Whether you are in a long-distance relationship looking for a way to connect with your partner or just trying to enjoy some time with close friends, co-op games are essential for reconnecting. As gamers, we have searched far and wide for some of the best co-op games to play with our friends.

Co-op games can vary depending on your playstyle or overall game preferences. Below we have listed from the least to most admired co-op options.

1. Valheim

Valheim is a fantastic group co-op game that allows a large group of players to co-exist within a Viking-type village. The competition aims to survive, which means the more friends, the better! You can add up to 10 friends on this Norse Mythological experience, along with crafting weapons and armour, making your character stronger daily.

With Valheim, you have the ability to either join your private server or a dedicated server. From there, as a group, build your Viking village and adventure into the mysterious world that is full of enemies and various monsters.

We highly recommend this game for any group looking to not only play together but also for the fun and different feel that Valheim has compared to other co-op games to play with friends.

2. Don’t Starve Together

Don’t Starve Together requires a lot of communication and teamwork for simply one thing, survival. If you are someone who enjoys surviving and want something a bit less graphic than Valheim, Don’t Starve Together has an excellent mood that is perfect for a group of four or five.

Build a camp and adventure your way around to gather supplies and resources to keep you and your friends alive. Don’t Starve Together is fun and hilarious to secure safety before the darkness and monsters tread around you.

Although we mentioned this co-op game works with a group, you can also play alone or with one other person (like you and your partner for example). This game allows you to restart completely if you die, or resume where you left off from the previous survival run.

3. Minecraft

Minecraft is obviously a superior co-op game to play with friends for so many great reasons! In Minecraft, not only do you survive together, but you can gather resources and build literally anything you want, however you want!

You also have the option of creative mode if you are looking to relax with your partner. Although survival mode requires a lot of communication and teamwork to build the ultimate hub. Once you conquer The Ender Dragon, there is still so much more to discover. Minecraft is a place to build, grow, and fight alongside your partner.

This is one of our favourite co-op games to play with our friends and partner, and we will always recommend Minecraft as a perfect survival co-op game.

4. GTA Online

GTA V has been a favourite from PlayStation, Xbox, and PC! Although it is not a cross-platform game type, you still have the ability to play in private servers with your friends and dominate Los Santos together. Go on heists, start your own businesses, put together your moto club, and create chaos with your mates.

GTA Online is a perfect third-person open-world game for co-op play. It is also a creative way to go on virtual dates with your partner! Get dressed formally and drive around in your favourite car, go to the movies, the fair, or even sail in a boat together.

GTA Online is a perfect real-life simulator that is amazing for long-distance relationships or even friendships. Just make sure your PC has the recommended spec to run the game, as it can be a bit heavy on the GPU.

5. Stardew Valley

With Stardew Valley, there are many ways of making this game a fun co-op gaming experience with your friends or partner. Do as many chores as you want, or simply do only one or two! The choice is yours in this game, and you can both work to become extremely wealthy.

In order to add new friends to the group, you will need to save money to build cabins for friends to sleep inside. Once you have these cabins, you will then have the ability to invite more friends into your server/world. If you have up to three co-op partners, you have the ability to achieve freeform projects, divide and conquer, or simply watch the sun rise and set on your farmland.

6. Destiny 2

If your friends are trying to steer more towards a first-person shooter-based game, look no further than Destiny 2. Not only is this game extremely co-op friendly, but it relies on you to invite friends to conquer the most difficult bosses!

The ideal group is three, although you can easily speed run with one extra player by your side. Or if you are brave, get together five more of your friends and get to achieving raids for some epic weapons and armour! Destiny 2 is optimal for showing the rewards of your hard work.

Destiny 2 also has a huge lore-based story that is worth understanding. If you have a partner or friends who are willing to grow with you on your Destiny 2 journey, we promise you will not regret it!

7. Portal 2

Portal 2 is simply one of the most favoured co-op puzzle games of all time on PC. If you and your friend make one mistake, the entire plan will fall apart before your eyes. This game is not for the faint of heart, so make sure you both work well together when it comes to problem-solving and patience.

Portal 2 involves two robots, so you will not have the ability to play with more than one other player. This makes the game less exciting for larger groups, although definitely worth spending time with your partner or best friend. 

8. Overcooked 2

Overcooked 2 is not for the light-hearted, with this game you need to put your multitasking skills to the test! From our experience, we have completed all of the levels with one or two players, although it might flow faster and with less stress with three or four.

Keep in mind, the more players, the more chaotic this game can become. So it is best that you all can get in a rhythm to avoid any mass kitchen destruction. Overall, this game is a perfect pick for co-op and is super fun to play with a controller if you have a spare.

9. World of Tanks

MMOs like World of Tanks are always a great choice for those that enjoy forming strategies and using their brains to win. In this game, you’ll get to join tank battles as a team in an online server with millions of players.

You’ll be equipped with armoured vehicles, and there are over 600 for you to choose from. World of Tanks is generally a free game to play, but there is a premium shop for you to purchase some cool weapons and items. To do so, you should get an AstroPay Card from OffGamers here for ease of access. This way, you can one-up your friends on the battlefield!

Conclusion

That's a wrap for our recommendations of the best co-op games to play with your friends! There are many different kinds of games to play that not only include team effort, but also communication, patience, and replayability with your partner.

Each game is all based on our own experiences, in which we hope you also gain great memories playing with your friends as much as we have!