Online co-op games to play with friends on PC

If you're looking for online co-op games to play with friends, the first thing is to decide what kind of evening you want: half an hour of laughs, an action mission or a project that lasts weeks. Here are eight Steam games with online co-op (as Steam labels them), grouped by exactly that.

They're all in our catalogue, with their own pages, and most also work on Steam Deck. If you're after playing with someone on the same sofa, we have another list: couch co-op games on PC.

Before you start

• Agree on the time. Some games are played in 20-40 minute missions and others need a whole evening. It's the best way to make sure nobody is left halfway.
• Use voice chat. In several of these games, talking is half the fun (and in one of them, half the survival).
• Check who owns it. Before you meet up, look at the Steam page to see what each player needs to join.

For an hour of action with the group

If you want to shoot together and have a good time without too many complications, these two are the safest bets.

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  Left 4 Dead 2Shooter · Co-op · ZombiesWhen you have friends online and an hour: a short campaign is pure co-op action.When to play it and when not to
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  Deep Rock GalacticShooter · Co-op · MiningWhen you have an hour and fancy co-op action: one mission is perfect and always unlocks upgrades.When to play it and when not to

Left 4 Dead 2 is the classic: four survivors fight through zombie-packed campaigns while an AI director adjusts hordes and items so no two runs are alike. A short campaign fits into an hour and there's no progression to manage. Just bear in mind that it's only worth it as a group: with bots it loses almost all its charm.

Deep Rock Galactic has space dwarves digging through destructible caves while swarms of bugs arrive. It has four complementary classes, 20-40 minute missions and upgrades that unlock run after run. It works with friends and strangers alike, and its community is famous for its friendliness. It's not for a calm day: when the swarms arrive, you have to react fast.

For getting scared (and laughing)

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  PhasmophobiaHorror · Co-op · InvestigationWhen you're with friends and want a session of scares and laughs: each investigation lasts 10 to 30 minutes.When to play it and when not to

Phasmophobia puts you in haunted houses with ghost-hunting gear: thermometers, recorders, cameras. You have to identify the type of ghost before it decides to hunt you. Each investigation lasts 10 to 30 minutes and is as scary as it is funny. Solo it loses a lot, so it's one you play in company or not at all.

For solving things as a pair

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  Portal 2Puzzle · First person · Co-opWhen you want to think a bit and have a laugh. Each chamber takes minutes and the campaign moves at a good pace.When to play it and when not to
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  PlateUp!Co-op · Cooking · RogueliteWhen you have friends online and an hour for a restaurant run that keeps growing.When to play it and when not to

Portal 2 has a co-op campaign separate from the single-player one, designed for two: puzzles that can only be solved by combining both players' portals. Each chamber takes minutes, ideal if you want to think for a while and have a laugh.

PlateUp! is what happens when you mix the chaos of Overcooked with a management game: you cook, serve and clean by day, and between days you rearrange the kitchen and automate it with conveyors and robots. A run takes around an hour. If someone in the group gets stressed under time pressure, warn them first.

For a project lasting several weeks

These work best if the group wants to meet every week and carry on where they left off.

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  ValheimSurvival · Building · Co-opWhen you have a long afternoon, ideally with friends: building the village together is one of the most satisfying things in the genre.When to play it and when not to
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  RaftSurvival · Co-op · OceanWhen you want relaxed survival with friends, in afternoons of expanding the raft and exploring islands.When to play it and when not to

Valheim turns you into Vikings who chop trees, build wooden houses, sail and take on bosses. It shines with a small group of friends, and building the village together is one of the most satisfying things in the genre. Careful: preparing expeditions and travelling takes time, so it's not for 30-minute sessions.

Raft is the relaxed version: you start on a tiny raft in the middle of the ocean and expand it into a floating base while a shark stalks you and you discover islands. Calm survival, ideal for evenings of building bit by bit. Solo it has less variety: it's a game for company.

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  Core KeeperSandbox · Mining · Co-opWhen you want an exploration and building adventure at your own pace, ideally with friends.When to play it and when not to

Core Keeper is a cosy blend of Terraria and Stardew: you dig through an underground cavern, farm, fish, craft and take on huge bosses. It's building and exploration at your own pace, with light action. If you want a story, it's not for you: the focus is on exploring and building.

Tip: if the group can't agree, first decide how much time you have. With an hour, a mission-based game is better (Deep Rock Galactic, Left 4 Dead 2); with the whole evening, a building game (Valheim, Raft, Core Keeper).

What if you can't decide today?

If you're not sure which one to pick, the recommender helps you decide based on the day's time and energy. And if someone in the group turns up tired, the games to play when you're tired page has calmer options.