There are literally hundreds of games available on Xbox Game Pass across all supported platforms, from Xbox consoles to PC. Sifting through them can be tricky, let alone knowing which ones have multiplayer options, specifically co-op. Moreover, how can anyone know if they are any good or their style?
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In these trying times, when traditional socializing is more difficult, why not pick up a co-op game with a friend and start making some memories with these co-op classics on Xbox Game Pass? With such a vast and eclectic collection at your fingertips, you cannot go wrong with checking out what’s available to you and seeing if it clicks.
Updated December 7, 2024, By Ben Jessey: You don’t have to enjoy your Xbox Game Pass subscription alone, as there are plenty of co-op games on the service to play with your friends. We put the best ones on this list, but more great titles have been added to the service since. Therefore, we’ve updated the piece to add some more.
22
Goat Simulator 3
Most games with the word ‘simulator’ in their title are fairly serious. That can not be said of Goat Simulator 3. Like earlier entries in the series, the game is absurd.
In co-op, you and your friends each control a goat of your own. As them, you roam around the open world doing all sorts of things to cause havoc. Your goat doesn’t have many abilities, but they can stick to things with their tongue, jump pretty high, and ragdoll all over the place. It’s all strange and charming at the same time.
21
Payday 2
Payday 2 is an FPS game where you and your buddies participate in heists. These heists come in all shapes and sizes, as you rob all different types of establishments, from stores to casinos.
Strategy and stealth can be a big part of the experience, as you can check the target place out and perhaps eliminate a few troublesome guards before things kick off. Then, when you’re ready, you can put your mask on and start taking hostages while robbing every cent the place has. Things can get chaotic, but it always remains entertaining.
20
Halo Infinite
- Released
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December 8, 2021
- Engine
-
Slipspace
- ESRB
-
T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
The main Halo series has always contained co-op campaigns. However, the experience in Infinite is a little different because the game features an open world. Therefore, you and your buddies are able to roam around the land, completing side activities as well as the main missions.
It’s unusual for a Halo game, but it works well. The smooth and satisfying FPS gunplay is also a positive aspect of the title, as are the vehicles and enemy designs. The selection of weapons at your disposal isn’t bad, either.
19
Fable 3
Fable 3
- Released
-
October 26, 2010
- Developer(s)
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Lionhead Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Microsoft Game Studios
- Engine
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havok
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ Due To Use of Alcohol, Blood, Sexual Content, Violence, Language
Fable 3 is an RPG set in a fantasy world. You control either a Prince or Princess who intends to overthrow the King of Albion, aka their brother. That sounds bad, but he’s not a very nice ruler and is causing problems for a lot of people.
So, you spend the game meeting residents and forming alliances to start a revolution. While doing so, you wander around Albion, completing quests and fighting foes. In those battles, you make use of swords, guns, and magic to survive. You can do it all with a co-op partner by your side.
18
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Lego games always make for simple and enjoyable co-op experiences. Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is arguably the best of all Lego titles. It contains a bunch of content as it re-tells the tale of all main live-action Star Wars movies.
It does so with the Lego charm, though, so there is plenty of humor involved. You can play through these films with a buddy. Along the way, you’ll be participating in third-person cover shootouts and lightsaber duels.
17
Dead Island 2
A Zombie apocalypse seems like one of the worst things that can happen to humanity. Yet, Dead Island 2 approaches the subject with plenty of wit. After all, it’s set in LA, and many of the people trapped in the zombie outbreak are still over-the-top, strange, and superficial, as they’re often portrayed. So, it’s like playing a zombie game in GTA 5’s Los Santos.
It’s an open-world title, so you get to explore this zombified version of Los Angeles freely. While doing so, you will need to bash zombie brains in or gun them down. The combat is simple, but the upgrades and abilities keep things interesting.
16
Escape Academy
Escape Academy provides an escape room-like experience in the comfort of your home. Well, the scenarios are a bit more outrageous in this game, but the types of puzzles are similar to what you may see in an escape room. And there are a bunch of clever and well-designed ones that two players can take on.
The premise is that you’re students at an escape room school, and you’re making your way through each semester, completing different puzzles. It isn’t the most hard-hitting narrative, but it moves things along, and the interesting character designs keep the story segments engaging.
15
Far Cry 6
The Far Cry series is known for producing action-packed open-world games set in extravagant places, featuring wild characters. That is the case with Far Cry 6, which is set in the fictional Caribbean island of Yara. The place is ruled by an evil dictator known as Anton Castillo. After an early run-in with him, you join the rebel forces that intend to bring him down, which is what the main narrative is all about.
In the process, you engage in plenty of exciting missions, which you can do with a buddy by your side. The gameplay isn’t very rigid. Therefore, you can complete missions either stealthily or by going all guns blazing. The choice is up to you.
14
It Takes Two
At the beginning of It Takes Two, a married couple on the rocks gets transformed into children’s toys. They’re forced to work together to find a way back to their regular bodies. It’s a compelling story that is about the difficulties of a long-term marriage and how divorce impacts kids.
While the narrative is good, the gameplay is even better. It’s primarily a platformer, but every level incorporates different gameplay mechanics. The continuous variation in gameplay and the inclusion of brilliant level design make this an incredible adventure—and it forces you to play in co-op.
13
Sniper Elite 5
Snipers are often portrayed as soldiers that fight alone with only a spotter by their side. Yet, while there are no spotters in Sniper Elite 5, you can bring a friend along for the adventure. That friend is also equipped with a sniper rifle, as the two of you can play through the entire campaign together.
Each mission is set in WW2, and in each one, you’re typically tasked with disrupting Nazi plans in some way. The gameplay is very open, so you can typically accomplish the objective how you see fit. This excellent sniper game generally encourages stealthy play, though.
12
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Shredder’s Revenge is a love letter to the classic side-scrolling beat ’em up games from the ’80s and ’90s, particularly the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ones.
In the title, you wander down the street, beating up every goon that challenges you. Then, occasionally, you face a formidable boss enemy, such as Bebop and Rocksteady. It’s satisfying and fun. And like a lot of the classic games in this genre, it supports cooperative play of up to six players.
11
Minecraft
It requires such little description, but Minecraft is one of the best co-op games you can ever play. It’s classic fun with so much to do that you’ll never get bored. Play sky blocks, vanilla, or just set your own challenge if that’s how you like to play. Nevertheless, Minecraft is perfect for anyone looking for an easy gaming session.
Minecraft is one of those games that pretty much every gamer has played, but you’d be surprised at how few people actually own it or at least own the right one. This is where Xbox Game Pass comes in to save the day—allowing you and quite a few friends to make your own fantastic worlds and craft unforgettable memories.
10
Unravel Two
Yarny’s first adventure was such a surprisingly wholesome and spectacular puzzle platformer he received a co-op buddy in the sequel, making Unravel Two one of the best co-op games available on Xbox Game Pass. While the game is incredibly family-friendly in the best way possible, it can pose quite a challenge, especially in the bonus levels where the puzzles are cranked up to eleven in terms of difficulty.
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Unravel Two’s gorgeous levels, intricate puzzles, and jolly vibes are more than enough to recommend it to anyone wanted to play it solo. But, with the addition of co-op play, we cannot recommend playing it alongside a friend, as solving puzzles together and experiencing the stunning visuals together is unmatched.
9
Dead Space 3
Sure, Dead Space 3 is not even in the same league as the first couple, but when played with a friend, it’s a drastically more enjoyable experience. Despite losing the plot of what made the series shine, Dead Space 3 has its moments and isn’t so bad that it’s not playable.
Let’s face it, there aren’t many co-op survival horror games on the market, and while Dead Space 3 stretches the definition of the genre a bit too thinly, it’s still a fun and rewarding experience and an even better one with a buddy.
8
Human Fall Flat
Human Fall Flat is a physics-based puzzle platformer that is an absolute blast with friends, bringing the chaos of what’s present in Gang Beasts and expanding it into well-crafted levels that can go off the rails rather quickly due to the odd movement and way you interact with the environment. The innate absurdity of the game will automatically have you and your friends cackling as you try to progress from mission to mission.
Physics-based games may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s perfectly understandable. Still, we urge you to give Human Fall Flat a go with a group of good friends, as you will undoubtedly be in stitches from laughing maniacally at how out of control the entire game is. There are no limits to the kinds of degeneracy you can get up to in this game, which is precisely what makes it so good.
7
Gears Of War (Series)
The entire Gears of War series is available on Xbox Game Pass, all featuring online co-op for their campaigns, complete with a full multiplayer experience that includes competitive matchmaking and Horde Mode. There’s no denying how impactful and influential this series has been over the years, and it’s still just as fun to play today as it was back then.
Furthermore, Gears of War is just one of the best series in gaming, having an intense and emotional story, rich lore, and lovable characters. The gameplay is also extraordinarily fun and rewarding, and pairing all that in a co-op setting amplifies it to another level. If you have yet to play this series, give it a shot.
6
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Released
-
November 11, 2014
- Engine
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Saber3D Engine for the single player portion of Halo: CE Anniversary and Halo 2 Anniversary; Unreal Engine 4 for UI and player customization; Halo Engine
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Violence, Blood and Gore, Language
Like Gears of War, you cannot go wrong with Halo, and The Master Chief Collection brings all games in the series up to Halo 4 into one tight package. This allows you to experience some of the most influential games ever. When it comes to a unique co-op experience, Halo will create unforgettable memories with you and whoever you run through the campaigns with.
In addition to the endless hours of campaigns in the Master Chief Collection, you can also dive into the multiplayer of each game, granting you access to some of the best, most well-designed, massively beloved multiplayer experiences of all time. Halo is a special series; if you have yet to experience it, you need to change it as soon as possible!
5
A Way Out
This is the rare game that actually has to be played in co-op. Players assume the roles of two criminals trying to break out of prison. Once they do, they get into all kinds of mishaps as fugitives on the run. It involves a lot of puzzle-solving and some action, too, and has many twists and turns that will keep you firmly planted on the edge of your seat throughout.
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A Way Out is a unique experience, to be sure, but not exactly one that broke any new ground as a revolution. Still, as a free co-op game, it is worth checking out for those co-op-ready gamers who like a little cheese with their games.
4
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is an excellent game to play on your own, but it can easily be amplified when played with a friend, as you can build out your farm, explore, and take in the calm the game brings together, making for a surreal and impactful experience. Despite being a simulation RPG, Stardew Valley is exceptionally accessible and easy to grasp, making it an excellent way to spend your time.
However, be warned, once this game gets its hooks into you, you will play it much longer than you anticipated, which will naturally be extended when playing alongside a friend. Stardew Valley is an extensive and surprisingly deep game that offers something for everyone, so if you have yet to dip your toes into it, you should give it a go and build your dream farm and family.
3
Overcooked! 2
This is one of those quintessential party games that can start the night off with some laughs followed by screams. In other words, both Overcooked games can get pretty hectic. The deeper one goes into this kitchen co-op adventure, the more demanding customers will get. Furthermore, the level environments will become increasingly hostile.
Everyone has their place and role in Overcooked 2. Getting out of sync can make a once well-oiled order machine explode in no time. So yes, it can be stressful with a big group of four, but it’s still worth recommending. Just learn to take it easy and chill out. Embrace the chaos, and fun will be had until the end of time with this game.