Co Op Games Online: How Online Co-op Video Games Work and What to Play

Published · By Alehundred Studios

Co op games online are video games where you and your friends join the same match over the internet, each on your own device, and work toward one shared goal. You meet in a lobby, accept an invite, talk over voice chat and play as one team, whether you are across town or across the country.

This guide explains what online co-op really means, how to set it up step by step (lobbies, invites, crossplay and voice), the main kinds of online co-op games with examples taken from their official pages, what to play on PC and Android, and how to choose the right game for your group.

What does online co-op mean?

Online co-op means two or more players on separate devices share one live game over the internet and win or lose together. It is different from local co-op, where everyone sits in the same room around one screen, and from competitive online play, where you play against each other.

There are three common ways to play co-op with friends who are not next to you:

The Entertainment Software Association's 2026 Essential Facts report found that 70% of players age 8+ have played with others, online or offline, and that 62% of those players play video games online with friends they know in person.

How do you set up co op games online with friends?

You set up an online co-op session by getting everyone into the same lobby, then launching the match together. Here is the full path, from first message to first jump.

  1. Pick a game everyone can run. Check that it is on each person's platform and that the weakest device meets the requirements. Some games also list network needs; Chained Together warns that "A high-speed internet connection and a good connection between players are required to play online."
  2. Add each other as friends. Most invites travel through a friends list: Steam, an in-game account or a platform account. Do this before game night, not during it.
  3. Create or join a lobby. A lobby is the waiting room before the match. Valve's ISteamMatchmaking reference shows the usual privacy levels: a private lobby where "The only way to join the lobby is from an invite," a friends-only lobby that is "Joinable by friends and invitees, but does not show up in the lobby list," and a public lobby that is "Returned by search and visible to friends." For a night with your own group, private or friends-only is the right pick.
  4. Send the invite. One player hosts, the others accept. Epic's crossplay documentation for developers describes overlays that let players "Send invitations to friends to join their game lobby, session, or your custom solution."
  5. Turn on voice. Use the game's own voice chat if it has one, or a voice app the whole group already uses.
  6. Launch together. When everyone is ready, the host starts the match and the lobby moves into the game.

Hosted or server-based? Small co-op games often run with one player's game acting as the host, while bigger or long-running games use dedicated servers that stay online on their own. In a hosted game, if the host quits, the session usually ends for everyone, so let your friend with the most stable connection host.

What are the main kinds of online co-op games?

Online co-op games come in a handful of clear styles, and knowing them makes it much easier to pick. Here are the main kinds, each with an example described by its own store page.

What are the best co op games on PC to play online?

The best co-op games on PC to play online are the ones that match your group size: Deep Rock Galactic and Phasmophobia for four, Valheim for up to ten, and PICO PARK for a big, noisy party.

PC is the easiest place to start because Steam lists the co-op type on every store page. Look in the Features box for "Online Co-op," then check the player count in the game description. If a favorite couch game only lists local play, look for "Remote Play Together," which streams it to friends online.

We cover the full list of PC picks, plus split screen and LAN, in our guide to co op games PC.

Are there co op games online for Android?

Yes, Android has strong online co-op games, and several of them also connect to players on other devices. Phones matter here: Pew Research Center found that 70% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 play video games on a smartphone.

On a phone, two settings make online co-op far better: a headset with a microphone, and a stable Wi-Fi connection rather than a weak mobile signal.

How does crossplay work in online co-op games?

Crossplay lets players on different platforms or stores join the same online match, as long as the game supports it and everyone can reach the same friends list or invite system.

The game handles this through a shared account or online service. Epic's documentation, for example, describes an overlay where players can "See a list of their friends," send invites and "Block nuisance players." For you, the steps are simple:

  1. Check the store page. Look for cross-platform support on each platform you plan to use.
  2. Link or create the game account. Many crossplay games ask you to sign in once so friends on other devices can find you.
  3. Invite by in-game name. If your friend is not on your platform's friends list, use the game's own friend code or account name.

Crossplay is the biggest reason a mixed group can play at all: the friend on a phone and the friend on a gaming PC no longer need the same hardware. We go deeper in crossplay games PC and mobile.

Do you need voice chat for online co-op games?

You do not strictly need voice chat, but it makes online co-op much better, and most players use some form of it. The ESA found that 72% of online players age 8+ have used communication tools like in-game text and voice chat while playing. Among players who communicate online, 52% have used platform or in-game voice chat, which was also the most preferred option at 36%, and 28% have used Discord.

Developers know talking is part of the game. PICO PARK's Steam page even says "we recommend using Discord or Zoom to play while talking." Valve's Steam Voice documentation advises that "giving players the option for both always-on, and push-to-talk is ideal," and that "if your game supports more than 4 players then always-on is never recommended." For big groups, push-to-talk keeps the channel clear.

Voice chat also comes with simple habits worth keeping: mute when you are not playing, use push-to-talk in large lobbies, and use the block and report tools in the game or platform if someone ruins the session. Sky shows another approach: its Steam page says "chat is only visible with friends or in designated areas."

How do you pick the right online co-op game for your group?

Pick by checking five things: player count, platforms, session length, mood and how easy it is to get everyone in.

  1. Player count: a duo, a squad of four or a big group of eight or more each need different games.
  2. Platforms: if even one friend plays on a phone, filter for crossplay first.
  3. Session length: short rounds for weeknights; persistent worlds for a regular group.
  4. Mood: spooky, cozy, chaotic, competitive-but-friendly or story-driven.
  5. Friction: built-in voice chat and one-click invites mean more nights actually spent playing.

Friendships are the real reward. Pew found that 72% of teens who play video games say spending time with others is a reason they play, and 47% of teen players have made a friend online because of a game. For more ideas, see our list of games to play with friends online.

Where does Coins Catcher: Co-op Lands fit?

Coins Catcher: Co-op Lands is an online co-op 3D platformer for up to 8 players, with voice chat for everyone and crossplay that puts PC (Steam), mobile and VR players in the same match. It is made in Unreal Engine 5 by Alehundred (solo developer Alejandro Friant) and published by Alehundred Studios.

Your group meets in the Forest Hub, a sacred forest with giant mushrooms and glowing butterflies, then travels through magic portals into giant dioramas of seven real historical eras, from Italy 1956 back to Alexandria 300 BC. You are 10 cm (about 4 inches) tall. Players collect coins and spend them in the game on talents (jump height, run speed, ability power and more) and on unlocking the next eras, while the team defeats the enemies and the giant beast of each era. The story twists the Brothers Grimm tale The Seven Ravens: seven brothers, cursed into seven giant beasts. When the group gathers 100 coins, the era's tower opens and a race to the top starts, with the Magic Gem for the first to arrive. Fire, ice, oil and bubble spells keep it chaotic, and each diorama has 8 signs with real historical curiosities.

The game is in Early Access on Steam and open to suggestions from the community.

FAQ

What are co op games online?

They are games where players on separate devices join the same match over the internet and work as a team toward a shared goal, usually connecting through a lobby, an invite and voice chat.

What are good games to play with friends online?

Good picks include Deep Rock Galactic and Phasmophobia for four players, Valheim for up to ten, PICO PARK and Chained Together for platforming chaos, and Minecraft for building together across devices.

Are there co op games for Android?

Yes. Minecraft supports up to 10 friends cross-platform on Realms, Terraria supports up to 7 friends online, and Sky: Children of the Light lets phone players explore with friends.

What are the best co op games on PC?

On Steam, strong online picks include Deep Rock Galactic, Phasmophobia, Valheim and PICO PARK. Check the Features box for "Online Co-op" and the description for the player count.

Are there online co op platformers?

Yes. PICO PARK supports 2 to 8 players online, Chained Together lets up to four climbers play together online, and many 3D platformers on Steam list Online Co-op.

How do I invite friends to an online co-op game?

Add them to your friends list, create a lobby, and send an invite from the game or platform overlay. Once everyone has joined, the host launches the match.

Sources

  1. Valve Corporation. ISteamMatchmaking Interface. Steamworks API Reference, 2026.
  2. Valve Corporation. Steam Voice. Steamworks Documentation, 2026.
  3. Valve Corporation. Steam Remote Play. Steamworks Documentation, 2026.
  4. Epic Games. Crossplay Introduction. Epic Online Services Documentation, 2026.
  5. Entertainment Software Association. 2026 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry. ESA, 2026.
  6. Gottfried J, Sidoti O. Teens and Video Games Today. Pew Research Center, 2024.
  7. Ghost Ship Games, Coffee Stain Publishing. Deep Rock Galactic. Steam store page, 2026.
  8. Kinetic Games. Phasmophobia. Steam store page, 2026.
  9. Iron Gate AB, Coffee Stain Publishing. Valheim. Steam store page, 2026.
  10. TECOPARK. PICO PARK. Steam store page, 2026.
  11. Anegar Games, Lab42, Secret Mode. Chained Together. Steam store page, 2026.
  12. thatgamecompany. Sky: Children of the Light. Steam store page, 2026.
  13. Mojang. Minecraft: Dream it, Build it!. Google Play store page, 2026.
  14. 505 Games Srl. Terraria. Google Play store page, 2026.
  15. thatgamecompany. Sky: Children of the Light. Google Play store page, 2026.