Great Games with Long Co-Op Campaigns

There’s no denying that there are a ton of active multiplayer games in the market. However, the most popular options tend to involve one-off matches, non-story missions, or gameplay that discourages replays. Finding recent games with long, story-heavy campaigns or replayable stories can be a bit of a challenge.

9:35

Related

The Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games You Can Play On Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch offers a fantastic lineup of games for the whole family. Here are some great local multiplayer games.

Luckily, these releases accommodate players who want a nice, long-term campaign with friends or enjoyable replays with something new to unlock in every run. Almost every entry enables cross-play, which means players are not restricted to one platform for their game of choice. Some even allow players to carry over their co-op progress to their solo game and vice versa.

Updated January 28, 2025, by Rie Takumi: Adult gamers often have an hour or two to game every or every other day because of life commitments. Co-op gaming is trickier to set aside time for, as groups have to line up their schedules for decently paced sessions. However, having a multiplayer game with long co-op campaigns helps groups set down regular play sessions.

Luckily for gamers, long co-op games have multiple modes that can facilitate their sessions. Parties who live close together can game on the couch, while those who can’t travel can pop in online. Drop-in and drop-out campaigns are also a plus, as parties can catch up anytime.

1

It Takes Two

Tight 14 Hours With A Heartwarming Story

It Takes Two takes a couple of sessions to finish, partly thanks to its meaty co-op action, and partially due to its surprisingly weighty story. Although the game’s reasonably long campaign is mostly whimsical, divorce and its effect on children still hold weight and are reasonably discussed.

The game is also a true co-op experience, where communication and trust are key to getting through puzzles and platforming sections. Hazelight’s improvement of their co-op formula led to a brief resurgence in long-form, true co-op games, and bodes well for their next title, Split Fiction.

2

Wayfinder

3-Player Co-Op With Deep Character Customization

Systems

Released

October 21, 2024

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

Wayfinder allows up to three players to stop the Gloom from spreading on Evenor. The three-person party can choose from eight characters with different specialties to loot-shoot their way across the open world. Every character and weapon has dozens of customization options for parties to play with, meaning players can have co-op and single-player builds at the ready.

Its main campaign allows for a full-co-op experience, from the main story to side quests, and has players progress at the same pace. Thanks to its shift away from a live service experience, parties can have a complete experience without waiting for updates.

3

My Time At Sandrock

Rebuild A Town In The Desert With Up To Three Friends

The indirect sequel to My Time at Portia, My Time at Sandrock, is a little more action-focused than the former. As Builders, players set out to improve the desert community of Sandrock with workshops, machines, crops, and other economic ventures.

Players can invite up to three of their friends to rebuild the town and complete its lengthy main quest. Over 30 NPCs also have lengthy backstories to explore and requests to fulfill. Mini-games and big dungeons also pose long-term challenges for parties.

4

Monster Hunter Rise

Get Together With Friends To Take Down Mythic Beasts

Capcom’s long-running kaiju hunting series still supports up to four players in its latest online and local game. Monster Hunter Rise continues the tradition of excellent co-op through its hub quests. Hub quests comprise the majority of quests in the game and can be set up easily through Senri the Mailman Palico.

The new Switch Skills Swap feature in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak allows players to swap skill sets during hunts without returning to base camp. Trios or duos lacking party members can also recruit NPCs they’ve befriended in hunting hubs to fill their roster.

5

Valheim

Spend Hundreds Of Hours With Up To 10 Players

Valheim has dominated lists about long co-op campaigns for years due to its player capacity and survival aspects. Up to 10 players can hop on a procedurally-generated world inspired by Viking culture and besieged by beasts called the Forsaken Ones.

But to free the land of Valheim, players must first forage for resources, forge strongholds, and hone their skills by slaying lesser beasts. While Valheim has a definite ending, its release is a ways away, and players can continue their worlds for now.

6

F1 24

Dominate The Grid With Your Team

F1 24 promises players a brand new campaign mode that spans Formula 1 and Formula 2. Co-op includes all single-player improvements, including Driver Recognition & Accolades, driver-specific Icon achievements, and scenarios tied to starting a career in F2.

Related

10 Best Racing Games With RPG Elements, Ranked

These games combine the joys of racing with the customization, narratives, and immersion of RPGs.

The two-player career mode also features new storylines resulting from individual choices. Contracts can be reworked to the detriment of a teammate, races decided by cooperation or in-fighting, and other secret scenarios that friends can unlock on their own. Icons or current F1 drivers, historic drivers, and custom characters are also usable in the campaign.

7

Dokapon Kingdom: Connect

Party Game Friendship Test With Fun Mega Campaign

Dokapon Kingdom was notorious during the sixth generation of consoles for being a more combative form of Monopoly. Classes, weapons, spells, and items are important for gaining assets, as players need to fight monsters to win towns. Good strategy and a combat advantage could also help players make alliances or fend off foes, even in co-op.

In its current inception, Dokapon Kingdom: Connect preserves this chaotic energy in its new form. Thanks to its online functionality, players can pass character controls to the computer so their friends can continue their co-op campaign. But if players prefer a full party, they can always switch over to other game modes.

8

Stranger Of Paradise

Team Ninja-Style Final Fantasy With Co-Op Missions

Stranger of Paradise allows up to three players to team up once the host finishes the prologue. Players take charge of Jack and his fellow “Warriors of Light,” Ash, Jed, Neon, and Sophia. Though set in their background and models, parties can modify their appearance with powerful loot that is distributed evenly to all members.

While players can’t trade loot, they can make up for others’ weaknesses. SoP‘s 28 job classes have different synergies, and players can switch to any of them whenever they want to, provided they are already unlocked.

9

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Explore Pandora With Friends Via Air, Land, Or Water

Like the movies, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a gorgeous romp through Pandora, even on co-op. The co-op campaign is also just right, averaging a modest 20.5 hours. As a standard Ubisoft FPS, controls are nothing special, though its side quests and open map appeal to co-op explorers.

Co-op is unlocked after completing two tasks. Players must first meet Etuwa, then complete ”The Aranahe Clan” quest in Kinglor Forest. Cross-progression means progress is saved for the host and guest, who can continue their adventure in single-player mode.

10

Dead Island 2

Wacky Zombie Slaying Hijinks In Gory Glory

The return of the silly zombie action RPG brings with it a co-op campaign that can let loose up to three players in a given time. Dead Island 2’s Campaign and Quick Play modes are available from the get-go to open up the world for private sessions with friends and public rooms for strangers.

3:32

Related

Games With Great PvE Multiplayer

Players searching for a great multiplayer game with strong PvE content have a lot of options to choose from. These are the best out now.

Story-focused players are assured that they won’t be spoiled if they hop into a friend or stranger’s session. Players cannot join hosts who have progressed further along the story than they have. All the EXP and equipment they earn in co-op can also be carried over to solo play.

11

River City Girls 2

Fun Beat-Em-Up Returns With Better 4-Player Action

River City Girls 2 continues the story of Misako and Kyoko as they work together to save the city from organized crime. Up to four players can pick between the girls and returning cast members Kunio, Riki, Provie, and Marian to punch their way through the streets.

The deeper players go into the game, the more combos they unlock. These combos are where the game truly shines, as these inputs define each character’s archetypes and create depth in the initially barebones combat system.

12

Resident Evil 5

Quick Guide Fixes Co-Op Bump

Despite being years old, Resident Evil 5’s co-op campaign still gets nods from big streamers and regular gamers alike. Resident Evil 5 trod the line between Resident Evil 4’s actionized horror and Resident Evil 6’s QTE, hammy jumpscares. As a result, its co-op campaign of 12 hours remains fun and long enough for a couple of sessions.

Resident Evil 5’s couch co-op design made the campaign better when played with a partner. Item conservation, zombie swarms, exploration, and inventory management were plain easier and more fun when another person was involved.

13

Far Cry 5

Play the Whole Game & All Story Missions In Co-Op

Far Cry 5 builds on the co-op basics of Far Cry 4 and finally allows pairs to gun their way through Hope County in the main story. The non-host or second player enters the campaign through Friends for Hire after the host completes the initial tutorials. Story progression is locked to the host, though non-hosts get to keep their character’s progression.

Pairs need to stick within each other’s view, as there’s no split-screen co-op option. This makes stealth a bit tricky, though having a second gun around makes gunfights way easier.

14

Warhammer: Vermintide 2

Online Drop In/Drop Out For Up To Four Players

Systems

Released

March 8, 2018

How Long To Beat

23 Hours

Number of Players

4

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 gave players the ultimate experience of mowing down Skaven hordes dedicated to the Chaos God of Disease and Decay. Up to four players were able to stop Skaven and Chaos using any of the 15 to 20 careers and random loot made available throughout the game’s 13 missions.

Vermintide 2’s gory melee action was a huge part of its initial success, as it made the FPS horde game feel unique in a sea of co-op first-person games. The game made it satisfying to work with allies to bash rat warbands efficiently and with style.

15

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

Drop-In Drop-Out Makes Co-Op Campaign Flexible

As expected of its pedigree, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader delivers unique twists to isometric RPGs. Its unique alignment system allows players to make choices with consequences in its over 80-hour campaign that flesh out their character and relationship with the world.

Dogmatic choices show unshakeable loyalty to the Emperor of Mankind; Heretics embody the logicless mayhem of the Chaos Gods they worship, while Iconoclast-aligned choices provide a middle ground.

Companions have default alignments, but player characters change alignment according to their choices. To compensate for possibly locking players out of certain choices, picking an alignment gives them bonuses. Dogmatic bonuses are defensive, heretical bonuses are attack-related, and iconoclast bonuses provide party support.

16

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy

Three-Player 2.5D Adventure With Amazing Puzzles

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy allows up to three players to make their way through 2.5D puzzles, platforms, and foes. Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight make their return with their stock abilities. Players can use any of the three to navigate 20 levels and defeat multi-phase bosses, which are new to the series.

Local and online multiplayer are supported on all platforms. Four-player co-op is also possible though Switch players will need four pairs of Joy-Cons to play locally. Also, the rest of the franchise’s games are all generally great co-op options, with Trine 2 and Trine 4 being particularly highly regarded. Outside of the third entry, players cannot go wrong with this series.

17

Wild Hearts

Defeat Giant Beasts In Japanese-Inspired Landscape

Omega Force’s answer to Monster Hunter has feudal Japan styling and a seamless multiplayer experience. Up to three players can team up to take down giant Kemono using ancient Japanese-style weapons and tools called Karakuri. As the main narrative campaign takes over 40 hours to beat, teams have time to get familiar with Kemono.

Related

Wild Hearts: Each Weapon Type, Ranked

Of all the weapon types available in Wild Hearts, some are more effective at defeating Kemono than others.

Wild Hearts’ multiplayer session starts by placing down a campfire and selecting “create a session”. Closed sessions involve setting up a password for friends, while an open session lets strangers join the host.

18

Borderlands 3

Iconic Looter Shooter Still Fast-Paced & Witty

The Borderlands series is a co-op staple. Combat is frenetic and opens players to a lot of threats, which makes having backup great. Having multiple partners also makes farming for weapons and experience easier, if not enjoyable.

Coordinating builds and action skills adds an extra layer of cooperation. Synergizing party builds clear mobs faster and makes tough bosses less of a pain to deal with. Playing the game a different way, or with other characters, also offers a refreshing new take on familiar experiences.

19

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Historical Drop-In & Drop-Out Action Co-Op

While it shares the Team Ninja pedigree as Stranger of Paradise and Nioh 2, Wo Long’s three-person multiplayer mode has a distinguishing feature. Whereas SoP and Nioh 2 only have pre-made characters for co-op partners, Wo Long allows players to make their own characters in solo play before joining their friends.

The game’s co-op mode allows players to create a secure lobby and specify missions they would like to play together. Players can stay in a session even after they are defeated and may move on to another mission with their party in this mode.

20

Remnant 2

Soulslike-Inspired Co-Op Begins After Tutorial

Remnant 2 may not offer cross-play, but it does offer multiple ways to set up a session. Multiplayer session type can also be set per character, making it easier for players to distinguish which character is for co-op campaigns only.

However, multiplayer is only accessible after the tutorial. Players need only touch the World Stone after the tutorial concludes to unlock co-op. They can invite up to two players to experience the full Story campaign or try out the Adventure mode. Multiplayer sessions are jump-in and jump-out, and players keep whatever loot they find. Host progress determines where the party ends up, though host lag also affects other players.