The 32 Best Local Co-Op Games on Steam

While many people think of playing together on consoles when they hear about local co-op games, Steam also offers plenty of options for couch co-op. PC gaming has shifted towards online multiplayer, making it less common to see local area network (LAN) play like in the past, but if a game has local co-op on consoles, it usually has it on the PC version too. Steam has a huge library of online games focused on teamwork, and thankfully, it hasn’t forgotten about the fun of playing together on the same couch.

Grab a friend or connect your computer to your TV, and get ready to enjoy some fantastic local co-op games – all available through Steam! You’ll find everything from role-playing adventures and fighting games to shooters, platformers, puzzles, horror, and tons of other genres.

Quick Picks: Best Steam Local Co-Op Games For Different Circumstances

Let’s start with some game suggestions based on how many people are playing or what kind of experience you’re looking for. If you just want a quick idea, check out the table below. We’ll give you three options for each type of group, and one of those won’t be detailed further in the full list.

Category	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Best for Couples	It Takes Two	Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime	Haven
Best for Friends	Split Fiction	Marvel Cosmic Invasion	Viking Squad
Best with Kids	Lego Games	Castle Crashers	Human Fall Flat
Best Chaotic Party Game	Overcooked! 2	Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes	Ultimate Chicken Horse
Best Story-Driven Co-Op	Baldur’s Gate 3	A Way Out	Sea of Stars

1. Marvel Cosmic Invasion

Accessible And Fun Steam Beat ‘Em Up Co-Op Game

It’s no surprise the creators of TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge have delivered another fantastic cooperative game with Marvel Cosmic Invasion. Building on their previous success, this new adventure is beautifully designed, challenging, and easy to pick up, whether you play alone or with friends. The single-player experience is excellent, with 15 unique characters offering plenty of replay value. But, like most beat ’em ups, Marvel Cosmic Invasion truly shines when played with others.

Don’t worry about the story – what matters is the exciting and over-the-top combat, which perfectly suits a game with such famous and powerful heroes. The single-player mode is enjoyable, but playing with others really highlights how well the characters work together, encouraging you to create a team where everyone complements each other instead of just going it alone.

I’ve been having a blast with TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge lately – it’s seriously awesome! And if you’re looking for something a little more challenging, Streets of Rage 4 is a fantastic, tough-as-nails beat ’em up that I’d recommend.

2. Split Fiction

The Best Co-Op Game On Steam

Hazelight, the studio behind hits like It Takes Two and A Way Out, is delivering another excellent co-op game with Split Fiction. Like their previous titles, Split Fiction is designed for two players only – you can’t play it by yourself. While some players might not like this, Hazelight’s commitment to co-op experiences is admirable, especially since games focused on cooperative play are becoming increasingly rare. This focus allows Split Fiction to build its story and gameplay around teamwork. The game follows Zoe and Mio, two writers – one specializing in fantasy and the other in science fiction – whose ideas are stolen and turned into dangerous worlds they must navigate together to survive.

Similar to It Takes Two, Split Fiction keeps things fresh with constantly changing environments and gameplay. Each level feels like a new world, drawing from fantasy and sci-fi themes, and the game introduces surprising mechanics to match. While it’s fundamentally a platformer, Split Fiction offers much more than that. It also boasts a compelling story and likeable characters, all brought to life with strong writing. If you and a friend enjoyed It Takes Two, you’ll likely love this game too.

3. Baldur’s Gate 3

The Best Co-Op RPG On Steam For Players Looking For A Long Campaign

Larian Studios, already known for the incredibly successful Divinity: Original Sin 2 – a fantastic co-op RPG for PC – has outdone themselves with Baldur’s Gate 3. After nearly three years in development, the game launched in August 2023 to widespread acclaim. It’s being called a new standard for computer role-playing games, and offers a rich, engaging single-player experience that can provide hundreds of hours of entertainment. A key feature is how the game responds to your decisions, changing the world to fit your choices.

Playing Baldur’s Gate 3 alone is great, but its local co-op mode is surprisingly well-developed. You can either jump into an existing campaign with a friend, or start a brand new adventure together. The split-screen setup lets each player explore and act independently, so you’re not always stuck together. While you’ll probably team up often, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives both players a strong sense of control over their own character and actions.

4. Rotwood (1.0 Release)

Co-Op Beat ‘Em Up Roguelite Goodness

Rotwood is a surprisingly fun cooperative beat ’em up with roguelite elements, and it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a game to play with friends. It features enjoyable combat, impressive animations, and plenty of ways to customize your experience, from how your characters look to how they play. The diverse weapons and combo system keep gameplay interesting over multiple runs, and building up your base provides a satisfying sense of progress.

Rotwood had a bit of an unusual start as an early access game. It initially received almost universal praise, but its reputation has dipped somewhat over time. Updates weren’t always smooth, and the full 1.0 release felt sudden and came after a period of disagreement about the game’s direction. A key problem seems to be that the most enjoyable items, called relics, take a long time to unlock.

5. PowerWash Simulator 2

A Relaxing Time With Your Friends

Although PowerWash Simulator 2 didn’t immediately receive the same positive reception as the first game due to some technical problems, it has the potential to be a truly excellent sequel once those issues are resolved. One area needing improvement is multiplayer – players have reported problems with online connections. Thankfully, the local two-player co-op mode seems to be working well without any major issues.

Career mode is best enjoyed with two players, making it ideal for playing together locally. Like the original game, you and a friend work together to run a cleaning business, tackling jobs of all sizes and in different locations. But what really stands out is how relaxing PowerWash Simulator 2 is as a multiplayer game. It’s a great way to unwind after a stressful day and enjoy a calming, virtual job.

6. Absolum

Another Smash Co-Op Beat ‘Em Up Lands On Steam

Few genres are as perfect for playing with friends on the same couch as beat ’em ups. New, excellent games are released frequently, and many offer both local and online multiplayer on Steam – though that’s not always a given. Absolum is the latest standout title, created by the team behind the popular Streets of Rage 4.

This game is much quicker and more visually exciting than others, and it keeps things fresh with roguelite features, encouraging multiple playthroughs. The combat in Absolum is excellent – it’s both deep and easy to pick up. You can choose from several characters, each with a unique feel, and they work well together in pairs. The story is surprisingly long for a beat ’em up, especially considering you’ll restart from the beginning each time you’re defeated.

7. It Takes Two

One Of The Greatest Local Co-Op Experiences Ever

Hazelight Studio has created three highly-rated cooperative games on Steam, including Split Fiction. While A Way Out is a great choice for couples wanting a compelling story, most players agree that It Takes Two is their best game yet. It Takes Two tells the story of a married couple magically reduced in size who must work together on a fantastical journey to return to normal. Though the basic idea isn’t entirely original, the game excels with its memorable characters and stunning graphics.

May and Cody are heading for divorce, but facing this together forces them to finally talk and cooperate after years of drifting apart. The cooperative gameplay in It Takes Two beautifully complements and strengthens the story’s message about relationships.

8. Vampire Survivors

Popularized A New Genre & Still The Best In Class

Vampire Survivors is consistently one of the most-played games on Steam, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. Local co-op, added in August 2023 with the Switch release, was a fantastic addition to an already excellent game. Up to four players can join forces to fight off waves of enemies, each choosing their own character and weapons. While co-op doesn’t drastically change the core gameplay of Vampire Survivors, it does make some minor adjustments to enhance the multiplayer experience. If you enjoy playing alone, you’ll probably have a great time with local co-op as well.

As with most updates to the game, Poncle designed the co-op mode carefully. They even added features to prevent confusion when multiple characters look alike. However, co-op is more of an added perk to Vampire Survivors, not a core part of what makes the game special.

9. Path Of Exile 2

A Work-In-Progress That Is Already Very Good

Released in 2013, Path of Exile is an incredibly well-made free-to-play action RPG that has remained a top-tier dungeon crawler for almost ten years, making it a simple game to suggest to others. While the original PoE only allowed for online co-op play – fitting for a game built for computers – the 2024 sequel expands on this by adding local multiplayer for up to two players on the same screen. The sequel also requires the use of controllers when playing on PC.

Path of Exile 2 is currently available in early access, meaning it’s still under development. Players who try it now should expect some features to be missing, occasional bugs, and changes to how different character builds perform. While the full game will be free to play, the early access version requires a purchase. If you’re unsure whether you’ll enjoy the game, it’s best to wait for the official 1.0 release, which is still some time away.

Now that’s settled, let’s talk about how great Path of Exile 2 is. It takes everything good about the original game and improves on it, offering more engaging combat, incredibly diverse character customization, and a surprisingly compelling story so far. The endgame looks promising too. Playing PoE2 with a friend locally feels natural, and the game’s classes and build options really encourage players to create a well-rounded team.

10. Reanimal

The Latest Great Horror Co-Op Game

Although Little Nightmares 3 didn’t quite meet hopes, the new co-op horror game Reanimal, from the creators of the original Little Nightmares games, is a standout success. Reanimal fully embraces the horror genre, delivering an intense, mysterious, and genuinely unsettling experience. While you can play alone, it’s clearly built for two players, each controlling one of the child characters. The game relies heavily on teamwork and mutual support, making it especially compelling when played with a friend.

While Reanimal isn’t a mechanically complex or lengthy game, it offers a solid experience. It largely follows the style of Little Nightmares, with puzzles that are generally fair and won’t take players too long to solve. The game’s true strengths lie in its immersive environments, understated narrative, and the overall atmosphere it creates.

2026-03-31 19:37