The best co-op games in 2026 cover a remarkable range: tight two-player puzzle games you can finish in a weekend, sprawling online RPGs that eat months, and chaotic couch titles that end friendships in the best possible way. We've put hands-on time into every game on this list across PC, Xbox Series X, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2, so the rankings reflect real play rather than press-kit promises. Whether you want cross-platform multiplayer, local split-screen, or a sofa-destroying party game, there's something here for every setup.
How we picked and tested these games
Each game was played for a minimum of five hours in co-op mode, with at least one session involving two or more players simultaneously. We weighted fun-per-hour over raw content volume, paid attention to how forgiving games are for players with different skill levels, and specifically noted cross-platform availability given the increasingly mixed households Australian gamers deal with. Price points are in AUD where confirmed.
The top 35 co-op games right now
1. It Takes Two
It Takes Two remains the gold standard for co-op design. Hazelight Studios built every mechanic around two players working together, and nothing feels recycled. Each chapter swaps gameplay conventions entirely. It's the first game we hand to anyone who asks "what's a good co-op game for someone who doesn't game much?" It includes a free Friend Pass so only one person needs to buy it.
2. Elden Ring: Nightreign
FromSoftware's standalone co-op spin-off launched in 2025 and it's brilliant. Three players drop into condensed Elden Ring maps with a roguelite loop that keeps sessions under two hours. The difficulty is punishing, but failure feels fair. Cross-platform is absent, which stings, but within a single ecosystem it runs flawlessly. On PS5, the haptic feedback during boss fights is genuinely impressive.
3. Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds is the smoothest entry point the series has ever had, and four-player hunts feel like the intended experience. The open-world construction means you're rarely waiting at camp. PC players running a mid-range GPU get a stable 60 fps in co-op sessions. Sessions take roughly 30 minutes per hunt, which suits adult schedules better than the older games.
4. Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 hit a cultural moment in early 2024 and the community is still enormous in 2026. Arrowhead has kept the content updates coming. Four-player squad missions against bugs and automatons still generate the best accidental comedy in gaming. It's on PC and PS5 with cross-play enabled. At around $55 AUD, it punches well above its price.
5. Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic rewards patience with one of the most generous co-op loops ever designed. Four dwarf archetypes, procedurally generated caves, and an astonishing amount of post-launch support from Ghost Ship Games. It's on Xbox Game Pass, PC via Steam, and PS5. "Rock and Stone" is not just a catchphrase. It's a philosophy.
6. Baldur's Gate 3
Co-op in Baldur's Gate 3 is a genuinely different game from the solo experience. Up to four players control their own characters through a fully voiced, consequence-heavy D&D campaign. Sessions need coordination because one player's choices permanently affect everyone's run. On PC, cross-save with PS5 works reliably. Budget a full year to finish a co-op campaign properly.
7. Diablo IV
Diablo IV received the Vessel of Hatred expansion in late 2024 and the new Spiritborn class slots cleanly into co-op party compositions. Up to four players share a map with minimal friction. Blizzard's seasonal model keeps the endgame fresh. It's available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X with full cross-play. Expect 60-plus hours before you touch the endgame grind.
8. Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves is the best open-world co-op sandbox on Xbox and PC. Sailing, pirating, and getting ambushed by other crews never gets old when you're with three friends on voice chat. It's included in Xbox Game Pass and the ongoing seasons add new story content without a subscription fee beyond Game Pass itself.
9. Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Overcooked! All You Can Eat bundles both Overcooked games with all DLC into a single package optimised for couch play. It's the most reliably fun split-screen game on this list for mixed-skill groups. Available on PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC. Fair warning: it has ended real-world relationships. Start on easy mode.
10. Remnant II
Remnant II is the third-person shooter that Dark Souls fans who are also tired of Dark Souls reach for. Three-player co-op, procedurally generated worlds, and a loot system with genuine build depth. Gunfire Games supports it consistently. It's on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, with cross-play between PC and consoles.
11. Hades II
Supergiant's follow-up added a co-op mode during early access that has become one of the most inventive multiplayer hooks in a roguelite. Two players navigate the underworld simultaneously, sharing resources and making split decisions. On PC and Switch 2. The writing is still the best in the genre by a wide margin.
12. Minecraft (Java and Bedrock)
Minecraft's longevity in co-op is unmatched. The 2025 Tricky Trials update added new mechanics that work especially well with friends. Java Edition is PC-only but has the broadest modding support. Bedrock covers Switch 2, Xbox, PS5, and mobile with full cross-play. There's a reason it still sells in the millions every quarter.
13. Palworld
Palworld launched in early access in January 2024 and its co-op servers for up to 32 players are surprisingly stable. The game blends Pokémon-style creature catching with base-building and survival in ways that keep sessions going for hours. It's on PC and Xbox with cross-play. Pocketpair continues updating it regularly in 2026.
14. Splatoon 3
Splatoon 3's Salmon Run co-op mode is one of Nintendo's best-designed horde experiences. Four players defend against waves of Salmonids with rotating weapon loadouts. It's exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 (and backward-compatible with original Switch). Online play is free with a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
15. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is the best family co-op game in Nintendo's current library. Four players, simple controls, no competitive friction. It's gentle enough for children but has enough variety to hold adult attention for the full runtime. On Nintendo Switch 2. It's the one we recommend for households with a wide age range.
16. A Way Out
A Way Out is strictly two-player and was designed for exactly that. It's a prison escape story that uses split-screen creatively, even in online play. Like It Takes Two, the Friend Pass means one purchase covers both players. From Hazelight Studios, it's older but still one of the most cinematic co-op experiences available.
17. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley multiplayer remains one of the most calming co-op options available. Up to four players share a farm, manage crops, and explore the mines together. It's on every relevant platform and costs under $20 AUD. ConcernedApe's ongoing updates (the 1.6 patch added meaningful co-op improvements) show the game isn't done yet.
18. Valheim
Valheim's Norse survival-crafting loop is tailor-made for a squad of three to five. Building a longhouse together, defeating the Forsaken bosses, and dying spectacularly to a Troll on a first playthrough are all essential gaming experiences. It's on PC via Steam. The Ashlands biome added in 2024 extends the late game considerably.
19. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Fatshark's Warhammer co-op shooter fixed most of its launch issues and is now one of the best four-player horde games on PC and Xbox. The Tide formula translates perfectly to the 40K universe. Class customisation is deep and the gunplay is the best Fatshark has produced. It's on Xbox Game Pass.
20. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a love letter to arcade brawlers and one of the most purely joyful co-op games in years. Up to six players, pixel art, and a soundtrack by Tee Lopes. Available on PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2. It's about four hours long, but you'll play it again immediately.
21. Alien: Dark Descent
Alien: Dark Descent surprised everyone with its quality. The co-op mode puts two players in command of a marines squad in a tactical survival horror experience. It's tense, demanding, and rewards communication. On PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
22. PlateUp!
PlateUp! is what happens when you take Overcooked's kitchen chaos and add base-building and roguelite progression. It's technically harder than Overcooked but more satisfying over longer sessions. On PC and consoles. Up to four players. It's criminally underplayed.
23. Risk of Rain Returns
Risk of Rain Returns is the remaster of the original roguelite shooter, with four-player online added. It's a perfect entry point for the series and a great value at under $30 AUD. On PC and Switch 2. The loop of getting overpowered and then dying to something stupid never gets old.
24. Dave the Diver
Dave the Diver added a local co-op mode post-launch that works surprisingly well for drop-in play. It's the most charming game on this list by a wide margin. Available on PC, PS5, and Switch 2. Two players, sushi restaurant management, and deep-sea exploration. It sounds odd. It works completely.
25. Towerborne
Towerborne is Stoic Studio's four-player action-RPG that delivers a polished brawler loop with strong progression hooks. It launched in 2024 on Xbox and PC via Game Pass. The art direction is striking and the gear system gives every player a meaningful build path.
26. Horizon Forbidden West (co-op via missions)
Horizon Forbidden West's co-op missions added in the Burning Shores update are a genuinely enjoyable two-player experience. They don't replace the single-player campaign but offer a solid reason to return with a friend. PS5-exclusive. If you already own the game, the co-op content is free.
27. Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is the best co-op racing game available. The EventLab tools let players create and share custom co-op challenges. It's on Xbox and PC via Game Pass. Mexico's map remains one of the largest and most visually diverse racing environments in any game. Online co-op convoy play is seamless.
28. Marvel's Midnight Suns (co-op raid mode)
Marvel's Midnight Suns added a co-op raid mode that turned the tactical card game into a two-player challenge. If you enjoyed the base game, the co-op content is a strong reason to return. On PC, PS5, and Xbox. The card system has more depth than it first appears.
29. PowerWash Simulator
PowerWash Simulator is meditative in single player and genuinely funny in co-op. Two players clean increasingly elaborate environments together. It sounds mundane. In practice it's one of the most reliably good "decompress with a friend" options on this list. On PC, Xbox, PS5, and Switch 2. On Game Pass.
30. Back 4 Blood
Back 4 Blood is the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead and still delivers for four-player zombie co-op. The card-based deck system adds build variety that L4D never had. It's on PC, PS5, and Xbox. With cross-play enabled, finding a full lobby is fast.
31. Pikmin 4
Pikmin 4's Dandori Battle and co-op modes make it the most replayable Pikmin entry. Nintendo's Switch 2 version runs at a smoother frame rate and the local two-player co-op is excellent for younger audiences. The main campaign is single-player, but the co-op side content adds real hours.
32. Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush doesn't have traditional co-op, but its local two-player assist mode (where the second player controls parry timing) makes it one of the best couch gaming experiences on Xbox and PC. Rhythm-action with comic-book visuals. Tango Gameworks created something genuinely original.
33. Lethal Company
Lethal Company is an indie horror game that became a cultural phenomenon in late 2023 and has kept its player base through consistent updates. Four players scavenge abandoned moons to hit a profit quota while avoiding monsters. It costs $10 AUD on Steam. It generates more voice-chat moments per dollar than almost any other game on this list.
34. Warframe
Warframe is free-to-play, has been running since 2013, and its co-op loop is still one of the tightest in the genre. The Duviri Paradox and subsequent updates kept the 2026 player base active. On PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2 with cross-play. The entry curve is steep but the community is helpful.
35. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the best multiplayer platformer Nintendo has released since New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Up to four players, creative level design, and the Wonder Flower transformations never repeat. On Nintendo Switch 2. It's accessible for all ages and difficult enough to challenge experienced players in later worlds.
Platforms at a glance
For Australian players, platform availability shapes buying decisions more than it might elsewhere. Xbox Game Pass continues to offer the strongest co-op value for PC and Xbox players, covering Deep Rock Galactic, Sea of Thieves, PowerWash Simulator, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, and Towerborne at no extra cost beyond the subscription. PS5 has the deepest exclusive co-op content in 2026, with Helldivers 2 and Elden Ring: Nightreign as standouts. Nintendo Switch 2's local wireless co-op remains unmatched for portable group play. Cross-play is now standard in most new releases, which is a genuine improvement over three years ago when platform silos made mixed-household gaming frustrating.
If you're looking to run co-op sessions on a tight budget, titles like Lethal Company, Warframe (free), Stardew Valley, and Risk of Rain Returns sit under $30 AUD each. For those tracking the broader picture of multiplayer gaming trends and how AI is reshaping game design, it's worth noting that procedural generation now underpins several of the best entries on this list, from Hades II to Valheim, in ways that directly extend co-op replayability. The intersection of smarter AI systems and game design is also something AI agent technology is starting to influence at the engine level, with enemy behaviours in games like Monster Hunter Wilds and Helldivers 2 reflecting more sophisticated decision trees than their predecessors.
Final thoughts
The co-op gaming library in 2026 is the strongest it's been in a generation. The 35 games above cover every budget, platform, and play style. Start with It Takes Two if you have any uncertainty about a co-op partner's experience level. Start with Helldivers 2 or Deep Rock Galactic if you want something to fill your weekends for the next six months. The Friend Pass model, now used by multiple studios, has removed the "we only have one copy" friction that used to stop casual co-op sessions before they started.