The Best Open World Co-Op Games To Explore With A Friend

The next best thing to hanging out in the real world is to get together with your pals in a great open world co-op game. Sometimes touching virtual grass does the job, especially if you're separated by distance or struggle to find the time to hang out in-person. These games span many genres and vibes, with some perfect for beginners or casual gamers, and some aimed at those who want a bit of a challenge. From spooky survival games to adventures on the high seas, we've got a bit of everything for when you want a whole world at your fingertips.

If you're looking for something a bit more structured, check out our list of the best story-led co-op games, or have a read of our list of the best co-op puzzle games if you really want to put your friendships to the test.

Palworld

Palworld is a great game for gamers of all abilities and preferences, taking the open world concept and really letting you play with the idea--the choice of whether to enjoy a cute and cozy game or a chaotic battling adventure is yours. Sweet little creatures called Pals can be captured and cared for, or made to fight and work in factories. You can even eat them, if that's the kind of person you want to be.

You can ride your pals across sea, land, and sky--exploring varied locales and finding more materials to craft with. You can keep things wholesome and start a farm (with maybe occasional violence), build imposing factories and work your Pals to death, or take up arms against poachers and risk your life keeping Pals safe in the wild. You can play with up to 4 players online, or set up a dedicated server for up to 32.

If you're a big fan of cozy games (you can find our co-op cozy game recommendations here) you'll also be pleased to hear that Palworld is getting an adorable spinoff: Palfarm sometime soon.

Fallout 76

If you've been watching the latest season of Fallout on Amazon, you might have gotten a hankering for some more post-apocalyptic mayhem, and Fallout 76 drops you right back in the action with a bunch of friends (and foes) online. Set just 25 years after the bombs fell, in Appalachia this time, it's another hefty dose of lore-packed RPG-ing but specifically built for co-op.

New seasons bring new challenges, so once you and your friends get started, you'll be supplied with an endless stream of new things to do. Build bases, fight mutated enemies, and dig deep into the secrets of West Virginia in 2076--you can even meet Walton Goggins as The Ghoul.

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Sons Of The Forest

There's something about playing co-op horror games that makes you feel near-indestructable. It's a great way of strengthening (or testing) friendships, as you rely on your pals to have your back and defend you, or work diligently for a common goal while you keep look-out. Sons Of The Forest is a pretty grim game, and we love it. Up to 8 friends can join forces to take down feral cannibals, craft elaborate bases, find leads on the mystery of a missing billionaire, and survive the harsh wide open world in this sequel to The Forest.

It's not an easy game, so if you need some advice, be sure to check out our Sons Of The Forest guides if you need a little help surviving in the wild.

Grounded 2

You might be looking for a great four-player co-op game to jump into with your friends, and we would humbly recommend starting with Grounded 2. Don't let the Early Access status fool you, it's already a well-fleshed out game packed with robust multiplayer features that build on the previous game and make everyday objects feel like incredible hurdles to climb.

After being shrunk down to insect size, you and your pals need to traverse a back yard full of hazards and wield incredible tiny tools, defending yourselves and finding out the secrets within. Grounded 2 is all the fun of a campy '80s film reimagined as a huge open playground for you to explore. As beautiful as its towering flowers and rich grasses look, don't get caught off-guard.

Project Zomboid

Project Zomboid is one of the best zombie games of all time, and you don't have to face the undead peril alone. Armed with weapons, tools, and the survival savvy of your best friends, you'll need to devise a sustainable plan to get through the apocalypse in one piece. It's an expansive open world RPG where you can become almost any kind of player. Farm, fish, build, and learn to fight when the swarms of zombies move in--the more people you have watching your back, the better.

If you're looking for a deeply immersive experience where you can truly exercise your creative muscles, Project Zomboid encourages players to think outside the box and rewards them with realistic gameplay featuring changing seasons, environmental threats, and factors like mental health and boredom to keep an eye on. The open world map is loosely based on a real location, further deepening the immersion and giving you the most true-to-life zombie experience on the market.

Sea Of Thieves

If you and your pals don't all have the same consoles, Sea Of Thieves is a great cross-platform game that'll let you include everyone. Not only do you get a huge open world, but you also get to explore the open seas as pirate crews looking for new adventure, loot, and challenges. The game features pretty much everything you'd expect from a pirate life simulator--plundering, sword fights, sea monsters, lost treasure--but lets you choose your own path and playstyle. You don't have to be totally ruthless, perhaps you'd rather let one of your friends take care of your dirty work for you.

The unspoiled islands and dense underwater kingdoms of Sea Of Thieves make its open world feel fresh and exciting, and with seemingly endless side-quests you can end up exploring as much or as little of the map as you'd like. There's no set rules or roles in Sea Of Thieves: the world is your oyster.

Valheim

Only the hardiest friends will survive in Valheim, an intentionally brutal survival sim for up to 10 players, set in a procedurally-generated Viking-inspired purgatory. It's a gorgeous game that makes full use of its open world, with varied biomes, sea adventure, and rich exploration features, as well as crafting and the ability to conquer other locations. How you go about your journey is up to you, but proving yourself to Odin is no easy feat. You'll need to build weapons and armor, grow and farm food, craft safe bases filled with impressive buildings, and tame the seas as you sail in search of more land to exploit and explore.

No Man's Sky

Perhaps one open world is not enough for you? In that case, we'd recommend No Man's Sky, where you'll have endless open worlds ready to explore. The possibilities are almost without restraint in the game, which has continued to grow and develop over the last decade and become one of the best sandbox games. While there is a story throughout, open world exploration is the main event, allowing you and your friends to fly to distant planets, find resources, trade, craft, and discover the ends of the universe.

Each star is surrounded by planets, each of which is teeming with life in an infinitely procedurally generated expanse. New creatures, plant life, and minerals are yours for the taking. In terms of scope, it doesn't get much bigger than No Man's Sky.

Enshrouded

If you're looking for another game like Valheim, Enshrouded offers a similarly rich gameplay experience for up to 16 players. While still in Early Access for now, the game sports one of the best building systems we've seen in survival games--being both intuitive and expansive--along with varied combat, plenty of juicy gear to try out, and a story that'll take you through a number of diverse biomes and put you up against incredible enemies.

If you've ever played a survival RPG and wished it had a bit more of something, or did a specific thing a bit better, Enshrouded has probably addressed your concerns. There's very little limit to what you can do, where you can go, and who you can become.