A Guide to Co-op Games

What makes a game cooperative?

In co-op, players work toward a shared objective. That might mean preparing orders together, building a farm or helping one another through a challenge. A game can also offer competitive modes; check the specific mode rather than relying on its general multiplayer label.

Local, online and crossplay

Local co-op puts players together on one device or local network, depending on the game. Split-screen is one local presentation, not a synonym for every local mode. Online co-op connects players over the internet. Crossplay is support for specific combinations of platforms, not proof that every edition can join every other edition.

Explore Summer Games for more ideas and inspect each listing for its actual co-op mode and requirements.

Two different shared goals

Coordinate under pressure

Overcooked! 2 lists local and online play for up to four. Players prepare meals together; it offers a compact shared task with time pressure. Check the exact platform combination before buying.

Build a shared farm

Stardew Valley’s Steam listing describes online, LAN and split-screen co-op. Its official troubleshooting guide says all players need the same game version and the host must start in co-op mode. Check player limits and crossplay for your particular devices.

Questions for your group

Can everyone use the required controls? Does everyone need their own copy? Who owns or hosts shared progress, and can the rest play without that person? Is the group comfortable with timers or would a less pressured shared goal suit it better? Check prices and online subscription requirements in each player’s region.

Co-op is a goal, not a connection type

Co-op describes the relationship between players: they help toward a shared objective. Multiplayer describes the presence of more than one player and can also include competition. A game may have both. The difference matters when a group expects to work together but chooses a mode where players compete, or expects each person to have an independent role but the game shares a single character.

Ask what contribution looks like. Some games divide a task into roles, such as collecting ingredients and delivering orders. Others let players pursue different activities in a persistent world. A two-person story can require both players at an obstacle. None of those structures is inherently better; choose the one that matches how much coordination your group wants.

Local play: examine the room

For a couch session, check the maximum number of players on one device, the available input devices and whether the screen is shared or split. A local network mode may instead need multiple devices connected to the same network. These are separate arrangements. Make sure everyone can see their part of the screen and use a comfortable control method before beginning.

The Overcooked! 2 Steam listing describes couch and online play for up to four. If four people are in the same room, confirm the current control requirements for that version and prepare the needed inputs. If the same group is in different homes, check online compatibility and each player’s access instead.

Online play: examine the connection

For online co-op, determine who hosts, how invitations are sent, whether the game needs an account or subscription, and how progress is saved. “Online co-op” does not by itself tell you whether a player can join halfway through or whether the host must be present. Read the mode’s official instructions and plan the session around its actual behavior.

For example, Stardew Valley’s official troubleshooting guide calls for matching versions and tells a host to start in co-op mode. Its Steam listing includes online, LAN and split-screen co-op, but the appropriate player limit and compatibility must be confirmed for the selected platform and mode.

Crossplay, cross-progression and a guest pass

Crossplay is about joining a session from supported different platforms. Cross-progression concerns access to progress across platforms or accounts. A guest pass is a purchase or access arrangement. These answer different questions: even when a guest can join the host, the guest may depend on the host’s copy or progress. Check all three only if the group needs all three.

EA’s It Takes Two guide describes a Friend’s Pass for one guest and lists crossplay platforms, with a separate condition for the original Switch. EA’s FAQ says the owner hosts the full game and determines the starting progress. The guest pass is therefore helpful when one person does not own the game, but the pair still needs compatible editions and accounts.

Worked example: a remote pair

Two friends want to play a story together every other week. One owns It Takes Two and the other is considering the pass. They check the supported platform list, then the guest downloads the correct pass. They test an invite before scheduling a long session. Both make sure their platform account and any applicable online membership are ready. They decide the owner will host and agree how to resume from the owner’s progress.

When one player cannot attend, the other can choose a different activity rather than assuming the co-op story can proceed alone. If the devices do not appear in the official compatibility guidance, the pair should confirm support before buying. The free first chapter when neither owns the game is a way to assess fit, subject to the published conditions.

Worked example: a shared farm

A group wants a farm rather than a timed task. They inspect the Stardew Valley listing for their devices and choose a mode with enough capacity. Before starting, they agree who hosts, whether others may make changes between group sessions, and how to handle shared resources. These are group agreements, not game requirements. When connecting, they follow the developer’s co-op and matching-version instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Is split-screen always available online?

No. A listing can describe split-screen and online co-op separately. Check whether the selected version supports the combination your group needs, including how many local players can join an online session.

Does a cooperative game have to be relaxing?

No. A shared goal can involve a clock, combat, complex coordination or a calm creative activity. Ask about those pressures explicitly before choosing.

What if the host cannot connect?

First check the publisher’s instructions for the exact mode and version. Decide ahead of time whether there is a backup host, a different save, or a separate backup game. Do not assume that a guest can host the owner’s progress or use an owner’s account.

Agree on help before playing

Cooperation does not mean one person must direct every action. Ask whether a new player wants a short demonstration, hints only when requested, or time to discover the controls. In a shared world, discuss whether players may spend common resources without asking. For a timed game, agree whether restarting a failed round is enjoyable or whether the group would rather move on. These conversations make expectations visible without requiring a game to provide a particular rule or settings menu.