Mid-Year Review of the Best Co-Op Experiences
We’re well into the second half of the year, so what better time to take stock of the must-play co-op games of 2025 so far. Maybe you’ve already played some of these. Maybe it’s time to finally pull a few out of the backlog. Or maybe this is your first time hearing about them. Either way, we’ve compiled this list based on a mix of our opinions, critic reviews, and player reception. We’ll give you a quick rundown of each title 1 through 10 in chronological order, plus a few honorable mentions at the end for good measure. Since we’re publishing this in mid-July, we’re cutting things off at the end of June. That means games like Killing Floor 3, Grounded 2, and Abiotic Factors 1.0 launch won’t be considered since those games are launching after this article. But don’t worry, they’ll still have a chance to make our final end-of-year list. With all that said, let’s dive into our picks for the best quad games of 2025 so far.
Brave Escape – A Tough Yet Rewarding Co-Op Platformer
We’re kicking off this list with a little indie gem checked out earlier this year, Brave Escape. It’s a two-player cooperative 2D platformer that basically asks, “What if Celeste, but even harder?” Yeah, this one is not for the faint of heart. Although, to their credit, the devs did add an easier mode after it was finished. So, shout out to the small team for putting so much love into something special. In Brave Escape, you and a friend play as an explorer and his robot buddy, each with a unique mechanic that makes the co-op platforming tick. The explorer can drop a rope for the robot to grab, while the robot can launch the explorer sky-high with a beefy jump pad. It’s not just a platformer, it’s also a puzzle game, too. And the way these mechanics click together is really clever. Add in charming visuals and plenty of little surprises not spoiled here, and you’ve got something genuinely memorable. Definitely one to check out if it sounds up your alley.
Fly Knight – Nostalgia Meets Modern Co-Op Dungeon Crawling
If you long for the days of getting home from school and hopping on Run escape with your friends, then you owe it to yourself to check out Fly Knight. It’s a four-player online co-op dungeon crawler that wears its Run escape inspiration proudly. You’ll explore handcrafted levels on a quest to vanquish the Wish Luna, battling enemies with a unique limb-based combat system, and gearing up your knight with everything from swords to spells. Oh, and yes, you’ll do some fishing, too, because we all know the best games have fishing. The game’s flying under the radar, but it’s currently sitting at an overwhelmingly positive user rating on Steam with over 8,000 reviews. If you’re feeling nostalgic or just want something fresh and fun to play with your friends, check out Fly Knight exclusively on Steam.
Monster Hunter Wilds – Imperfect but Addictive Co-Op Action
Yes, this one deserves a spot on this list as a co-op title despite plenty of self-inflicted wounds trying their best to hold it back. Is the co-op system a total mess from top to bottom? Yes. Is it still an absolute blast with friends when you’re out there hunting monsties? Also, yes. The minute-to-minute game play that makes Monster Hunter so addicting is alive and well here, and the crew has made several return trips since launch, which says plenty. The new monsters and old favorites are fantastic to take down, and the latest additions have added real challenge, pushing players to actually study move sets for the first time, and that’s been super fun to see. Sure, there’s plenty the devs could fix as we inch toward the inevitable big DLC drop, but in the meantime, Wilds is still a great time with friends.
Split Fiction – A Two-Player Co-Op Masterpiece
If you’re into quad games, odds are you’ve already played Split Fiction. And if you somehow haven’t, go download it, beat it, and then come back to finish this video. From the makers of a beloved co-op hit, Split Fiction is another thrilling two-player adventure featuring both online and local co-op, plus the return of the beloved Friend Pass. The previous title delivered a staggering amount of game play variety. So much so that many didn’t think the next game could possibly top it. Well, it did. It’s got sharper visuals, even more creative game play twists, and easily one of the best finales of any game we’ve ever played. Split Fiction is out now on all platforms, including Switch 2. And with cross play support and Friend Pass, it’s one of the most accessible co-op titles of the year and also one of its best.
Thunderfolk – Tabletop Strategy Meets Couch Co-Op
This one takes a tabletop RPG and transforms it into a couch co-op adventure thanks to a clever phone app that lets you make game play and RPG decisions right on your phone while the action plays out on the TV. The app is intuitive enough to make diving into battles feel great. You’ll be strateging around enemy weaknesses and strengths, tackling unique battle modifiers, and playing to your character’s best abilities. But there’s more than just fighting. Between battles, you’ll get some surprisingly fun RPG mechanics, too, like building up your own little village. Sure, the main story is about as boilerplate fantasy as it gets, but the stories created together are what make this really shine.
Revenge of the Savage Planet – A Throwback Co-Op Adventure
They really don’t make games like they used to. At least not like Revenge of the Savage Planet. This two-player sci-fi adventure supports local and online co-op, features cartoon visuals, and leans into an upbeat, satirical tone. It honestly feels like a throwback to the kind of platformers we got on the PS2 or early PS3 era. You and a buddy will hop between a handful of planets, fending off wildlife and unlocking upgrades along the way. Each planet feels distinct with open zones that encourage exploration. It may not feature massive boss fights or deep class systems like some other games on this list, but it’s a genuinely good time.
Banner of the Spark – Cozy Life Meets Action Co-Op
Banner of the Spark is the first Animal Crossing-like picked up in a while. Here, the devs have taken the cozy village life loop and mashed it together with a top-down action game featuring procedurally generated levels. And you know what? It works. Even better, it works in co-op. There’s an impressive amount of content here, and you could easily be playing this for years. The combat is a bit slower than expected for an action game, but that pacing actually makes it more satisfying. All in all, an impressive effort that landed strong with its 1.0 release.
Elden Ring Night – Challenging and Rewarding Co-Op Combat
I imagine most of these games will make it onto our final best-of list at the end of the year, though some may not survive the cut. And while this isn’t a ranked list, Elden Ring Night will be near the top. Featuring three-player online co-op, it reimagines Elden Ring as a fast-paced rogue like with set character classes. Everything from perks and character abilities to boss design feels intentionally crafted to enhance team play. Beating some of the hardest night lords after multiple attempts has easily been one of the highlights of the year.
Dune Awakening – MMO Depth in a Four-Player Co-Op World
Defying all the odds, Dune Awakening has landed, and it delivers. This engrossing MMO RPG brings a vast universe to life with satisfying combat, deep exploration, and solid survival systems, all wrapped up in four-player online co-op. There’s a ton to tackle together, from story quests and base building to dense endgame zones that’ll keep your crew plenty busy. Like a giant sandworm, this game will absolutely devour your gaming time.
Peak – A Surprising Viral Co-Op Hit
We’re wrapping up the list with Peak, the Steam sensation that came out of nowhere and promptly sold over 5 million copies in a month. This $8 co-op wonder drops you and your friends onto an island that tasks you with summoning a massive mountain to survive. There are multiple peaks to tackle, each with its own biome and unique challenges. The real magic, though, is the proximity chat. Not only does it work well, but your character’s mouth actually mimics your speech in real time. It’s hilarious and somehow makes every misstep and big fall twice as funny.
Honorable Mentions – More Co-Op Games Worth Your Time
Sworn is a Hades-like rogue like that trades Greek myths for Camelot legends, and it’s fully co-op. 33 Immortals is another early access gem where you and three friends team up in a massive lobby of 33 players to power up and take down raid-like bosses. Dinkham offers an Animal Crossing-style experience set in Australia, and Sedap spices up the overcooked formula with light combat while gathering ingredients.
