If you are a gamer, you know that nothing is more fun than making your way through an epic battle scene, using every weapon in your hard-earned arsenal, and pulling out every strategic advantage you’ve learned through hours of gameplay. That is, nothing is better than that experience except doing those same things with a teammate at your side who has your back and can anticipate your every move. Together you are an indestructible force. And that is the undeniable advantage of the best co-op games for PC.

Whether you are a pirate about to plunder an enemy’s ship to loot its load of stolen treasure, or you are embarking on a mission to kill demonic creatures threatening a fantastical world, or you are a member of a secret elite special forces group out to stop a terrorist organization, it’s both advantageous and much more fun to have a good friend that you can count on at your side. And that good friend could be a real-world friend or family member, or someone from an online gaming community that you’ve never actually met outside of the immense gaming map that you have explored and conquered together.

Some of the best co-op games for PC can be played as a simple team of two, three, or four players, and sometimes even larger groups. No matter what time of the day or night, you never have to be alone when you turn on your PC and enter an immense open world to explore, control, and manipulate. When it comes to playing a cooperative, multiplayer game, it’s an entirely different experience when you know that there are real people out there behind the avatars you see on your screen. Your wits and skills are matched not only by a computer program, but also by the other humans who could be playing with you—or against you. But, either way, the best co-op games for PC always offer an escape into an unforgettable world where you can experience being a completely different person with a different life. And even make some entirely human connections while you’re there! So, review this guide of the best co-op games for PC to find the perfect game for you. We've listed a summary of each game along with some of its pros & cons so that you can be well-informed when picking the best PC co-op games.

Editors choice

1. Minecraft for PC

9.99 / 10
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One of the best co-op games for PC is also the best-selling video game of all time. Minecraft is widely available across nearly all gaming platforms and has earned astonishing popularity with gamers of all ages. It exploded into the gaming world upon its initial release in 2011 and has remained at the top of the best-seller list even as other games with far more advanced graphics, complex plots, and intricate storylines have emerged and faded away. Minecraft has actually been used in educational settings for its cognitive-function-stimulating format and to encourage problem-solving skills.

In the critically acclaimed game of Minecraft, players enjoy retro-style blocky graphics that are intentionally pixelated in appearance. While other games now offer much more advanced visuals, the iconic Minecraft building blocks and pixelated characters have a unique retro appeal that fans have never wanted to have updated.

Players can play solar or join in cooperative play. The game is begun by opening into a large virtual world ready for exploration. By simply punching the ground, gamers begin to mine blocks of dirt or rock to begin construction on structures. Helpful tools can be created by hitting trees and rocks with a pickaxe. Forged equipment helps players to create more complex tools, advanced building materials, and equipment for building more highly advanced structures.

In Minecraft, each time you begin a new world, the fun of exploring also begins. Each world is unique, with various terrain types, including mountains, caves, beaches, dungeons, deserts, jungles, and more. Gameplay cycles through daylight hours and night. In survival mode, the nights are filled with attacking enemies known as “mobs.” Players will have to strategize and build weapons and fortresses for defense. If a player simply wants to create and build without interruption, they can leave survival mode and enter creation mode, where they can construct to their heart’s content uninterrupted attacks.

Minecraft is approved by parents, teachers, kids, and adults of all ages, and is definitely one of the best co-op games for PC.

Key Features
  • Best selling video game of all time
  • Large open world exploration of a purposely blocky, lego-like environment
  • Players carve out raw materials in blocks for endless building and creating
  • Choose to play in single or multi-player cooperative games
  • Players can play in creative mode for building, exploring and creating, or survival mode to battle and defend against mobs
Pros
  • Infinite options for play and replay
  • Highly addictive true sandbox game
  • Creative and strategic play that encourages cognitive development
Cons
  • No real character development, plot, or storyline
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Minecraft for PC
Premium pick

2. Monster Hunter: World

8.00 / 10
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One of the best co-op games for PC is Monster Hunter: World. This game can be played as a single player or with up to three additional players as a team. This action, role-playing game for PC is an epic mix of intense battles and scavenging or forging weapons and armor out of raw materials gathered from parts of the slain monsters and from resources found throughout the worlds. As the players gain more armor, equipment, and advanced or upgraded weapons, they are able to take on greater monster hunts with more challenging and terrifying monsters.

In Monster Hunter: World, players travel to a New World where they’ve been sent to hunt monsters to kill or capture for research purposes, as well as to protect the research commission itself. Players do not possess special powers or skills, but instead must arm themselves for battle first by choosing one of 14 weapons to begin the first hunt. By carving out the materials needed to improve weapons and build protective gear and armor from the felled monsters, players are better equipped to take on a more fierce monster, and along with it, earn even more powerful equipment.

In each biome where the player is sent to kill or capture a monster, they will soon find that other monsters are present, resulting in multiple intense battles as the player must defend himself and his team while attempting to slay the monster they have targeted. Scout flies, which help players to track down the monsters they hunt, and other signs may also be present to lead the player toward the right monster to kill or trap.

Monster Hunter: World’s controls on PC have been noted as feeling clunky at first, but as the player adapts to the controls, he finds that his skills are honed, and he is a better PC gamer in the end.

While this game is also fun to play solo, it’s definitely one of the best co-op games for PC for those who enjoy cooperative play with others while scavenging for materials, developing enhanced weapons, armor, and gear, and intense battles with beautifully crafted monsters in a complex and diverse gaming environment.

Key Features
  • Hunt monsters alone, or in cooperative play with up to 3 additional players
  • Players are hungers tasked with traveling to a new world to hunt monsters, including Elder dragons
  • Hunters must capture or kill monsters for studying
  • Each hunter chooses a first weapon out of 14 options and then gains more equipment through killing monsters
Pros
  • Hunts become more challenging as players progress
  • Hunters can find items or take parts of monsters to craft tools, armors, and more to fight more powerful creatures
  • Each world or biome has more monsters than the one you are hunting, so there are plenty of intense combat situations
Cons
  • Weapons lack variety until later in the game when they've been upgraded
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Monster Hunter: World
Best value

3. Cuphead

9.00 / 10
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One of the most unique and best co-op games for PC is Cuphead. This is also one of the most visually interesting games on the market. Cuphead is styled in the look of 1930’s cartoon artwork that’s incredibly detailed and amusing. This single-player or co-op duo game features fun for the whole family with an E for everyone rating. Parents should use their own discretion because Cuphead features violence, but it is cartoonish and without blood or gore. It also references drinking and smoking.

The nostalgically styled cartoon animation and retro jazz soundtrack, complete with tinniness and a hint of recording static, makes Cuphead a trip back in time that’s enjoyable in its own right.

In Cuphead, one or two players can enjoy run and gun style play and epic combat with cartoon boss characters as Cuphead or his brother, Mugman. Cuphead and Mugman are full of fun and frolic until they encounter the devil when they enter a Casino and enjoy a lucky winning-streak that ends up being noticed by the devil himself. The pair of cups make the mistake of engaging in a deal with the devil resulting in a dangerous journey around the fantastical Inkwell Isles fighting powerful debtors in order to obtain their contracts with the devil in order to win back their sold souls.

Cuphead is absolute fun and a treat for the eyes as well as including surprisingly challenging combat play. Players can purchase weapons, charms, and more, using the gold coins won in run-and-gun levels. While encountering three different worlds, players can mix and match weapons and strategize for the best combat outcomes.

The whimsical animation for this game was inspired by old Walt Disney motion pictures and will be enjoyed by the entire family for the unique, retro animation and soundtrack, as well as challenging gameplay.

Cuphead is one of the best co-op games for PC and a must-have for any gamer’s collection.

Key Features
  • Unique cartoon art-style graphics based on surreal cartoon imagery of the 1930s
  • In Cuphead a cute cup makes a deal with the devil and then must repay the debt by collecting contracts of other debtors
  • Cuphead must save his soul by engaging in combat with may debtors
  • Player may team up with a co-op friend to for combat and defense
Pros
  • Cuphead requires not only brute force, but strategy to determine enemy weaknesses and solutions
  • Characters and backgrounds are incredibly detailed works of art
  • Amazing, 1930's style soundtrack complete with tinny sounds and static for authenticity
Cons
  • Some scenes references to smoking and drinking included
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One of the best co-op games for PC of all time is the history-making game: Fortnite. In this epic co-op game, up to 100 players can compete in a battle against both invading monsters and each other in an ultimate fight for survival.

With the Fortnite Deep Freeze Bundle, PC gamers have access to Fortnite Battle Royale, 1000 V-Bucks, the frostbite outfit, a cold front glider, the chill-axe pickaxe, and the freezing-point back bling.

In Fortnite Battle Royale, up to 100 players can be dropped from a sky bus down to a dangerous island where they then prepare to defend themselves with scavenged weapons while they scour the inhospitable terrain in search of resources and gear. Meanwhile, a storm gathers, forcing players to find a safe zone in the storm’s eye to survive.

Players can build strong fortresses and footholds, as well as constructing weapons and placing obstacles to protect themselves. While players are busy finding resources and engaging in battles, the safe area of the island map is shrinking, forcing competing players into closer contact so the battles intensify. Players can choose to use their gathered resources strictly for defense or can strategically construct epic structures to enhance their view of the perimeter for an advantage.

With Fortnite Battle Royale, players can fight for survival solo, in duos, or in small squads along with three teammates.

With the Fortnite Deep Freeze Bundle, PC gamers enter the legendary Fortnite world phenomenon with a great beginning bundle and can enjoy many hours of exploration, interactive cooperative play with teammates, and much more. Fortnite is definitely one of the best co-op games for PC gamers today.

Key Features
  • Includes Fortnite Battle Royale
  • Bundle includes V-bucks, frostbite outfit, freezing point back bling, cold front glider, and chill-axe
  • Up to 100 players can compete in Battle Royale
  • Players are air-dropped into the game map and must scavenge to collect weapons and resources
  • Safe area shrinks as game progresses
Specifications
  • Publisher: Epic Games
  • Genre: Battle Royale
  • Mode: MMO
  • Platform: PC
  • Rating: T
Pros
  • Includes free install of Battle Royale game
  • Players can explore, make forts, gather and create weapons, build skills, and engage in intense combat
  • Fun and engaging side activities
  • Graphics are bright, detailed, and fun
Cons
  • No Save the World Mode included
  • Microtransactions are complex
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Fortnite Deep Freeze Bundle

One of the best co-op games for PC is undoubtedly Rainbow Six Siege. With some of the most realistic graphics, memorable characters, and intense action, this is a cooperative game with a huge online community and multiple modes to enjoy. It is an epic first-person shooter game in which players can choose from many different protagonist characters from the legendary Rainbow Team. Different character choices are of various nationalities and genders and have different weapons and gadgets. The asymmetrical structure of the game means teams are not always balanced in their abilities. An internal shop allows players to buy operators and cosmetics using their “Renown” which is earned by successful and admirable actions performed in matches. Players gain advantage by destruction of the environment in the game, such as shooting walls and planting explosives. Defenders can also place traps and build fortifications.

In Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, a new organization of terrorists known as the White Masks is causing destruction around the world. The Rainbow Program is reinstated as a result, now led by a leader known as Six. A collection of special forces operatives is gathered from multiple countries for extensive training in multiple tactical areas and then are launched to counteract and eventually eliminate the terrorist activity. But first, the leader of the enemy must be identified.

Rainbow Six Siege encourages strong teamwork, and is one of the best co-op games for PC that’s thrilling to play when you team up with several friends so you can have each others’ backs while you play.

Key Features
  • Emphasizes cooperative play between multiple players
  • First person shooter game based on a secret counter-terrorist unit
  • Players gain advantage through environmental destruction, creativity, and strength
  • Terrorists with unknown goals are causing destruction around the world, and the Rainbow program is reactivated
  • New leader, known as Six assembles a special forces group to counteract the White Masks
Pros
  • Unique gameplay blends tacitical gunplay, and asymmetrical roles
  • Focuses on teamwork
  • Features exciting gadgets
  • Intense action, and supportive teamplay
Cons
  • Large game-playing community during cooperative play means you can sometimes experience bad behavior which you have to report
  • When playing with people you don't know, the teamwork may or may not develop
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Rainbow Six Siege Year 5 Deluxe for PC

One of the best co-op games for PC is one that can ONLY be played with a friend or partner. A Way Out is a multiplayer game for two people that has no single-player option. In A Way Out, two players can enter the lives of a pair of prison inmates in the 1970s. Vincent and Leo form an alliance when newly incarcerated Vincent Moretti saves Leo’s life in the prison cafeteria. Together, their alliance evolves into an elaborate escape plan. Players must work together in an epic jail breakout that takes place on a rainy night.

A Way Out is divided into 37 chapters of exciting gameplay and involves many engaging non-player characters as well as intense combat, chases on foot, in cars, a boat, and more. Gameplay involves strategizing, hiding in the wilderness, and eventually crossing the border into Mexico. There are gunfights, ambushes, and very intense, action-packed gameplay throughout.

Sometimes described as the best co-op game of all time, A Way Out welds gamers together into a cohesive team, whether it’s played with a friend or a stranger from online who will soon become a friend and partner in “crime.”

One of the qualities that make A Way Out one of the best co-op games for PC, is the fact that during breaks in the fast-paced action, players can enjoy a few laughs as brash Leo, and more deliberate and thoughtful Vincent learns that they work well together despite being very different personality types. Besides the challenging escape and ongoing run from the law, they also have to take time for other goals such as catching fish so they don’t go hungry in the wilderness, making for some fun and entertaining side stories during which character depth is unveiled.

A Way Out is one of the best co-op games for PC, and good for many hours of entertainment.

Key Features
  • Cooperative game for PC that has no single-player option
  • Pair with a friend and experience two prisoners, Leo and Vincent, who form an alliance and the objective to escape
  • Engage in the fun of a harrowing escape, chases, shootouts, and more
  • Players enjoy car chases, running chases, hand to hand combat and more
  • Both players must cooperate to progress
Pros
  • Fast-paced action after a slow start
  • Interesting non-player characters
  • Enjoy the fun of coordinating with a friend in a jail breakout
Cons
  • Early scenes are a bit slow-paced
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One of the best coop games for PC is Left 4 Dead 2. This is a combination survival, first-person shooter, and horror game that allows up to four gamers to play as main characters who are survivors of a zombie apocalypse. If the game is short players, the unplayed characters are played by the computer.

Left for Dead 2 is a sequel to the highly-rated original Left for Dead game. In Left 4 Dead 2, players enjoy battling for survival in the post-zombie-pandemic apocalyptic Deep South through 5 exciting campaigns. Each includes highly detailed graphics and exciting and complex map environments with abandoned cities, swamps, amusement parks, deserted highways, bombed-out bridges, hotels, riverfronts, and much more. Each campaign is richly detailed and complex as well as intense, bloody, and brutal. Players fight zombies, including the special infected undead with super abilities including Boomer, who projectile vomits blinding bile, Smoker with a long tongue that can choke victims, a huge zombie known as Tank with super strength, the Witch, who cries and viciously attacks at the same time, the Spitter who spits out fiery stomach acid, and both the Hunter and the Jockey with enhanced speed and fighting agility.

The gameplay in Left 4 Dead 2 for PC is packed with action, intense gore, brutal attacks, and epic battles with the undead for survival. Weapons include firearms, chainsaws, axes, and even a deadly cast iron frying pan.

An AI director in Left 4 Dead 2 tailors the game to match your performance by adapting the enemy population, weather, and more. The director also ensures a different experience each time the game is played, making it the best coop game for PC to play over and over.

Key Features
  • Multiplayer game set in the Deep South historical cities, bayous, and more of Savannah, New Orleans etc.
  • Up to 4 players fight for survival during a zombie apocalypse
  • Players enjoy weaponry including firearms, chainsaws, axes, cast iron pans, and more
  • Fight infected, and special infected undead enemies with special skills
Pros
  • Includes 5 campaigns for up to four players
  • Characters not controlled by a player are controlled by the PC
  • Game has an AI director that ensures a different gaming experience each time it's played
Cons
  • The much anticipated new weapons are not much different than weapons in the original
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Left for Dead 2 PC

Sea of Thieves is an open-world pirate game released for both Xbox One and PC. Its multiplayer cooperative gameplay format has been widely praised. It’s also earned accolades for the combat, immense maps to explore, and the brain-twisting riddles and mysteries to solve in each mission. It is a first-person action-adventure game that’s also described as a sandbox game, since there is plenty of opportunities to explore. It is set in a shared world where groups of players frequently encounter other groups and interact in both negative and positive ways.

In Sea of Thieves, players complete voyages or missions with a treasure map or riddle for guidance. Missions include locating goods and treasure and then delivering them in order to earn a legendary pirate reputation. Of course, other pirates may be tempted to plunder your goods and leave you for dead, so it’s often necessary to engage in battles for self-defense. Since you are a pirate, you may also wish to play aggressively and plunder stolen goods from other ships. However, part of the joy of playing Sea of Thieves is you can play aggressively, defensively, or play just to explore the large and detailed world of pirates on the high seas.

Weapons include pistols, cutlasses, blunderbusses, sniper rifles, and cannons.

Players can play musical instruments together to form a complete band. They can enjoy a drink at a pub or engage in many other activities besides raiding ships and looting treasure, so this is a very versatile game to play.

Sear of Thieves is one of the best co-op games for PC for those who want to enjoy many hours of fun. Because you encounter new groups of players each time, this game is always unpredictable.

Key Features
  • Multiplayer game where gamers cooperate to explore an immense, open-world environment with pirate theme
  • The type and size of your ship depends on the number of players
  • Use a compass, judge wind direction, adjust sails, and use a telescope
  • Enjoy free exploration as well as exciting campaigns to conquer
Pros
  • Gameplay is progressive to encourage players of different skill levels to play together
  • Fun side activities including hunting, fishing, cooking, and more
  • Enjoy plenty of plundering as well as exploration
  • Exciting campaigns combine into a larger story arc
Cons
  • Lack of direction when you begin the game may result in hours of exploration before you find your mission
  • Players solve riddles and mysteries and gain reputation points, but never progress to earn special skills or equipment
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Sea of Thieves for Xbox One and PC

Diablo III is one of the best co-op games for PC that lives up to and even exceeds the reputation of the previous versions of Diablo, with an altogether more satisfying RPG experience that’s a tough act to follow in any other game. In Diablo III, the protective Worldstone, which was meant to keep Sanctuary safe from the demonic forces, has been destroyed. A new generation of heroes must retrieve the legendary Black Soulstone created by the crazed warlock known as Zltan Kulle to trap the souls of seven Lords of Hell and destroy them for all eternity.

Players can choose their characters from five classes with a choice of gender and abilities. Choices include a barbarian, a witch doctor, a wizard, a monk, a demon hunter, a necromancer, and a crusader.

In Diablo III cooperative play, the loot goes to individual players and no player can view what other players received. Players are encouraged to trade and share, which can be done for two hours after loot is dropped. You can also draw on the earnings of loot from fallen enemies and use it to buy helpful armor and weapons, or have artisans forge weapons to fill out your arsenal.

The randomized 3D environment of Diablo III makes it fun to play all over again many times. There are new quests in new locations and different loot to claim in each game, so no two games will be the same as you try to defend Sanctuary from annihilation from aggressive demon invaders.

Diablo III can only be played online and does not feature an offline solo player version. However, when it comes to cooperative play, Diablo III is one of the best co-op games for PC, and one that you can experience over and over again.

Key Features
  • Game can be played in single-player or multiplayer modes
  • The world of mortals is under the control of demonic powers of evil due to the destruction of the protective Worldstone
  • A brand new generation of heroic fighters face demons that threaten Sanctuary
  • Choose your character from 7 different types including wizards, barbarians, witch doctors, necromancers, and more
  • Kill demonic monsters and steal their loot, including weapons and items to gain status
Pros
  • Play multiple times and no two games are ever the same with randomized 3D environment
  • Collect skills as you level up
  • Breathtaking graphics and addictive play
  • More satisfying gameplay than previous Diablo games
Cons
  • Can only be played online with no offline single-player mode
  • Sound quality needs improvement
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Diablo III for PC or Mac

One of the best co-op games for PC for role-playing fun is Divinity: Original Sin. This game has an immense open-world environment to explore and manipulate at will, as well as a rich, engaging storyline and plenty of action as players use skills and magic spells to overcome opponents.

Divinity: Original Sin is a turn-based role-playing game in the early style of cooperative games that many consider to be classic. In this game, players can choose a pre-made character or design their main character of choice by choosing a race, gender, story of origin, and stats. Up to three companion characters may also be chosen for assistance, and each is fully playable and interact with the environment in unique ways.

Divinity: Original Sin has local player modes, and online mode in competitive and cooperative games.

Divinity: Original Sin is set in Rivellon, an imaginary world ruled by seven gods who have invested some of their powers into Lucian the Divine in order to protect the world from the mysterious void, which is full of powerful and frightening creatures. Lucian, however, died before the beginning of the game, resulting in an invasion of monsters into Rivellon.

By using a combination of physical moves and spells, players can combat creatures to achieve objectives as well as collect helpful inventory to complete quests. Quests overlap, and players may find hidden keys in one quest that aid them in another.

Divinity: Original Sin also has plenty of engaging non-player characters and side activities, as well as endless opportunities to explore.

This game is definitely a beloved classic and one of the best co-op games for PC.

Key Features
  • Epic storyline set in the early days of a universe known as Divinity
  • Players can explore a vast and detailed open world find valuable items and engage in combat with mystical creatures
  • Turn-based role playing and each player runs two main characters
  • In Original Sin, players begin a murder investigation that ends up in an adventure that spans across time and space
Pros
  • Players design their own character
  • Includes many surprises in a game that appears stereotypical at first but turns out to be much more
  • Many fascinating non-player characters
Cons
  • This game requires a Steam account to play
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Divinity: Original Sin

Whether you’ve long been a fan of the best co-op games for PC, or you’ve just recently discovered the fun of venturing out of the single-player modes into a virtual world where you can encounter fellow human beings playing behind their avatar characters, you can take advantage of a list of the greatest cooperative games available today to choose your next epic adventure. You most likely haven't played them all, so here is a chance to learn about some you may have overlooked.

Cooperative games are those games with multiplayer options that let you play with friends and family members no matter where they are. You can couch co-op with a friend or family member right in your own living room, or you can also join in the play with people you’ve never met in life and aren’t likely to, but who may soon become your greatest ally in a game where you need someone to have your back. You might also encounter real-life players who can become your greatest on screen-enemies as your wits and skills clash in epic combat, stealthy looting, and more.

If you are ready to choose one of the best co-op games for PC so you can embark on your next rollicking rampage through the high seas, or a scavenging trip through a post-zombie apocalypse world, we have put together the perfect list for you. These are some of the most legendary cooperative adventure games available today.

Understanding Co-Op Games

Cooperative games—affectionately called co-op games—are most often offered as an alternative to a single-player game mode. The multiplayer co-op mode will typically involve two or more additional players completing the story mode which will run in a way that is a variation on the single-player version. It may be very similar or substantially different. If you’ve finished a game in single-player mode, it can be fun to explore it all over again in a different mode and see it in a new light, and sometimes experience parts that are only available in co-op mode.

In most games, you team up with one to four other players to achieve an objective or solve a mission together while battling AI-operated enemies. In some cases, you may be competing against each other, as in multiplayer formats.

The PC platform is one of the best ways to enjoy cooperative gaming, either the couch co-op or one with online players. Side missions can be much more fun and entertaining in cooperative games. In games with vast open-world maps to explore, having a friend or sidekick can make exploring even more fun and can open the door to creating your own adventures and storylines. Sandbox games are also some of the best co-op games for PC, as you can team up with another player to collect resources, build structures, fortresses, forge weapons and much more.

No matter how much gaming experience you might have, exploring the best co-op games for PC with a friend or partner, can put a new twist on an old favorite, or open the door to explore a brand new, unchartered world—and not have to do it alone!