Best Co-Op RPGs To Play In 2023

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Callum Marshall

Cal is the Managing Editor at RPG Informer, so all that you see before you is under his watchful eye. Despite this workload, he does his best to carve out some time to write up some eyecatching pieces and showcase his love for RPG's. His standout titles within the genre are Fallout New Vegas, Disco Elysium, Bloodborne, Kingdom Hearts, and his main squeeze right now is Elden Ring. Outside of gaming, Callum is a podcaster, a skateboarder, and an all-around sound guy.

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RPGs are a significant genre in video games that allows individuals to dive into and explore vast new worlds. Whether it be exploring the frozen landscapes of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or exploring the vast solar system of Starfield, video games allow players to explore different universes better than any other medium. 

That being said, it is even better when RPGs let you jump in with a friend to adventure together, bringing a social element into the world that NPC characters can only otherwise emulate.

Multiplayer RPG experiences, and co-op experiences in general, are getting rarer and rarer in the gaming industry, but the good news is, there are still a few gems out there for gamers unwilling to brave the elements alone.

So, with that in mind, we intend to set you and your party on their merry way with a list of the Best Co-op RPGs to Play in 2023. Enjoy!

Selection Criteria

Before we crack on with this list of RPG Co-op beauties, we need to lay out the ground rules that will ensure this list is only full of games worth your time. Here are the criteria that we employed this time around: 

• All games must be RPGs or games with RPG mechanics present 
• All games listed must have a 70% or higher aggregate Metacritic Score
• All games listed must offer a rich gaming experience for two or more players
• Couch Co-op and online co-op will be considered
• Only One game per franchise 

Okay, grab a partner, grab a sword, and let’s set off on a new adventure! 

#1 – Outward

Developer/Publisher: Nine Dots Studio/Deep Silver

Genre: Third-Person Action RPG/Survival

Metacritic Score: 71

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Outward has the lowest Metacritic score of any game on this list, and that is because it is a very niche title. Outward really doesn’t get the praise that it probably deserves, but that’s what we are here for. You may find Outward to be far too punishing.

Alongside brutal stamina-based combat, the game also demands that players manage their character’s hunger, thirst, temperature, and energy while not including any quest markers or precise levels to let you know what content is manageable.

Essentially, it’s as close to a traditional survival game as you can possibly get while still staying rooted in the RPG genre. However, if you fancy a harsh but fair challenge, then this might be the game for you.

It’s a grueling affair that will test your mettle, and for that reason, it can be pretty beneficial to bring along a friend to bear some of that burden. 

Outward can be played in online and local co-op modes, making this one of those rare couch co-op RPGs we all crave, and while it might be a hard sell to your potential partner on the journey, the immersion that this harrowing experience offers will likely bond you forever. 

#2 – Monster Hunter World

Developer/Publisher: Capcom

Genre: Third-Person Action RPG

Metacritic Score: 90

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

For the first time, Monster Hunter World and its Iceborne expansion brought the iconic series to modern hardware. While it is not the newest entry in the series, it is the most expansive and beautiful yet. As the title implies, the game revolves around players hunting a wide variety of monsters.

The world and the narrative woven through the fabric of this game are compelling, but the stars of the show are definitely the gargantuan monsters that you’ll encounter on your travels. These serve as behemoth bosses, and the game gives you all the tools to take down these beasts.

The combat system will see the player utilize varied weapon loadouts and a fast-paced hack-and-slash format to go toe-to-toe with each monster, which can be a tough task, but it’s made much more manageable with some company. 

Monster Hunter World supports up to four players online, except for a few story-related missions, making this one a great way to get a group of friends gaming together. We will concede that this game is a pretty grind-extensive experience, so if that’s not your deal, then you might want to look elsewhere.

But if you don’t mind grinding away to prepare for the more challenging hunts, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most intense and enjoyable battles in gaming history. Be sure to find a playstyle that complements one another and get to work slaying monsters galore. 

#3 – Divinity: Original Sin II

Developer/Publisher: Larian Studios/BANDAI NAMCO

Genre: Tactical CRPG

Metacritic Score: 93

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One

If you’re looking for a CRPG adventure that really captures the essence of DND, then Divinity Original Sin II is a must-play for you and up to four friends.

Larian Studios is essentially the go-to studio for projects such as this, and if you were wondering why, it’s because the Divinity series is such a runaway success, offering depth that was simply unheard of outside of long DND sessions. 

This iconic sequel improves on the foundation laid by the original Divinity, providing a pen-and-paper style RPG narrative and campaign that thrusts the player into a fully realized and captivating world, where every decision will gradually alter your fate, meaning one playthrough will play out wildly differently to the next.

Plus, the combat is turn-based, tactical brilliance, meaning that you and your party will need to plan carefully and lean into each other’s strengths to survive. 

Due to the sheer amount of replay value, the seamless multiplayer functionality, and a Game Master mode that allows you to create your own adventures and play through them with a fifth player acting as the computer/Dungeon Master, Divinity Original Sin II is the game that keeps on giving, and is an essential co-op RPG for those seeking a grand adventure with their pals. 

#4 – Torchlight II

Developer/Publisher: Runic Games/Panic Button Games

Genre: Action RPG

Metacritic Score: 88

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One

Torchlight II is an RPG for people who really like making numbers get bigger. It’s a title that plays much like Path of Exile or Diablo, that sees you battle through endless hordes of enemies in an attempt to get the best loot possible to ensure you are the strongest adventurer around. In short, kill baddies, get goodies. 

It’s a game that is accessible and easy to understand, with a range of classes with enough depth to provide the player with the tools to deal with the modest challenge the game offers.

While avoiding overwhelming players with stats, passives, buffs, items, condition effects, and more. Which, in turn, makes this an easy one for RPG novices to hop into. 

This game supports up to six-player co-op, making this a game fit for a larger group of RPG fans, and thanks to a strong modding community, this game can be constantly tweaked to offer plenty of multiplayer fun after the vanilla content has been exhausted.

Torchlight III may have been a letdown, but this game is still a wonderful option well worth checking out. 

#5 – Pit People

Developer/Publisher: The Behemoth

Genre: Turn-based RPG

Metacritic Score: 79

Platforms: PC, Xbox One

If you have always wished to play Fire Emblem with a friend, Pit People is the game for you. With wacky hand-drawn graphics and a hilarious story, it is much less stoic than many of its turn-based strategy peers, but that doesn’t mean that it skimps out on the strategy.

Pit People allows up to two players locally or online to assemble squads of up to six characters to take on quests across the land.

This game essentially allows you to gather up an army of wacky warriors and pair them off in a top-down battle arena setting, which essentially boils down to them all clustering together until one side is left standing, but there is some semblance of tactical thinking needed to succeed here. That and big damage counters. 

The game mainly succeeds on the strength of the writing and the story, which is also available in co-op mode, but the game also features PvP via the arena mode, and also has a fun, Insane Difficulty mode to play around with if you just so happen to be too talented at battle strategy for your own good. 

It’s one of those games where there isn’t a lot of brain power needed to get through, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need from a co-op adventure. Something to keep your hands busy while you talk nonsense over voice chat. If that sounds like your thing, then try Pit People. 

#6 – For The King

Developer/Publisher: IronOak Games/Warp Digital Entertainment

Genre: Roguelite RPG

Metacritic Score: 79

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One

For The King is an RPG Roguelite that can be played in local or online 3-player co-op. It sees a party of up to three heroes embark on an adventure across a randomly generated world with gameplay that is highly reminiscent of traditional tabletop play.

The game can be pretty punishing, and like any roguelite, you should expect to lose several times before you complete your adventure. But the trade-off here is that each new run is completely different from your last, with a brand new map, new encounters and quests, and a whole bunch of new items up for grabs, so you can rest assured that the game will always keep you and your pals on their toes. 

It’s a great game for short sessions for busy groups of gamers living adult lives, and the format encourages teamwork, strategizing, and quick thinking, so it will keep you guys chatting at the very least. I’ve never been one for Roguelikes myself, but if that’s your cup of tea, then For The King is a great option. 

#7 – Baldur’s Gate 3

Developer/Publisher: Larian Studios

Genre: CRPG

Metacritic Score: 96%

Platforms: PC, PS4/5

If we are going to mention Divinity Original Sin II on this list, then it’s only fair that we also include Larian Studio’s newest CRPG masterpiece, which has just as much multiplayer functionality. A group of up to four players can hop into an online session, or you can even play split-screen co-op if you prefer, which is staggering for a game of this size and scope. 

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a CRPG that is governed by the rules of DND 5E and sees the player infected by a Mindflayer tadpole, leaving you in a pretty precarious position where you will need to explore the land for someone capable of removing that sucker safely. 

This will lead to innumerable branching paths and key decisions decided by a 20-sided dice roll, and countless turn-based battles where cunning, experimentation, and tactical excellence will be needed to come out on top. 

Baldur’s Gate 3 is the richest DND campaign you will ever play without sitting down at a table with a group of veteran players, so if you want to dive into this world of Warlocks and Druids, this is a great way to do it. 

Great Reads For BG3 Fans: 

• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Builds
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Romance Guide
• Baldur’s Gate Legendary Items Guide

#8 – Cat Quest 2 

Developer/Publisher: The Gentlebros/PQube

Genre: Adventure RPG

Metacritic Score: 77%

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One/Series X/S, PS4/5, PC, IOS

If you are looking for an RPG that strips away all the stressful systems that are commonplace within the genre and simply lets you swing your sword with careless abandon, then Cat Quest 2 is the one for you. 

You and a friend can play as the ruler of the Cat Kingdom and Dog Kingdom of the realm, respectively, and fight to win back your throne, restoring order to the land. It’s all pretty standard RPG stuff told through the lens of canine and feline puns. 

It’s one of those games where you can put your brain on autopilot, hack-and-slash your way to max level, and come out the other end feeling sated. It’s not one that will stay with you after the credits roll, but for a simple yet fun adventure with a friend, Cat Quest 2 is super. 

#9 – Elden Ring

Developer/Publisher: From Software/ Bandai Namco

Genre: Soulsborne

Metacritic Score: 96%

Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox One/ Series X/S, PC

We could have picked just about any Souls title here, because if you manage to get your head around the rather obtuse multiplayer systems of each game, they all allow players to play most of the game with a companion. My personal favorite is Bloodborne, but I won’t stand here and argue that Elden Ring isn’t the best co-op experience of the bunch. 

I say this because this is the game with the most populated servers, it’s the game that has the best format for open exploration and discovery, and due to this open-world format, it means that if you are a beginner, Elden Ring will allow you to gradually get better at the game without having you repeatedly die to a boss that blocks the path to the next area.

It’s pretty much the culmination of a decade of work from FromSoft to develop the ultimate Souls game, and if you somehow managed to miss this one upon release, take a friend with you and conquer the Lands Between right now! 

Great Reads For Elden Ring Fans: 

• Elden Ring Margit Boss Guide
• Elden Ring Rune Farming Guide
• Elden Ring Best Weapons Guide

#10 – Genshin Impact

Developer/Publisher: MiHoYo

Genre: Gacha Adventure RPG

Metacritic Score: 86%

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S PS4/5, PC, Nintendo Switch, IOS, Android

Okay, so cards on the table, the Genshin Impact co-op experience is a little limited even in 2023. The player won’t be able to play through key story beats with a friend, and the game will lock players out of multiplayer menus altogether for large stretches of the game. However, even with these limitations, exploring Teyvat together is a blast. 

With a party of up to four players, you can use the co-op functionality in Genshin Impact to explore the world and grind boss battles and domains for materials. You can go hunting for items in the overworld, you can partake in some side-quest content together, and you can also play fun multiplayer games when certain events take place. 

It’s a little irritating that MiHoYo doesn’t open this up as a fully co-op experience from start to finish, but if you are looking for a fun open world to explore as a group, Teyvat is one I would highly recommend. 

#11 – Cassette Beasts

Developer/Publisher: Bytten Studios/ Raw Fury

Genre: Creature-Tamer RPG

Metacritic Score: 84%

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One/ Series X/S

I’ve been a Pokemon fan for as long as I can remember, but even I feel that the franchise is running out of ideas and putting out some lackluster games lately. 

Well, it seems that other developers can smell blood, as Cassette Beasts proves that plucky indie developers can produce a Pokemon-inspired RPG monster-battling epic with just as much quality as GameFreak’s usual output. 

Cassette Beasts places you in the world of New Wirral, a strange dream world inhabited by weird monsters inspired by real-world objects, which can be captured and fused through the power of cassette tapes to serve as power creatures for your party. Sounds odd, and it is, but in the best way possible. 

It’s a typical top-down monster-tamer adventure that harks back to the GBA days, and best of all, after you learn the basics, the game will allow you to tag in a friend to enjoy a fully couch-co-op experience where you can battle, fuse monsters and explore together.

So, if you have been craving a retro Pokemon adventure, Cassette Beasts is the next best thing. 

#12 – Dead Island 2 

Developer/Publisher: Deep Silver/Dambuster

Genre: Action RPG

Metacritic Score: 75%

Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC 

Perhaps a little bit of a stretch to call this one an RPG, seeing as it does flirt with being an out-and-out zombie survival game. However, thanks to all those weapon upgrades, skill trees, and other RPG mechanics thrown in for good measure, I’m making an exception. 

Dead Island 2 was one of those development hell games we assumed would never actually come. We probably all remember the killer promotional trailer for this game, but it would be almost a decade after that before the game would hit our screens. 

The wait was worth it, though, as this game is pure unadulterated zombie-killing fun. The game leans into the silliness of the sub-genre, offering plenty of methods to push back the horde, a fun story to engage with, and plenty of side content to keep you busy in this unique L.A.-inspired open-world 

Plus, if you want to bring a fellow survivor along for the ride, you can, as the game is a fully cooperative experience. More people with guns means fewer zombies. It’s simple math. So go get a friend and take to the streets of Hell-A. 

#13 – Dragon Age: Inquisition 

Developer/Publisher: Bioware/EA

Genre: CRPG

Metacritic Score: 85%

Platforms: PS3/4, Xbox 360, PC

This one might feel like a bit of a cheat entry, as Dragon Age: Inquisition isn’t a co-op game per se. However, there are a number of custom-built questlines in the game that can be played with a party of friends.

 This could have been a throwaway experience, but thankfully, these quests are pretty memorable, and the multiplayer gameplay is just as rich as the main game’s tactically charged combat. 

It’s effectively a completely separate mode where players can band together, and dungeon crawl to their heart’s content, and while we would have loved to play the full story in co-op mode, we still appreciate that there’s something for Dragon Age fans to play together. 

So, if you fancy hopping back into Bioware’s marquee fantasy series, this is the best excuse you’re ever going to get! 

#14 – Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy

Developer/Publisher: FrozenByte/THQ Nordic

Genre: Action RPG

Metacritic Score: 79%

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Maybe it’s recency bias, but Trine 5 is arguably the best in the long-running action RPG series, and one that, as usual, allows you to band together with pals to take on the adventure as a group. 

This can be played as a magically-fuelled solo experience where you can seamlessly flit between all the different character roles, but it’s undoubtedly a richer experience if each of your friends owns a role and works with you to solve puzzles. 

With an all-new skill system, refined 2.5D visuals, a new and exciting tale to tell, and a collection of mind-bending platforming puzzles, Trine 5 stakes its claim as the best Trine title of all time, and quite frankly, we are happy to crown this one ourselves as the best co-op puzzle platformer you can play right now. 

High praise, I know. All the more reason for you to get out there and see for yourself.

#15 – Stardew Valley

Developer/Publisher: ConcernedApe/Chucklefish

Genre: Farming Sim/RPG

Metacritic Score: 89%

Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox One/ Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, IOS, PS Vita

Then, lastly, we have a personal favorite. A game that practically everyone has played already, and continues to play on a loop, serving as the ultimate comfort game. I’m, of course, talking about Eric Barone’s answer to the Harvest Moon series, Stardew Valley. 

Now, before you get all uppity with me, yes, this game is primarily a farming simulator game. However, the game does have some light RPG mechanics where you can specialize based on your job on the farm, you can roleplay through the people you make friends with, or even settle down with, and of course, there’s all that end-game dungeon crawling down the mines. 

It took a while, but Stardew Valley is completely split-screen co-op (or online co-op) on pretty much all platforms, allowing you to build the farm of your dreams with up to four fellow agriculturalists. It’s a serene and tranquil time, unless you head to the Skull Cavern, and I would highly recommend you check it out. 

Conclusion

Which of these games would be the best for you to play is largely dependent on your personal preferences.

Regardless of what type of setting, pacing, or complexity you are looking for, there are some robust Co-Op RPG options out there

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