Best co-op games – our top picks of games to play with friends and family
Whether it's couch co-op, an intimate online affair, or a manic free-for-all where anything goes, our roundup of the best co-op games will have something for everyone.
If you're acquainted with the Mario Party series, you'll be familiar with the absolute chaos a multiplayer session can unleash. It's an unapologetic mess of betrayal, rivalries, backstabbing, and lifelong grudges that only seem to exist during game time. As a developer, you know you've struck gold when your own co-op titles result in just as much pandemonium.
So, naturally, our best co-op games list includes picks that will elicit the same twisted camaraderie; although arguably, that's more representative of the personalities of the people playing than the games themselves in some cases. We've got something for everyone as well as all platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, and even the Meta Quest.
You can also find some of the titles on subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus, but bear in mind that games rotate in and out of the service and can be restricted to certain tiers depending on which you're a member of. The whole Mirror Gaming team has chipped in with their picks for best co-op games, and you can find gameplay for some of them over on the Mirror Gaming YouTube channel. Just be warned – in some of them, things get ugly!
Party Animals
The Mirror Gaming team has streamed Party Animals together a few times and it's a miracle no one's been fired (Recreate Games)Party Animals is the second coming of Mario Party. It’s a game that will destroy friendships, relationships, and any other ships available to you. But most of all it’s a super fun party game that will have you throwing punches and expletives at your friends as you battle to become king of the jungle.
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Taking Gang Beasts and crossing it with adorable animal mascots leads to some of the most engaging multiplayer battles I’ve played, putting the likes of Call of Duty and Street Fighter 6 to shame with how intense it gets. The game is available on Xbox Game Pass now, so there’s never been a better time to do battle with your best pals.
Party Animals is available on Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass.
It Takes Two
It Takes Two is the perfect game for a couple or friendly duo (Hazelight Studios)Most games offer co-op as an optional extra for a game that can be played in single-player. But It Takes Two lives up to its name as you can’t play it without two people. It Takes Two places you and your partner in the shoes of a married couple on the brink of divorce, who have been shrunk into tiny dolls. You’ll need to navigate your house and garden on a grand adventure to get back to normal.
While the story is a bit hit-or-miss at times, It Takes Two is a fantastic co-op game. Each new area introduces you to new mechanics at a breakneck pace, so the ten hours it takes to complete the game will fly by. Plus, each character has a different task, giving you a good reason to replay it for a somewhat different experience. It Takes Two was included as part of the PS Plus Extra July 2023 lineup, and as long as it's in rotation, you can access it as part of the PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium tiers. So there’s never been a better time to jump in and fix your marriage.
It Takes Two is available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Game Pass, PS Plus (at the time of writing), and EA Play.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is available on console as well as the Meta Quest range of VR headsets (Sega)Samba de Amigo: Party Central marks the return of Sega’s maracas-based rhythm game starring a monkey that’s equal parts adorable and scary. 15 years after the Wii version, Samba De Amigo: Party Central brings the series to the Nintendo Switch and it’s still as fun as it was back when the Dreamcast original dropped.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central allows you to play through the entire tracklist including bangers from the likes of Rina Sawayama and Carly Rae Jepsen, as well as some classic Sega tracks like Sonic Adventure 2’s Escape From The City, and Like a Dragon karaoke classic, Baka Mitai.
The game also features World Party mode which is a rhythm-based battle royale. Up to 20 players battle it out over three songs to be the best party animal, with the players who lag behind being eliminated. Overall, Samba De Amigo: Party Central is one of the best multiplayer rhythm games since Rock Band.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is available on Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade, and Meta Quest.
Diablo 4
Diablo 4 supports two-player couch co-op and four players online (Activision Blizzard)Just when you thought Activision Blizzard’s trademark dungeon crawler couldn’t get more hellishly addictive, Diablo 4 arrives with a grittier, darker tone – and even more loot to pursue. It’s made all the better when played with a friend in local couch co-op, especially since all the action takes place on a single screen and you can take advantage of two distinct character classes at once while laying waste to the hellish hordes. There are five Diablo 4 classes to choose from in total, each being wildly unique, allowing you and a buddy to synergize your Active Skills accordingly.
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Diablo 4 might only support up to two players locally, but it’s still easy to fall into the loop of slaying, looting, and upgrading. There’s no competitive element to Diablo co-op either; it’s all about working as a pair to ensure you don’t get overwhelmed as your character class grows bigger, stronger and more powerful.
Diablo 4 is available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Spacelines from the Far Out
Spaceline from the Far Out is as stressful as it is fun – which is a lot! (Coffeenauts)Spacelines from the Far Out is a co-op management game where you and your buddies run an outer space shuttle service, taking passengers between planets and ensuring they have a safe and pleasant journey – and making that bag in the process. In this hectic Overcooked style game, you have to work with your teammates to fly the ship and make sure all of the components are running smoothly; all while serving your passengers their food and drink, unclogging toilets, and providing in-flight entertainment.
You can spend your hard-earned money on ship customisation and upgrades to make your flights easier, or more chaotic. The overwhelming nature of the game will lead to screaming, pointing fingers, and a whole load of talking over the top of each other. So if you’re ready to sever ties with some of your closest friends, then this might be the game for you.
Spacelines from the Far Out is available on PC and Xbox.
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