What games can you play online in pairs? We provide 33 answers to this question in our list of the best co-op games 2021 for online multiplayer gaming together.
A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved, a joy shared is a joy doubled and gaming together is worth infinitely more. So here is our list of what we think are the best online co-op games for PC.
Please note in our top list that the games are not ranked. We have not sorted them by quality, rating, etc. – you can still find the perfect games for your taste on the last pages of this article. And now have fun browsing.
If you have any other ideas for great co-op games that can be played online in pairs, feel free to suggest them in the comments below this article!
The best PC games with online co-op
Let’s start with the best PC games that you play either in single player or with 2 players or more – and no matter where you are in the world. Because the best couch co-op games deserve their own top list.
Please note that we are focusing here on genuine co-op in the form of shared PvE. If you are also interested in PvP, take a look at our best multiplayer games for PC.
Outriders
Genre: Co-op Shooter – Developer: People Can Fly – Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Stadia – Release date: April 1, 2021 – Online co-op on PC: 2 players or more
What’s it about? Outriders hit 2021 a lot harder than we would have thought internally. But people are hungry for good co-op shooters – and that’s exactly what Outriders delivers. At first glance, it looks like a standard sci-fi shooter in the slipstream of a Destiny. There’s hunting for loot, several classes with umpteen skills and, of course, all kinds of baller paraphernalia. But Outriders doesn’t force an annoying grind on you, instead it offers entertaining shooter action that engages from the first minute.
Suitable for whom? The flashy story is definitely a matter of taste, but in terms of gameplay, Outriders is actually aimed at every shooter fan out there. Don’t let the cover gameplay in the screenshots confuse you: you don’t play Outriders like Gears of War, but as a very straightforward “jump on the enemy and send them to the boards with abilities.”
What does co-op offer? The entire campaign of Outriders can be played through in online co-op for up to four players. So if you want to spend a few evenings shooting and chatting with friends – here’s the opportunity.
It Takes Two
Genre: Co-op Adventure – Developer: Hazelight – Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X-S – Release date: March 26, 2021 – Online co-op on PC: 2 players
What’s It About A married couple is made smaller by a magical accident and must undo the circumstance. The premise of It Takes Two can be easily summed up: Honey, I shrunk the kids – only as a game. And in a completely wacky world. But there is so much more to the co-op adventure than that. The fact that you have to play the game in 2-player co-op (there is no single player) has a good reason: the whole game is a sequence of crazy co-op experiences.
Suitable for whom? It Takes Two is the perfect game for an extensive co-op evening, even if your partner isn’t usually into games. Like A Way Out, Hazelight’s new stroke of genius thinks co-op in a way that changes you and your partner in front of the screen too.
What does the co-op offer? We’ve already touched on it: It Takes Two is an experience you won’t find anywhere else. And this despite the fact that many of the game’s mechanics come from other genres. Sometimes your partner steers a glider, on top of which you beat up a squirrel in Street Fighter style. In It Takes Two you shoot, drive a boat, do Tetris-style puzzles, climb and jump – and that’s not even the tip of the iceberg.
Valheim
Genre: Action-Adventure – Developer: Iron Gate Studio – Platforms: PC – Release date: February 2, 2021 (Early Access) – Online co-op on PC: 2 players or more
What’s it about? In Valheim, you explore a procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology, fight monsters, gather resources and craft for all it’s worth. As a Viking, you must defeat Odin’s enemies, restore order in Valheim and, of course, somehow stay alive.
Suitable for whom? The survival game is aimed at all those who don’t need a deep and linear story, but prefer to explore worlds, defeat bosses and craft items. Valheim is currently still in Early Access.
What does co-op offer? You can play Valheim in co-op with your friends in different ways. Either host a Valheim session on your own PC if you want to play with one or two other friends, or set up a dedicated server if you have a larger group you want to play with every now and then.
Anno 1800
Genre: Building Strategy – Developer: Ubisoft Mainz – Platforms: PC – Release Date: 16 April 2019 – Online Co-op on PC: 2 to 4 players.
What’s it about? Building cities, production chains and shipping. Anno 1800 returns to its historical roots, combining many elements from the popular Anno 1404 with its sci-fi predecessor Anno 2205. Since 23 February, Anno has entered its third season with the new DLC Speicherstadt.
Suitable for whom? Anyone who likes to tinker together, share tasks and build an empire is in the right place with Anno 1800. You play a faction together and are therefore not just simple allies, but real partners.
What does the co-op offer? You can play the co-op independently of all DLCs. However, if you want to enjoy some of the expansions, all players must have the DLC. You can expand your islands together in endless play and even continue playing when your co-op partner is not playing.
Among Us
Genre: Strategy – Developer: Innersloth – Platforms: PC, iOS, Android – Release date: November 16, 2019 – Online co-op on PC: 4 to 10 players
What’s it about?: Those who know the card game Werewolf will also understand the game principle of Among Us quite quickly. You are part of a crew on a space station and have to find out which of your colleagues is the traitor who wants your spacesuit. Meanwhile, you complete tasks to get your station back on track.
Suitable for: Everyone who likes to play detective is right here. Even friends and relatives who haven’t played many PC games before will find Among Us easy to get into.
What does the co-op offer? You can play together in a lobby with up to nine others. In addition, thanks to crossplay, you can also enter the space station together with iOS and Android players. local co-op is also possible.
Phasmophobia
Genre: Adventure – Developer: Kinetic Games – Platforms: PC – Release Date: 18 September 2020 – Online Co-op on PC: 2 to 4 players.
What’s it about? You are a team of ghost hunters on the trail of paranormal activity. Together you travel in your van to the location of the ghostly apparition and have to find out which ghost it is. Of course, it’s even better if you bring along some evidence of the apparition. However, you must be careful not to lose your own life during the ghost hunt.
Suitable for whom? You need nerves of steel, fun in horror games and preferably a team of like-minded friends, then Phasmophobia is really fun. VR owners will also get their money’s worth here thanks to VR support.
What does the co-op offer? Together with up to three other friends, you buy equipment for your expedition, try to determine the ghost with various items and help each other out of trouble when one of you is haunted by the paranormal guest.
Wasteland 3
Genre: Role Playing Game – Developer: inXile Entertainment – Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One – Release Date: August 27, 2020 – Online Co-op on PC: 2 players
What’s it about? Wasteland 3 is an extremely extensive, humorous and tactical role-playing game in the post-apocalypse and thus offers everything we would normally expect from a Fallout. The only difference: Wasteland presents itself oldschool RPG-typically in isometric third-person perspective and lets us fight our battles and turn-based fights.
Suitable for whom? Wasteland 3 is a treat for fans of party role-playing games for whom tactical turn-based battles are not absolutely new territory. But even Fallout devotees could well discover their new favourite Wasteland here, because even away from the battles there is plenty to discover and laugh about, just like in Bethesda’s role-playing series.
What does co-op offer? If your party is still too impersonal for you, then simply invite a friend to roam the post-apocalypse with you, because the campaign of Wasteland 3 can be played through completely in co-op. This even offers some exciting tactical possibilities: For example, you can play a double game with characters and collect two rewards for the same quest from competing camps – or betray each other.
Streets of Rage 4
Genre: Beat ’em up – Developer: DotEmu, Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games – Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch – Release date: 30 April 2020 – Online co-op on PC:2 players (up to 4 players offline)
What’s it about? Streets of Rage 4 continues the iconic brawler trilogy that hasn’t had a sequel in 26 years. The beat ’em up brings back fond memories of the 80s and 90s, when we were still fighting in 2D instead of 3D, and massive combos and a driving soundtrack stood above a complexly told story. In Streets of Rage 4, we take on the roles of the familiar characters Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, Adam Hunter & Co. who all have their own special abilities, and beat up a few gangsters.
Suitable for whom? Streets of Rage 4 is the right game for all arcade nostalgics – or for all those who are looking for an action-packed background to a good conversation with friends. Because Streets of Rage requires little attention from you in terms of a story or complex mechanics, you can entertain yourself wonderfully while you’re knocking around.
What does the co-op offer? Streets of Rage 4 only really comes into its own in co-op, with which you can play the entire campaign. After all, it’s only with a gamer buddy that you get that good old arcade hall feeling. Even the biggest weakness of retro shooters – the ponderous gameplay – becomes much more pleasant when you have a good time playing together.
Remnant: From the Ashes
Genre: Action RPG – Developer: Gunfire Games – Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One – Release date: August 16, 2019 – Online co-op on PC: 2 to 3 players
What’s it about? The developers themselves describe their game Remnant: From the Ashes as “Dark Souls with firearms” – and the comparison is obvious at first glance. After all, the gloomy action RPG borrows a lot from the genre’s forefather: stamina management, healing items for recharging, beacons as save points, dodge rolls and boss opponents behind walls of fog. But you’re more likely to attack them with pistols and shotguns than with classic melee weapons.
Suitable for whom? Unlike Dark Souls, Remnant: From the Ashes offers three different difficulty levels and is thus suitable for beginners and veterans alike. Remnant is actually most fun in co-op with two to three players, as some boss fights are even specifically designed for groups.
What does co-op offer? Both the campaign and DLC can be enjoyed with two to three players – and work even better that way. The difficulty level also adapts to the number of players and the randomly generated levels, which can be played through in just over an hour, are perfect for a cosy round of co-op in the evening.
