Playing alone is fine. Playing with someone is better and on PS5 in 2026, the co-op options span every genre, budget, and group size. Whether you want couch chaos, online dungeon runs, or a FromSoftware nightmare with a friend keeping you alive, there is a PS5 co-op game built for exactly that.
This list covers the 12 best co-op games on PS5 right now, updated through May 2026. Each entry notes player count, local vs. online support, and crossplay status.
The 12 Best Co-Op Games on PS5
1. Split Fiction (2025)
Developer: Hazelight Studios | Players: 2 (local or online) | Crossplay: No | Price: ~$40
The best co-op game released in 2025 and one of the best ever made. Players control Mio and Zoe, two writers whose stories are being harvested by a machine. To escape, they travel through each other’s unfinished sci-fi and fantasy worlds, with each level completely reinventing its mechanics: bullet-hell space combat one moment, dragon-riding the next, rhythm dance-offs after that. Nothing is done twice. Nothing feels gimmicky.
The Friend Pass means only one copy is needed the second player downloads a free version and plays the entire game cooperatively, local or online.
Best for: Couples, best friends, anyone who finished It Takes Two and wants more.
2. It Takes Two (2021)
Developer: Hazelight Studios | Players: 2 (local or online) | Crossplay: No | Price: ~$20
The 2021 Game of the Year and still the definitive couples co-op experience. Cody and May a divorcing couple magically shrunk to doll size must cooperate to return home. Each chapter completely reinvents itself across time-manipulation puzzles, squirrel warfare, and gravity-defying platforming. Friend Pass included. At its current price, the highest-value co-op game on PS5.
Best for: Couples, siblings, or anyone new to co-op gaming wanting the perfect introduction.
3. Helldivers 2 (2024)
Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios | Players: 1–4 online | Crossplay: Yes (PS5 ↔ PC) | Price: ~$30–$40
Helldivers 2 remains one of the strongest online co-op experiences on any platform. You are a Helldiver a soldier of Super Earth deployed to exterminate bugs, robots, and squids across procedurally generated planets in the name of managed democracy. The satire is sharp. The gunplay is excellent. The coordination required between four players calling in Strategems, managing ammunition, and avoiding friendly fire creates exactly the kind of emergent chaos that makes co-op gaming memorable.
It is strongest on console specifically thanks to PS5’s DualSense implementation the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers add a physical dimension to the combat that PC players do not experience the same way. Full crossplay between PS5 and PC is active, so your group does not need to all own the same platform.
Best for: Groups of three or four who enjoy military action games and do not mind steep learning curves.
For more crossplay co-op options across platforms, our best Xbox and PC crossplay games guide covers the best multiplayer games that bridge PlayStation and other ecosystems.
4. Elden Ring Nightreign (2025)
Developer: FromSoftware | Players: 1–3 online | Crossplay: No | Release: May 30, 2025 | Price: ~$40
FromSoftware designing a game specifically for co-op produces something nobody expected to work this well. Nightreign runs on three-day expedition structure each run takes roughly 40 minutes with three players choosing from eight Nightfarer classes including the greatsword Wylder, a ranged specialist, a summoner, and a healer. These roles reward deliberate MOBA-style coordination. Revive mechanics make co-op coordination not just helpful but required on later Nightlord bosses. It sold 5 million copies on release month alone.
The difficulty is exactly what FromSoftware delivers. If your group struggled with base Elden Ring, prepare for frustration. For the right trio, it is some of the best co-op on the platform.
Best for: Soulsborne veterans with two online friends and 40-minute sessions available.
5. Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)
Developer: Larian Studios | Players: 1–4 online | Crossplay: No | Price: ~$60
The finest co-op RPG on PS5 arguably ever. Up to four players online run a full 100+ hour campaign together, with each person controlling their own character, making independent decisions in dialogue and exploration, and participating in turn-based combat. The co-op does not simplify the game it genuinely runs four overlapping narrative arcs where one player’s rash decision can derail everyone else’s diplomatic moment. That chaos is the point.
Best for: Groups of two to four who want a long, story-rich campaign. Essential for D&D fans.
6. Deep Rock Galactic (2020, PS5 2023)
Developer: Ghost Ship Games | Players: 1–4 online | Crossplay: No | Price: ~$30
The most beloved mining co-op game ever made. Four Space Dwarves Driller, Gunner, Engineer, Scout work together through procedurally generated alien caves. Class differentiation rewards coordination without punishing solo improvisation. The tone is joyful, the content is enormous, and the end-of-mission victory beer ritual is sacred.
Best for: Any group size or experience level. The most welcoming co-op game on this list.
7. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (2024)
Developer: Saber Interactive | Players: 1–3 online | Crossplay: Yes | Price: ~$25
A genuine surprise hit of 2024. The Operations co-op mode sends three customized Space Marine warriors through standalone missions with satisfying third-person action combat that rewards staying close and managing aggro. Full three-way crossplay between PS5, PC, and Xbox makes matchmaking fast. Heavily discounted since launch one of the best-value co-op buys available.
Best for: Action game fans wanting co-op combat without complex build systems.
8. Back 4 Blood (2021)
Developer: Turtle Rock Studios | Players: 1–4 online / local | Crossplay: Yes | Price: ~$15
The spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead. Four-player zombie survival co-op with a deck-building card system and eight playable Cleaners each with distinct passives. Approachable enough that mixed-skill groups can enjoy it within the first session. One of the best-value purchases on this list at its current price.
Best for: Groups who miss Left 4 Dead and want structured campaign co-op.
9. Sackboy: A Big Adventure (2020)
Developer: Sumo Digital | Players: 1–4 local or online | Crossplay: No | Price: ~$20
The best family-friendly PS5 first-party co-op game. Up to four players cooperate through colorful platforming levels, with dedicated co-op sections requiring teamwork. One of the few PS5 games that comfortably supports four players locally on one screen.
Best for: Families, younger players, or groups who want something cheerful.
10. Remnant II (2023)
Developer: Gunfire Games | Players: 1–3 online | Crossplay: No | Price: ~$30
A souls-lite third-person shooter with procedurally generated worlds and strong three-player co-op structure. Distinct Archetypes Medic, Hunter, Challenger, Handler scale well together. Difficulty adjusts with player count, preventing carries.
Best for: Trios wanting a challenging shooter RPG with roguelike replayability.
11. Borderlands 4 (2025)
Developer: Gearbox Software | Players: 1–4 online / 2 local | Crossplay: Yes | Release: September 2025 | Price: ~$60
Four new Vault Hunters, full PS5/Xbox/PC crossplay, and loot scaling that keeps players of different levels contributing meaningfully. A refinement of the reliable looter-shooter formula with a long campaign ideal for groups spread across platforms.
Best for: Groups across different platforms wanting a loot-driven long campaign.
12. Portal 2 (2011, PS5 backward compatible)
Developer: Valve | Players: 2 (local or online) | Price: ~$10
One of the best two-player co-op games ever made, at any price. The dedicated co-op campaign presents escalating puzzles designed specifically for pairs, with mechanics requiring genuine communication. Runs perfectly on PS5 hardware.
Best for: Any two-player group who enjoys puzzle-solving.
Honorable Mentions
- A Way Out (Hazelight, 2018) — The precursor to It Takes Two. Still excellent.
- Sea of Thieves (2024 PS5 release) — The best open-world pirate co-op experience, recently arrived on PlayStation with full crossplay.
- Diablo IV — Four-player online action RPG with robust PS5 performance. Our Diablo 4 cross-platform guide at PlayXArena covers exactly how its crossplay works if your group spans platforms.
- No Man’s Sky — Technically infinite. Its co-op is low-pressure and one of the most welcoming in gaming.
FAQs
What is the best co-op game on PS5 in 2026?
Split Fiction (2025) is the current consensus pick the best co-op game released in years, supporting both couch and online play with a Friend Pass so only one copy is needed.
What PS5 co-op games support couch co-op?
Split Fiction, It Takes Two, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Borderlands 4, Back 4 Blood, and Portal 2 all support local split-screen co-op on PS5.
What PS5 co-op games have crossplay?
Helldivers 2 (PS5 ↔ PC), Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 (PS5 ↔ PC ↔ Xbox), Borderlands 4 (PS5 ↔ PC ↔ Xbox), and Back 4 Blood all support crossplay.
Do I need PS Plus for PS5 co-op games?
Yes for online multiplayer. Local co-op does not require PS Plus. Friend Pass online sessions in Split Fiction and It Takes Two do require the second player to have PS Plus.
