An immersive story can leave players with long-lasting memories or just straight-up be life-changing. When a game constructs a story that pushes the player's emotions to the forefront, it shows why storytelling through an interactive medium can be so much more impactful than a passive medium.
The Best Local Co-Op Games on Steam (Couch & Split-Screen Included)
Steam has so many great couch co-op games, and here are the best ones to play right now in 2026.
Like with movies and TV shows, the experience can be greatly enhanced by getting to experience them with other people. When watching something, this is easy, but when it comes to a game, both players need to be fully immersed in the story for it to have the greatest impact. Co-op games have come a long way over the years and can pull both players along in such a way that they get an incredible shared experience. Let's take a look at the best co-op story games.
Updated January 12, 2026, by Mark Sammut: A new year has started, and I'm sure 2026 will deliver plenty of incredible co-op games. Until they start to drop, you can always try out a few greats from yesteryear. I've updated this article with two new games (Evil West and Tales of Vesperia) and also added a Quick Picks section.
Quick Picks: Best Co-op Games With Great Stories To Play Right Now
While we will get to the individual games in a second, this section will provide quick recommendations for any readers who just want to know what they should play right now. I have divided the table by genre, and I'll include two games for each category.
|
Category |
Top Pick |
Alternative |
|---|---|---|
|
Best FPS Co-Op Game |
Halo |
Far Cry 5 |
|
Best Adventure Co-Op Game |
Split Fiction |
We Were Here |
|
Best Horror Co-Op Game |
Dead Space 3 |
Resident Evil 5 |
|
Best RPG Co-Op Game |
Baldur's Gate 3 |
Tales of Vesperia |
|
Best Open-World Co-Op Game |
Saints Row 3 |
Borderlands (kind of open-world) |
23 Far Cry 5
Tear Down a Cult, Together
Far Cry 5
- Released
- March 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Toronto
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Far Cry 5 was a return to form for the series after some people felt like the previous game was resting on its laurels. The engaging open world, fun optional content, and compelling villains help Far Cry 5 stand out as one of the best games in the series from both an open-world and storytelling perspective.
Not only was the core gameplay a blast to engage with, but players could also go through the game in co-op. Tackling missions with a friend makes for a great time, and it's easy to see why most people love to play through Far Cry 5 with a buddy, tearing down the game's villainous religious cult as they blast through enemies and bases.
22 Tales of Vesperia
The Best Story In The Definitive Co-Op JRPG Franchise
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
- Released
- January 11, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Namco Tales Studio
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Action RPG, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
While quite a few JRPGs support co-op, Tales has made multiplayer a cornerstone of its identity. Nearly all the games support more than one player, which makes sense since the battle systems nearly always involve four active characters at one go. In co-op, every user controls one character during combat, while the main player handles everything outside of battle. This restriction means some players will spend time doing nothing, which can be frustrating; fortunately, every Tales game is very combat-driven.
Now, picking the best game in the series is quite difficult, as plenty of entries are roughly the same quality. Tales of Graces f has the best combat but one of the weaker stories, while Tales of Symphony has one of the best stories but dated combat that can be hard to appreciate for complete newcomers. Consequently, I would recommend starting with either Tales of Arise or Tales of Vesperia, the latter of which is the most well-rounded game in the franchise. The combat is solid, while the characters and story are both fantastic.
21 Evil West
Awesome Co-Op Game For Action And A Cool-As-Hell Setting
Evil West
- Released
- November 22, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Flying Wild Hog's games usually have their fair share of issues, but man, they are so incredibly fun. Evil West sits comfortably among the developer's greatest achievements, as long as you are looking for a hack-and-slash + third-person shooter hybrid that mostly consists of arena battles. Nearly all the levels, and there are many, involve you and your partner walking from one open zone to the next, where you have to clear a wide assortment of enemies who come in waves. Sure, the campaign is repetitive and threatens to overstay its welcome, but the combat is so satisfying that it mostly works.
Now, I will say that Evil West's story isn't that amazing, as it is a fairly typical post-apocalyptic tale; however, where the game shines is in its setting and atmosphere. Falling squarely within the rare Weird West genre, you are cast as hunters who target vampires, which come in quite a range of shapes and sizes. You get to meet characters ripped right out of Japanese Westerns, while also visiting some really cool locales. The core story is mostly just fine, but everything around it is fantastic.
Evil West's co-op is fun, but only the host can advance their save file. Basically, the second player is a guest in the host's journey.
20 Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake
A Great Story, A Decent Co-Op Game, And A Mediocre Remake
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake
- Released
- February 28, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avantgarden Games
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
Honestly, I'm torn on whether to include Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake or not. The 2013 original game is a masterpiece that tells one of the best stories in gaming history, and I would recommend it to pretty much anybody. Despite revolving around two brothers and featuring sections that involve controlling both, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is single-player, and it works perfectly like that. Yes, on paper, this game seems perfect for two-player co-op; however, Starbreeze's decision to let one player control both brothers amplifies the story's impact. Co-op was not necessary.
So, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake added co-op. Along with just being a widely unnecessary remake in general, this 2024 release launched with an absurd number of bugs, and it is hardly perfect nowadays. Simply put, this version is FAR worse than the original, and I would always advise playing the latter over the former.
That said, the story is the same in both versions, which means it is also brilliant in the remake. The co-op is also implemented well enough, so it doesn't take too much away from the experience for those who have never played the original.
19 As Dusk Falls
Collaborative Storytelling at Its Best
As Dusk Falls
- Released
- July 19, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Interior Night
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
A great thing about indie gaming is that certain titles decide to experiment with their narratives and try new, more interactive methods for providing player choice. Such is the case with As Dusk Falls, which somehow turns a narrative adventure into a co-op experience where players vote on the path that the game's stories take.
24 Best 4-Player Co-Op Games
There are countless 4-player co-op games available for gamers to check out. These, however, are easily among the best.
As Dusk Falls features some harrowing decision-making that can be pretty hard to deal with at times. This is a win for the game, which manages to invest players in a story surrounding a conflict between two families, each with their own dark histories, that takes place across two books. Making decisions and voting on how the story proceeds in co-op makes for a simple yet more engaging way to enjoy this story-driven experience, as each choice plays a significant role in the events that follow.
18 Spiritfarer
Sail into the Afterlife, Hand in Hand
Spiritfarer
- Released
- August 18, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Few developers have the courage to tackle something as somber as death in a video game setting, but that is exactly what the indie devs at Thunder Lotus Games have achieved with Spiritfarer, a management simulation and action game that delves deep into what it means to die by forcing players to come face to face with this inevitable reality.
While Spiritfarer can be enjoyed alone, it can also be played in co-op mode, allowing up to two players to board the same ship and carry out the duties of the Spiritfarer in tandem. The game offers both online and couch co-op, allowing two players to play on the same device. Not only that, but the couch co-op experience is well thought out; Player 2 can do basically everything Player 1 can except talk to people, and the game presentation accounts for multiple participants adequately.
17 Saints Row: The Third
Over-the-Top Co-op Chaos
Saints Row: The Third
- Released
- November 15, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
The third Saints Row game upped the ante when it came to the ridiculousness most people have come to expect from this series. It ramped up the comedy to the max, letting players control Playa as they engage in a wealth of over-the-top missions in a world brimming with style.
Best Co-Op Games On Steam To Play Right Now
From online multiplayer titles to local masterpieces, Steam has plenty of fantastic co-op games that should be played in 2026.
Players who may be having second thoughts about playing this game will be sold from the moment they find out that it supports co-op play. Wreaking havoc in Steelport is a ton of fun with friends, and it's a shame that the Saints Row remake completely missed the mark when it came to what players were expecting from this beloved open-world series.
16 Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Relive the Legendary Saga with a Friend
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Released
- November 11, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Players who wanted to get into the Halo series but were unable to for the longest time will love the fact that this Xbox franchise decided to release a remastered collection of the first three games in the series, letting new players experience Master Chief's journey from the very beginning. This is already a treat as is, but what makes this even better is that these campaigns can be enjoyed in co-op too.
While The Master Chief Collection was rightfully criticized for its initial online matchmaking issues, most of these problems have been ironed out. What's left now is a solid FPS experience that spans multiple games and lets players play through these legendary titles with a friend to enjoy the greatness of Halo at its peak.
15 It Takes Two
Lighthearted Co-op Brilliance
It Takes Two
- Released
- March 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch
It Takes Two took the co-op-specific gameplay elements of No Way Out and built upon them to a degree never seen before. It Takes Two takes advantage of a much more lighthearted tone to give players plenty of opportunities to have silly fun and play stupid games with each other.
It doesn't skimp on the core gameplay either. Whether puzzle-platforming or battling creatures, players have to be in sync with each other at all times to move forward. This plays perfectly into the narrative of two lovers in a failing marriage reconnecting and relearning each other's strengths and weaknesses.
14 Resident Evil 5
A Dumb Story That Is Still Fun In Co-Op
Resident Evil 5
- Released
- March 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Many people consider Resident Evil 5 to be the game that sent the series down a maligned route where bombastic action and spectacle were prioritized over actual horror. After all, Resident Evil 4 was a massive success, and Capcom decided to go all-in on the action moments without retaining a lot of the tense situations that made this legendary title such a brilliant evolution in the first place.
19 Games Perfect For Long-Distance Couples
These charming online co-op games are perfect for couples who are in long-distance relationships.
However, despite its many flaws, many people still have a blast playing through Resident Evil 5, especially if they've already been following the series' overarching story for a while. The game may lack a lot of what made the series special, but the co-op action in this game is good enough to make up for its faults.