Best Co-Op Indie Games

In today’s day and age, gamers all over the world have access to a plethora of great choices to play together. From different PvP genres to survival and RPG games, a group of friends can enjoy many AAA titles and spend countless hours fighting, grinding, and adventuring.

And beyond that, there is a whole sea of indie titles, made with passion and love by smaller studios, and even by a single person. A lot of these games experiment with new ideas and mechanics, bold innovations that the bigger studios might not always go for. Even with fewer resources, many indie games can entertain a group of gamers with hours and hours of adventures, humor, and sometimes – pure, unmitigated chaos.

Updated October 23, 2023 by Ivan Abadier:


The indie gaming scene is extremely dynamic, with a fantastic, ever-expanding catalog of great titles. From rogue-likes and bullet hells, to cozy farming sims and philosophical journeys, there is something out there for everyone.

Nothing beats a great LAN party, or a good session with friends, fighting monsters or building chicken sheds. The generous co-op scene has almost anything a group of players could wish for. Oftentimes, the biggest problem is deciding which title to dig into. Indie games provide their own unique ideas and experiences to players, promising hours of joyful cooperation, or chaotic competitions.

16


Demonologist

Demonologist


takes a group of up to 4 players and plunges them into the unnerving world of demons and exorcism. Players can work together to unravel the secrets of many different maps filled with various otherworldly entities, and maybe even survive the journey.

With more than 20 different ghosts, every new run feels fresh and interesting. With various tools available to the players, they can either figure out the exact type of ghost and safely leave, gaining at least some reward, or they could brave the unknown and try to banish the horrifying creatures.

15


Broforce

Broforce


is a great choice for a laid-back, explosion-filled evening. Players embody iconic various action stars, unleashing relentless firepower to

free

hostages and thwart terrorists. Its retro, pixelated visuals and sharp humor enhance the experience, while intuitive controls welcome all to participate.

Each level delivers unpredictable, action-packed missions, making sure no one leaves bored. The vast array of weapons and tools to play with, allows players to unleash maximum carnage, leaving no stone or villain unturned. After all, what’s not to love about saving the world with friends, while role-playing as movie action heroes?

14


Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine

While this game can be played solo, it becomes an absolute rollercoaster in multiplayer.

Stealth

games can be quite punishing by themselves, challenging players to plan ahead, wait for just the right timing, and move with great precision. So what happens when it also requires coordination between up to four people?

Of course, that depends on the players, but chaos is all but guaranteed. The levels are big and open-ended, leaving many ways to approach the goal. With several characters, each with their own set of abilities, players can try different tactics and plans, until something inevitably goes wrong.

13


Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip

High-octane gameplay might not be for everyone, and there are days when players just want to kick back, and enjoy a fun, chill

time

with each other. The


Monster Prom


series has been providing that, and much more, since the release of the first entry.

This multiplayer visual novel takes its players on an interactive road trip. There are goofy adventures at every turn, and unique, well-written romance options. It can be quite the change of pace for some players, but it is a welcome and fresh perspective on what games could be.

12


Wizard With A Gun

Released on October 17, 2023, this title has been warmly received by gamers all over the world. This fun, roguelike adventure features up to two wizards at a time. Players must survive in a unique and interesting world, exploring and gathering resources to improve their magical gear and spells.

The combat is fun and engaging, with many interesting powers at the players’ disposal. The combat is far from boring. Certain enemies are resistant to certain types of damage and spells, making players consider and adjust their tactics and weapons as the game progresses.

11


Viscera Cleanup Detail

Viscera Cleanup Detail


takes a rather boring premise — cleaning up — and turns it into a fun and chaotic game that can forge and destroy friendships. In the game, the players are tasked with cleaning up the scenes of a battle (presumably from a

Doom

-like shooter) by removing the debris and the aftermath of a battlefield.

While the idea is simple enough, the devil lies in the actual

cooperation

from players. While one player might be intensely trying to mop the floor, someone else might drop the bucket of goop onto the clean surface, ruining the entire progress, which some players might find…infuriating.

10


Golf With Your Friends

As advertised! This lovely indie title brings the beloved mini golf to virtual space, allowing players everywhere to challenge each other in a series of different goal courses. As competitive as the idea already is, the game kicks it up a notch by adding unique mechanics like explosions, teleportations, shoving, and sabotage.

With many beautiful and creative levels to choose from, players can enjoy many entertaining hours of hashing it out with their friends, or practice by themselves to try and get that elusive hole-in-one. The game offers a high level of replayability, with different physics, settings, and even ball shapes.

9


We Were Here Series

This series offers a cooperative escape room experience, with elements of horror sprinkled throughout. Two players take the roles of explorers, solving different puzzles while relying on each other through communicating with radios. Players are playing in different locations, each with their own set of challenges and information.

Teamwork is key here, as the players need to cooperate by sharing their knowledge and working together to escape their difficult predicament. One should also practice patience, for those times that their partner fails to see the obvious clues on their side, and proceeds to accidentally kill their buddy on the radio.

8


Spiritfarer

Spiritfarer


is a unique management game, where two players fill the role of taking souls on their final journey through the doors of death. While that may sound somewhat dark, the game itself is incredibly beautiful and positive, allowing players to sail through the magic seas and care for the lost souls.

Players can build and manage their ship, decorate rooms, and gather resources on the many fantastical islands in the game. With a beautiful story, incredible lore, and philosophy, this is a great game to experience with a friend or a loved one.

7


Project Zomboid

Project Zomboid


separates itself from similar zombie survival games by shifting the perspective and adding its unique system of perks, stats, and various mechanics that factor into one’s survival. With many backstories to choose from, players can make new and different characters every time, with their own skills and proficiencies.

Surviving with friends is both a blessing and a curse, as there is more manpower, but the resources now have to be split among the crew. The game offers many tense and blood-clotting moments, where friends will be left with a choice: heroically help out their fellow survivors, or run away and hope no one finds out.

6


Core Keeper

Core Keeper


is an interesting spin on a farming simulator, borrowing from similar games from the genre, while adding many things of its own. With an emphasis on fighting and exploring, the game has a great perk system, allowing players to choose their specialty and fill a niche role within the group.

There are many interesting builds and locations, allowing players to engage with what they find the most enjoyable. From fishing to mining to growing crops, everyone can play the way they like to, while being helpful to the group.

5


Spelunky 2

Spelunky 2


builds on the very successful premise of the first game and improves almost every single aspect. The chaotic, high-octane platformer is still a great game to enjoy with friends, while desperately trying not to get in each other’s way. With so many new weapons and items, there is so much more that co-op now has to offer.

And if at some point the tensions rise too much, players can always battle it out in the Arena, unleashing all the frustration on their friends for all the times they

accidentally

dropped a rock on top of their head.

4


OverCooked 2

The great cooking simulator is back! This sequel mostly keeps the familiar formula from the first installment but adds a few mechanics and aspects to spice things up. Players can now throw their held dishes, which really speeds up the entire process, but can also lead to disaster if used carelessly.

With many new levels, ever-changing environments, and moving tables, chaos is almost inevitable. But should the players find their rhythm and coordination, the game feels very fun and rewarding. After all, it might not be that different from trying to cook with your friends in real life.

3


Stardew Valley

By now, most players are at least somewhat familiar with the incredibly popular farming sim. But with the release of Co-Op, players can now enjoy building their perfect farm together! From crops to fishing and fighting in the dungeons, players can take up different roles to work together toward the completion of the game.

The social aspect of the game is almost unchanged in the multiplayer, allowing players to befriend and romance NPCs, but on top of that players can now romance and even marry each other. But players should decide ahead if they want their budget to be unified, as someone’s extravagant spending can quickly run down the group’s wealth.

2


Terraria

Terraria


has always offered an incredible amount of content and replayability for its players, allowing for multiple playstyles and activities. Players can choose to build the most beautiful-looking base or venture far and wide to find new locations and fantastical loot.

With its many classes and weapons, every player can find the exact weapon and playstyle for them to enjoy, from wielding magical artifacts to bows, swords, and yo-yos. The game is set up in a way that requires players to group up and fight bosses to unlock more materials and gear, sometimes even changing the world itself with the defeat of a boss.

1


Castle Crashers

Castle Crashers


is a hilarious, jam-packed adventure for a group of up to 4 players. After choosing a class, the group is tasked with a series of unique and detailed levels, at the end of which lies a difficult boss to defeat. However, instead of splitting the loot evenly like a good fantasy party, the players must battle to the death, until the final survivor gets the glory and riches.

That and many more details make this an unforgettable experience, a memorable journey filled with humor, battles, anguish, and friendship-ending scenarios. But no matter what, it is still a great memory to share and argue about with one’s friends for years to come.

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