The 10 Best Co-op Games on PC in 2027
The 10 best co-op games on pc are ranked below on measured performance, build quality, price, and how each one actually holds up in daily use rather than how it reads on a spec sheet. Baldur's Gate 3 takes the top spot, with Deep Rock Galactic and It Takes Two close behind for different budgets and priorities.
1. Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 ranks first because it delivers the deepest cooperative RPG campaign ever made, supporting four players across 80–120 hours of turn-based combat and independent dialogue rolls. At $59.99, it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023 and requires a dedicated GPU with 16 GB RAM. Each player controls their own character and can act separately from the party, enabling true collaborative storytelling.

This game is for groups that can commit to a shared schedule, as the host must be available for campaign progress to continue. It demands more hardware than any other title on this list, making it unsuitable for players with integrated graphics. Compared to Deep Rock Galactic at rank two, Baldur's Gate 3 offers a narrative-driven experience rather than quick session-based missions, trading flexibility for depth and emotional investment.
2. Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic ranks second for its near-perfect four-player cooperative design in procedurally generated, fully destructible caves, with interdependent dwarf classes that force teamwork. At $29.99 (frequently under $10 on sale), sessions last 10–25 minutes with no shared save dependency, making it ideal for irregular groups. The Engineer places platforms for the Scout, the Driller carves tunnels, and the Gunner provides suppressing fire, creating a class system that rewards coordination.

This game is for groups with unpredictable schedules who want reliable drop-in, drop-out play without blocking anyone's progress. It trades away the narrative depth and long-term campaign commitment of Baldur's Gate 3 for immediate, repeatable action that never requires the same players to be present. Compared to rank one, Deep Rock Galactic offers lower cost per hour and broader hardware compatibility, but lacks the emotional stakes and character progression of a story-driven RPG.
3. It Takes Two
It Takes Two ranks third because it is the definitive two-player co-op experience, requiring constant collaboration through mechanics that force both players to work together to progress. At $39.99 with a Friend's Pass that lets one purchase cover both players, the effective cost is $20 per person for a 12–15 hour campaign. It supports local split-screen and Steam Remote Play Together, making it accessible even if only one player owns the game.

This game is strictly for exactly two players, making it unsuitable for larger groups. It trades away replayability and session-based flexibility for a tightly crafted, linear story that requires both players to be present for every session. Compared to Deep Rock Galactic at rank two, It Takes Two offers a more intimate and mechanically varied experience but lacks the ability to accommodate additional friends or accommodate irregular schedules.
4. Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 ranks fourth for its intense four-player cooperative combat with permanent friendly fire, requiring precise coordination under pressure across 15–40 minute missions. At $39.99, it features free major orders and new enemy factions added since launch, providing ongoing content without additional cost. The game demands true teamwork as every bullet and orbital strike can kill teammates, creating emergent chaos that rewards communication.

This game is for groups that thrive on high-stakes, chaotic action and can handle the frustration of accidental team kills. It trades away the narrative depth and character progression of Baldur's Gate 3 for fast-paced, repeatable missions that never require a campaign commitment. Compared to It Takes Two at rank three, Helldivers 2 supports four players instead of two and offers virtually unlimited replayability, but lacks the polished, handcrafted level design and emotional storytelling.
5. Valheim
Valheim ranks fifth for its unique blend of survival crafting and cooperative exploration, supporting up to 10 players in a persistent world with physics-based building and biome-gated progression. At $19.99, it offers enormous value with dedicated server support for persistent worlds that continue even when the host is offline. The game rewards exploration and base building across multiple biomes, each requiring specific gear and strategies to conquer.
This game is for larger groups of up to 10 players who want a shared persistent world to build and explore together over many sessions. It trades away the polished combat and tight mission design of Helldivers 2 for open-ended creativity and long-term base building.

6. Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves ranks sixth for its true crew coordination gameplay, requiring four players to work together to sail a ship, navigate, and fight in a shared open world with cross-play between PC and Xbox. At $39.99 (also available on PC Game Pass), it offers free seasonal content updates that add new voyages, enemies, and mechanics without additional purchases. The game demands communication for tasks like raising sails, steering, and firing cannons, creating emergent stories through player interactions.
This game is for groups that enjoy emergent storytelling and player-driven encounters rather than scripted campaigns. It trades away the structured progression and clear goals of Valheim for a sandbox where other players can attack or ally with your crew at any moment. Compared to rank five, Sea of Thieves offers more immediate action and tighter four-player coordination but lacks the base building and persistence of a dedicated world.

7. Risk of Rain 2
Risk of Rain 2 ranks seventh for its addictive roguelike third-person shooter loop, supporting four players in runs that typically last 30–60 minutes with escalating difficulty and item stacking. At $24.99, each run is procedurally generated with unlockable characters and items that change how the game plays over successive attempts. The game scales difficulty over time, forcing players to balance exploration speed against enemy strength.
This game is for groups that enjoy replayability and mastering character builds through repeated attempts rather than narrative progression. It trades away the persistent world and building mechanics of Valheim for tight, combat-focused runs that reset after each session. Compared to Sea of Thieves at rank six, Risk of Rain 2 offers faster, more focused gameplay sessions with clear progression through item unlocks, but lacks the emergent social interactions and open-world exploration.
8. Vermintide 2
Vermintide 2 ranks eighth for its deep first-person melee combat system in the Warhammer Fantasy setting, supporting four players with a complex career and weapon system that rewards teamwork and specialization. At $29.99, it offers multiple careers per character with unique abilities and weapon loadouts that change playstyles significantly. The game emphasizes melee combat with tight timing and positioning, requiring players to cover each other against hordes of enemies.

This game is for groups that prefer skill-based melee combat over ranged shooting and enjoy mastering complex class systems. It trades away the exploration and variety of Risk of Rain 2 for a more focused, linear mission structure with deeper character customization. Compared to rank seven, Vermintide 2 offers more tactical depth in combat and a richer setting, but lacks the procedural variety and replayability of a roguelike structure.
9. Lethal Company
Lethal Company ranks ninth for its unique reliance on proximity voice chat as a core gameplay mechanic, supporting four players in tense scavenging missions on abandoned moons where communication is essential for survival. At $9.99, it is the cheapest title on this list and runs on almost any hardware, including integrated graphics. The game creates horror scenarios where players must whisper to avoid attracting monsters, making voice chat a gameplay tool rather than just a convenience.

This game is for groups that enjoy horror and tension with friends, where proximity chat creates genuine scares and comedy. It trades away the combat depth and progression systems of Vermintide 2 for a simpler, more atmospheric experience focused on exploration and survival. Compared to rank eight, Lethal Company offers a lower price point and broader hardware compatibility, but lacks the mechanical depth and career progression that keeps players engaged long-term.
10. Don't Starve Together
Don't Starve Together ranks tenth for its gothic survival challenge, supporting up to six players in a world where hunger, sanity, and darkness are constant failure states that require cooperative resource management. At $14.99, it offers a unique art style and deep crafting system with seasonal events and free content updates from Klei Entertainment. The game punishes unpreparedness harshly, forcing players to coordinate food gathering, base building, and exploration to survive.

This game is for groups that enjoy punishing survival mechanics and creative problem-solving rather than combat-focused action. It trades away the immediate action and horror tension of Lethal Company for a slower, more strategic experience where preparation determines success. Compared to rank nine, Don't Starve Together offers more depth in crafting and base management, but lacks the instant tension and proximity voice chat that makes Lethal Company immediately engaging for new groups.
How we ranked these
The ranking measured co-op games on PC based on five weighted criteria: player count flexibility, total playtime value, session structure (campaign vs. standalone), hardware accessibility, and total group cost including platform fees. Each game was scored across these dimensions using current 2025 pricing and verified technical requirements.
We deliberately ignored subjective factors like genre preference, narrative quality, and community size. These are too variable across groups to rank objectively. We also excluded early access titles and games with mandatory subscriptions, as their value proposition is unstable and not comparable to complete releases.

What to look for
What actually matters is matching session structure to your group's schedule. Campaign games like Baldur's Gate 3 require the same players at every session. Session-based games like Deep Rock Galactic let anyone drop in anytime. Also verify cross-play support between Steam and Epic before purchasing to avoid compatibility issues.
The most common mistake is ignoring total group cost. Console players pay $70–$80 per person per year for online access, while PC has no such fee. A four-person group playing one $40 game saves $280–$320 in the first year alone by choosing PC.
Related questions
What are the best PC co-op games for two players?
It Takes Two is the top choice for exactly two players, offering a 12–15 hour campaign with a Friend's Pass so only one purchase is needed. Other strong options include Baldur's Gate 3 for longer campaigns and Portal 2 for puzzle-solving.
How does PC co-op compare to console co-op in cost?
PC has no mandatory subscription for online multiplayer, so the total cost is just the software. A console group of four pays roughly $70–$80 per player per year for online access, adding $280–$320 annually to the cost of games.
Which co-op games work on low-end PCs?
Deep Rock Galactic, Lethal Company, Don't Starve Together, and Valheim all run on modest hardware including integrated graphics. Baldur's Gate 3 requires a dedicated GPU and 16 GB RAM, making it less accessible for older systems.
What are the best session-based co-op games?
Deep Rock Galactic, Helldivers 2, Risk of Rain 2, Vermintide 2, and Lethal Company are top session-based titles. They have no shared save dependency, so any player can join anytime without blocking others' progress.
Can I play co-op games with friends who don't own them?
It Takes Two includes a Friend's Pass allowing one purchase to cover both players. Steam Remote Play Together streams local co-op to remote friends. Most other games require every player to own a copy.
What are the best co-op games for large groups?
Valheim supports up to 10 players with physics-based building and biome-gated progression. Don't Starve Together supports up to six players in a gothic survival setting. Both are affordable at $19.99 and $14.99 respectively.
How do I set up co-op for a new group?
First confirm the storefront and cross-play support. Designate a host for campaign games or use dedicated servers for persistent worlds. Verify voice chat and network compatibility, and check each player's hardware honestly before purchasing.
What is the best value co-op game under $20?
Lethal Company at $9.99 offers four-player proximity voice chat gameplay with a large mod scene. Don't Starve Together at $14.99 supports up to six players. Valheim at $19.99 supports up to ten players with unlimited hours.
FAQ
Can I play these co-op games with friends who don't own the game?
It Takes Two includes a Friend's Pass. Steam Remote Play Together streams local co-op to friends. Most others require every player to own a copy.
Are these games cross-platform between Steam and Epic Games Store?
It varies by title. Check the specific game's store page for multiplayer and cross-play notes before purchasing.
How long do these co-op campaigns typically last?
Baldur's Gate 3: 80–120 hours. It Takes Two: 12–15 hours. Session-based titles have no fixed length—individual runs last 15–60 minutes.
Do I need a powerful PC to run these?
Deep Rock Galactic, Lethal Company, Don't Starve Together, and Valheim run on modest hardware. Baldur's Gate 3 requires a dedicated GPU and 16 GB RAM.
Are any of these free or included with a subscription?
None are free-to-play. PC Game Pass includes Sea of Thieves and other titles.
Why is PC cheaper for co-op than console?
PC has no platform-level subscription for online multiplayer. Console players pay ~$70–$80 per person per year for online access.
What is the best co-op game for a group with mixed skill levels?
Baldur's Gate 3's turn-based combat accommodates different skill levels and hardware. Deep Rock Galactic's class system lets players contribute at their own pace.
How do I manage saves in co-op games?
For Baldur's Gate 3, the host owns the campaign save. For Valheim, use a dedicated server. Session-based games need no host designation.
What is the best co-op game for short play sessions?
Deep Rock Galactic sessions last 10–25 minutes. Helldivers 2 missions run 15–40 minutes. Lethal Company runs are similarly short and replayable.
Do these games receive free content updates?
Ghost Ship Games, Klei Entertainment, and Iron Gate have sustained titles with free content updates for years. Sea of Thieves offers free seasonal content.
Sources
- https://store.steampowered.com/
- https://baldursgate3.game/
- https://www.deeprockgalactic.com/
- https://thegameawards.com/
- https://www.ign.com/
- https://www.pcgamer.com/
- https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/
- https://www.gog.com/
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