Best Co-Op Games That Respect Your Time

Since I live in a country where video games haven't had much penetration beyond the most accessible and popular titles, I've historically had few gaming partners.

This has resulted in a relatively narrow number of cooperative video games I've had the pleasure of enjoying, but it has also led me to be extremely selective about the limited games in the genre I've dedicated my time to.

Whether with casual friends, colleagues, or even partners, my experience with cooperative games is low in quantity but high in quality, always seeking diverse adventures rather than relying on the same formula that has worked for me in the past.

Especially now, as an adult with more responsibilities than I'd like to admit, I remain very particular about the kind of cooperative games I play, which is why I'm creating this list of the ten best co-op games that respect your time.

10 Aragami 2

Games like Aragami 2 demonstrate to me that cooperative gameplay in the stealth genre is criminally underrepresented, given how much fun it is.

While I find the sequel inferior to the original, with interesting ideas that ultimately become monotonous, the rapid staleness of the mechanics dissipates when a friendly ninja is present, as it completely changes the feel of the missions.

It's no longer enough to simply run around exploiting the guards' questionable AI; you have to find a certain level of tactics and teamwork to succeed and deal with twice the chance of being discovered.

Aragami 2 is a solid stealth game overall, but what makes it stand out and be a worthwhile purchase for the genre's fans is precisely the fact that it offers such a compact yet replayable campaign when playing with friends.

9 Monster Hunter Wilds

Create your Own Hunter Clan

I admit it seems rather odd to include Monster Hunter Wilds here, given the well-known grind involved in the endgame, but I genuinely believe Capcom's game offers two quite distinct adventures.

My own experience, which I use to justify its inclusion on this list, focuses specifically on everything that happens before you reach that point where you're solely focused on maximum optimization—that is, the entire main campaign.

When it comes to cooperative memories, creating a clan with my friends in Monster Hunter Wilds is among the most magical, especially because the comfort of being among mates allowed me to experiment with the wide variety of weapons and playstyles the game offers.

Certainly, 30 hours of main story time is significantly longer than the average on this list, though it's a packed experience where you won't be bored for a single second, thanks to the sheer number of biomes and bosses to fight.

Even so, I respect the argument about the excessive farming in its post-credits stage for not ranking it higher, but believe me when I say this multiplayer has had few adventures of its caliber in recent years.

8 Army of Two

Surrendering to Bullets

The Xbox 360 era was one of the times I dedicated the most hours to cooperative video games, finding in Army of Two one of my comfort franchises that truly spoiled me with dozens of hours of entertainment.

Recommending one entry in the series is to recommend them all, since they're basically the same: an unstoppable string of third-person shooting sequences where you curse your friend for not aiming well enough.

I don't remember anything about the story because the sheer scale of the clichés was overwhelming, but what I do remember are the countless laughs that the three games in the IP gave me due to their more than functional structure.

The gunplay works well, numerous mechanics energize the cooperative gameplay, the action is always spectacular, and it's as simple as having two controllers and starting to play, something that's sorely missed these days, if you ask me.

7 It Takes Two

Rampant Creativity

Although every time I talk about It Takes Two I feel compelled to clarify I don't think it's even remotely close to the transcendent status attributed to it, I can't deny it's among the finest co-op games ever conceived.

Do I think it would be better if it were a couple of hours shorter, so it could focus even more on several of the magnificent mechanics and maps it offers? Undoubtedly, but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's a game worth every minute when you play it with a loved one.

To introduce friends to video games, have a laugh with the sweetheart of your life, or reflect on the impact the union of two human beings has on what they call a child, there aren't many options better than It Takes Two.

I think they could make much better use of its campaign, and even so, it's more than worthy of being on this list, which explains everything you need to know about how positively dense the journey is.

6 Diner Bros

The Simplification of Overcooked!

Speaking of experiences that help introduce your friends to video games without overwhelming them with everything involved in learning a new medium, stumbling upon Diner Bros is among the funniest things that has ever happened to me.

Given it's much more straightforward than alternatives like Overcooked!, it's the perfect option for casual plays where you can genuinely have fun even if you've never touched a controller (or a kitchen) in your life.

Each session is quick but with a high ceiling, which means you can have not only bad runs where you point out your friends' inability to follow a customer's order or clean the dishes, but also the possibility of games where everything goes perfectly, and you feel like you're in culinary heaven.

Without complex mechanics, overly complicated systems, or even maps that prioritize quantity over simplicity, Diner Bros is a fantastic entry point into the interactive gaming sector thanks to being a fantastic cooperative experience.

5 Wizard of Legend

Learning to be Sorcerers

Anyone who's read me before might have expected me to include a roguelike in this discussion, and I've chosen to shine the spotlight on one whose greatness I haven't praised in a while: Wizard of Legend.

During one of the darkest periods (literally, due to power outages) of my youth, this wizard simulator was a lifesaver for a neighbor and me, as we'd get together every afternoon to play on my laptop until the battery died throughout an entire year.

If being a sorcerer capable of crafting dozens of different spell arsenals is great, then being two wizards only increases the fun, madness, and lifespan of Wizard of Legend, which already offers more than enough content for tons of entertainment.

Furthermore, its challenging nature adds a steep albeit accessible learning curve, where going from being a complete novice who can't get past the first boss to practically being able to complete every level without taking any damage is phenomenal.

4 Cuphead

A True Challenge of Cooperation

However, if the discussion includes the connotation of challenge, nothing is more demanding and suitable for players who love to retry a boss a thousand times than Cuphead.

While playing it solo was an exceptional experience, playing it again in co-op completely changed the sensations, where the added factor of keeping an eye out for your partner's corpse to revive them by parrying is an extra layer of complexity.

You might think that, with two cups shooting enemies, the title would be easier, yet I can safely say it becomes even more chaotic, bringing a different kind of fun you don't get when playing alone.

Beyond that, it's the same Cuphead we all know and love, so simply referring to the masterpiece of indie development that is Studio MDHR's creation is enough to understand why the inclusion of a simple co-op mode is more than enough to earn it such a high ranking in this list.

3 Portal 2

More of the Best

While creating an extraordinary cooperative mode isn't as simple as taking a base game and just enabling a second protagonist, the truth is that Portal 2's formula works so well as a co-op experience that it feels like it was born to be played that way.

To be honest, the mere presence of new challenges within the same extraordinary puzzle format and the possibility of exploring more of Aperture Science is reason enough to consider it one of the best two-player modes ever created.

Valve has no problem calibrating the mechanics of the standalone campaign and adapts them perfectly to cooperative gameplay, with ideas so fresh they could belong to a completely new installment, to the point you feel bad for not having paid for it.

If you're a skilled player, a couple of afternoons will be enough to complete Portal 2's co-op mode, which shows such respect for players' time that it makes me feel bad, since I'd love for them to be disrespectful and make it take three times as long.

2 Absolum

An Addictive Formula

Fusing a historically cooperative genre like beat 'em ups with a modernly addictive one like roguelikes gives you Absolum, among the most outstanding indie gems of 2025.

With the possibility of having up to four fighters simultaneously, the sheer depth of this marvelous game can provide you and your friends with the most memorable week of gaming if you truly connect with it.

Thanks to the complexity of each character, the number of secrets hidden within the maps, the tremendous progression system, and the inherent difficulty of the encounters themselves, we are undoubtedly looking at one of this decade's most refined and intelligent cooperative titles the interactive industry has given us.

However, it's perfectly suited for three players, two, or even just one, because Absolum boasts enviable versatility and an ability to make the players function like a harmonious symphony many AAA games could only dream of achieving.

1 Diablo 3

Hell is the Most Fun Place

Years, genres, and generations come and go, and I'm still searching for a cooperative experience that even comes close to the enjoyment I had with one of my best friends playing Diablo 3.

Obviously, nostalgia and context influence appreciation, though few video games have put so many systems at the service of a collaborative experience where every second feels like an adventure brimming with possibilities.

It's not just because it's a highly dense ARPG with numerous characters, dozens of builds, and thousands of items, but also because it knows how to distribute all these features throughout the hours so that you're never left without something truly fascinating to do.

Whether you stay on the surface and just play until the credits roll, or delve into its depths and take the time to see everything its endgame has to offer, Diablo 3 won't disappoint you for a second if you're looking for reasons to have real fun.

There are arguments to be made that Diablo 4, or even Diablo 2, are superior in this department, but there is such a specific balance in the third numbered installment of the franchise that, for me, it's the undisputed winner when it comes to co-op.