What Is a Co-op Game? Meaning, Types and How to Play Together
A co-op game is a video game where two or more players team up on the same side and work toward a shared goal instead of playing against each other. Co-op is short for cooperative, and that is the short answer to what is a co-op game: teamwork is the point, whether you share a couch, a split screen or an online lobby. Co-op has become one of the favorite ways to enjoy video games with friends, so below you will find what the word means, the main types of co-op, why playing together feels so good, what makes a co-op game great, and how to pick the right one for your group.
What does co-op mean in video games?
In video games, co-op means cooperative play: the players share the objective, the danger and the win. Merriam-Webster lists co-op as a short form of "cooperative", and its entry for cooperative gives the meaning gamers care about: "marked by a willingness and ability to work with others."
Co-op can describe a whole game or one mode inside it:
- Co-op from start to finish. It Takes Two calls itself, on its Steam page, "a genre-bending platform adventure created purely for co-op." You cannot play it alone; the design assumes a partner.
- A co-op mode next to a solo campaign. On Steam, Portal 2 explains that its "two-player cooperative mode features its own entirely separate campaign" with its own story and characters.
- Co-op inside a bigger world. Survival and sandbox games let you build, explore and fight together for as long as the group wants.
The opposite is competitive play, often called PvP (player versus player), where you try to beat the other people in the match. Many games mix both: you cooperate to reach a goal, then compete for the final prize. Steam even lists "Online Co-op" and "Online PvP" as separate features on store pages, so you can tell at a glance which kind of play a game offers.
Is it co-op or coop?
It is co-op, with a hyphen, and the hyphen matters. In Merriam-Webster, "co-op" points to cooperative, while "coop" without the hyphen is "a cage or small enclosure (as for chickens, ducks, or other fowl)." So "coop games" would technically be games about chicken houses.
In practice, you will see co-op, coop and "co op" with a space in searches, forums and store tags, and everyone understands what you mean. When you write it, co-op is the clearest choice.
What are the main types of co-op games?
The main types of co-op games are local co-op, online co-op and crossplay co-op, and inside each you will find different styles, from two-player story campaigns to large survival groups.
- Local co-op (couch co-op). Everyone plays in the same room, on one screen or a split screen. Overcooked 2 invites you on Steam to "assemble your team of chefs in classic couch co-op or online play for up to four players."
- Online co-op. Each player is on their own device and the game connects you over the internet. Phasmophobia describes itself as "a 4 player online co-op psychological horror," and Lethal Company as "A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company."
- Drop-in co-op. Friends join or leave without restarting the level. Rayman Legends promises on Steam that "You and three friends can seamlessly jump in and drop out of the action."
- Large-group co-op. Some games go well beyond four players. Valheim is "a collaborative exploration and survival game for 1-10 players," according to its Steam page.
- Crossplay co-op. Players on different platforms, for example PC and phone, join the same match. This matters more every year because friends rarely own the same hardware.
Co-op also comes in different moods. There are cozy co-op games, tense horror co-op, puzzle co-op where you must talk through every step, and chaotic party co-op where half the fun is the mess you make together.
What is online co-op?
Online co-op is co-op where each player uses their own screen and the game links everyone over the internet, so friends in different homes, cities or countries can play as one team.
Talking is a big part of it. 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 52% have used platform or in-game voice chat. A good online co-op game makes that easy, ideally with voice chat built in.
Local co-op games can also be played online on PC. Valve's Steamworks documentation explains that Remote Play Together lets players invite Steam friends to join a game "as though they were sitting at the same computer playing together."
Why do people love co-op games?
People love co-op games because they turn play into shared time with friends, and the numbers show most players want exactly that. In ESA's 2026 Essential Facts report, 70% of players age 8+ have played with others, online or offline, and 62% of those play video games online with friends they know in person. The report puts it plainly: "The social value of games is undeniable."
The same is true for teens. Pew Research Center surveyed U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 and found that 89% of teen video game players play with other people, in person or online. Also, 72% say a reason they play is to spend time with others, and 47% have made a friend online because of a game they both play.
Research suggests the style of play matters as much as the game. In two studies reported by Ohio State University, college students who teamed up in a game later showed more cooperative behavior in a real-life task than students who competed. Co-author David Ewoldsen said, "The social aspect of today's video games can change things quite a bit." Co-author John Velez added that cooperation even worked between rival fans: "The cooperative play just wiped out any effect of who you were playing with."
Social play also showed up in a survey of 1,053 Animal Crossing: New Horizons players during the pandemic, published in Frontiers in Virtual Reality. The researchers found that "increased visits to another island were associated with lower levels of loneliness." In other words, the part where players visited each other was the part linked to feeling less alone.
What makes a co-op game good?
A good co-op game gives the team a shared goal, roles that need each other, and moments where talking to your friends actually changes the outcome.
- Players need each other. Portal 2 says its co-op success "will require them to not just act cooperatively, but to think cooperatively," per its Steam page.
- Different roles. In Deep Rock Galactic, a 1-4 player co-op game, "Each class brings their own strengths to the team." When everyone has a job, nobody feels like a passenger.
- Communication is rewarded. Lethal Company asks you to "Communicate with your crewmates to carry all valuables to the ship before things get too dangerous, and try not to leave anyone behind."
- Easy to join. Drop-in co-op and quick invites mean the friend who arrives late is playing in seconds.
- Room for laughter. Mistakes, rescues and friendly sabotage become the stories your group retells for weeks.
- Progress you share. Upgrades, new areas and tougher bosses give the group a reason to come back.
How do you choose a co-op game for your group?
Choose a co-op game by matching it to your group size, the devices everyone owns, whether you play in the same room or online, and the mood you want.
- Group size. Two-player story games like It Takes Two are perfect for a pair; squad games usually fit four; survival sandboxes and party games can hold eight or more.
- Devices. Pew found that teens play on many devices: 73% on a console, 70% on a smartphone, 49% on a desktop or laptop computer and 24% on a VR headset. If your friends are split across platforms, look for crossplay.
- Same room or online. For a couch night, check for shared or split screen co-op. For friends far away, check for online co-op and built-in voice chat.
- Mood. Cozy exploring, spooky tension, brain-teasing puzzles or pure chaos: pick the vibe your group enjoys.
- Session length. Short rounds work for weeknights; long campaigns reward a regular game night.
Steam store pages list features like Online Co-op, LAN Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op and Remote Play Together, which makes it easy to check a game before your group commits.
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, built in Unreal Engine 5 by Alehundred (solo developer Alejandro Friant) and published by Alehundred Studios. It blends both sides of co-op described above.
You are 10 cm (about 4 inches) tall and travel through magic portals into giant dioramas of seven real historical eras, played from newest to oldest: Italy 1956, the Wild West 1885, the Caribbean 1704, Kyoto 1503, York 1062, Hatra 201 AD and Alexandria 300 BC. The group meets first in The Ale, a forest hub with giant mushrooms and glowing butterflies. In each era everyone collects coins, spends them on talents (upgrades like jump height, run speed and ability power) and on unlocking the next eras, and fights the enemies and the giant beast that guards the era. When the group gathers 100 coins the era's tower opens and a race to the top starts; the first to the top takes the Magic Gem, which opens the next era. Spells (fire, ice, oil and the bubble) add friendly chaos, and yes, you can hit friends with fire and steal their coins.
Everyone has voice chat, and crossplay puts PC (Steam), mobile and VR players in the same match. The game is in Early Access on Steam and open to suggestions from the community.
FAQ
What is a co op game?
A co op game is a video game where players work together on the same team toward a shared goal, instead of competing against each other. Co-op is short for cooperative.
Is it co-op or coop?
The correct spelling is co-op, with a hyphen. Merriam-Webster lists co-op as short for cooperative, while coop without a hyphen means a cage or enclosure for chickens and other fowl.
What are co-op games?
Co-op games are games designed for cooperative play, either as the whole game or as a mode. Examples include It Takes Two and Portal 2 for two players, Phasmophobia and Deep Rock Galactic for groups of four, and Valheim for up to ten.
What does online co op mean?
Online co op means each player is on their own device and the game connects the team over the internet. Many online co-op games include voice chat so the team can plan together.
Are there good co op games on PC?
Yes. PC has one of the largest co-op libraries, and Steam store pages show whether a game supports online co-op, LAN co-op, split screen co-op or Remote Play Together.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster. Co-op, coop: definition and meaning. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, 2026.
- Merriam-Webster. Cooperative: definition and meaning. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, 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.
- Lewis JE, Trojovsky M, Jameson MM. New Social Horizons: Anxiety, Isolation, and Animal Crossing During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2021.
- Valve Corporation. Steam Remote Play. Steamworks Documentation, 2026.
- Hazelight Studios, Electronic Arts. It Takes Two. Steam store page, 2026.
- Valve Corporation. Portal 2. Steam store page, 2026.
- Ghost Town Games Ltd., Team17. Overcooked! 2. Steam store page, 2026.
- Kinetic Games. Phasmophobia. Steam store page, 2026.
- Zeekerss. Lethal Company. Steam store page, 2026.
- Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft. Rayman Legends. Steam store page, 2026.
- Iron Gate AB, Coffee Stain Publishing. Valheim. Steam store page, 2026.
- Ghost Ship Games, Coffee Stain Publishing. Deep Rock Galactic. Steam store page, 2026.