Co Op Games PC: The Best Picks on Steam and How to Play Together
The best co op games PC players can jump into right now range from two-player story adventures like It Takes Two and Split Fiction to four-player squads like Deep Rock Galactic and Phasmophobia, and big survival groups like Valheim, and Steam makes all of them easy to find with clear co-op labels on every store page. PC is one of the best places for co-op video games because it supports online play, couch co-op with controllers and even ways to share a local game over the internet. Below you will find the standout picks by group type, how to search Steam like a pro, how split screen and online co-op work on PC, and how to choose the right game for your crew.
What are the best co op games on PC?
The best co-op games on PC depend on how many friends you have and what mood you are in, so the smartest way to pick is by group type. Here are strong choices, each described with the words from its own Steam page.
For two players (story and puzzles):
- **It Takes Two** is "a genre-bending platform adventure created purely for co-op." It won the Better With Friends Award at The Steam Awards 2021.
- **Split Fiction**, from the same studio, is "a boundary-pushing co-op action adventure," released in 2025. Its page sums it up: "It's weird, it's wild, and it's designed to be shared."
- **Portal 2** has a separate two-player campaign where success means you must "not just act cooperatively, but to think cooperatively."
For a squad of four:
- **Deep Rock Galactic** is "a 1-4 player co-op FPS featuring dwarven space miners," with four classes that each bring something different to the team.
- **Phasmophobia** is "a 4 player online co-op psychological horror" about hunting ghosts with ghost-hunting gear and your actual voice.
- **Lethal Company**, a co-op horror about scavenging abandoned moons, won the Better With Friends Award at The Steam Awards 2023.
For bigger groups:
- **Valheim** is "a collaborative exploration and survival game for 1-10 players" set in a world inspired by Viking culture.
- **Stardew Valley** turns farming into a team project: "Invite 1-7 players to join you in the valley online!"
- **PEAK**, a co-op climbing game and winner of the Better With Friends Award at The Steam Awards 2025, warns that "You'll need to rely on your friends to have any hope of scaling the mountain, which changes every single day."
For party chaos:
- **Overcooked! 2** assembles a team of chefs in "classic couch co-op or online play for up to four players."
- **PICO PARK** supports 2 to 8 players, and its rule is simple: "every level requires cooperation to complete."
How do you find co-op games on Steam?
You find co-op games on Steam by checking two places on each store page: the Features list and the user tags.
The Features list is set by the developer and tells you exactly how a game can be played together:
- Online Co-op: each player on their own PC, connected over the internet.
- LAN Co-op: players on the same local network, great for a gaming night at one house.
- Shared/Split Screen Co-op: two or more players on one PC and one screen, usually with controllers.
- Remote Play Together: a local co-op game shared online through Steam (more on this below).
User tags are added by players and help you browse by style. It Takes Two and Split Fiction, for example, are tagged Co-op, Local Co-Op, Online Co-Op and Co-op Campaign, so a search for any of those tags will surface similar games.
Two more tips:
- Look at the awards box. The Steam Awards include a Better With Friends Award, and the winning year shows up on the store page, as it does for It Takes Two (2021), Lethal Company (2023) and PEAK (2025).
- Read recent reviews for co-op notes. Players quickly point out if a game's co-op is smooth, how many people it really fits, and whether progress is shared.
Can you play split screen co-op games on PC?
Yes, you can play split screen co-op on PC: plug in controllers, sit side by side and look for the Shared/Split Screen Co-op feature on the store page. It Takes Two, Split Fiction, Portal 2, Stardew Valley and Overcooked! 2 all list it.
The bonus on PC is that a couch co-op game does not have to stay on the couch. Valve's Steamworks documentation explains that Remote Play Together lets players invite their Steam friends to join a game "as though they were sitting at the same computer playing together." Valve turns this feature on automatically for games listed with local co-op or shared/split screen support, so many couch games can be played with friends far away. The host runs the game, and friends connect through Steam's streaming technology.
A few practical tips for split screen on PC:
- Controllers first. Most split screen games expect one controller per extra player.
- A big screen helps. Splitting a small monitor gets cramped; a TV over HDMI makes couch co-op much more comfortable.
- Check the internet for Remote Play. Streaming works best when the host has a solid upload connection.
How does online co-op work on PC?
Online co-op on PC works by connecting each player's computer to the same match, usually through Steam friend invites, a lobby or a server, so everyone sees the game on their own screen.
Talking is half the game. The Entertainment Software Association's 2026 Essential Facts report found that 72% of online players age 8+ have used communication tools like in-game text and voice chat while playing, and that platform or in-game voice chat was the most preferred option (36%). Built-in voice chat matters because it means nobody has to set up a separate app before the first round.
Online co-op on PC also connects you with friends who play elsewhere. Some games add crossplay, so a PC player can team up with friends on other platforms; Split Fiction, for example, lists cross-platform support on its Steam page.
Why are co-op games so popular on PC?
Co-op games are popular on PC because playing together is what most players want, and the PC makes it easy to do in every format: online, LAN, split screen and streamed.
The ESA report found that 70% of players age 8+ have played with others, online or offline, and that 46% play video games with others at least weekly. It also states: "The social value of games is undeniable." Among U.S. teens, Pew Research Center found that 49% play on a desktop or laptop computer, and 89% of teen video game players play with other people, in person or online.
There is also a good reason to team up rather than fight. In two studies reported by Ohio State University, players who cooperated in a game later showed more cooperation in a real-life task than players who competed. Co-author John Velez said, "These findings suggest video game research needs to consider not only the content of the game but also how video game players are playing the game."
How do you choose the right co-op game for your PC group?
Choose by matching the game to your player count, your hardware, the way you will connect and the mood of your group.
- Count your players. Two-player campaigns (It Takes Two, Split Fiction, Portal 2) are made for pairs. Four-player squads (Deep Rock Galactic, Phasmophobia) fit a small crew. Groups of five or more should look at Valheim, Stardew Valley or PICO PARK.
- Check the system requirements. Every Steam page lists minimum and recommended specs. The game has to run well on the weakest PC in the group.
- Decide how you connect. Same room: Shared/Split Screen Co-op. Different homes: Online Co-op or Remote Play Together. Same house with several PCs: LAN Co-op.
- Pick the vibe. Cozy farming, spooky ghost hunts, frantic kitchens, mountain climbs or a big story adventure.
- Think about session length. Party games shine in short bursts; survival and campaign games reward a regular weekly night.
- Look for voice chat and easy invites. The fewer steps between asking your friends and actually playing, the more often your group will play.
Where does Coins Catcher: Co-op Lands fit?
Coins Catcher: Co-op Lands is an online co-op 3D platformer on PC through Steam, where its store page lists Online Co-op. It is made in Unreal Engine 5 by Alehundred (solo developer Alejandro Friant) and published by Alehundred Studios.
It fits the bigger-group category: up to 8 players share the same match, with voice chat for everyone. Crossplay puts PC, mobile and VR players together, so the friend without a gaming PC can still join from a phone or a headset. You are 10 cm (about 4 inches) tall and travel through magic portals into giant dioramas of seven real historical eras, from Italy 1956 back to Alexandria 300 BC. Players collect coins and spend them on talents (upgrades like jump height, run speed and cast range) and on unlocking the next eras, and the team fights the enemies and the giant beast of each era. At 100 coins the era's tower opens and a race to the top begins, with the Magic Gem for whoever gets there first. Spells (fire, ice, oil and the bubble) bring friendly chaos.
The game is in Early Access and open to suggestions from the community.
FAQ
What are the best co op games on PC?
Strong picks include It Takes Two, Split Fiction and Portal 2 for two players; Deep Rock Galactic, Phasmophobia and Lethal Company for four; and Valheim, Stardew Valley, PEAK and PICO PARK for bigger groups.
How do I find co op games on Steam?
Check the Features list on each store page for Online Co-op, LAN Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op and Remote Play Together, and browse user tags like Co-op, Online Co-Op and Co-op Campaign.
Can you play co op games online on PC?
Yes. Games with Online Co-op connect each player's PC over the internet, and Remote Play Together lets friends join many local co-op games online through Steam.
Are there split screen co op games on PC?
Yes. It Takes Two, Split Fiction, Portal 2, Stardew Valley and Overcooked! 2 list Shared/Split Screen Co-op on Steam. You will usually need one controller per extra player.
How many players can play co op games on PC?
It depends on the game. Many co-op games fit two or four players, Stardew Valley fits up to eight, PICO PARK supports 2 to 8, and Valheim supports up to ten.
Sources
- Valve Corporation. Steam Remote Play. Steamworks Documentation, 2026.
- Entertainment Software Association. 2026 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry. ESA, 2026.
- Gottfried J, Sidoti O. Teens and Video Games Today. Pew Research Center, 2024.
- Grabmeier J. Violent video games not so bad when players cooperate. Ohio State News, The Ohio State University, 2012.
- Hazelight Studios, Electronic Arts. It Takes Two. Steam store page, 2026.
- Hazelight Studios, Electronic Arts. Split Fiction. Steam store page, 2026.
- Valve. Portal 2. Steam store page, 2026.
- Ghost Ship Games, Coffee Stain Publishing. Deep Rock Galactic. Steam store page, 2026.
- Kinetic Games. Phasmophobia. Steam store page, 2026.
- Zeekerss. Lethal Company. Steam store page, 2026.
- Iron Gate AB, Coffee Stain Publishing. Valheim. Steam store page, 2026.
- ConcernedApe. Stardew Valley. Steam store page, 2026.
- Team PEAK. PEAK. Steam store page, 2026.
- Ghost Town Games Ltd., Team17. Overcooked! 2. Steam store page, 2026.
- TECOPARK. PICO PARK. Steam store page, 2026.