Summary
- You don’t need an expensive video game console to play fun co-op games. iOS and Android users can enjoy a vast selection of excellent multiplayer titles right on their phones.
- From puzzlers like Codenames to open-world adventures like Terraria, mobile devices offer a variety of genres to play with a friend.
As the world continues spinning, technology continues progressing. And, as technology continues progressing, game developers continue to find new and exciting ways to push the limits. For years, that innovation has been limited to the console and PC format. More recently, however, the mobile gaming industry has begun to catch up.
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Mobile Games With The Best Storylines
Just because a game is played on your phone or tablet doesn’t mean it can’t have a rich, expansive story.
With the accessibility that comes with the nature of a mobile game, the ability to link up and play with a friend has an appeal that cannot be ignored. So, game developers will continue to try to bridge the gap between mobile gamers and the multiplayer experience, an effort that has already brought about these exceptional co-op mobile games.
Updated on March 1, 2025, by PJ Molloy: Who says you need to buy an expensive home console to play good multiplayer games? As the mobile gaming market continues to expand, Android and iPhone users can enjoy an ever-growing catalog of stellar co-op games. We’ve added a few more must-play titles to the list.
27
Stumble Guys
Stumble Your Way Through This Charming Battle Royale
Stumble Guys
- Released
-
September 24, 2020
- Developer(s)
-
Scopely
- Publisher(s)
-
Scopely
Often considered the best alternative to Fall Guys, Stumble Guys provides the same kind of quirky battle royale gameplay straight from the App Store. You and a group of buddies platform through a series of colorful obstacle courses. The goal is to do well enough to qualify for the next round. Keep going until your team is the last one standing!
The joy of Stumble Guys is its accessibility and humor. The gameplay is simple, easy to learn, yet endlessly fun. Plus, watching your characters clumsily trip over each other is always hilarious.
26
Codenames
Delve Into A World Of Spies And Puzzles
Based on the iconic tabletop game of the same name, Codenames is a thrilling strategy title that’ll test your communication and puzzle-solving skills. You and a pal are spies who must give vital information to your fellow agents. The catch? Only one of you knows the names of the people you’re supposed to contact.
Using only one-word clues, you must get your friend to correctly guess each spy’s codename. It’s a timeless game of wordplay and deduction, and it’s been beautifully adapted for smartphones. Think you can crack the codes?
25
The Past Within
A Haunting Puzzle Across Time
The Past Within
- Released
-
November 2, 2022
- Developer
-
Rusty Lake
- Publisher
-
Rusty Lake
The odd team at Rusty Lake has decided to bring fear across generations by making a game that has you teaming up with a friend to complete a very strange procedure. This is the responsibility the two of you have to follow in The Past Within, where information and cooperation are key.
The game is split between two time periods: one in the past and one in the future. It follows two characters connected to a strange individual who has supposedly figured out a way to survive death. You need to share what you’re seeing so that you can complete the steps in order and learn more about the story in hopes of discovering the truth.
24
Brawl Stars
Brawling With Colorful Characters
- Released
-
December 12, 2018
- Developer(s)
-
Supercell
- Publisher(s)
-
Supercell
Supercell is known for making games with friendly and rounded characters who seem to enjoy getting into all sorts of fights and conflicts, no matter how brutal they seem. With a title like Brawl Stars, you know that fighting is on the table, along with a lot of weapons, explosions, and over-the-top abilities to add to the chaos.
The game is set in a universe where pretty much everyone has taken their hobbies and identities and turned them into an effective fighting method. The top-down 3D perspective is perfect for quick arena matches that you can arrange with friends to fight for your spot at the top. With such a huge roster of characters, there are a lot of team dynamics to discover and test on the battlefield.
23
Bomber Friends
Not Bomberman, But Close
Of all the Konami properties, Bomberman hasn’t had the same success as his other pairs, but he no doubt had a solid structure for a fun party game. This is what Bomber Friends is trying to bring across in its gameplay, but with more of an online customization flair to the experience.
In this game, people have managed to create a series of bombs and upgrades that can be safely used in explosive competition. You and your friends can compete in maze-like arenas that you can shape using your infinite supply of bombs. This is also how you can try to get your opponents in positions where you can trap them with bombs and blast them out of the contest.
22
Bloons Tower Defense 6
Monkey Business Balloon Battle
Bloons TD 6
- Released
-
June 14, 2018
- Developer(s)
-
Ninja Kiwi
- Publisher(s)
-
Ninja Kiwi
Depending on when you were born, you might remember playing one of the earlier Bloons Tower Defense games in your school’s computer lab. As time has gone on, the Bloons series has only gotten better, and there’s still plenty of balloon-popping fun to be had.
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The game is accessible, both in terms of difficulty and graphical requirements, but has content for all skill levels; it’s easy to learn the ropes but has modes and restrictions for seasoned players looking for a challenge. Perhaps the best part is that BTD6 has cross-play, so you can stay in bed while your friends play on their computers.
21
Terraria
Return To 2D Mining Town
- Platform(s)
-
PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Vita, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, 3DS, Stadia, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
- Released
-
May 16, 2011
- Developer(s)
-
Re-Logic
The beloved pixel art sandbox game Terraria has made its way onto a myriad of platforms, including Android and iOS. In terms of connectivity, you have two main options. If you and at least one other friend are hanging out on the same Wi-Fi network, you can jump straight into a local session together.
For truly online connectivity, on those days when everyone wants to lounge around at home, you can have someone host a server, so long as you know how to port forward. Cross-play is supported, so don’t worry if you and your friends have different devices.
20
Human Fall Flat
Ragdoll Run, Jump, And Fall
- Released
-
July 22, 2016
- Developer(s)
-
No Brakes Games
- Publisher(s)
-
Curve Digital
If you like solving puzzles with your friends, Human Fall Flat is a great game to try out. Well, that’s most of the story. If you like solving puzzles when the “goofy” meter is turned up to the max, then you’ll really love this game.
Everything from the movement to the way you and your friends’ characters can be dressed and interact with the environment is nothing short of absolutely silly. Also, if you get stuck on a certain part of a map, you can always just annoy your friends instead of picking them up and throwing them off a ledge.
19
Gartic Phone
Draw Your Phone And Draw
Gartic Phone has the benefit of being a simple concept while giving you and your friends enjoyment for as long as you let it. In it, everyone writes out a prompt for the others to draw, and who gets which prompt is secret and random. The first person to receive the prompt has to draw it to the best of their ability, and the next person has to write out what they think the drawing is, creating another prompt.
The third person has to draw what the previous person says, and it continues like that until everyone has had a chance to draw. At the end, you all get to see each prompt and everyone’s interpretation of them. The results are often hilarious and sometimes surprisingly accurate. And if that’s not enough, Gartic Phone has other game modes you can try out, too.
18
Death Squared
Deadly Math And Geometry
You can play Death Squared solo, but it’s much more exciting with two or four players partaking. It’s a puzzle game where there are different colored goals that each of you needs to guide the corresponding robots to, but there are multiple traps and obstacles you’ll need to navigate around along the way.
To make it far, you’ll have to communicate (and probably argue) with each other, utilizing your teamwork to complete each level. It’s a silly but challenging game that may test your patience with each other, but it’s all in good fun. If you find the regular levels too easy, you can unlock the more difficult Vault levels, which really test your puzzle-solving skills.
17
Badland
Flying Fuzzy Friends
Badland
- Released
-
April 4, 2013
- Developer(s)
-
Frogmind Games
- Publisher(s)
-
Frogmind Games
Badland is a beautifully illustrated side-scroller that you can play with up to three other people. You might get caught up looking at the pretty graphics and accidentally die a couple of times, but you can’t be too mad when it’s such a well-crafted game. All of you must fly through each level, avoiding the things jutting out along your path that’ll kill you if you touch them.
Sometimes, though, avoiding them isn’t enough. You’ll have times when you have to work together to push objects into the obstacles to stop them. Other times, you must time when each of you passes through an area, lest one or more of you get crushed along the way. It can get chaotic with four creatures flying around, but that just adds humor to the game.
16
Goose Goose Duck
A Classic Reversal
Strategy
2D
Social Deduction
- Released
-
October 3, 2021
- Developer(s)
-
Gaggle Studios, Inc.
- Publisher(s)
-
Gaggle Studios, Inc.
If you and your friends want a new deception game to enjoy on your phones, be sure to check out Goose Goose Duck. You primarily work as a team, completing your duties around various locations. But, a few of you will be traitorous ducks, sneaking around and murdering the others.
The game is full of roles that mix up the gameplay to keep it fresh and exciting. Whether you’re a goose or a duck, you’re in for a fun game, especially with a large group of friends. Be ready for plenty of deception and hilarious discussions on whom to banish each round.
15
Let’s Play Oink Games
Try Your Luck On The Board
Let’s Play Oink Games is full of fun board games you can enjoy with a few friends. The free game included is Deep Sea Adventure. It’s a push-your-luck game where you attempt to dive as far as possible to earn more treasure. But you run the risk of not returning to the submarine before running out of oxygen. It’s a silly, lighthearted game to play together.
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You can also purchase other board games within the app, such as Fake Artist Goes To New York. This drawing game has everyone adding to one canvas to draw a prompt. But, one of you has no idea what the prompt is and must fake their contribution to the drawing without causing suspicion. Everyone will have a great time no matter what game you play on this app.
14
Kingdom: Two Crowns
Bring Back The Kingdom And Keep It Safe
Kingdom Two Crowns
- Released
-
December 11, 2018
- Developer(s)
-
Noio, Coatsink
- Publisher(s)
-
Raw Fury
Kingdom: Two Crowns is about restoring a fallen kingdom to a thriving realm again. It’s a side-scrolling game where you must build up your defenses to hold back wave upon wave of greedy monsters attacking each night. It can be a tough challenge at times, but it is so satisfying when you manage to keep your kingdom secure.
You don’t have to defend your kingdom alone, even on mobile devices. This game has local multiplayer with a top-down split screen. You need to connect two wireless controllers to your phone, and then you can work together to defend the kingdom. With how big the land is, it’s beneficial to scout both sides simultaneously.
13
Northgard
Guard The North
4.0/5
Northgard
- Released
-
March 7, 2018
- Developer(s)
-
Shiro Games
- Publisher(s)
-
Shiro Games
Northgard has you taking on the role of mighty Viking clans, all eager to rule the realm. This tense strategy game has many different clans to pick from, each with its own skill sets. Because of this, there’s a lot of variety in how to play Northgard. You can focus on trade, combat, or perhaps discovering mysterious lore. The more you play, the more you will hone your strategy.
With your friends, you can team up against a common enemy or have a free-for-all war against everyone. You can send each other supplies to help survive the brutal winter months together as teammates. Northgard is a fantastic game that will have you eager for another battle.
12
Crossy Road
Cross The Road First… And Safely
One of the very best games to add to your co-op mobile game library is the long-running game Crossy Road. Crossy Road is essentially a modernized version of the classic arcade game Frogger.
You and your partner take to the streets, rivers, and mountains of various locales with your favorite character in tow. Your ultimate goal is to navigate an endless barrage of obstacles and traps while, as the name implies, making it across the road. The multiplayer here is easy to play and makes for some frantic fun.
11
Scrabble Go
It’s Scrabble On The Go
The great thing about playing Scrabble with your friends online is that you don’t need to sit down and dedicate an hour to each game as you do in person. With apps like Scrabble Go, you can each take as much time as you need for your turn and play whenever you have time! This naturally makes for more interesting games.
There are lots of apps that provide a Scrabble-esque experience, so feel free to test those out, but Scrabble Go is the basic, branded choice. Words With Friends is a popular alternative.
10
Sky: Children Of The Light
A Relaxing And Mystical World
Sky: Children of the Light
RPG
Adventure
Indie Games
- Released
-
July 18, 2019
- Developer(s)
-
Thatgamecompany
- Publisher(s)
-
Thatgamecompany
If Sky: Children of the Light looks familiar to you stylistically, there’s a good chance it’s because it is familiar. Made by the developers at ThatGameCompany, this title boasts the same visual spectacle that defined their previous entries, such as Flower and Journey. Sky: Children of the Light stands out not only as an enjoyable, visually alluring mobile game but one that you can play with a friend as well.
Similar to Journey, Sky: Children of the Light’s multiplayer is based on progressing through the world together without verbal communication. The game expands on its multiplayer options by introducing multiplayer-only sections.
9
Among Us
Whodunnit IN SPACE?
You’ve probably heard of Among Us. This popular game still remains relevant both on PC and on mobile devices. The premise is that you are all astronauts, but one (or more) of you is killing off the others. The innocent crewmates need to figure out who the murderer is before it’s too late.
You’ll be happy to know that Among Us on mobile is a free download, making it an accessible and culturally relevant multiplayer experience for you and a friend. Playing online with strangers is an option, but playing together with people you know is what makes Among Us the game that it is.
8
Genshin Impact
Feel The Impact Of RPG Anime
RPG
Action
Adventure
Gacha
Open-World
- Released
-
September 28, 2020
Genshin Impact is a beloved open-world RPG with an anime art style. To fight and explore the massive environment, you’ll need to learn to survive by switching characters and mastering powerful elemental abilities. You can play the Domains, which are basically unique battle stages, with up to three other friends.
You need to go into different domains often to get materials that strengthen your character anyway, so doing it with friends cuts out a lot of tedium. You can also just explore the open world together, helping each other take on world bosses, find treasure chests, and defeat enemies to collect their dropped materials.