• PC Superiority: Lower price points, Early Access titles, and a massive legacy catalog make PC the definitive home for co-op.
  • Tactical Longevity: Rainbow Six: Siege hits its second decade with a massive Solid Snake crossover and remains a 10/10 essential.
  • The "Host Progress" Hurdle: High-tier titles like Schedule 1 and Dark Souls III still tether progress to the host, a critical factor for squad planning.
  • Indie Dominance: 2025-2026 "Sleeper Hits" like Absolum and Peak are outperforming AAA counterparts on platforms like Steam Deck.

The Tactical Meta: Shooters and Strategy

Rainbow Six: Siege

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Siege is an absolute essential. Even a decade post-launch, Ubisoft’s tactical shooter is crushing it. The 2026 inclusion of Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid proves there’s still plenty of gas in the tank. It’s free-to-play, 1-5 players, and features the best destructible environments in the business. If your squad hasn't jumped in yet, you’re missing the gold standard of online FPS coordination.

Schedule 1

If you’ve ever wanted to manage a narcotics empire without the prison time, this is your game. It’s a top-tier 2026 simulator for 1-4 players. Fair warning: it uses a "host-only" save system. If you aren't the one clicking 'start,' your progress won't follow you home. We recommend this for groups with a dedicated "CEO" who is always online.

Hardcore Co-op: The FromSoft Formula

Dark Souls III & Elden Ring Nightreign

For the masochists in the audience, Dark Souls III remains a 1-6 player classic, though the summoning system via White Sign Soapstones is a bit dated compared to modern titles. If you want the cutting edge, Elden Ring Nightreign is the play. It’s built for 1-3 players from the ground up. While it’s on consoles, we believe PC is the only way to play this one. Why? Modding. The ability to tweak your experience is vital for a game this punishing. Just remember: if you go in solo, you’re losing the ability to be revived by teammates—a mistake that will cost you hours of progress.

The Roguelike and Indie "Sleeper Hits"

Absolum

This is one of our favorite picks from 2025. It’s a 9/10 sleeper hit that blends beat 'em up mechanics with roguelike progression. The 1-2 player co-op is where the combat truly shines, allowing for combo-based melee attacks that feel incredibly fluid.

Risk of Rain 2

Even years later, this remains the benchmark for how to do a 3D roguelike. It’s tight, chaotic, and supports up to four players. The synergy between items makes every run feel like a fresh puzzle to solve. If your squad wants something reliably exciting for a quick session, this is a "must-own" indie gem.

Survival, Climbing, and Chaotic Vibes

Peak

Winner of the 2025 "Better With Friends" Steam Award, Peak is currently dominating the Steam Deck charts. It’s a mountaineering sim for 1-4 players where the map updates every 24 hours. The "friends-only" co-op means you don't have to worry about random trolls cutting your rope while you're scaling a cliff face.

Bellwright

Currently in Early Access, Bellwright is for the group that wants to build something from nothing. It’s a medieval survival game that’s a bit janky around the edges, but the depth of its settlement building and command systems makes it a great project for a 4-player team.

REPO & RV There Yet?

For pure party chaos, these two are unmatched.
  • REPO: A 2-6 player extraction horror game. The physics-based toolset means if you drop a "haunted" object because you're clumsy, you're going to have a very bad time. The proximity chat is the secret sauce here.
  • RV There Yet?: This is a 1-4 player management nightmare in the best way possible. You’re navigating a family of "weirdos" through a road trip. Between winching an RV across ravines and avoiding snake bites, it’s the ultimate "test" of your friendship.