The Best Online Co-Op Games

The best online co-op games are basically a step up from a group chat, creating a shared experience where it’s you and your pals against the world. They’re not just about gunning down everything in sight or racing to the finish line, they’re about the weird and wonderful benefits of playing with friends–the improvised plans, the in-jokes, that one time your best friend clipped through a wall, and the big boss fight that wouldn’t have been the same if you didn’t have someone on healing duty.

The games in this list–which span a range of vibes and genres–encourage communication, shared problem-solving, and the unspoken understanding that things will go wrong but that’s all part of the fun. Sometimes you can’t all be in the same room, but why should that stop you hanging out? Whether you’re surviving harsh environments, building sprawling systems, or just chilling and catching fish, the online co-op games on this list will keep you and all your friends hooked and coming back for more. If you’re looking for a cozier setup, check out our best couch co-op games list.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

• Developer: Larian Studios
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2
• Number of players: 1-2

Played online with friends, Divinity: Original Sin 2 becomes less about obsessively optimizing builds and more about reacting together to a world that’s constantly responding to your choices. It sounds cheesy, but if you want a game where you can create actual shared stories and feel like your actions impact an entire world, get your mates downloading Divinity: Original Sin 2.

The game’s strength lies in how much freedom it gives you all. Quests rarely have a single solution, and disagreements about what to do next are only a sign that you’re properly invested. Whatever you do, the game adapts, and the group adapts with it. Combat is turn-based, which gives everyone time to think and discuss/argue over the best plan. Outside of combat, exploration also feels pretty communal if you lean into it, with players splitting up to investigate different areas and then regrouping with new ideas. Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a long game, but one that rewards groups willing to commit to a shared adventure–one of you can even be the Game Master if you’d like. There’s a new Divinity game coming out at some point, too, so keep your eyes peeled and dig deep into the lore so you don’t get left behind.

Valheim

• Developer: Iron Gate Studio
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S
• Number of players: 1-10

Valheim is one of those games that is almost always better in co-op than played alone. Fans make a lot of noise about the deep exploration and survival mechanics (rightly so), but its base building is another example of where online co-op really shines. Building a settlement together turns the game into a long-term group project, where everyone contributes in their own way. Watching a base slowly grow from a rough shelter into a functioning village is deeply satisfying, and who doesn’t want to build a massive Viking longhouse?

There’s also a comforting rhythm to games like Valheim. Log in, check what needs fixing, expand a wall, add a roof, and then head out together for the next goal. The game supports both focused teamwork and casual hanging out, making it ideal for groups that want something flexible but meaningful. Why not grab some Valheim mods while you’re at it?

Phasmophobia

• Developer: Kinetic Games
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
• Number of players: 1-4

Phasmophobia is half co-op, half creepy chaos, and by far one of the best horror games on Xbox. It’s a game where communication isn’t just helpful, it might just save your life. Playing with friends transforms what could be a terrifying solo experience into a tense but often hilarious group effort. Just seeing how your nearest and dearest react to jumpscares in real-time is always a treat.

The aim of the game is to investigate paranormal activity using a selection of tools and finding evidence. Each investigation in Phasmophobia becomes a shared puzzle between four minds, as you split tasks, compare evidence, and constantly relay information over voice chat. Successes and failures feel communal, and the stakes only get higher as the hauntings get more intense. On the up side, shared responsibility makes it easier to laugh about afterward, even if you were shrieking with very real fear in the moment.

Green Hell

• Developer: Creepy Jar
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• Number of players: 1-4

Green Hell is the survival game you recommend to both your novice and veteran friends. Accessible and challenging all at once, the more support you have, the more manageable the challenges become. Green Hell’s online co-op turns the jungle from an overwhelming threat into a shared challenge.

Sure, you can go out with weapons and stake a claim to the ground, focusing on combat and conquest, or you can raise animals in wooden holding pens, nurture crops, and build–dare we say, cozy–shelters for you and your comrades. Despite including a number of real-world survival techniques and some genuinely challenging hostile encounters, Green Hell isn’t too punishing when you’ve got a group around you to scout, scavenge, defend, and farm your new home.

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Webfishing

• Developer: Lamedeveloper
• Platforms: PC
• Number of players: 1-12

Webfishing is a little different than most games on this list, but a worthy addition nonetheless. It’s a low-key, low-stakes, low-poly chill out zone, where you and your friends can customize animal avatars, go fishing, chat about life, and explore. It’s a space for conversation and de-stressing, a great alternative to a group chat, especially if you don’t mind periods of silence and relaxation.

Over time you acquire better equipment, new threads, and the ability to catch better fish. Show off your catches, sell them, or merely explore. There are a few secrets hidden in the game that might cause a spark of excitement, but we’ll not spoil too much here.

Don’t Starve Together

• Developer: Klei Entertainment
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• Number of players: 1-6

Don’t Starve Together is the standalone multiplayer version of Don’t Starve, a game full of harsh wildernesses, strange creatures, and deep mysteries. The game’s uncompromising world is much easier to navigate when mistakes are made–and learned from–together, either with friends in a private server, or with strangers online.

This one should be an easy sell to friends who aren’t sure about survival horror, as Don’t Starve is also a game like Minecraft in that you can mine, craft, explore, and gather resources to make a communal base. Just don’t mention what happens in the dark.

Factorio

• Developer: Wube Software
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
• Number of players: Up to just over 65,000 (in theory)

Factorio is co-op at its most collaborative. It’s a game about building systems, and playing online turns those systems into group efforts that constantly evolve–it’s like getting a job in a factory, except you don’t get paid and it’s actually fun.

Each player can take ownership of part of the factory, but nothing exists in isolation. Changes ripple outward, encouraging constant communication and coordination. Planning becomes a shared activity, often involving diagrams, discussions, and occasional redesigns. Only enlist your smartest, most strategic friends.

Deep Rock Galactic

• Developer: Ghost Ship Games
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
• Number of players: 1-4

Deep Rock Galactic is a great gateway horror game for when you don’t want something too scary, easing you and your friends into a slightly spooky experience that requires focus and commitment to survive. Missions are designed so that players naturally rely on each other’s strengths, making co-op feel purposeful and fun, despite the horrors that persist.

Each class contributes something unique, encouraging loose communication without forcing strict coordination. Deep Rock Galactic strikes a balance between structure and flexibility, letting groups play casually or strategically, and employs its light-hearted tone to keep things flowing even when the going gets tough.

Terraria

• Developer: Re-Logic
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile
• Number of players: 1-16

Terraria in co-op feels like a shared sandbox adventure, a story only you and your friends could have written. Online play turns simple exploration and building into group projects that evolve organically, battles that require backup, and bases worthy of Terraria’s most elaborate decor.

You’ll naturally split tasks–some of you can explore, some can build, some can fight–and then regroup to share the spoils with everyone. The procedurally generated world feels more alive the more people live in it, reflecting the collective efforts of everyone involved and growing at a pace alongside you. Depending on your ability and playstyle, you can choose to go the offensive route, battling your way through the wilds, or become a homebody, creating a comforting environment for everyone to come back to once they’re done fighting. There’s a role for everyone. If you’re needing some inspiration, check out our extensive Terraria guidesto get you started.

Astroneer

• Developer: System Era Softworks
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Number of players: 1-8

Astroneer turns the realities of brutal and isolated space exploration into a cooperative, rewarding process, which is why it’s one of the best survival games you can play online. Online co-op encourages players to plan, experiment, and adapt together as they reshape alien worlds and make it through another night. The tactile feel of the game’s crafting system and potential for laid-back exploration and terraforming means you can (as long as you’re willing to carry some of the survival responsibility) play it with just about anyone.

When your oxygen level is on the line, tasks feel lighter when shared. It’s not a punishing survival game, but it expects you to keep an eye on many moving parts at once for your colonization efforts to be effective. For creative groups who enjoy a bit of focus and tranquility, Astroneer might just hit the spot

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

• Developer: Asteroid Base
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Number of players: 1-4

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a light-hearted and silly online co-op game where every action requires coordination, and success depends on players communicating constantly, despite being in stitches.

Running a spaceship together (especially when you’re just lil’ guys) means juggling roles on the fly. Shields, weapons, navigation–it all requires cooperation, often under pressure and with heavy doses of chaos. It’s an easy game to pick up and a fun party game for breaking the ice, we’ve even rated it one of the best couch co-op games to play together.