Is it just me or are we finally, collectively, as a gaming herd, starting to wake up from the Baulder’s Gate 3 obsession fog? (No? Just me?) I might even be ready for my next co-op game!
My friend and I played so much BG3 together—we finished a “anything goes” first playthrough (everyone died, and I mean everyone) as well as a “good guys, good ending” run, even starting a Durge file before finally falling off. Phew. 300+ hours later and I’m finally looking for my next multiplayer adventure.
One thing I loved about games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Baulder’s Gate 3 are that they popped up in a time in my life when connecting online with people was essential. ACNH was quintessential for my sanity during COVID-19 lockdown, and BG3 helped me deeply reconnect with a friend I had started losing touch with. There is something so satisfying about sharing a gaming experience together. Plus, online multiplayer means you don’t have to live in the same city or even the same hemisphere!
Cozy games, in particular, are best shared with friends. It makes them all the cozier when you can play together on the couch or even weekend nights online. Cozy games often deal with themes of friendship, community, and relationship-building, too, so it only makes sense that they are shared with a pal or two, in my opinion!
Here are some of my favorite cozy multiplayer games on Steam right now:
1. It Takes Two – 2-player online or local co-op
It Takes Two is a multi-level, genre mashup co-op adventure game about a discordant couple who gets transformed into dolls and must work together (and maybe even rekindle their relationship) in order to get turned back. In every stage, each of the characters will have one of two halves of complementary abilities or equipment. One might have the fire starter, while the other has the match. Together, you need to work out how to progress through any whacky obstacle that comes your way.
Only 1 person needs to own It Takes Two for two people to play together.
2. Stardew Valley — 4-8 player online co-op
Stardew Valley is a RPG farming sim that can be played with up to 4 people right now (the upcoming 1.6 update promises up to 8). Together you can build out your farm, explore mines and do battle with critters in the depths, save the town from an evil corporation (or sell out), go foraging for resources, and win over the villagers as the newbies in town. Stardew Valley is best known as a solo game but the multiplayer is charming and enjoyable.
Everyone must own a copy of Stardew Valley to play the multiplayer campaign.
3. Sun Haven — Up to 8 people can play together online
If you are all Stardew-ed out by now, there are tons of new multiplayer farming sims on the market these days. Sun Haven is one of them. With a super detailed skill tree and stat bonuses based on race, this is a game where having a multiplayer party can really do you a lot of strategic good. Angels come with a healing perk, whereas elves do more damage with a crossbow. You can use these differences to build out your party in unique and collaborative ways.
Everyone must own a copy of Sun Haven to play the multiplayer campaign.
4. Roots of Pacha — Up to 4 players can play online together
Are you as obsessed with farming sims as I am? Roots of Pacha is one of the most promising farming sims I have encountered in a long while. It does something really different by setting the game in the stone age. You spend time domesticating wild crops and animals and contributing to your clan’s prosperity. Highly recommend following along as this game improves with each update, and supporting the devs if you can. You can play with up to 4 players online.
Everyone must own a copy of Roots of Pacha to play the multiplayer campaign.
5. Fae Farm — Up to 4 players can play online together
Full disclosure, I have so-so feelings on this game, as you can see in my Fae Farm review. However, the multiplayer actually makes this game way more fun, in my opinion. You can play with up to 4 people online and it makes the dungeons easier to stomach (the combat isn’t very good in the game). But goofing around in the vast and varied map with a crew of friends is definitely the way to experience this game. I would suggest wishlist-ing it and waiting for a sale, though, as it’s quite expensive for what you get.
Everyone must own a copy of Fae Farm to play the multiplayer campaign.
6. Bokura — A 2 player co-op adventure, LAN or online
Bokura is a two player co-op that is meant to be played in a way so that neither player can see what is going on on the other person’s screen. You will both see different “versions” of the world, one featuring cute little animals and one with robots in a more steampunk-y environment. The goal is to communicate what you are seeing and hearing to the other person so that you can solve puzzles together. It’s super meta, too: a story about storytelling.
Only 1 person needs to own Bokura for everyone to play multiplayer.
7. Blanc — A 2 player co-op adventure, split-screen or online
Blanc is another two player co-op where you have to solve puzzles together in a beautiful monochrome world featuring a lost fawn, a lost wolf cub, and an unlikely friendship. Each animal has its own strengths that can complement the other, working together to solve puzzles that will require both to pitch in. The hand-drawn style and emotional storytelling makes this a wholly unique experience.
Only 1 person needs to own Blanc for everyone to play multiplayer.
8. Knights and Bikes — A 2 player co-op, split-screen or online
Knights and Bikes is a 2 player co-op about exploration, treasure hunting, childhood play and puzzle solving, and a pet goose named Captain Honkers. You may recognize the hand-drawn, paper cutout art style; Rex Crowle, who worked on Knights and Bikes, was the Creative Director for Tearaway and Tearaway-Unfolded. You can play on Windows, Mac, or Linux, making it a great cozy game for Mac users.
Only 1 person needs to own Knights and Bikes for everyone to play multiplayer.
9. Wilmot’s Warehouse — 2 player split-screen or online, either co-op or vs
Wilmot’s Warehouse is a cozy game about organization and pattern recognition. Take your time collecting resources and storing them in your “warehouse” however you see fit. You can stack them according to color, pattern, theme, or whatever makes the most sense to you. The catch is that you have to remember where everything is so that you can quickly fulfil orders as they come in. You can play with two players but at least one of you must use a controller (Xbox, PlayStation, Logitech, etc.).
Only 1 person needs to own Wilmot’s Warehouse for everyone to play multiplayer.
10. Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip — Up to 4 players can play online together
Monster Roadtrip is the third game in the Monster Prom franchise and, personally, my favorite game to play multiplayer (although MP 1 and 2 also have co-op options). Monster Roadtrip has dating simulation take a backseat to more of a resource management, choose-your-own-adventure gameplay style. It’s a co-op narrative-centric survival adventure where you can pick how competitive you want it to be, choosing to work to benefit the collective…or benefit yourself.
Everyone must own a copy of Monster Roadtrip to play the multiplayer campaign.
11. Overcooked! 2 — Up to 4 players can play online or in-person
The Overcooked games are not “cozy” in the way you would expect. They are chaotic, noisy, and frantic. But playing Overcooked! 2 with friends is one of my favorite cozy activities (bonus points if you can do couch co-op together in the same room). Trying to coordinate instructions and orders test your ability to work together as a team. You can play with up to 4 people and it gets more insane the more characters you pack onto the board. You will laugh…a lot. And that is the essence of “cozy” to me.
Only 1 person needs to own Overcooked! 2 for everyone to play multiplayer.
12. PlateUp! — Up to 4 players can play online or split-screen
PlateUp! is a co-op restaurant management game with a roguelite progression system. You can play with 1-4 people but this is definitely the kind of game that is better as multiplayer, even though you can play the campaign solo if you want. Prepare dishes, decorate your restaurant, and tackle new obstacles in procedurally-generated locations. You can upgrade your restaurant with new machines and link them together to automate certain processes. This makes things even more delightfully chaotic.
Only 1 person needs to own PlateUp! 2 for everyone to play multiplayer.
13. Party Animals — 4 players on one device, 8 players in one match
Party Animals is a goofy, physics-based competitive multiplayer game about trying to be the last player standing on a platform filled with obstacles, traps, and hazards. You can grab each other and sumo wrestle one another out of bounds or try to use traps to your advantage. Some people have complained about the game not having an offline mode as well as the microtransactions present, so YMMV. But I really enjoy Party Animals as a low-stakes party game to play with a group of friends.
Only 1 person needs to own Party Animals for everyone to play multiplayer.
14. Golf With Your Friends — Up to 12 players online or splti-screen
Golf With Your Friends is a game about golfing with your friends (haha, duh). It brings back “heyday of Wii Sports popularity” vibes for me, but for a current generation of game players. I love that you can play with up to 12 people. As you can see from the screenshot, each golf course is creative, silly, and more than a little bit challenging. This is a great option if you want to get your “casual” gaming buddies to buy in. Anyone of any gaming level can learn this one pretty quickly.
Only 1 person needs to own Golf With Your Friends for everyone to play multiplayer.
15. Jackbox games — Up to 10 players and 10,000 audience members online
The Jackbox games are a “Need I say more” pick for this list. You didn’t need me to tell you this but I would feel like my list was incomplete if I didn’t mention the Jackbox games. 100% cozy? Debatable. They can get a little macabre. But they can be played with a hearty number of people and there are so many games to choose from that everyone can find something they enjoy. You can even buy merchandise from your gaming session (see: Tee K.O.) for ongoing inside joke fun. Only one person needs to own the game and everyone else can tune in on their phone.
Only 1 person needs to own Jackbox games for everyone to play multiplayer.
16. King of the Castle — Up to 4 players online or split-screen
King of the Castle is a competitive strategy game for 3-24 players. One player will play as the ruler and the other will plot and scheme against them, trying to seize the throne for themselves. As the ruler, you can make decisions affecting the state of your kingdom and your nobles can vote to enact them or shoot them down. Like the Jackbox franchise, only one person needs to own the game for everyone to play along. King of the Castle is the sleeper hit of the year, trust me.
Only 1 person needs to own King of the Castle for everyone to play multiplayer.
17. Spiritfarer — 2 player co-op online or split-screen
Yes, Spiritfarer has co-op! Spiritfarer is most well known as a cozy management game about running a ferry business that transports souls to the afterlife. Upgrade your boat and house spirits until they are ready to move on, learning their stories along the way. Your second player can play as Daffodil the cat and doesn’t need to own the game to play along. Daffodil can’t talk to the spirits or hand in quests but she can help tend to crops, fish, cook, and participate in the platformer minigames.
Only 1 person needs to own Spiritfarer for everyone to play multiplayer.
18. Untitled Goose Game — 2 player co-op online or split-screen
Untitled Goose Game is another game that is not traditionally thought of as a two-player experience but is an absolute romp as a couch co-op. You will play through the game as normal—solving puzzles by stealing items, inconveniencing locals, and honking up a storm—only, now there are two chaos birds to contend with! Help each other get things done twice as fast…or just cause twice as much mayhem.
Only 1 person needs to own Untitled Goose Game for everyone to play multiplayer.
19. Lego Star Wars Saga — 2 player co-op online or split-screen
Honestly, any of the Lego games are an awesome cozy experience in my opinion, but the Star Wars franchise has a special place in my heart. Another great option is Lego Marvel Super Heroes. The games aren’t super cozy mechanically, per se; there are high stakes action scenes and quick wit needed here or there. But the combination of them being relatively easy, the silly humor, and the nostalgic childhood love of Lego makes for a great cozy co-op game.
Only 1 person needs to own Lego Star Wars for everyone to play multiplayer.
20. Cassette Beasts – Shared/split-screen co-op for 2 players
Cassette Beasts is an open-world RPG, now with online multiplayer mode that supports shared or split-screen co-op for 2 players. Collect, fuse, and battle monsters in a turn-based battle system (a la Pokemon). It has tons of retro vibes, including a creature capture mechanism that uses cassette tapes to “record” and “play back” these unique beasts. You can also use the monster abilities in human form to fly, swim, or climb around the world.
Everyone must own a copy of Cassette Beasts to play the online multiplayer mode.
21. Cult of the Lamb – Shared/split-screen co-op available
The epitome of “cult cozy,” Cult of the Lamb is an adorably dark base-building roguelike where you take on the role of a lamb cult leader looking to gather followers to repay a debt to the dark entity that gave them a second chance at life. Delightfully silly and creepy, Cult of the Lamb now offers players a shared/split-screen co-op experience so you can play the whole campaign with a friend. Co-op is local only, so this is a great cozy multiplayer option with a roommate or partner.
Only one copy of Cult of the Lamb is needed to play local co-op mode.
Conclusion
These are my picks for the best cozy multiplayer games on Steam. Did I miss anything? Be sure to ping me on social media if there is a cozy multiplayer game that you want me to check out and potentially add to this list. I hope you found a new cozy co-op favorite!
Stay cozy, gamers!