GamingPickz
collection · ranked

Best Co-op games: 25 ranked (2026)

Compiled by Ranjeeth, editor · Last updated 19 October 2026 · Free to read, nothing here is paid for

708 co-op games ranked by the GamingPickz Score, a published composite of player sentiment and critic reception. The formula is below in full, and no placement on this page can be bought.

The co-op games on a map

Compare the whole catalogue

The same 25 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.

25 games have both

8310069100Players →Popularity →

Axes are fitted to these 25 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.

Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.

Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.

  • Mobile
  • Multi-platform
  • Nintendo
  • PC
  • Xbox

Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.

How positions are decided

No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
  • Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
  • Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
  • No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
  • A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
  • Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.

The short version

  • Top pick: Baldur's Gate 3, GamingPickz Score 9.2/10 from 855,414 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 96.
  • 31 score 8.5 or above out of 708 ranked co-op games.
  • Price range free to $69.99, median $19.99, with 118 free to play.
  • 192 are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing.
  • 92 declare six or more accessibility features. Listed per game below.

At a glance

The top 12 side by side. Full entries below.

Top ranked co-op games
#GameBest forScorePlayersPrice
1Baldur's Gate 3Players who need accessibility options that actually exist9.297% (855,414)$59.99
2Portal 2Handheld play, small install and Deck verified9.199% (466,026)$9.99
3Elden RingThe safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence9.093% (1,151,628)$59.99
4Lethal CompanyThe safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence8.997% (510,597)$9.99
5Schedule IThe safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence8.998% (314,499)$19.99
6Left 4 Dead 2Handheld play, small install and Deck verified8.898% (1,055,804)$9.99
7Stardew ValleyHandheld play, small install and Deck verified8.898% (1,035,189)$14.99
8Euro Truck Simulator 2Players who need accessibility options that actually exist8.897% (940,049)$19.99
9PhasmophobiaThe safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence8.894% (838,254)$13.99
10R.E.P.O.The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence8.896% (420,823)$9.99
11Bloons TD 6The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence8.897% (394,354)$13.99
12SatisfactoryPlayers who need accessibility options that actually exist8.897% (278,668)$39.99

25 best co-op games, ranked

Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.

Sort by
  1. 1Baldur's Gate 3 logo

    Baldur's Gate 3

    Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist

    9.2GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Baldur's Gate 3 at a glance
    Released2023StudioLarian Studios
    Player sentiment97% positive of 855,414Critics96/100
    Price$59.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size150 GBAccessibility10 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 855,414 reviews, then blends with the 96 critic aggregate, giving 9.2.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 855,414 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 10 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  2. 2Portal 2 logo

    Portal 2

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    9.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Portal 2 at a glance
    Released2011StudioValve
    Player sentiment99% positive of 466,026Critics95/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size8 GBAccessibility7 declared features

    Raw 99% shrinks to 99.0 on 466,026 reviews, then blends with the 95 critic aggregate, giving 9.1.

    What the data supports
    • 99% positive across 466,026 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisModsStore page

  3. 3

    Elden RingWe reviewed this

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    9.0GamingPickz ScoreOur review: 9.5/10high confidence
    Elden Ring at a glance
    Released2022Studiofromsoftware
    Player sentiment93% positive of 1,151,628Critics94/100
    Price$59.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size60 GBAccessibility7 declared features

    Raw 93% shrinks to 93.0 on 1,151,628 reviews, then blends with the 94 critic aggregate, giving 9.0.

    What the data supports
    • 93% positive across 1,151,628 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PlayStation 5PlayStation 4Xbox Series X and Series SXbox OnePC

    Full entryStore page

  4. 4Lethal Company logo

    Lethal Company

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.9GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Lethal Company at a glance
    Released2023StudioZeekerss
    Player sentiment97% positive of 510,597CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$9.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size4 GBAccessibility3 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 510,597 reviews, giving 8.9. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 510,597 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 4 GB.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  5. 5Schedule I logo

    Schedule I

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.9GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Schedule I at a glance
    Released2025StudioTVGS
    Player sentiment98% positive of 314,499CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$19.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size8 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 314,499 reviews, giving 8.9. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 314,499 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 8 GB.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  6. 6Left 4 Dead 2 logo

    Left 4 Dead 2

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Left 4 Dead 2 at a glance
    Released2009StudioNot recorded
    Player sentiment98% positive of 1,055,804Critics89/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size13 GBAccessibility8 declared features

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 1,055,804 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 1,055,804 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PCXbox 360Steam Deck

    Full entryGames like thisModsStore page

  7. 7Stardew Valley logo

    Stardew Valley

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Stardew Valley at a glance
    Released2016StudioConcernedApe LLC
    Player sentiment98% positive of 1,035,189Critics89/100
    Price$14.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size0.49 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 1,035,189 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 1,035,189 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 0.49 GB.

    iOSAndroidiPadAndroid TabletPlayStation VitaPC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  8. 8Euro Truck Simulator 2 logo

    Euro Truck Simulator 2

    Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist

    8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Euro Truck Simulator 2 at a glance
    Released2012StudioSCS Software
    Player sentiment97% positive of 940,049Critics79/100
    Price$19.99Steam Deckverified
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility9 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 940,049 reviews, then blends with the 79 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 940,049 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
    Worth checking first
    • Players rate it well above critics, 97 against 79. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisModsStore page

  9. 9Phasmophobia logo

    Phasmophobia

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Phasmophobia at a glance
    Released2020StudioKinetic Games
    Player sentiment94% positive of 838,254CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$13.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size21 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 838,254 reviews, giving 8.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 94% positive across 838,254 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  10. 10R.E.P.O. logo

    R.E.P.O.

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    R.E.P.O. at a glance
    Released2025Studiosemiwork
    Player sentiment96% positive of 420,823CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$9.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size1 GBAccessibility4 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 420,823 reviews, giving 8.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 420,823 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 1 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  11. 11Bloons TD 6 logo

    Bloons TD 6

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Bloons TD 6 at a glance
    Released2018StudioNinja Kiwi
    Player sentiment97% positive of 394,354CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$13.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size2 GBAccessibility0 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 394,354 reviews, giving 8.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 394,354 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 2 GB.
    Worth checking first
    • Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  12. 12Satisfactory logo

    Satisfactory

    Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist

    8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Satisfactory at a glance
    Released2024StudioCoffee Stain Studios
    Player sentiment97% positive of 278,668Critics91/100
    Price$39.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size20 GBAccessibility9 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 278,668 reviews, then blends with the 91 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 278,668 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  13. 13Vampire Survivors logo

    Vampire Survivors

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Vampire Survivors at a glance
    Released2022Studioponcle
    Player sentiment98% positive of 265,103Critics86/100
    Price$3.74Steam Deckverified
    Install size2.44 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 265,103 reviews, then blends with the 86 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 265,103 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Small install at 2.44 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  14. 14Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition logo

    Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.8GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition at a glance
    Released2017StudioLarian Studios
    Player sentiment96% positive of 205,637Critics93/100
    Price$44.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size60 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 205,637 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 8.8.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 205,637 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisModsStore page

  15. 15Terraria logo

    Terraria

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Terraria at a glance
    Released2011Studio505 Games
    Player sentiment97% positive of 1,550,032Critics83/100
    Price$9.99Steam Deckverified
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 1,550,032 reviews, then blends with the 83 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 1,550,032 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Players rate it well above critics, 97 against 83. Usually a sign it improved after launch, or that it delivers something reviewers undervalued.

    Nintendo 3DSiOSAndroidiPadAndroid TabletPlayStation Vita

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  16. 16Red Dead Redemption 2 logo

    Red Dead Redemption 2

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Red Dead Redemption 2 at a glance
    Released2018StudioNot recorded
    Player sentiment92% positive of 911,659Critics93/100
    Price$14.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size150 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 92% shrinks to 92.0 on 911,659 reviews, then blends with the 93 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.

    What the data supports
    • 92% positive across 911,659 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    Worth checking first
    • Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PCPlayStation 4Xbox OneSteam Deck

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  17. 17Project Zomboid logo

    Project Zomboid

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.7GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Project Zomboid at a glance
    Released2013StudioThe Indie Stone
    Player sentiment94% positive of 476,732CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$24.99Steam Deckverified
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 476,732 reviews, giving 8.7. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 94% positive across 476,732 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisModsStore page

  18. 18It Takes Two logo

    It Takes Two

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    It Takes Two at a glance
    Released2021StudioHazelight Studios
    Player sentiment95% positive of 268,937Critics89/100
    Price$39.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size50 GBAccessibility3 declared features

    Raw 95% shrinks to 95.0 on 268,937 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.

    What the data supports
    • 95% positive across 268,937 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  19. 19Devil May Cry 5 logo

    Devil May Cry 5

    Best for: Playing through with a friend online

    8.7GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Devil May Cry 5 at a glance
    Released2019StudioCAPCOM Co., Ltd.
    Player sentiment96% positive of 170,072Critics89/100
    Price$7.49Steam Deckverified
    Install size35 GBAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 170,072 reviews, then blends with the 89 critic aggregate, giving 8.7.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 170,072 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  20. 20Garry's Mod logo

    Garry's Mod

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.6GamingPickz Scoremedium confidence
    Garry's Mod at a glance
    Released2006StudioNot recorded
    Player sentiment97% positive of 1,261,793CriticsNo aggregate
    Price$9.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install size10 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 97% shrinks to 97.0 on 1,261,793 reviews, giving 8.6. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.

    What the data supports
    • 97% positive across 1,261,793 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Cloud saves and cross-platform play, so progress follows you between machines.
    • Small install at 10 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisModsStore page

  21. 21Among Us logo

    Among Us

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Among Us at a glance
    Released2018StudioInnersloth
    Player sentiment92% positive of 746,102Critics85/100
    Price$2.99Steam Deckplayable
    Install sizeNot statedAccessibility1 declared feature

    Raw 92% shrinks to 92.0 on 746,102 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.

    What the data supports
    • 92% positive across 746,102 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    Worth checking first
    • Carries in-game purchases. Check what they cost before committing.
    • Multiplayer only. There is no solo mode to fall back on.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  22. 22Risk of Rain 2 logo

    Risk of Rain 2

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Risk of Rain 2 at a glance
    Released2020StudioHopoo Games
    Player sentiment94% positive of 352,120Critics85/100
    Price$8.24Steam Deckplayable
    Install size4 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 94% shrinks to 94.0 on 352,120 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.

    What the data supports
    • 94% positive across 352,120 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Small install at 4 GB.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  23. 23Factorio logo

    Factorio

    Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified

    8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Factorio at a glance
    Released2016StudioWube software
    Player sentiment98% positive of 233,978Critics90/100
    Price$35.00Steam Deckverified
    Install size5 GBAccessibility7 declared features

    Raw 98% shrinks to 98.0 on 233,978 reviews, then blends with the 90 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.

    What the data supports
    • 98% positive across 233,978 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    • Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.

    PCNintendo SwitchSteam Deck

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  24. 24DOOM logo

    DOOM

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.6GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    DOOM at a glance
    Released2016Studioid Software
    Player sentiment96% positive of 221,344Critics85/100
    Price$19.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size55 GBAccessibility4 declared features

    Raw 96% shrinks to 96.0 on 221,344 reviews, then blends with the 85 critic aggregate, giving 8.6.

    What the data supports
    • 96% positive across 221,344 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
    Worth checking first
    • Flagged for mature content on its store page.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

  25. 25Monster Hunter: World logo

    Monster Hunter: World

    Best for: The safest bet on this list, by weight of evidence

    8.5GamingPickz Scorehigh confidence
    Monster Hunter: World at a glance
    Released2018StudioCAPCOM Co., Ltd.
    Player sentiment89% positive of 516,159Critics88/100
    Price$29.99Steam Deckverified
    Install size52 GBAccessibility6 declared features

    Raw 89% shrinks to 89.0 on 516,159 reviews, then blends with the 88 critic aggregate, giving 8.5.

    What the data supports
    • 89% positive across 516,159 reviews is a strong signal at that volume, where a few enthusiasts cannot move the number.
    • Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.

    PC

    Full entryGames like thisStore page

How to choose between these

25 entries, six things that separate them

The ranking answers "which is best received". It cannot answer "which is best for you", because that depends on things no formula knows. Here is what actually separates these 25 co-op games, in the order worth thinking about it.

  1. Check the sample size before the score

    A score is only as good as the evidence under it. 25 of these have more than 50,000 player reviews, which makes their number very hard to move.

  2. Look at where critics and players disagree

    The widest gap here is Euro Truck Simulator 2, where players sit above critics by 18 points. A gap that size usually means the game changed after launch, or that it does something critics undervalue. It is worth reading why before deciding which number you trust. The disagreement map plots this across the catalogue.

  3. Decide what you are actually willing to spend

    The median here is $14.99, and the cheapest paid entry is Among Us at $2.99. Prices move constantly, so a game a place or two down the list is often the better buy this week. Filter by price below rather than assuming the top pick is the right purchase.

  4. Match it to the hardware you own

    16 of these are Steam Deck Verified by Valve's own testing, and install sizes vary by more than an order of magnitude. If you are choosing for a handheld or a drive that is nearly full, that narrows the field faster than any score.

  5. Check it supports how you want to play

    Solo, with a friend online, or two people on one sofa are different requirements, and a well-reviewed game that does not support yours is the wrong game. The filters below answer this directly.

  6. Look for the things a score hides

    12 declare six or more accessibility features, and 3 carry in-game purchases. Neither shows up in a review score, and both change the experience substantially. Each entry lists its own.

Choose one if…

Tick what matters to you. This filters the ranking above rather than reordering it, so the order you see is still the order the formula produced, minus the games that do not fit. Every filter reads a field from the game's own store listing.

Nothing selected, so all 25 co-op games are shown below. Pick one or more above to narrow it.

The best co-op games for a specific need

The ranking answers "which is best overall", which is rarely the actual question. These are the answers to the narrower ones, computed from the same scores, so a single pick is named for each.

What is the best cheap co-op game?
Portal 2, top of 17.
What is the best co-op game for local co-op?
Portal 2, top of 5.
What is the best co-op game for the Steam Deck?
Baldur's Gate 3, top of 16.
What is the best co-op game for a small hard drive?
Portal 2, top of 13.
What is the best accessible co-op game?
Baldur's Gate 3, top of 12.
What is the best co-op game to play with a controller?
Baldur's Gate 3, top of 14.
What is the best offline co-op game?
Baldur's Gate 3, top of 17.
What is the best cheap co-op co-op game?
Portal 2, top of 17.
What is the best co-op co-op game for local co-op?
Portal 2, top of 5.
What is the best single-player offline co-op game?
Baldur's Gate 3, top of 16.
What is the best cheap co-op game for the Steam Deck?
Portal 2, top of 8.
What is the best Steam Deck co-op co-op game?
Baldur's Gate 3, top of 16.
What is the best controller-friendly co-op game for local co-op?
Portal 2, top of 4.
What is the best highly rated cheap co-op game?
Portal 2, top of 17.
What is the best accessible single-player co-op game?
Baldur's Gate 3, top of 12.

Why trust this list

Most "best games" lists are either one person's taste presented as fact, or an affiliate feed with the highest commission at the top. This is neither. It is a ranking of 708 co-op games computed from two third-party signals we did not generate, using a formula printed below.

Our team has played and reviewed games for over twenty years, somewhere around 3,000 titles across every generation since the PS1. A good number of the co-op games on this page are among them, and that experience is what lets us tell you which of these numbers are worth trusting.

It is not, however, what set the order. The formula did, and we think that is the right way round: a list ordered by one person's memory is a list you have to take on trust, and this one you can check line by line.

The order comes out of the grid. Every game in the catalogue is placed on eighteen measured axes, each one a number read from a named source rather than an opinion: player sentiment and its sample size, the critic aggregate, review volume, Wikipedia language editions, price, install size, Steam Deck rating, accessibility features. A ranked list is that grid collapsed to one dimension. The map at the top of this page plots these same 25 games on two of those axes, so you can see the position the ranking gave each one and check it against where the game actually sits. If the list and the map ever disagreed, the list would be wrong, and they read the same numbers so they cannot.

1 entry on this page carries a full review of ours, marked as such and linked. For the rest, the score reflects how other people received the game, and we say so rather than implying a verdict we have not written.

Update history 1
  1. First published with 25 entries ranked.

How we chose these

This ranking is a projection of the same axes the grid plots, not a second scoring system sitting alongside it. The grid answers where a game sits on two chosen measures; a ranked list needs one number, so the axes are collapsed using published weights. A game cannot be high on the grid and low here for a reason nobody can point at, because both read the same values.

Every ranked game gets a GamingPickz Score out of 10. It is a weighted blend of the axes below, and these percentages are read directly from the code that computes the ranking rather than written out separately, so the published formula cannot drift from the applied one.

Score weights
ComponentWeightWhat it is
Players52%The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.
Critics23%Metacritic and OpenCritic aggregate, normalised to 0 to 100.
Popularity20%A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.
Reader likes5%How many GamingPickz readers tapped the heart on the game, log-scaled to 0 to 100. This is the only signal here that comes from our own readers rather than a third party, so it carries a deliberately small weight and is a snapshot taken at the last build, not a live figure. A per-browser flag stops the same person liking twice; it is a popularity reaction, not a verified poll.

Shrinkage is the part that matters most. Without it a game with nine reviews at 100 percent outranks Half-Life 2 with 278,000 at 98. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 84 using a 400-review prior, in proportion to how thin the evidence is.

Popularity is deliberately a minority weight. At 20 percent it nudges well-known games up without letting fame decide the order. Weight it higher and the list becomes "games you have already heard of", which nobody needs a ranking for. Weight it at zero and a game almost nobody played can top the list on the strength of a few hundred enthusiastic reviews. Neither is useful, so it sits in between. How popularity is measured.

Where a game has no critic aggregate, that 35 percent is redistributed onto player sentiment rather than counted as zero, and the entry says so.

Games with fewer than 50 reviews are excluded outright. Shrinkage is symmetric, so a game sitting at 0 percent on one review would otherwise be pulled up near the average, which flatters something nobody has actually assessed.

What we deliberately do not do. No paid placement, no sponsored slots dressed as editorial, no hidden weighting. If sponsorship is ever introduced it will be labelled and will sit outside the ranking. The formula above is the whole formula.

Co-op games by the numbers

The figures below describe all 708 entries on this page together, not the top pick. They are recomputed on every build, most recently on 19 October 2026, from 63,251,553 player reviews.

$19.99Median price118 free · $0.49 to $69.99
84%Median player sentimentlevel with the catalogue
83 ptsSpread, best to worst222 at 90% or better · 117 under 70%
2018Median release year178 from the last five years · oldest 1985
90Discounted right nowaveraging 60% off list
192Steam Deck Verified28 GB average install

What the pricing looks like

521 of the 708 carry a listed US price, with a median of $19.99 and a mean of $24.34. The mean sitting above the median tells you the field is pulled up by a few expensive outliers. The cheapest is Drift Streets Japan at $0.49, the most expensive Need for Speed Heat at $69.99. 118 are free to download. 178 carry in-game purchases on top of whatever they cost. Prices are read hourly from the US Steam storefront and move constantly.

How much this field agrees with itself

Player sentiment spans 83 points across these 708 entries. That is a wide band, which means the position of an entry here genuinely matters rather than splitting hairs. 295 carry a critic aggregate, averaging 78 out of 100. Players rate this field 6 points higher than critics on average, which is worth knowing before you weigh either number. See where the two diverge.

Who makes them, and what they overlap with

The studios appearing most often here are CAPCOM Co., Ltd. (7), CREATIVE ASSEMBLY (7), Gearbox Software (7), Treyarch (7) and Ubisoft Kyiv (7). The genres these entries also sit in are open-world (271), rpg (269), strategy (217), simulation (206), fps (189) and survival (163), which is a fair map of what you are actually choosing between.

Which way attention is moving

We track Wikipedia pageviews over 28 days for 122 of these. 36 are gaining attention and 42 are losing it, with the rest flat. Attention is not quality, and we do not feed it into the ranking. The full monitor shows the movements across the catalogue.

The other 784 co-op games

The 25 above are the top of the ranking. These 784 are the rest of the category: games that ranked below the cut, and games with too few reviews or no store listing to be ranked at all, which is normal for console and Nintendo exclusives.

Also catalogued

784 more co-op games, not yet reviewed

None of these carry a review yet. The rest are catalogue records: title, year, studio and platforms, sourced from Wikidata. They are not indexed by search engines, because a record is not a review.

759 not shown

Common questions

What is the best co-op game?

Baldur's Gate 3 ranks first, with a GamingPickz Score of 9.2 out of 10 drawn from 855,414 player reviews and a critic aggregate of 96. That is a statement about how it was received, not a claim that it is the one you personally will enjoy most.

How is this ranking calculated?

The GamingPickz Score is 52% player sentiment adjusted for sample size, 23% the critic aggregate published on the game store page, 20% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions, 5% popularity, from review volume and Wikipedia language editions. Player sentiment is pulled toward the catalogue average of 83.7% using a 400-review prior, so a game with a handful of reviews cannot outrank one with hundreds of thousands. Nothing on this page is paid for and no placement can be bought.

How many co-op games are ranked here?

708 of them qualify. A game needs at least 50 player reviews to be scored, which excludes titles with too little evidence to place fairly.

Why is a game I love missing?

Three likely reasons. It has fewer than 50 player reviews, so it is excluded rather than ranked on noise. It has no Steam listing at all, which is normal for console and Nintendo exclusives. Or it is not in the catalogue yet.

Do you get paid for these placements?

No. Positions are computed from the formula above and nothing else. The site carries advertising, and advertisers can neither see nor influence this page. A position is not an endorsement, it is a measurement of reception.

How current is this?

Recomputed on every build from source data read on a stated date. This page was last rebuilt on 19 October 2026. Player review counts move daily, so positions in the middle of the list shift more than those at the top or bottom.

What is the best cheap co-op game?

Portal 2 is the best cheap co-op game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 17 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best co-op game for local co-op?

Portal 2 is the best co-op game for local co-op, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 5 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best co-op game for the Steam Deck?

Baldur's Gate 3 is the best co-op game for the Steam Deck, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 16 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best co-op game for a small hard drive?

Portal 2 is the best co-op game for a small hard drive, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 13 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best accessible co-op game?

Baldur's Gate 3 is the best accessible co-op game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 12 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best co-op game to play with a controller?

Baldur's Gate 3 is the best co-op game to play with a controller, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 14 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best offline co-op game?

Baldur's Gate 3 is the best offline co-op game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 17 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best cheap co-op co-op game?

Portal 2 is the best cheap co-op co-op game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 17 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best co-op co-op game for local co-op?

Portal 2 is the best co-op co-op game for local co-op, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 5 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best single-player offline co-op game?

Baldur's Gate 3 is the best single-player offline co-op game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 16 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best cheap co-op game for the Steam Deck?

Portal 2 is the best cheap co-op game for the Steam Deck, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 8 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best Steam Deck co-op co-op game?

Baldur's Gate 3 is the best Steam Deck co-op co-op game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 16 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best controller-friendly co-op game for local co-op?

Portal 2 is the best controller-friendly co-op game for local co-op, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 4 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best highly rated cheap co-op game?

Portal 2 is the best highly rated cheap co-op game, ranking 9.1 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 17 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

What is the best accessible single-player co-op game?

Baldur's Gate 3 is the best accessible single-player co-op game, ranking 9.2 out of 10 on the GamingPickz Score. 12 of the 25 co-op games qualify.

Reader comments

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Related

All ranked lists
Every co-op games we trackThe 784 unranked ones, further down this pageCompare on any criteriaPrice, accessibility, hardware, audience and moreThe reach and reception mapSee the whole field at once