Is Couch Co-Op Back? The 12 Best Co-Op Games in Recent Years

The recent success of Split Fiction has everyone talking about co-op games. Combining characters, changing genres and mixing storylines gives everyone an experience they might otherwise miss with traditional single-player platforms. Scratch the same itch with the best co-op games across consoles from recent years. 

1. It Takes Two

Anyone looking for action, adventure and a great story should play It Takes Two with their partner. The immersive game won Game of the Year in 2021 for the same developer that made Split Fiction. If you can’t get enough of the fast-paced, creative game, you’ll love the game that put Split Fiction on the map.

It Takes Two has high-quality writing, graphics and beloved fan reception. You’ll play two parents on the brink of divorce, forced to survive by a magic romance book that turns them into toys. The levels are beginner-friendly and gradually refine your skills, making it one of the best couch co-op games for video game fans and newbies.

2. Elden Ring Nightreign

Although you can technically play Elden Ring Nightreign alone, the real way to enjoy it is with two other players. You’ll explore more of the challenging Elden Ring universe as Nightfarers, tasked to defeat the Nightlords through expedition runs. Prepare to attack your fellow players to bring them back to life during tough battles that reap equal rewards.

3. Untitled Goose Game

You’ll love Untitled Goose Game if you want a cozy, laid-back gaming experience with someone. Both players become geese that wander around maps and cause chaos to earn achievements. Whether you’re frustrating a local gardener or pranking store owners, you’ll have plenty of laughs.

Untitled Goose Game is easily one of the best co-op games on the PS5, but you can also experience it on your PC, Nintendo Switch or Xbox. If you’re finding other video games hard to afford in recent months, you’ll enjoy the budget-friendly pricing for Untitled Goose Game across platforms.

4. V Rising

Vampire horror has entertained people for centuries, so it’s no surprise that gamers have been loving V Rising. The vampire-themed game is an open-world adventure where you have to hunt for blood, fight other players and develop your powers. Sit back with friends to play it on Steam or join them online if your friends don’t live close enough to visit in person.

5. Deep Rock Galactic

If you’re counting the days until you can play first-person shooter games like Borderlands 4, try Deep Rock Galactic. The game also has a first-person shooter premise, but you and your friends will battle as space dwarves for a mining company. You’ll rely on each other to survive, as each dwarf class has one essential skill. Upgrade your weapons, fight aliens and extract resources from procedurally generated cave maps that change every time you play.

6. Void Crew

Have a big friend group? You can play Void Crew with up to six people. Explore the galaxy with your team while maintaining a spaceship that always needs repairs. You’ll even get to steal resources from other abandoned ships when you’re not fighting them or aliens built into the storyline. The action adventure game is fun and easy for people with any video game skill set.

7. Overcooked! 2

Overcooked! 2 might be one of the best co-op Switch games ever. The cozy aesthetic pulls people in, but you’ll stay for the frustrating levels that force you to learn communication skills under pressure. Prepare meals while dodging moving obstacles in kitchens that change with each level. The game won’t even drain your Switch battery because it’s easy to run. If your friends don’t have Switches, you can play it on PS5, PC, Mac and Xbox.

8. Ready or Not

You’ll love Ready or Not if you want to play a first-person shooter game with friends that takes place in the modern world. Your team becomes a police tactical unit that takes down terrorists and criminals with a wide variety of weapons. The realistic scenarios aren’t even the most popular thing about the game. Every enemy has an AI program that reacts to your specific choices, rather than a storyline or preprogrammed responses.

9. Nobody Saves the World

Calling all dungeon crawler fans — Nobody Saves the World might become your next favorite thing to play during game nights. Once your character wakes up, you have to rebuild their memories, skills and even their clothes. Every change adds or takes away character skills. Invite a friend to tackle quests tailored to your current skill sets. The changing levels are one reason Nobody Saves the World is one of the best co-op games to play while waiting for September’s NBA 2k26 or GTA 6.

10. Baldur’s Gate 3

If your friends have ever said they’d get into Dungeons and Dragons if it were a video game, you should introduce them to Baldur’s Gate 3. The party-based role-playing game is set in the same world, but has a detailed storyline and characters that went viral when it debuted. Explore realms while participating in turn-based combat as you race to beat the Mind Flayers.

11. Lethal Company

Lethal Company is among the best co-op horror games because you never know what to expect, even after playing it for hours. You and your friends will travel to abandoned planets and collect scrap items for your employer, but unseen creatures wait to kill you within each map.

People have bought 16.5 million copies of the game so far because it’s a horror game that won’t fail to make you cackle. Use the proximity chat to stay in touch while exploring in the dark. As each of you slowly dies off, you won’t know who’s left until you finish the day or lose to a monster yourself. Mods await if you want to change yourself or the enemies into characters from other games, like the Five Nights at Freddy’s suits.

12. Peak

Combine the intense atmosphere of Overcooked! 2 with heights, and you get Peak. The widely beloved game challenges teams to climb a mountain and escape the island where they’re trapped. As you work together to reach the top, anyone’s mistake can make everyone tumble.

The questionable food, injuries and obstacles challenge even the best gamers. Peak is easily one of the best couch co-op games for anyone with a PC laptop. Invite up to four friends to join your mountain climbing expeditions.

Have Fun Playing Games With Friends

Learning about the best co-op games will give you more opportunities to laugh with friends, family or your partner. Consider their gaming skills and the genres they prefer to pick an option that entertains everyone. You’ll have an incredible time regardless of the leading games you choose.