There’s something special about co-op gaming. Being able to enjoy a gaming adventure with friends helps players create long lasting memories, with some of the best games of all time featuring co-op support in some capacity.2024 saw plenty of major new game releases, with many offering co-op support as a key feature. In fact, one could say that 2024 was home to some of the best co-op games ever made.
All kinds ofhigh-quality co-op gameswere released in 2024, some offering local co-op and others focused squarely on online co-op play. Regardless of one’s co-op tastes, 2024 gave gamers a great deal of co-op gaming variety, with these 10 games standing out as the best co-op games of 2024. Please note that these games arepresented in alphabetical order.
7 Days to Die
Check Out 7 Days to Die onOpenCritic
Open world zombie survival game7 Days to Diefirst hit the scene in 2016 as an early access release, but its initial console version was a mess, to put it mildly. Fast-forward to 2024, and7 Days to Diefinally hit version 1.0, a move that also saw it debut on the latest generation of consoles.7 Days to Die1.0 is a vast improvement over the original version of the game, giving players a gigantic, fully-featured, zombie-infested world to explore with their friends. There are many co-op survival games on the market, but7 Days to Dieis easily one of the best available.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
TheCall of Dutyfranchise has long offered co-op options for gamers, andBlack Ops 6is no exception to the rule.Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s co-op offering is the return of round-based Zombies, which has been met with enthusiasm from the community.Black Ops 6launched with two Zombies maps, with a third added as part of theSeason 1 Reloaded update. As usual, theBlack Ops 6Zombies maps are full of secrets to uncover, challenging players to get to the bottom of their mysteries by completing their quests. The currently-available Zombies maps can provideBlack Ops 6fans with countless hours of entertainment, but its co-op offerings are only going to get better as time goes on. Fans can expect more Zombies content forBlack Ops 6in 2025 as Treyarch continues to develop new content for the wildly successful game.
Cat Quest 3
Check Out Cat Quest 3 onOpenCritic
It’s safe to say that the vast majority of co-op experiences in this day and age are relegated to the online space. So whenever a game comes out that supports local co-op, it’s greatly appreciated.Cat Quest 3is one such game, letting gamers play through the entire adventure in couch co-op with a friend. For those unfamiliar with theCat Questgames, they are humorous action-RPGs where players explore a world populated by talking cats.Cat Quest 3adds a pirate theme to the mix, letting players explore the oceans as they complete quests, battle their way through dungeons, and collect treasure.Cat Quest 3is brimming with charm and while it’s a fine enough adventure on its own, it’s even more of a good time in co-op.
Chained Together
One of the most bizarre co-op games to release this year,Chained Togetherhas up to four players literally chained together as they try to make their way out of Hell. Chained Togetherforces players to communicate and work together, as one wrong move can cost the team serious progress.Chained Together’s wild antics helped it go viralon social media and Twitch, with the game even earning itself a nomination for Stream Game of the Year at The Streamer Awards this year. And while it may have gone viral because of its online co-op functionality,Chained Togetheralso gets points for supporting split-screen co-op as well.
Content Warning
Check Out Content Warning onOpenCritic
Speaking of viral co-op games,Content Warningalso blew up on the Twitch charts. InContent Warning, players hope to become successful on “Spooktube” by recording monsters and uploading their videos. The catch is that players have a limited amount of time to capture their footage, which adds a great deal of tension to the proceedings.Content Warning’s strange premisehelps it stand out among all the other co-op games released in 2024, successfully functioning as both a funny co-op game and an unnerving horror title at the same time.
Core Keeper
Check Out Core Keeper onOpenCritic
7 Days to Diewasn’t the only early access co-op game to get its full release in 2024. So too didCore Keeper, a survival game that has earned comparisons toStardew ValleyandMinecraft. InCore Keeper, up to eight players can explore a shared world, collecting resources and crafting helpful new items in typical survival game fashion.Core Keeperalso features special bosses that players can work together to topple for additional rewards.Core Keeperis currently available on Xbox Game Passas well, making it easier for fans to set up a co-op world with their friends.
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2was an absolute phenomenon in 2024, taking the franchise to new heights and establishing itself as one of the best co-op games on the PS5. InHelldivers 2, teams of four select their loadouts and deploy on planets ravaged by gigantic bugs and deadly robots. Working together is crucial for survival, especially on the higher difficulties, but many ofHelldivers 2’s most memorable water-cooler moments come from accidental friendly fire. The hilarious chaos that comes from accidentally deploying one ofHelldivers 2’s Stratagemstoo close to a teammate ensures that there’s never a dull moment when playing in co-op.
The First Descendant
Check Out The First Descendant onOpenCritic
MMO looter-shooter fans needing a new game to play with their friends may want to give free-to-playThe First Descendanta look. A third-person shooter that takes clear inspiration from Bungie’sDestiny,The First Descendanthas admittedly earned mixed reviews since its launch earlier this year. However, that hasn’t stopped millions upon millions of people from flocking to the game and continuing to play it months after its initial release. Four players can team up to tackleThe First Descendant’s various content offerings, which includes standard missions as well as over-the-top boss fights.The First Descendantshould only get better with time, as, like other live-service games, it’s set to receive a regular stream of fresh content.
V Rising
Survival games are simply better with co-op, and that holds true forV Rising. Yet another survival game that exited early access in 2024,V Risingoffers a unique twist on the survival genreby having players take on the role of a vampire. Offering large-scale co-op,V Risingtasks players with completing tasks typical of the survival game genre, like crafting, building, and gathering resources, while dealing with their vampirism at the same time.V Risingplayers have to shelter themselves from the sun, and they also have to regularly feed on blood. Building everything around vampirism in a crowded genre.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
There was a great deal of hype leading up to the release ofSpace Marine 2, and by many accounts, it well exceeded those expectations.Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2can be played solo, but it’s clearly built for players to play with their friends.Space Marine 2’s story campaign can be played start to finish with three players, plus there’s thebonus Operations modethat offers even more co-op action. Nothing beats tearing through the Tyranid hordes with a friend, offering co-op enthusiasts countless hours of brutal entertainment.
