Games offer up magic in lots of different guises, but working with a friend to achieve a goal is, arguably, where they shine. So what are the best co-op games that will pull friends together and offer the best cooperative group-based thrills?
The great thing about the best co-op PC games is that you're not restricted to a genre. As long as there's room for two controllers on a split screen or some perfectly coordinated play over a headset, co-op games can be found among the best games in any genre. These are the very best co-op games for you to share with your favorite people.
The best co-op games in 2026 are:
1. Borderlands 4
Borderlands is a game that thrives on chaos - swathes of enemies all trying to take your head, and multicolored weapons dropping left, right, and center, so taking a few friends along for the ride only adds to the maelstrom. Much to the chagrin of some of the team, you no longer have to fight with your teammates over dropped loot, but sacrifices must be made for a streamlined experience.
The writing has had a much-needed upgrade from Borderlands 3, too. BL4 introduces the Timekeeper, who is a breath of fresh air compared to the disappointing and, quite frankly, annoying Calypso Twins. Most importantly, the gameplay has never been better, thanks to the improvements to the movement and gunplay mechanics.
Borderlands 4 is, for us, the best entry in the series. It allows you and your friends to jump into the frenetic playground seamlessly, choose one of several unique Borderlands 4 classes, and rewards you with an experience that will have you glued to the screen, waiting for the next ridiculously overpowered weapon to drop.
2. Peak
Selling over two million copies in only a few weeks, Peak has established itself as one of the best indie games in a long time. The premise of Peak might sound bleak, but the cute co-op game is anything but. A group of nature scouts is stranded on an island after their plane goes down, forcing them to scale mountainous regions to send out a signal for help. Along the way, they must forage and utilize suitcases filled with random items, relying on random fruits and mushrooms to stay alive.
The island you travel to changes every day, making every journey unique as you group up with up to three friends on this arduous journey. The game's adorable art direction and expert use of proximity chat make for memorable moments, particularly when you stumble upon items like the Peak Cursed Skull or the Faerie Lantern that can completely change your expedition.
Work together to reach the summit, or do what some of the PCGamesN team (you know who you are) did and subtly sabotage the rest of the squad. Banana skins, blow darts, and even being suspiciously just out of reach to pull someone up, there are more than a few ways to hamper an expedition - if you want to, that is.
3. Elden Ring Nightreign
Nightreign condenses the entire Elden Ring experience into 45-minute runs, taking you and your party of up to three players on an adventure where you target one of the Nightreign bosses. Every run is split into three days, with powerful enemies waiting for you as each day ends. Every second counts in your run as you rush to gain as many level-ups as you can, collecting items and weapons in hopes of slaying each of the seven Night Lords.
This is a fast-paced co-op game that rewards players for quick-thinking and clever planning. For that reason, it's not the easiest game to recommend to all Elden Ring fans, as it's a very different experience from the original game. Read Nat Smith's Elden Ring Nightreign review to learn why this co-op game is so divisive among the soulslike community.
Ultimately, for those who love the intense combat of Elden Ring and want to bring a few pals along for the ride, Nightreign is the absolute best you can achieve, and with DLC bringing new bosses to the fore, there's plenty to dig into.
4. Split Fiction
Expert co-op game studio, Hazelight, has expanded its excellent portfolio with Split Fiction, taking players on a journey through the works of science fiction and fantasy authors Mio and Zoe. Your journey begins as the pair get a chance to experience their work through the power of their publisher's futuristic technology.
Things go wrong when Mio ends up in Zoe's creations. This leads to a clash of heads as these two very different writers are forced to work together to stop the publisher from stealing their ideas. The co-op game puts you and whoever you wish to bring along in some fascinating scenarios, each completely different from the last.
As Lauren Bergin's Split Fiction review highlights, this "might be Hazelight Studios' best game yet, blending multiple genres with unique settings to create an unforgettable co-op experience. The sheer amount of creativity on display will propel you and a friend from start to finish in no time."
5. Monster Hunter Wilds
For a long time, you either got Monster Hunter or you didn't. It felt like a niche experience, but one that was utterly adored by the die-hard fan base. Monster Hunter Wilds does an extraordinary job of shaving off the rough edges and putting the unbelievably cinematic action front and center.
The latest and arguably greatest installment in the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Wilds "improves on almost every aspect of World to deliver a tremendous adventure," according to Ken's glowing 9/10 Monster Hunter Wilds review. He was so impressed by Capcom's best-seller that he even reckons it's "the most rewarding action RPG around" if you can navigate its steep learning curve.
Monster Hunter Wilds comes with a tweaked co-op system that aims to make it easier than ever for you and your pals to go hunting together. Drop-in-drop-out, full crossplay multiplayer allows you to bolster your hunts with friends whenever you like - fellow hunters can even jump in mid-fight if you foresee a rather grisly death in your future.
6. Remnant 2
Remnant 2 is a third-person shooter that incorporates the best roguelike and soulslike game mechanics to bring challenge laced with that urge for 'one more run.' Its original multiverse sends players on a whirlwind trip through fantastical realms that echo Bloodborne and H.R. Geiger, alongside original worlds that players will recall from Remnant: From the Ashes.
You can embark on this journey alone, but bringing a pal or two along is an unparalleled experience. Loot, shoot, and craft your best builds to take down powerful bosses together. Nat Smith's Remnant 2 review calls it a "compelling patchwork of mechanics that's quite unlike anything else," with the caveat that "those looking for a laid-back, arcade-style shooter similar to Borderlands may be brought up short."
Gunfire Games has also included a ton of post-launch support, including a series of DLCs packed with new locations, weapons, and bosses, so there is plenty for you and your pals to dig into.
7. Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 is a third-person shooter that is heavy on the PvE and is essential to be played co-op. It's part slapstick, part Starship Troopers, and it's brilliant, giving you just enough room to make an absolute fool of yourself in the face of thousands of murderous bugs while also making you feel like an unstoppable force for galactic justice.
You and your friends can choose to land on one of several planets and start spreading peace, the only way the Helldivers know how - one bullet at a time. The shooting feels incredibly satisfying, but that's not the real deal here. Stratagems are where it's at.
Apart from your standard loadouts, you can equip special call-ins called stratagems. These can range from turrets to orbital lasers, and even nuclear airstrikes. They are truly a thing to behold. Helldivers 2 is a spectacle that must be played.
8. Diablo 4
The long-awaited RPG stuck the landing when it first launched and has been going strong ever since. It was precisely what fans have been asking for from Blizzard, which is saying a lot. Diablo 4 is an action role-playing game where you take control of your destiny, craft a character, and take on the best foes that hell has to offer.
There's nothing better than working together with your mates in co-op as you rip and tear your way through whatever happens to be in your path. Lauren Bergin argues in her 10/10 Diablo 4 review that this is "the best Diablo game of all time," which is high praise indeed from someone who has lived Diablo for most of their adult life.
Cinematic, gory, full of possibility. Diablo 4 is a game that can keep you and yours occupied and entertained for tens of hours, and with an entire suite of DLC in your back pocket, you may never need to play another game ever again. We have a D4 beginners' guide here if you and your friends want a hand getting started.
9. Portal 2
Valve's hugely clever, genuinely funny puzzler is frequently cited as the king of co-op with good reason. Success in Portal 2 requires genuine teamwork to solve conundrums, preventing that frequent co-op problem of one player running off and impatiently doing everything before the other has a chance to even move their mouse.
A microphone and a good friend are recommended, but Portal 2 has a neat voiceless chat system that uses emotes and pointing to make co-op with strangers easier. While the original Portal is rightly heralded as one of the best games of all time, there's no denying this sequel's dedicated co-op campaign is also a work of genius.
Portal 2 is rarely more clever than when it throws up puzzles that require both players to work together simultaneously. More than the amazing noodle-scratchers, though, it's the addition of Steam Workshop features that makes Portal 2's co-op a must-play. The range of user-created puzzle chambers is vast, with phenomenally well-designed challenges that can make Valve's work seem like preschool logic toys.
10. Don't Starve Together
Want a game that lets you share moments you'll never want to speak of again? In Don't Starve Together, you can kill and eat your pig-man slaves while your chums watch. Klei's Burton-esque open-world game remains open, and your pockets are just as empty, but this time, another player or three can join you in an identical predicament. The standalone game currently features two modes. You can either spawn next to your fellow survivors and enjoy infinite lives or be scattered randomly across the map and be subject to permadeath.
In the first, dead players can float about as ghosts and drive the rest of the gang mad. That's not a figure of speech - a good haunting will lower their sanity and put their lives in even greater danger. Resurrection is easy, for a price: a piece of your max health.
Weird and unique, Don't Starve Together isn't just a great co-op game; it's also one of the best survival games on PC. While the isolation of the brilliant original was one of its strengths, fending off starvation together is simply a better way to live. Check out our Don't Starve Together review for more of our thoughts.
11. Overcooked 2
Undoubtedly, Overcooked 2 is the most frantic, stressful, and joyful game on this list. Tasking four players with making food may sound simple, but as anyone who's ever worked in catering will tell you, a kitchen is the devil's own workhouse. As timers tick down, you'll need to coordinate on veg chopping, burger frying, soup stirring, and dishwashing. Each subsequent level introduces a more varied menu and increasingly complex dishes.
A set of incredibly designed levels only adds to the challenge; sometimes your restaurant will be broken in two by an earthquake, meaning you'll have to not only cooperate in separate halves but also time things so you can pass them to the right side of the kitchen when the opportunity arises.
It's chaos that creates Overcooked's best moments. Like many things in life, this charming cook-'em-up demands constant thought and communication. Shield your ears as screams cross the living room, as you gleefully panic your way to victory.
12. Left 4 Dead 2
One of Valve's true classics, Left 4 Dead 2 puts the focus on tight teamwork against the backdrop of an exceptionally gruesome zombie outbreak. Thanks to the sheer number of undead, it's vital to stick together and assess threats at each turn of the campaign's sprawling maps. You'll need to make sure there's always someone ready to save you from a surprise, special infected attack, or to help thin the horde so you can make your escape.
Left 4 Dead 2 is a game about always being on the edge of failure - fending off hordes with dwindling ammo supplies, covering your friends as they try to complete the objective, hearing the distant scream of a special infected, and knowing that things are about to go down. It's backs against the wall stuff, and who better to be in that situation with than your friends.
There are so many moments in Left 4 Dead 2 that we still talk about to this day. Accidental molotovs, sacrificial plays for the greater good, and that first time we heard the sobbing of a dormant witch. Terrifying.
13. Minecraft
Minecraft is one of the most popular single-player games of the last decade, but it's also an incredibly fun co-op game. You might not be able to play couch co-op in Minecraft, but if you know how to host a Minecraft server or Realm, you and a friend can easily jump into the same world.
It's up to you whether you work together and share resources or create your own neighboring Minecraft builds, all before halving the fear of entering the Nether and the difficulty of defeating the Ender Dragon. It's a true sandbox, full of possibilities and a really rewarding gameplay loop regardless of perceived creativity.
There are also some fantastic co-op Minecraft maps at your disposal, a lot of which play out like Portal 2, requiring both players to work together - but there's also plenty that pit you against one another if that's more your style. Check out our best Minecraft seeds guide if you want some inspiration for your next world.
14. Valheim
If you love Viking games and survival games, then Valheim is the perfect co-op game for you and your pals. You're dropped into Viking purgatory to explore different biomes and fight Valheim bosses, but it's a lot more relaxing than it sounds. Valheim slows down the pace of progression as you forage for materials, slowly build up your base, and earn better gear, fighting enemies along the way.
You can set up a dedicated Valheim server, too, so you can play online with up to nine other people in PvE. From defending your base against trolls to taming boars and brewing beer, Valheim is a beautiful journey, and it still receives substantial updates, adding new bosses, biomes, and items.
Valheim is a game that promotes coexistence and cooperation. Building something together, then fighting to keep it, is as rewarding as it is entertaining, and it's well worth your and your friends' time. We have a Valheim mods guide if you need to shake up your next playthrough.
15. Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 is a beautiful, rich, sad, hilarious, dense world, full of amazing stories and compelling characters. It's one of the best RPGs ever made, and you can play through the entire thing with your friends, if you like.
PK's Baldur's Gate 3 review talks about the narrative: "It's impressive how natural my story felt when I know there were hundreds of plates spinning in the background; a chance meeting here and a failed dice roll there, and suddenly I'm in the depths of hell with George Clooney performing the heist of the century."
The fact that you can carve a path through this RPG with a couple of pals in tow is mind-boggling. Combat can be a showcase of hilarious one-upmanship, and having other people involved only adds to the story. If you're already a veteran of BG3, we have the best Baldur's Gate 3 mods here that can really shake up future runs.
16. Ghost of Tsushima: Legends
Set during the Kamakura period, Ghost of Tsushima tells the tale of Jin Sakai, a young samurai who wants to restore his clan back to its former glory after they were decimated by the Mongol Empire. More importantly, the Director's Cut includes the underrated Legends co-op game mode, a four-player samurai adventure with supernatural elements compared to the grounded main campaign.
Each player gets to control a ninja as they attempt to take down the villainous entity known as Iyo, represented by a large white mask. Working together, the ninja squad must coordinate their attacks, dropping items like smoke bombs at the right time to wipe out a group of enemies in just a few seconds. The supernatural element explores an area of Ghost of Tsushima that the campaign is unable to, allowing the combat to shine in new ways.
As Ian Boudreau highlights in his excellent 9/10 Ghost of Tsushima review, "A masterclass in open-world game design and a thrilling samurai epic in its own right, Ghost of Tsushima is a must-play on PC." If the campaign wasn't enough to convince you to pick up this game, the fantastic Legends co-op mode should push you over the edge.
New co-op games
We have a comprehensive upcoming PC games guide here if you're looking ahead to something to play. We're especially excited for Kingmakers and Subnautica 2 - both will scratch the cooperative itch, but in completely different ways.
Those are our picks of the best co-op games that you can play in 2026. Remember this, though: when it comes to solving complex robotic puzzles or immolating swarms of rat-men, there truly is no 'I' in team. Let us know about your most heroic and most disastrous co-op moments over on the official PCGN Community Discord, and check out our best PC games list if you want something a little different.