Best Online Co-op Games for Friends Playing Remotely in 2026

Online co-op has become the main way a lot of scattered friend groups actually hang out, and the good news is that most of the best games for it are cheap, go on sale constantly, and support cross-platform play so nobody has to buy a new console to join in. The games below were chosen partly for how well their online netcode actually performs — a laggy connection ruins co-op faster than any other flaw — and partly for how well they hold up over months of regular sessions rather than losing appeal after a couple of weekends. This guide covers picks from about $10 to $60.

1. It Takes Two — best story-driven two-player co-op

It Takes Two is built exclusively around two-player online co-op, with constantly shifting gameplay mechanics that keep every hour feeling fresh rather than repetitive. Its Friend’s Pass feature lets one person who owns the game invite a friend to play the whole thing for free, which effectively halves the real cost for a duo.

• Typical 2026 street price: $30-$40 (full price), $15-$20 on sale
• Why it’s a good buy: Friend’s Pass cuts effective cost for one of the two players, genuinely inventive design throughout
• Where to buy: Amazon, Best Buy, Target

2. Deep Rock Galactic — best long-term group co-op

Deep Rock Galactic supports four-player online co-op mining and combat with a deep progression system that keeps groups coming back for months, not weeks. It’s cross-platform, regularly updated with free content, and cheap enough that a whole friend group can buy in without much deliberation. The mission-based structure also means a session can be as short as fifteen minutes or as long as a full evening, which fits erratic adult schedules better than games requiring a fixed block of time.

• Typical 2026 street price: $30 (full price), $12-$18 on sale
• Why it’s a good buy: deep long-term progression, flexible session length, active free content updates
• Where to buy: Amazon, Best Buy

3. Overcooked! All You Can Eat — best chaotic party co-op

Overcooked’s frantic, timer-based kitchen co-op is one of the most reliable ways to get a remote friend group laughing within minutes, and the “All You Can Eat” bundle rolls both mainline games plus DLC into one package. It supports up to four players online, and sessions are short enough to fit into a quick weeknight hangout.

• Typical 2026 street price: $40 (full price), $15-$25 on sale
• Why it’s a good buy: bundles both games and DLC, extremely approachable for non-gamers in the group
• Where to buy: Amazon, Best Buy, Target

4. Helldivers 2 — best co-op shooter for a rotating group

Helldivers 2 supports four-player online co-op with mission-based, chaotic combat that plays well whether it’s two people or a full squad on a given night. Its live-service model means new content keeps arriving, and it’s cheap enough relative to other co-op shooters to be an easy buy-in for the group. The game’s willingness to let friendly fire and chaos happen also makes it one of the funnier co-op experiences on this list, rather than a purely tactical exercise.

• Typical 2026 street price: $40 (full price), $25-$32 on sale
• Why it’s a good buy: scales well from two to four players, ongoing free content updates
• Where to buy: Amazon, Best Buy

5. Stardew Valley — best low-key, low-cost co-op for casual catch-ups

Stardew Valley’s co-op mode lets a small group farm, mine, and chat together at a relaxed pace, which makes it one of the best “background hangout” games — friends can talk while playing rather than needing to focus entirely on the game. At its price, it’s close to a no-brainer for any group looking for something low-stress.

• Typical 2026 street price: $10-$15
• Why it’s a good buy: extremely low cost, relaxed pace suits voice-chat catch-ups, huge amount of content for the price
• Where to buy: Amazon, Target, Best Buy

How to get the best price

• Wait for seasonal storefront sales (summer and winter sales in particular) — most of these titles routinely drop 40-60% within a year or two of release.
• Check for a “Friend’s Pass” or “Buddy Pass” feature before buying multiple copies for a two-player game — several co-op titles let one owner bring a friend along for free.
• Buy physical copies for consoles when the price is equal or lower, since they can be resold or traded in later, unlike a digital-only purchase.
• Watch for bundle deals that pack a base game with its major DLC — buying them separately later is almost always more expensive.
• Confirm cross-platform support before a group commits, especially if members are split across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox — not every co-op title supports it fully, even when marketed as multiplayer.

The best online co-op games for a remote friend group are the ones that survive months of Tuesday-night sessions without feeling repetitive, and thankfully most of the best options here cost less than a single dinner out. Starting with one low-cost, low-commitment pick like Stardew Valley or Overcooked before investing in a deeper game like Deep Rock Galactic or Helldivers 2 is the safest way to find what actually sticks with a specific group.