While massively multiplayer online experiences are fantastic, I find nothing better than settling into a game with one great gaming friend. Below is a list of the best two-player games to enjoy online.
There’s an awesome amount of variety out there, too. Whether you want a thoughtful puzzle-y brain burner, frenetic console fun, or a deep or RPG experience, there’s something for everyone.Â
The best online two-player games ranked
Don’t pay too much attention to the numbering system below, as it is purely subjective. I’d say all of these games offer an excellent two-player experience, so your picks should depend more on the style of play you’re looking for, what fits your budget, etc.Â
Not all of these games are specifically two-player, but many are, so be careful if you also want a game to play alone or with a bigger group. Finally, if you have recommendations yourself, do add them to the list via the comments section below.Â
Related: Best Multiplayer Switch Games
17. Kirby and the Forgotten Land
This might’ve made it higher on the list if it wasn’t Switch only, as this fun installment in the Kirby canon is as fun as it is adorable. It is a perfectly playable platformer if you want to just play it on your own, but playing with a friend adds a fun extra dimension. One of you becomes Waddle-Dee, acting as a less complex but fun-to-play sidekick to Kirby. Don’t be fooled by the super cute looks, either, as this is definitely a tough challenge to beat.
16. Sons of the Forest
Currently only available on PC, Sons of the Forest is a little low on the list as it is also available to play solo or with more friends. However, it has all the makings of a top survival horror title (at the time of writing, it is in early access) and is a lot of fun two-player. Craft, build, and fight a nasty bunch of cannibals as you desperately try to stay alive. And be careful because, as the saying goes, winter is coming...
15. Deep Rock Galactic
I didn’t want to fill this list with multiplayer shooters (this is the only one), but Deep Rock Galactic deserves a place on the list. It's a one-to-four-player first-person shooter with some neat twists. Your characters (dwarves) have different skills, and your mission is to collect as much loot as possible and then escape within a time limit. So, you’ll need to plan your route and create ways to get out if you want to succeed. Playstation, Xbox, and PC.
14. Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a brilliant distillation of the pen-and-paper role-playing game into a deep computer RPG. It stays true enough to the original to pass muster while using the medium’s advantages to great effect, and as D&D was always meant to be played with friends, the co-op mode makes for a great experience. The only downsides are the game takes some serious PC power to play, and you only have one save between you, so once you start down that save game, you need to keep playing it together. On PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5.
13. Stardew Valley
Cozy sims are often seen as a nice getaway to enjoy in peace, but there’s no reason a friend can’t join you in your world. You can play alone, turning your rundown farm plot into a thriving business. But you can also choose to build a home on your plot for a friend who can then dive in and come help you out. More than that, your friend has their own NPC relationships, so you can solo together as well as enjoy events co-op style. Available to play on PC, mobile, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox.
12. Minecraft
For me, the real joy of Minecraft is its versatility. As long as you can fall in love with its blocky charm, the game can be whatever you want it to be. This is especially true of playing it co-op, whether it be an educational, battling, exploring, or building and crafting experience. Versions of Minecraft are available across all online digital platforms, but you’ll need to look into individual compatibility requirements if you want to crossplay between system types.
11. Knights and Bikes
This is a beautifully drawn story-driven action-adventure game that perfectly captures the experience of children starting to gain a little independence and exploring their environment for the first time. While playable solo, it feels designed for the two-player co-op version, as you and your friend explore the world together and let your imaginations take hold. A truly magical, if sometimes frenetic, experience. Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Switch.
Related: Best Multiplayer Horror Games you can play in Co-Op
10. The Past Within
This clever puzzle adventure sees two players cooperating to solve a mystery. The twist here is that the two of you are seeing the same image, but at two different moments in time, so you have to work out what the differences are and what they signify. It has a great suspenseful storyline too, plus a great art style, making this a must for puzzle fans. Available for mobile, PC, and Switch.
9. Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 offers an excellent fantasy RPG experience akin to that of Baldur’s Gate 3. It benefits from lower spec requirements and isn’t restricted by any D&D trappings, but it is the previous game by the same studio. I found its co-op mode equally compelling, as the turn-based combat and wide range of skill availability allow each player to choose very different paths. You can play on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Switch.
8. We Were Here
Thanks to the success of We Were Here, released in 2017, four more games (We Were Here Too, Together, Forever, and Exhibitions) have joined a series that is still going strong. In the original, you find yourselves separated in a secluded castle, with the other player on the end of your only remaining possessions, two walkie-talkies (you need to use microphones to play). It combines exploration and puzzle-solving in a great atmospheric experience. Available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
7. Unravel 2
If you want some platforming with your puzzling, the delightful Unravel 2 is a real charmer. It’s a side-scrolling 2D game that plays with two, as otherwise, you need to control both characters, which is just fiddly and annoying. Together, you’ll take control of two creatures made of yarn (yarnys, apparently) and use your stringiness (swinging, climbing, etc.) to complete a series of increasingly tricky levels. Then every now and again, just take a few minutes to admire the absolutely gorgeous graphics. You can play across the Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Switch platforms.
6. Unboxing the Cryptic Killer
This is the first co-op game to enter the award-winning Cryptic Killer series, and it takes full advantage of the cooperative aspects to give a classic escape room experience. You’ll both be playing as detectives who’ll need to communicate effectively to solve the case, as well as be great puzzle solvers. I like its cool 50s noir feel, plus it comes at a budget price, and you can play it on both mobile platforms and PC.
Related: Best Free Scary Games on Steam
5. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
While Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes can be played with more, it is a great two-player experience (I’d say it’s the best player count). The premise is simple. One player is stuck with a ticking bomb and has no clue what to do, while the other has the instruction manual. As you’ve probably guessed: communication is key, which isn’t helped by the ticking time bomb. The added time element certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you love a bit of pressure to get the heart pounding, this is a must-try party game. Available across all platforms.Â
4. It Takes Two
This is the first of two back-to-back Hazelight titles and some will prefer it to the more gritty A Way Out below. But don’t let the cutesy look put you off. It Takes Two is an ambitious blend of all kinds of cooperative gameplay, moving from thoughtful puzzling to more action-packed shooting and jumping levels, including adventure-style boss battles. Narratively, it's all over the place, but when it’s this much fun, who cares?Â
3. A Way Out
It's hard to see the connection between It Takes Two (above) and A Way Out from the set-ups, as one looks like a cutesy platform game and the other (this) a gritty jailbreak drama. A Way Out is far more story-driven, but the cooperative gameplay elements are just as strong and varied, moving the plot along sensibly but, more importantly, challengingly. Available to play on PlayStation, Xbox, Android, and PC.
2. Overcooked 2
Fans of frenetic fun are going to lap up the co-op action in Overcooked 2. While playable with up to four players, it is fantastic with two. Each player takes a role in the kitchen as you try to keep a hoard of monsters fed so that they don’t go on the rampage and destroy everything. Some will find it incredibly frustrating, others silly fun, while the majority will keep coming back to try and beat the next challenge. You can start cooking on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One.
1. Portal 2
It’s hard to look past Portal 2 if you’re looking for the peak of cooperative two-player gameplay. Ostensibly, it is a puzzle game while also being a platformer, as you and a friend create portals to help you get to the end of each level. The game has a full solo mode but also a whole campaign set up for co-op. Timing is crucial, as well as smarts, making it a fantastic challenge. Playable on Switch, PC, and some older consoles (PS3, Xbox 360).
If you’re looking for more best-game lists, check out 15 Best CRPGs of All Time and 20 First Person Horror Games To Play here at Pro Game Guides!Â
Published: Oct 27, 2023 10:26 am