Best Open-World Co-Op Games With Fun Stories

Open-world games are often more fun when played with others. While playing solo can be enjoyable, sharing the experience with friends enhances the story. Dialogue feels more natural, tasks become less repetitive, and even minor events become more special when you experience them together and react to them in real time.

I’ve been checking out some games with really great stories, and honestly, the range is wild! Some are super dark and intense, like fighting a creepy cult out in Montana, while others are just pure, goofy fun – think pirates and tons of jokes. What I really love is when a game has good co-op, because it makes the other players feel like they’re actually part of the story, not just someone tagging along. They feel essential to the world, you know?

We’re only including games that are completely open-world and allow you to experience the entire main story with a friend in co-op. Games with separate, distinct multiplayer modes won’t be part of this list.

Far Cry 5

Reclaiming a Rural County from a Violent Religious Cult

Players work together to liberate a rural county from a group of fanatical leaders.
The narrative shifts based on the pressure the team applies to the territories.

Most cooperative games have straightforward stories with clear good guys and bad guys. But Far Cry 5 is different. It throws you into a tense conflict in rural Montana between a dangerous cult and desperate locals, leaving you to figure out who to trust. The seemingly peaceful open world is full of subtle clues about power and rebellion, and the experience is even more captivating when played with a friend.

You can team up with a friend and explore Hope County together! You’ll be able to complete story missions, free areas from the cult, and enjoy all the open-world activities as a duo. However, only the host player’s progress in the story is saved. While guests can participate and help, their own save won’t reflect the story completion. The good news is both players get to keep any experience, money, and items they earn, making cooperative play beneficial for everyone.

Diablo 4

Confronting an Ancient Evil Across the Ravaged World of Sanctuary in a 4-Player Co-op

Hunt the demon Lilith while uncovering the bleak history of a world plagued by war.
4-player co-op.

Diablo 4 is built for both solo and cooperative play, with its co-op features being a key part of the experience. Up to four players can team up online, each with their own unique character, to fight demons, defeat bosses, and tackle world challenges. Players can play through the main story together as long as they’re at a similar point. When everyone’s progress is synced, the whole party advances through the story together. If players are at different points, the host’s progress determines how things move forward until everyone catches up.

Diablo 4 takes place many years after the events of Diablo 3, and it’s a return to a grimmer, more intense atmosphere. The story centers around Lilith, a powerful and infamous demon who has returned. Her reappearance throws the world into turmoil, and players will need to explore dark secrets, fight demons, and team up with struggling human groups as the world falls apart.

Dying Light

Navigating a Zombie Outbreak with High-Stakes Parkour

A team of four survivors moves across rooftops to avoid the deadly predators on the streets.
The story builds tension as the daylight fades and forces the group to find safe zones.

Few zombie games deliver the intense survival-horror of Dying Light. The game plunges you into a city locked down after a devastating virus outbreak. You play as Kyle Crane, an undercover agent sent into the quarantine zone to retrieve a stolen file. Once inside, Crane discovers that the infected aren’t the only threat – desperate survivors and difficult choices also stand in his way. What really sets Dying Light apart is its dynamic day-night cycle. When night falls, the infected become much more dangerous, forcing players to change their strategies and find safe shelter before darkness arrives.

What truly sets Dying Light apart is its focus on parkour. Running across rooftops, sliding under barriers, and navigating narrow streets always feels dynamic and exciting. The game world encourages you to explore, whether you’re searching for useful items or trying to figure out where the most dangerous zombies hide at night. Beyond the compelling story mode, Dying Light lets up to four players team up online to survive Harran together. You can start playing with friends after completing the beginning of the game and reaching the first safe area. From there, you can join each other’s games and experience the fear, fun, and mayhem as a team.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Reclaiming Na’vi Heritage by Sabotaging Human Military Bases

Two Na’vi fighters sabotage military outposts to protect the natural ecosystem from destruction.
Players fly together on aerial mounts to explore vast forests and floating mountain ranges.

In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, you’ll experience a brand new story about finding yourself, dealing with loss, and fighting back against oppression. You play as a Na’vi character who was orphaned and raised by the human RDA, then awakened after fifteen years in cryosleep to a previously unexplored part of Pandora. The game centers around rediscovering your Na’vi roots, learning their traditions, and leading the fight against the RDA’s damaging mining activities. Visually, the game is stunning, faithfully bringing the vibrant and towering world of James Cameron’s films to life.

In Frontiers of Pandora, you can experience the game with a friend online through two-player co-op. This feature becomes available after you’ve played for a few hours, typically around the missions ‘The Aranahe Clan’ or ‘Eywa’s Blessing’. Once unlocked, you can join each other’s games and explore Pandora together. Sharing the story of identity, belonging, and fighting for Pandora’s freedom is even more enjoyable when experienced with a friend, as you both witness the beautiful landscapes, face the dangers of the forests, and connect with the emotional moments of reclaiming the wilds.

LEGO City Undercover

Solving Goofy Crimes in a LEGO World

Local split-screen co-op allows two players to experience the full story inside LEGO City together.
Two officers swap between multiple costumes to solve puzzles and navigate a city built entirely of plastic bricks.

With so many serious crime games available, LEGO City Undercover is a breath of fresh air – it’s funny, charming, and built entirely out of LEGOs! Think of it as a LEGO version of the Grand Theft Auto series.

I’m really into this LEGO game! You play as Chase McCain, a LEGO cop who comes back to LEGO City just when this supervillain, Rex Fury, breaks out of jail. Naturally, things go crazy with all sorts of crimes popping up, and Chase has to go undercover – switching disguises is a big part of it – to catch Fury and all the bad guys. What’s cool is that the game doesn’t rely on characters from movies or comics; it tells its own completely original story. It’s packed with funny jokes, silly moments, and a lighthearted take on cop shows – it’s all really charming and family-friendly!

LEGO City Undercover lets two players team up locally on the same screen. A second player can jump in at any time to play alongside you as their own character, exploring the city and story together just like the main player. It’s a great way for friends or family to play together, but there’s no online multiplayer option.

Cat Quest 3

A Lighthearted Co-Op Story about Battling Rat Pirates for Treasure

Local co-op supports two players as cats sailing the open sea to fight rat armadas and explore tropical islands.
Focuses on quick ship battles and constant cat-themed puns during the adventure.

Cat Quest 3 moves the action from the familiar grassy landscapes of the earlier games to a brand new, pirate-infested island called the Purribean. You play as a pirate – or ‘purrivateer’ – on a quest to find the legendary Northern Star treasure. You’ll battle against ‘Pi-rats’ and their leader, the Pirate King, in a story delivered through charming dialogue and plenty of cat-themed pirate jokes. A key new feature in this installment is the ability to sail the seas on your own ship.

In Cat Quest 3, players explore the world by sailing, battling enemy ships with cannons, and then venturing onto islands to explore dungeons. The game also supports local co-op, allowing a friend to join in on the same screen or couch. Like previous games in the series, combat is easy to learn but still engaging, with improved combos and quick weapon switching. Playing with a friend makes the action even more exciting – you can team up to defeat bosses, coordinate attacks, and tackle dungeons together using both strategy and fun. Overall, Cat Quest 3 is a great open-world game to experience with a friend.

2026-01-26 11:36