Agree on the evening you want
Choosing a cooperative game starts with your group’s habits as well as its preferred genre. Some friends want to progress through one story whenever they meet. Others prefer selecting a separate mission each time. A third group wants an ongoing world in which earlier contributions remain visible. These three starting points therefore offer an adventure for two, team expeditions and survival around a shared home. Begin with the format everybody wants to return to.
An evening is a way to choose an activity, not a promise that a whole game can be finished in one sitting. Check the participant count, local or online support and everybody’s devices. A cooperative tag cannot answer those questions on its own.
Three starting points
Compare format and activity
| Game | Players | Mode | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split Fiction | 2 players | Local or online co-op | Follow a story together |
| Deep Rock Galactic | 1–4 players | Single-player or online co-op | Get together for a mission |
| Raft | Solo or with friends | Single-player or online co-op | Develop a shared floating home |
Split Fiction
Follow a story together
- Players
- 2 players
- Mode
- Local or online co-op
Split Fiction keeps changing the rules of its shared adventure. The imagined worlds of two writers ask each player to contribute different actions. Choose it for following a story together and discussing fresh situations rather than repeating the same assignment. Playing with the same partner makes those discoveries a shared experience.
Keep in mind: Designed for two players, with platforming and action rather than a leisurely walk.
Steam reviews: 97% positive · 128,035 reviewsData checked:
Deep Rock Galactic
Get together for a mission
- Players
- 1–4 players
- Mode
- Single-player or online co-op
Deep Rock Galactic sends a team of space dwarves into caves to collect resources. Different classes bring different tools, making cooperation part of exploration and combat. Consider it for a group that enjoys selecting a mission and sharing responsibilities. Agree on the pace: one player may want to explore everything while another wants to return.
Keep in mind: A shooter with combat and dangerous caves. Mission structure does not guarantee an identical duration for every session.
Steam reviews: 97% positive · 380,811 reviewsData checked:
Raft
Develop a shared floating home
- Players
- Solo or with friends
- Mode
- Single-player or online co-op
In Raft you collect ocean debris, expand a raft and prepare for the next destination. A shared home makes small contributions visible: everyone needs water, food and room for equipment. Choose it for returning to one ongoing project. Before starting, decide who likes managing supplies and who wants to plan the journey.
Keep in mind: Survival requires resources and the ocean brings danger. Agree with the group about when to continue its shared world.
Steam reviews: 93% positive · 379,599 reviewsData checked:
Choose without a lengthy debate
For exactly two players who enjoy changing situations, begin with Split Fiction. For a group interested in action and missions, discuss Deep Rock Galactic. For the pleasure of an ongoing project, consider Raft. These are starting points rather than rules: the pace you agree on will shape the experience too.
Before buying, compare official modes and requirements on the game pages. Then choose a modest goal for the first meeting: progress through part of a story, complete a mission or improve the raft. A shared goal helps when one friend wants to move ahead while another is still learning the controls. Leave time to discuss the result afterwards before choosing the next session.
Repeat the selection in search
On 10 October 2026 we searched ggpick for the “co-op” tag, limiting results to released base games with at least 80% positive Steam reviews and 1,000 reviews. From the actual results we chose three different activities and checked their official Steam pages. This is an editorial choice from our catalogue, including older releases. It neither covers the entire genre nor ranks games from best to worst. The search button repeats the conditions; results and review figures can change over time.
Find games in the catalog
Put the advice into practice with a relevant selection of games.
Frequently asked questions
Can all three be played on one screen?
No. Split Fiction supports local co-op; Deep Rock Galactic and Raft offer online cooperation here. Check your devices and intended format beforehand.
Does a search for two players enforce an exact player count?
It recognises cooperative intent but does not guarantee an exact participant count. Check the collection and official modes to see whether a game fits your pair.