The wide world of co-op shooter games covers everything fromHelldivers 2toFar Cry 5, and the best games in the genre offer experiences that are well worth embarking upon with companions. Shooters can translate exceptionally well to cooperative gameplay, with basic pick-up-and-play appeal still leaving the potential for strategic depth and meaningful collaboration. Gunning down enemies is also a lot less monotonous in co-op, even when the hordes just won’t stop coming.
Co-op shooter gameplay can be a great way to take a break from PvP, and it tends to promote a lot less toxicity. It’s still possible to have heated moments when challenges get particularly intense, but cooperative triumphs feel especially rewarding. Throw in any mix of elements like humor, horror, or unique genre tweaks, and the best co-op shooters are adventures like no other.
10 Best Co-Op Games, Ranked
There have been a lot of great co-op games over the years, and the best of the best cover a wide variety of genres while maintaining the fun.
10Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Blends Melee & FPS Action
Developed and published by Fatshark (2018)
Warhammer: Vermintide 2isn’t strictly a shooter, but it’s certainly possible to treat it as one. A number of unique classes offer different benefits in the war against a rodent apocalypse, and some of them operate with ranged options like crossbows and guns. Everything falls under the dark fantasy flavor of theWarhammer Fantasysetting, setting it apart from the sci-fi elements that characterize theWarhammer 40,000universe.
Vermintide 2is the kind of game that gets better with every hour spent playing it, as the extent of its strategic depth isn’t always immediately apparent. There’s no shortage of horde shooters out there, but few have the same number of possibilities or the rewarding level of challenge thatVermintideoffers in its more difficult modes. A lot of that complexity can be found in the melee combat, but there’s still plenty to master, even when sticking to the FPS options.
9Remnant 2 Is A Soulslike Co-Op Shooter
Developed by Gunfire Games and published by Gearbox Publishing (2023)
Another interesting game with both melee and ranged possibilities isRemnant 2,although the shooter element is a lot of what makes this one stand out in particular.Remnant 2might be the best exampleof successfully marrying the soulslike style with ranged gunplay, iterating on an interesting predecessor to deliver something more polished, expansive, and varied.
Due to its soulslike nature,Remnant 2may not be for the faint of heart, and the game certainly offers up some intimidating trials. An easy mode makes it significantly more approachable; however, playing with a skilled friend can always provide a major boost in co-op. On lower difficulties, it’s possible to just focus on blasting through intense enemies, while higher ones tend to require more attention paid to loot and more time spent on careful builds.
Soulslikes Are Finally Becoming Soulslites, & They’re Better For It
The evolution of soulslikes is showing how far FromSoftware’s ideas can be stretched before they lose their impact, and it makes the future exciting.
8Far Cry 5 Is A Perfectly Chaotic Co-Op FPS
Developed and published by Ubisoft (2018)
Far Cry 5might not be thebest game in theFar Cryseries, but it represented a major step up for the franchise’s approach to co-op. While only side missions can be completed cooperatively inFar Cry 4,Far Cry 5can be played with a friend from start to finish. This can make even some banal missions a lot more memorable, and it’s possible to get up to all kinds of mayhem, even by accident.
Like other games in the franchise,Far Cry 5pits players against a maniacal leader of a dangerous cult, although the American setting provides an interesting twist on the formula. If this doesn’t seem appealing, the pseudo-Cuba ofFar Cry 6and the exotic alien planet ofAvatar: Frontiers of Pandoraprovide reasonable alternatives with similar core gameplay, and all feature robust co-op possibilities.
7Risk Of Rain 2 Adds A Roguelike Twist
Developed by Hopoo Games and published by Gearbox Publishing (2020)
Although the originalRisk of Rainmade its mark as a 2D roguelike action-platformer,Risk of Rain 2significantly shook things up by transitioning to a 3D third-person shooter style. The roguelike elements remain intact, however, with intense runs forcing frequent restarts while unlocking new characters and items to use and find. Nothing is maintained across playthroughs, so it’s a much more traditional approach than something likeHadeswhere some progress transfers.
For anyone patient enough to appreciate the learning curve,Risk of Rain 2offers some significant rewards. A strong aesthetic more than makes up for simplistic graphics, and the variety across runs makes replays enticing.Risk of Rain 2co-op supports up to four players in one game, so it’s a good option for groups that can’t slim down to a two-person campaign.
6Helldivers 2 Keeps Co-Op Shooting Fresh
Helldivers 2is a huge co-op shooter breakout of 2024,and it’s easy to see why. LikeRisk of Rain 2, Helldivers 2changes the formula from its 2D predecessor, in this case transitioning away from a top-down perspective. The end result here is particularly immersive, with the Terminid and Automaton hordes that overrun its planets feeling like smart and terrifying threats.
Although live-service elements can often be a detriment to games,Helldivers 2is a rare case of continual updates done well. Agame master oversees a shifting storyand war campaign that constantly tasks the community with new objectives, and a satirically jingoistic tone gives players something to unite around. Co-op can be great even with random players, and finding or building a squad that works well together makes intense missions feel fantastic.
Helldivers 2 Review: “A Refreshingly Fun Power Fantasy”
Helldivers 2 is just about the best-case scenario for a live-service game, and its show-stopping gameplay delivers incredibly visceral moments.
5Halo: The Master Chief Collection Is A Co-Op Bundle
Developed by 343 Industries and published by Xbox Game Studios (2014)
Halois a great series for co-op as a whole, andthe easiest way to jump into that experience is by picking upHalo: The Master Chief Collection.The remastered bundle includesHalo: Combat Evolved,Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo Reach,andHalo 4,so it’s hard to deny that it’s rich in possibilities.
Every game inHalo: The Master Chief Collectionincludes co-op, although a couple of missions inHalo 2are single-player only. The first two games feature two-player co-op, while the rest expand the options to support four players. Thanks to the variety of missions and environments across theHaloseries, playing throughThe Master Chief Collectionisn’t likely to get stale quickly, making it a contender for the best value to be found in the co-op shooter realm.
4Borderlands 2 Defines Co-Op Looter Shooters
Developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K (2012)
Borderlands 2is often one of the first games that comes up in discussions about co-op shooters, and it’s not without good reason. From a distinct cel-shaded art style to a signature brand of humor,Borderlands 2carves out a personality that most similar games fail to match. Even if the jokes don’t always land, the gameplay does, with satisfying gunplay and varied environments carrying an expansive adventure.
The best part ofBorderlands 2lies in the weapons, which are full of creative gimmicks that make swapping out equipment feel consistently exciting. In co-op, sharing this loot can be hard, but letting each player settle into a distinct niche starts to make everything click.Borderlands 3is also a strong option for a co-op looter shooter, butBorderlands 2remains the defining game in the series even today.
3Sniper Elite 4 Is Perfect For Two
Developed and published by Rebellion Developments (2017)
Co-op has been an iconic feature of theSniper Elitegames from the start, even if the PC version of the original title sadly lacks the split-screen of the original PS2 release.Sniper Elite 4has no such drawbacks, however, and playing through its interesting campaign is definitely better with a friend. If more players want to join the fray, there’s also a survival mode that can support up to four participants.
Sniper Elite 4focuses on an Italian setting, something often under-represented in World War 2 games, and some massive stages prove both gorgeous and fun to play. It’s possible to take a run-and-gun approach, but patient sniping also tends to be rewarded, making it a strong option for those who prefer something less frenetic. X-ray killcams are also a stapleSniper Elitefeature, although they can be turned off if the extra gore isn’t a draw.
2Deep Rock Galactic Is A Space Dwarf FPS
Developed by Ghost Ship Games and published by Coffee Stain Publishing (2020)
Deep Rock Galactic’s approach to its setting immediately stands out from other co-op shooters, tossing dwarves into a sci-fi setting that focuses on the dangers of space mining. The game’s procedurally generated caves would be interesting to explore even if they were static environments, but they’re significantly elevated by the fact that they’re completely destructible. Riches await within these mines, but so do hostile alien creatures that don’t take kindly to interloping dwarves.
Beyond that,Deep Rock Galactic’s greatest strength lies in interesting classes that work well together, rewarding both well-engineered builds and teams that know how to balance their strengths. LikeHelldivers 2,Deep Rock Galacticbenefits from ongoing development that actually tends to improve the game and a passionate community that’s always eager for more, ensuring that it hasn’t stagnated years after its release.
We’d Have To Live Under A Rock To Make This Game…Completely Unaware Of Its Parallels To Real Life: Deep Rock Galactic Interview
Deep Rock Galactic, released in 2020 by Ghost Ship Games, continues to thrive with its unique gameplay of dwarven space miners exploring alien mines.
Developed and published by Valve (2009)
Left 4 Dead 2defined the co-op horde shooter genre when it released in 2009, and all these years later, it still clings to the throne. Plenty of other games have attempted to replicate its success, layering new systems and ideas onto the basic guns-blazing premise. Nothing has managed to stick in the same way, however, and the only thing capable of standing a real chance might be aLeft 4 Dead 3that may never come.
Left 4 Dead 2’s ease of access is also a major part of its appeal, and it’s hard to overstate how simple it is to pick up and play. The game is frequently on sale for only a few dollars, and its age and use of the Source engine also make it easy to run on even lower-end hardware. With memorable modes, great enemy designs, and plenty of community content, there’s little stopping anyone from grabbing some friends and having a greatco-op shootertime inLeft 4 Dead 2.
