For as long as gaming has existed, cooperative play has been a crucial aspect. While it’s often linked more with player-versus-player scenarios, the world of PC gaming has a rich tradition of co-op experiences, particularly online ones. Admittedly, finding local multiplayer options might be a tad tricky on platforms like Steam, but they certainly exist and are worth seeking out.
When setting out to find games to enjoy with friends, many players often lean towards team-based shooters or massive multiplayer online titles, given their track record for delivering compelling experiences. But don’t let those genres overshadow the plethora of stellar Steam co-op games that don’t fit into those boxes.
In the realm of co-op gaming, Player vs. Player (PvP) titles are usually sidelined. Take, for instance, games like Counter-Strike 2. While they might not make this list, modes like Wingman still offer that PvP thrill.
Games are primarily ranked here based on their quality, but any new entries are highlighted first for added visibility.
As of April 19, 2025, per Mark Sammut, the reservoir of free co-op games on Steam is not endless. As fresh titles aren’t released every week, we’ve added a demo section to keep things exciting.
- Myrmidon (Steam User Rating: 40%)
Myrmidon hasn’t exactly wowed people on Steam, yet it stands out as a polished student project with an impressive stop-motion art style. Most of the feedback revolves around its mediocre performance. However, adjusting its default high graphics settings can improve this.
Myrmidon is strictly co-op by design, casting one player as an animator and the other as a puppet. The animator navigates puzzles to help the puppet traverse obstacles, laying the groundwork for its unique gameplay dynamic. Although communication is crucial, you’ll need to find an external chat solution since the game doesn’t offer one.
- Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop (Steam User Rating: 94%)
Perhaps overlooked, Alien Swarm—originally a 2010 release—remains an excellent option for those hunting a twin-stick co-op shooter. Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop, not the original, is the version to play, as it continues to receive updates and expands upon the base game.
Despite having PvP elements, Reactive Drop thrives on co-op gameplay. With support for up to 8 players per campaign, team strategy is integral as you fend off enemy waves. This game is not kind to lone wolves pretending to be action heroes—survival depends on teamwork.
- We Were Here (Steam User Rating: 90%)
In the vein of unique puzzle co-op titles like Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes, We Were Here places two players in a frozen landscape, separated and reliant on radio communication.
Microphones are essential as players tackle puzzles to reunite. The game promises a distinct experience for both parties, drawing inspiration from real-world escape rooms. Should you crave more, there are three more games in the series for further challenges.
- With You (Steam User Rating: 89%)
Designed with couples in mind, With You is a charming co-op puzzle-platformer built for two. It encourages partners to solve challenges using physics and platform mechanics, all while fostering communication and connection.
Though brief, its quirky controls aim to strengthen bonds, urging players to rely on each other and draw them closer.
- Once Human (Steam User Rating: 71%)
Once Human, an open-world survival game, might not be perfect, but it offers a captivating experience worth exploring. The narrative hinges on meta-humans combating an alien invasion and shackling the chaos resulting from it.
Despite its single-player roots, Once Human includes both PvP and co-op modes. Opting for co-op provides a more rewarding experience, though it isn’t without its flaws.
- Muck (Steam User Rating: 93%)
Muck delivers a solid sandbox adventure without redefining the genre. It’s free-to-play and thoroughly enjoyable in multiplayer, letting friends band together on one server, surviving on a procedurally generated island while working towards the campaign’s endpoint.
The survival stakes are high, with death being permanent and challenging bosses to conquer. Adding friends lightens the load but doesn’t remove it entirely.
- No More Room In Hell (Steam User Rating: 89%)
In this first-person horror game, players band together to survive a zombie apocalypse armed with 30+ weapons. No More Room In Hell draws inspiration from sources like The Walking Dead, offering hours of thrilling play.
You can prevent yourself from turning into a zombie or hide that a bite has sealed your fate. Surviving is about more than just the zombies—it’s about teamwork and trust.
- Unsolved Case (Steam User Rating: 89%)
Putting players in the shoes of detectives tracking a serial killer, Unsolved Case focuses on solving puzzles with teamwork as the driving force. Each player holds a piece of the larger puzzle, requiring loads of communication and collaboration.
Clocking in at about an hour, Unsolved Case gives a taste of what the creators’ future works in this series might look like, even if replay value is limited.
- Sven Co-Op (Steam User Rating: 93%)
With roots tying back to the iconic Half-Life, Sven Co-Op started as a mod that transformed the game with a focus on co-op play. Still available for free and as a standalone download on Steam, it delivers nostalgia and endless gameplay options.
Despite its age, the gameplay holds up and remains fun, making it a delightful trip down memory lane for co-op FPS fans.
- One-Armed Robber (Steam User Rating: 88%)
If you’re itching for some heist action without committing to the likes of Payday, try One-Armed Robber. This chaotic free-to-play game lets up to four players plan and execute missions with their chosen style.
Going in guns blazing or opting for stealth, the unique one-armed mechanic adds an amusing twist. It’s best enjoyed with friends, as it maintains charm through its rough edges.
- One-Armed Cook (Steam User Rating: 92%)
Another creation from Duhndal, One-Armed Cook takes the culinary chaos of cooking games and infuses it with silliness. Players manage a restaurant with one arm, tackling everything from cooking to customer service.
Lack of progression keeps things lighthearted, making it perfect for quick, fun sessions with pals. Duhndal has carved a niche for itself in the comedic chaos space, and their fans are here for it.
- Cry Of Fear (Steam User Rating: 88%)
Originating as a Half-Life 2 mod, Cry Of Fear evolved into its own entity. Despite dating back to 2012, it remains generous in its content offerings.
While the single-player mode sets up the story and mechanics, Cry Of Fear truly shines in its multi-campaign co-op mode with a separate storyline and a community-created campaign. Its chilling tale and solid gameplay deliver an overall engaging experience.
- Warframe (Steam User Rating: 87%)
Over the years, Warframe has grown into a free-to-play titan among the best games in its category. Despite occasional hiccups, Digital Extremes has consistently elevated the game with updates and expansions.
While primarily single-player, Warframe’s missions often allow squad play, though some players tend to prefer doing things their way. Cooperative play shines when fusing Warframe’s thrilling content with friends, making grinding more bearable.
- Damnosaur (Steam User Rating: 91%)
Damnosaur pits you against time-traveling dinosaurs with anime-esque flair. Players protect Jollywood, guiding the pink-haired hero Proh with various weapons. In its local split-screen co-op mode, the game brings chaos with thousands of dinosaurs across split-screen sessions.
Its exhilarating pacing and vivacious style make teaming up an unforgettable romp.
- Escape Memoirs: Mini Stories (Steam User Rating: 86%)
In short escape room-style tales, Escape Memoirs challenges the player’s wit and deduction skills. Designed for solo or collaborative problem-solving, it boasts an enthralling set of puzzles.
Though replay value is limited, it’s an invigorating way to test mental mettle with friends.
- Lost Ark (Steam User Rating: 71%)
Mirroring Diablo’s engaging gameplay, Lost Ark offers a free-to-play MMOARPG experience. Players embark on an epic quest featuring vibrant combat and vast quests, including numerous PvE and PvP challenges.
Immersing players in a rich world filled with dungeons, quests, and camaraderie, Lost Ark seeks to satisfy those yearning for an adventure that could rival its contemporaries.
- Dungeon Defenders 2 (Steam User Rating: 77%)
Against Etheria’s monster onslaught, players rally as heroes to defend towers through a blend of real-time action RPG elements and strategic defense mechanics.
Facilitating both single-player party building and multi-player co-op, Dungeon Defenders 2 builds an atmosphere ripe for collaborative excitement.
- Palia (Steam User Rating: 62%)
Fishing, farming, and fostering friendships, Palia positions itself as a lightweight life simulator. Though opinions on Steam were divided, its beta status hints at further enhancements.
While multiplayer features are thin for now, future updates could transform Palia into a true co-op gem.
- Unfortunate Spacemen (Steam User Rating: 86%)
This social deduction extravaganza pits astronauts against an alien imposter among their ranks, alongside co-op modes featuring survival and story missions. In a galaxy where not everyone is who they seem, players either unravel mysteries together or take on alien forces in a race against deception.
- Halo Infinite (Only Multiplayer) (Steam User Rating: 70%)
Although the story mode requires purchase, Halo Infinite’s online multiplayer is free for all. Offering tried-and-true modes with ever-evolving playlists, co-op enthusiasts can join forces in old-time favorites or the traditional Firefight against A.I.
Amidst all the changes in the industry, these games carve out a unique niche, providing reasons to celebrate the spirit of cooperation in video gaming.
