Every game here was scored on one thing: how fast it gets fun and how long it stays fun. Co-op raises the stakes, because it’s not only your evening on the line. It’s your friends’ evenings too. So here’s every co-op game we’ve rated, best first, plus the ones we’d tell your group to skip.
The Most Fun Co-op Games, Ranked
1. Deep Rock Galactic (10/10)
Four dwarves, one cave, and a mission timer that never feels like a chore. The community is famously friendly, the gunplay feels great from the first drop, and nothing is locked behind a store. If your group can only agree on one game, start here. Read the full Deep Rock Galactic verdict.
2. Left 4 Dead 2 (10/10)
Pick it up, shoot zombies, laugh when someone gets grabbed by a Smoker. It asks nothing of you and it’s still wildly replayable years later. The easiest yes on this list. Read the full Left 4 Dead 2 verdict.
3. Portal 2 (10/10)
The co-op campaign is its own set of chambers built for two, and half the fun is watching your partner get it before you do. No grind and no filler. Read the full Portal 2 verdict.
4. Space Marine 2 (9/10)
Three-player co-op where you feel like a seven-foot tank. Combat is loud, heavy and satisfying right away. It lost a point for how the developers handled cosmetics, not for the game itself. Read the full Space Marine 2 verdict.
5. Cuphead (9/10)
Brutal, fair and gorgeous. Two players dying to the same boss over and over is somehow a great night. Only for groups that enjoy a challenge. Read the full Cuphead verdict.
6. Stardew Valley (9/10)
Share one farm with friends and split the chores. Co-op takes the edge off the slow first week, and one more day turns into a whole evening. The calmest pick on this list. Read the full Stardew Valley verdict.
7. Terraria (9/10)
Dig, build a base and gear up for the next boss with friends on the same world. Sharing loot makes the confusing first hours go a lot faster, and a short session tends to turn into a whole night. Keep a wiki open. Read the full Terraria verdict.
8. Palworld (9/10)
Catch creatures, put them to work and grow a base together. A friend who knows the basics makes the busy early hours much easier, and groups tend to keep playing long after they meant to stop. The grind arrives around the middle of the game. Read the full Palworld verdict.
9. Helldivers 2 (8/10)
Four players, orbital strikes and friendly fire make every mission a mess in the best way, and new players love it. Crashes and a slow premium grind are the catch. Read the full Helldivers 2 verdict.
10. Baldur’s Gate 3 (8/10)
A huge RPG you can play with up to four friends. The story moments land hard in co-op and it hooks a group fast; slow turns and inventory busywork are the only drag. Read the full Baldur’s Gate 3 verdict.
11. Valheim (7/10)
Building a Viking base with friends is great for the first stretch. The slow update pace wears on long-term groups, which is where it loses points. Read the full Valheim verdict.
12. Warframe (7/10)
Movement and combat are some of the best in any shooter. The grind and the pile of systems you need to learn are the price, so it’s a better fit for a group that wants a long-term hobby. Read the full Warframe verdict.
Co-op Games to Skip Right Now
ARC Raiders (3/10)
Squad play is exciting until you get picked off by players camping the exits. Too much of the session is spent waiting to lose your loot. See why ARC Raiders scores 3/10.
How We Score Co-op Games
Same scale as everything else on IsItFun. We analyze recent Steam player reviews for each game and score immediate fun from 1 to 10. Graphics, story and critical acclaim don’t count. For co-op games, the things that cost the most points are toxic matchmaking, grind that splits a group up, and updates that take away what made the game fun in the first place.
Looking for something to play alone instead? The highest scores on the site belong to games like Hades, Outer Wilds and Subnautica. Or browse every game we have scored.