These five brilliant co-op games deliver action, emotion, and teamwork straight to your living room - no sunburn risk involved.
The real treasure is the friends we make along the way. Image Source: 505 Games / EA
Now that spring is here in full force and summer is quickly approaching, we finally have the best opportunities again to spend time with friends and family. Hanging out in the park together, feeling the blazing sun on your scalp, loud tourists everywhere, and drunk partygoers at night… God, I hate summer. But I do like my friends; so what am I supposed to do?
Thankfully, there are video games! Co-op games let us spend time with our loved ones without ever having to leave the house. Win-win. That’s why today we’re showing you 5 top-notch co-op games to bring the action right into your living room.
Split Fiction
Genre: Action-Adventure | Release: March 6, 2025 | Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series
Hot off the press, Split Fiction has quickly captured the hearts of gamers. You play as up-and-coming authors Zoe and Mio, who are chasing their dream of a big breakthrough. While Zoe is all about fantasy, Mio dives headfirst into sci-fi worlds. When they’re invited by the publishing giant Rader, they hope this could finally be their big chance. But CEO Rader himself has a different plan. He invites them to take part in an experiment: capsules that make fictional worlds real.
There’s just one problem. After a scuffle, Mio ends up in the same capsule as Zoe, resulting in a mash-up of both their worlds. Suddenly, the two women find themselves in a remix of their own stories. To protect their creations from Rader’s corporate meddling, they must play through their merged tales, catch glitches, and delete them from the simulation. You'll journey through multiple worlds, solving puzzles, navigating platforming sections, and tackling intense boss fights to secure your happy ending.
Although it uses a classic splitscreen setup, Split Fiction is playable both locally and online. Best part? You only need one copy to play. Thanks to the Friend Pass, a second player can join in without spending a cent.
It Takes Two
Genre: Action-Adventure | Release: March 26, 2021 | Platform: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, Switch
Hazelight, the same studio behind Split Fiction, already scored a massive hit back in 2021. It Takes Two works in a very similar way: in split-screen, you control two different characters through a series of levels that test your skill and reflexes.
But instead of storytellers, this time you step into the shoes of a married couple dealing with classic relationship issues. May is always working, while Cody feels neglected at home. When their daughter, upset after one of their arguments, cries magical tears onto her favorite dolls, the unthinkable happens. May and Cody wake up inside the dolls’ bodies and are forced to find a way out of this strange situation - together. Being tiny, you’ll explore your kids’ bedroom, a tool shed, and the backyard, all while learning to cooperate whether you like it or not.
And just like with Split Fiction, you only need one copy of the game, thanks to the Friend Pass.
A Way Out
But we’re still not at the beginning of Hazelight’s success story. It all started with A Way Out, the game that kicked off the studio’s signature co-op gameplay style.
The setting here is a bit darker than in its successors. You play as Vincent and Leo, two inmates in a 1970s prison who feel they’ve been wrongfully imprisoned and are determined to break out. You'll puzzle your way through the prison, outrun the cops in high-stakes chases, and even dive into the occasional shooter segment. Topping it all off is a gripping story with compelling character dynamics that’s sure to surprise you more than once.
And yep, you guessed it, A Way Out also uses the Friend Pass system, so only one of you needs to own the game.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (Remake)
Genre: Adventure | Release: 28 February 2024 | Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series
A game that was originally designed for single-player turned out to be a true co-op spectacle years later. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons first debuted back in 2013 as a solo adventure. At the time, you controlled both brothers, Naiee and Naia, simultaneously using a single gamepad, which was a real brain-bender. But the 2024 remake added a splitscreen co-op mode, so now you can experience the emotional story with some moral support by your side.
The two brothers embark on a journey through a fantastical world in search of a cure to save their father from a mysterious illness. Having already lost their mother to the sea, they’re determined not to lose their last remaining parent. Along the way, you’ll travel through dark forests, blood-soaked battlefields strewn with fallen giants, creepy dungeons, and icy landscapes in search of the Tree of Life.
The focus is on puzzle-solving, but a few boss fights will definitely push you to your limits. Pro tip: keep some tissues close - you’ll probably need them.
We Were Here Series
Genre: Puzzle | Release: 2017 - 2023 | Platform: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series
And last but not least, something for all you puzzle lovers out there. Since 2017, the We Were Here series has released multiple main entries, each throwing you into unique scenarios that put your communication skills and brainpower to the test.
In the first game, for example, you find yourself alone in a frozen wasteland. Completely isolated... or so it seems. What’s that on the walkie-talkie?
The voice of your expedition partner! They’ve ended up in a mysterious castle, and now it’s up to both of you to find your way back to each other. To do that, you’ll need to solve a variety of puzzles, relying entirely on good communication, since neither of you has all the pieces of the puzzle on your own. The order you play the games in doesn’t really matter. But if you’re new to the series, it’s worth starting with the first one, especially since it’s available for free.
So, if you're not a fan of sweaty outdoor gatherings, mosquito bites, or blinding UV rays, don’t worry. Grab a friend, two gamepads, and dive into some of the best co-op experiences gaming has to offer. Whether you're escaping prison, rewriting reality, or just trying not to scream at each other over a walkie-talkie, there's a perfect game waiting for you.