man with keyboard playing games - best co-op games
man with keyboard playing games - best co-op games

The Best Co-Op Games To Play

Bring people together with these co-op games to play with family, friends, and your streaming community.

Playing video games doesn’t have to be in isolation. 

Co-op games are ideal for streaming game play or for connecting with others; making for a more memorable experience. These community-building games are great for students at university.

Moving to uni can occasionally cause homesickness, and that can make some students hide away in their rooms because they’re not up to socialising. However, student loneliness is a real thing that many experience, but playing co-op games can help you to overcome loneliness at university. 

The gaming and streaming community is huge, so you’re never really alone. Try out some of these best co-op games to play on the Switch, Xbox, or Ps5 to help build your own community.

If gaming isn’t quite your thing, try out some of the best drinking games for students, if you want to liven up your pres. 

Jump to:

Best couch co-op games

University can be busy and full of stressors, like dealing with exam stress

That’s why it’s so important to have some downtime and reconnect with your flatmates or your hometown besties over couch co-op games. 

Because being cosy on the couch after a long day of “studying” is essential to reduce stress. These are some of the best couch co-op games to play with friends and relax. 

Overcooked

A cooking simulation game, Overcooked is one of the best couch co-op games out there. 

Working as a team (between 1-4 players), you have to prepare, cook, and serve up your tasty dishes before customers storm off in a huff. So basically, it’s like working in an actual kitchen — surely you could put that on your CV (maybe for a laugh). 

This couch co-op game is available for:

Rocket League

If you’re into fast paced games, Rocket League is just that, and is one of the best couch co-op games to play if you’re into cars, too. 

Working alone or with your team, you have to aim to get the ball down the field and into your opponents net (just like football), but instead of being on foot, you’re steering fast-paced vehicles that will require dexterity from all players. 

Available on:

A Way Out

Another one of the best couch co-op games is A Way Out, and this one would be ideal for those of you who love an escape room.

You play the role of one prisoner, while someone else plays the role of the second prisoner, and together you have to try and make your way out and escape the prison. Sounds easy? Well, it’s not.

Expect to get your hands dirty as you try to find a way out. 

Available on:

Luigi’s Mansion 3

Grab a pal and play as Luigi and Gooigi for a couch co-op gaming sesh. Work your way through puzzles and battles against ghosts for a nostalgic game reminiscent of your youth with the Mario Brothers. 

Available on:

Co-op horror games

If you’re a fan of horror, make sure to check out the best horror movies in 2024 to really make a spooky night of it. 

For those of us who love the macabre, co-op horror games are likely to be on our wishlists, too. Here are some of the best co-op horror games to tickle your scary bone. 

Escape The Backrooms

A 1-4 player horror co-op game, you and your gang explore the eerily creepy backrooms, while avoiding any dangers. What dangers? We hear you ask. We’re talking about entities and all the things that go bump in the night. 

Realistic and immersive, Escape The Backrooms is one of the scariest co-op horror games. 

Labyrinthine

Described as a ‘co-op horror game like no other’, Labyrinthine is the ultimate test of bravery.

Play alone or with up to 4 players, and solve puzzles, collect items, and run from the horrors that lie within the game. Enter a realm of nightmares and try to muster up enough courage between you for this horror co-op game. 

Phasmophobia

A 4-player horror co-op game, Phasmophobia is a truly terrifying gaming experience. 

You and your team enter haunted locations and experience paranormal activity in this psychological horror game. Use the ghost-hunting equipment available to you to find and record evidence to sell to the ghost removal team. 

You can even use your actual voice to interact through Ouija boards with the ghosts. Yeah, no thanks…

Best co-op games Ps5

If you’ve only got a Ps5 available for gaming, you’re in luck. These are the best co-op games for Ps5.

If you don’t have the famous console, check out the best PS5 Black Friday deals in 2024 to grab one for a bargain. 

To avoid dodgy connections during online play, check out the best student broadband deals to get the internet you deserve. 

Fall Guys

fall guys - best co-op games ps5

A game of cuteness and chaos, Fall Guys recently became cross-platform, meaning you can play with pals with other consoles. Fight your way through various obstacles, watch your characters fall and fail in the funniest of ways, and enjoy raking in the achievements and having a fashion show with your avatar.

Definitely one of the best co-op games for PS5. 

Fortnite

Arguably one of the best co-op games for Ps5 out there that’s free to play, Fortnite is utter chaos. 

Complete weekly challenges with your community and fend off enemies together. There’s a wide range of weapons to find, absolutely tons of skins (some of your favourite shows and celebs included!), extremely rare loot, plus a creative mode where players can redesign their games and maps for other loopers to play online.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Set in the universe of Dungeons and Dragons, Baldur’s Gate 3 is rich in story and role-playing.

Sacrifice and survival is the aim of the game, and either you alone or a party of up to 4 will enter a world of corruption and you’ll be expected to conflict with devils, deities, and other sinister forces.  

Xbox co-op games

Only have an Xbox? Have a go at these Xbox co-op games.

Borderlands 3

borderlands 3 - xbox co-op games

Borderlands is considered a bit of a classic. This shoot-em-up is full of action, is a serious upgrade from its predecessors and offers tons of content for players to experience. The world is far bigger this time — and the weapons are certainly bigger and wackier than ever before. 

What’s interesting about previous Borderlands games is that loot was shared in co-op, but in Borderlands 3, you can have your own private arsenal of gear, which works great for different playstyles. 

Portal 2

If you and a pal can stream Portal 2 (or simply play off-stream for your own enjoyment), then you’re in for an amazing experience. Co-op on Portal 2 is especially challenging compared to solo runs, but that’s what makes it fun (and sometimes hilarious). 

You’ll control a robot each and have to work together to complete the various levels, but if one of you jumps or opens a portal too early or late, you’ll have to start the process all over to solve a puzzle! Dunk your pal in deadly goo for revenge, just don’t rage at each other, yeah?

Sea Of Thieves

Traditionally a solo game, Sea of Thieves can be just as fun to play with your friends and online community. You can sail Galleons with up to four people, so just make a shoutout on your social pages and find enough people to play with. Hunt down treasure, make a ton of money and fight some scary-looking Krakens.

Co-op Switch games

The Nintendo Switch is a gem of a games console and is perfect for co-op gaming. 

These co-op Switch games will have you glued to the screen.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

animal crossing new horizons - co-op switch games

Want something a little more down-to-earth to play co-op? Look no further than Animal Crossing. This classic had a revamp in the form of New Horizons and comes with tons of wholesome content we love. 

It starts off by being on a remote island, where you have to perform some pretty therapeutic tasks like foraging (in the form of shaking trees for fruit), decorating your home (our New Horizons island ideas will get you inspired), and mining for wood and other materials. It’s pretty cute, and you can even visit your friend’s islands to hang out.

Snipperclips

A fun little puzzle-filled co-op game to play on the Switch. 

Snipperclips is a great game to play with friends, cutting paper characters into new shapes and solving puzzles. The world is imaginative and wonderfully creative, so is perfect for some downtime after your lectures.

Untitled Goose Game

Slapstick funny and wildly wacky, Untitled Goose Game is one of those co-op Switch games your friends will be begging to play. 

Basically, you’re a goose that is let loose into a village. You have to make your way around the town and set up pranks, steal hats, honk at everyone and be a little bit of a nuisance. 

Co-op play with up to two players. 

Get 10% off with a My Nintendo Store student discount

Sign up to Student Beans and make the most of gaming student discounts