The best two-player co-op games are built especially for two, or include a full collaborative experience, rather than a tacked-on multiplayer option to a primarily single-player game. Sometimes you want to experience a game from start to finish with a friend, enjoying the highs and lows of puzzle solving, combat, or exploration, and working toward a shared outcome.
While drop-in co-op is plenty of fun on its own–check out some of our best couch co-op games for plenty of recommendations on that front–this list focuses more on games where communication and collaboration are an intrinsic part of the experience. Quests in these games progress because you’re both playing together, rather than despite it. These are games that feel more intimate than competitive multiplayer and more dynamic than traditional couch co-op–sitting in that sweet spot in the middle where both players are equally important.
From emotional narratives to mind-bending puzzles, these games offer something for everyone. So grab someone you’d trust with your (virtual) life, and dive into one of these top co-op games for two players.
It Takes Two
- Developer: Hazelight Studios
- Platform: PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
It’s no secret that we love It Takes Two, we gave it a 9/10 in our review, and when asked for multiplayer games this is one we love to recommend. Hazelight Studios just get it. If you want a game that makes you work together in varied environments, offering innovative gameplay, but you also don’t want the saccharine sweetness and lack of personality that comes with some co-op titles, this one is for you. The story is complex, the characters flawed, and the world fully-realised and a joy to explore.
It Takes Two drops two players into a world where the main characters have been miniaturized. With household objects and the natural world blown up to massive proportions, as well as new doll-like bodies to come to terms with, the couple in question have to successfully navigate a complex platformer-style journey while reflecting on their own fractured relationship. Each level introduces unique mechanics that require constant communication and coordination to overcome as you solve puzzles and defeat enemies. From swinging through forests to navigating fantastical landscapes, the game is both beautiful to look at and mechanically rich, making it one of the most creative co-op experiences available today.
Tick Tock: A Tale for Two
- Developer: Other Tales Interactive
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
Tick Tock: A Tale for Two is a must-play for friends or couples who don’t crack under pressure. This mystical puzzle game tasks you with solving a series of challenges in real-time, but each player has a totally different perspective of the world. One person might see a physical piece of the puzzle, while the other might have essential information that completes the solution. As you progress through the game, you learn to effectively share hints, work through time-sensitive puzzles, and piece together clues to unlock the mystery surrounding a strange clock tower–all through voice chat. With its reliance on effective teamwork and constant dialogue, Tick Tock feels like a true test of your ability to collaborate, making it an excellent choice for fans of interactive puzzles, and people with a lot of face in their communication skills.
Portal 2
- Developer: Valve
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch
Portal 2 is a puzzle-platformer that’s also home to one of the greatest gaming moments we can think of (spoilers alert). It earns a place on this list for the attention to detail in the two-player version of the game, a completely unique story and experience built specifically for two players to collaborate on. As Atlas and P-Body, a pair of robot test subjects, you and a friend have to perform a series of tasks in the Aperture Science test chambers. What starts off fairly simple soon becomes a life-or-death situation with increasingly elaborate and chaotic challenges where both of you are necessary keys to solving each puzzle.
Each player has a portal gun, and in the tradition of the original and single-player mode, solving puzzles involves carefully placing portals in the environment to transport both players through obstacles and reach new areas. The game’s off-beat humor, genuinely challenging level design, and brilliant outside-the-box mechanics make Portal 2 a true standout in the co-op genre, even 15 years after release.
We Were Here
- Developer: Total Mayhem Games
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
The We Were Here series is built entirely around asymmetric cooperation. Each player explores different spaces, often separated by walls or distance, and must rely on verbal communication to solve puzzles and progress. The result is a co-op experience that feels tense, immersive, and deeply collaborative. It’s a bit more thoughtful than your typical platformer or FPS-style co-op game.
Puzzles in We Were Here are designed so that each player holds critical information the other doesn’t. Maps, symbols, or environmental clues must be described accurately, and misunderstandings can quickly derail progress and put you right back to square one. Likewise, progression is shared but not identical. While both players advance through the same overarching journey, they experience it from different perspectives, make different decisions, and need to lean into trusting each other as sometimes the path ahead isn’t clear.
The series’ atmospheric setting is great for cold nights in, offering a genuine challenge with plenty of variety. The first game, simply titled We Were Here, is free to download and play, with other entries We Were Here Too, We Were Here Together, We Were Here Forever, and the latest game We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip being stand-alone paid games in their own right.
In Sink: A Co-Op Escape Adventure
- Developer: Clock Out Games
- Platform: PC
For those who enjoy escape-room-style challenges, Clock Out Games’ indie adventure In Sink might be a hit. Two players must work together throughout the course of the game to solve puzzles and unlock the secrets of their environment to escape from a mysterious location. The game’s emphasis on real-time problem-solving and intricate environmental interactions makes each puzzle feel like a satisfying accomplishment, without feeling too hard or esoteric.
Everything you need to solve the puzzle should be right there, you just need to work together to figure it out. Sometimes you’ll need to be each other’s eyes, ears, or just moral support to figure out how to progress. Puzzles are designed to be languageless and color-blind friendly, too, so can be played with just about anyone. We especially like the hint system on this one, which manages to nudge you in the right direction without spoiling the solution too soon.
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Sea of Stars
- Developer: Sabotage Studio
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Sea of Stars is a gorgeous game to which we gave a 9/10 in our review, but originally didn’t support co-op play at all until an update in late 2024. Turn-based games aren’t usually known for their multiplayer affinity, but the real-time combat system genuinely enhances gameplay when played with two or three players, further cementing the game as one of the best RPGs of the last few years. When playing alone, your timing might be off or you might feel overwhelmed by the requirements of real-time reflexes, but with a friend you have a backup at all times. Simply put: playing with another person makes you more powerful.
Sea of Stars’ retro-inspired RPG offers a beautifully crafted world full of dungeons, monsters, and secrets. As you progress, you’ll encounter various quests and puzzles that require both players to strategize and fight together. We can’t get enough of the game’s gorgeous pixel art, but it’s the engaging storyline, and unique gameplay mechanics that ensure that Sea of Stars is more than just a traditional RPG–it’s a memorable cooperative adventure that you’ll be glad you experienced together.
A Way Out
- Developer: Hazelight Studios
- Platform: PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox Series X/S
This isn’t the first Hazelight game on the list and it also won’t be the last. For that we make no apologies, as to miss A Way Out from a list of the best two-player co-op would be a travesty–this game was built for such a thing.
A Way Out is a cinematic co-op experience that feels more like playing through an interactive movie than a traditional video game, so it’s perfect for people who don’t typically consider themselves a “gamer”. The only way to play is in two-player co-op so every detail is accounted for. You and a friend will take on the roles of Leo and Vincent, two complete strangers who have to work together to break out of prison and navigate the series of challenges this might throw up. A Way Out is a gripping story packed with intense moments, and can be played in split-screen even remotely.
Split Fiction
- Developer: Hazelight Studios
- Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
It’s rare for us to award a 10/10 but in our Split Fiction review we did just that. A captivating sci-fi adventure that requires two players, the game’s dual protagonists are tasked with navigating a world of their own fictional design. It’s one of our favourite games to play on PS5, and a must-try if you like solving puzzles, immersive worlds, or games with complex lead characters.
Two writers become trapped in a mash-up of their opposing sci-fi and fantasy worlds by a tech company with an evil agenda. Not only do the pair have to survive the worlds they’re in, but also safeguard their intellectual property and ideas from people who would steal them in an instant. Despite having very little in common, the two writers have to team up to make it out, resulting in a heartfelt narrative that gets a little too real at times.
You can use a Friend Pass to play with anyone you like, meaning only one of you has to own the game before you start playing.
Unravel Two
- Developer: Coldwood Interactive
- Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Unravel Two is a game you should only play with someone you trust–as you’ll both be connected by a piece of string throughout, meaning one person could sabotage the plan fairly easily (and not always on purpose). It’s a complex and fairly challenging platformer with plenty of timing-dependent moments and environmental hazards, perfect for a pair of well-seasoned gamers looking for something to put them through their paces. Maybe not one for beginners, though.
In Unravel Two you play as a Yarny, bonded to another through a connecting string. Every move you make impacts your fellow player, so be careful and co-ordinate your movements to complete challenges in one piece. The challenge is a joy though, and with its gorgeous art style and touching narrative, Unravel Two offers a cooperative adventure with surprising emotional depth.
Remnant 2
- Developer: Gunfire Games
- Platform: PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X/S
A dark, intense action RPG, Remnant 2 takes players on a journey through a post-apocalyptic world filled with terrifying enemies and monstrous bosses. It’s one of the best games like Destiny, and a great gateway into the tougher end of co-op gaming if everything else on this list is a bit cute for you.
The game’s co-op mode allows two players to team up and face off against formidable foes and horrifying creatures in a variety of environments, combining fast-paced combat with strategic teamwork. The game has been highly praised specifically for its co-op mode, despite being primarily a single-player game, so if you want a game with a bit more bite to it than most co-op experiences, this is a great place to start. With its extensive weapon customization, dynamic world-building, and challenging difficulty, Remnant 2 has a lot to offer even the most discerning gamer.
Bokura
- Developer: Tokoronyori
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
If you want a charming hidden gem indie game that robustly supports two-player co-op, Bokura is what you’ve been looking for. The game explores the bonds of friendship through a series of cooperative challenges, using simple mechanics that allow players to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and explore the environment while each of your screens show something completely different. What you’re seeing is “real” to your character though, so you may be able to interact with things in a different way than your friend. You have to be able to communicate what you’re seeing in order to progress, so keep your minds and your ears open while you play. While not as complex as some other games on this list, Bokura offers a relaxing and fun cooperative experience that’s perfect for casual gamers or those looking for something more laid-back and sweet.
