. You are responsible for managing some of the most popular action hero characters in history with their own unique names like “Rambro”.

Each “bro” you play as has their own signature weapon and special ability they can use from time to time. To unlock new characters, you have to play the entire game breaking open prisoner cages. The game has many unique and action-packed levels where you have to take on challenging bosses.

It is one of the best co-op games to play on PC because it is full of humor and gives you many different ways to play.

10. Portal 2

An absolute classic of the co-op game, Portal 2 is excellent for gamers who like to work together. If you love the Portal series, you’re going to adore the Portal 2 co-op experience. While this game also has a single-player mode, the co-op option is a lot of fun, with lots of different levels to explore, each with varying degrees of difficulty.

Portal 2’s co-op campaign might not be the longest on this list, depending on how skilled you are at solving puzzles, but it’s still a great title. You have to work with your friends to figure out how each puzzle works. Additionally, you’ll also need to use your portal guns cooperatively, as each of you will have to put them to work to get past challenges.

At the end of each level, you can high five your friend and even play Rock Paper Scissors together. It’s a fascinating title with endless treats to discover.

Finding the best co-op games

There are plenty of excellent co-op games out there to choose from if you feel like enjoying a slightly more social gaming experience. The top 10 list above is just a few of our favorites. However, there are many other great options to consider such as Minecraft, Terraria, Keep Talking and Nobody Exploding – the list is endless.

Did we miss your favorite collaborative title? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

If you’re a mobile game fan, don’t forget to check out our best Android games and best iOS games!