Introducing a non-gamer to cooperative play can be difficult. Games that overwhelm players with complex systems or rapid inputs tend to push newcomers away rather than invite them in. The strongest co-op experiences for inexperienced players tend to be those that explain themselves quickly and emphasize shared moments over individual performance.
8 Most Fun Local Co-Op Games, Ranked
Players who want the good, old-fashioned fun of local co-op will find plenty to love with the following games.
The following games are particularly effective at meeting those criteria. Each one allows players to contribute meaningfully without demanding technical mastery, while still delivering engaging cooperative play. Whether the appeal comes from humor, creativity, or thoughtful design, these titles make playing together feel natural rather than intimidating.
Moving Out 2
Low-Stakes Co-Op With Slapstick Energy
Moving Out 2 thrives on intentional awkwardness. Players take on the role of movers tasked with clearing furniture from buildings that steadily become more ridiculous. The act of lifting, dragging, and throwing objects never feels precise, and that lack of precision is the point. Even failed attempts often produce laughs rather than frustration.
For non-gamers, this design choice is crucial. Success does not rely on tight timing or mastery of controls, but on trial and error shared between players. The sequel expands the experience with more varied stages and online co-op, while also adding accessibility options that make the game more forgiving. Roles naturally emerge during each level, allowing players to help in ways that they feel comfortable with.
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
A Timeless Example of Accessible Co-Op
Almost any of Traveller’s Tales’ LEGO games could have featured on this list. The British developer found a winning formula back in 2005 with LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game and ran wild with it, turning numerous franchises into collectathon brick-building fun, such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Indiana Jones.
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These co-op games throw players right into the action, and are all the more fun for doing so.
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga remains one of the most accessible co-op games ever made. The game’s drop-in, drop-out local co-op allows players to join or leave freely, and its forgiving design ensures that mistakes are never permanent. Combat is simple, puzzles are intuitive, and death carries little consequence beyond a quick respawn.
Overcooked! 2
A Party Co-Op Game That Thrives on Coordination and Chaos
Overcooked! 2 is fast-paced, but its demands are predominantly mental. To succeed in the over-the-top cooking game, players must communicate clearly as they prepare meals in kitchens that constantly shift and surprise. The controls are easy to grasp, allowing new players to contribute almost immediately, even if execution takes time to improve.
Every level in Overcooked! 2 presents a shared goal that is easy to understand, even when chaos takes over. Mistakes are expected, and recovery is built directly into the design. The sequel improves balance and accessibility, giving players more room to adapt without removing the challenge entirely. While tension can rise during later levels, the game’s short rounds and playful tone ensure that failure rarely feels discouraging.
Minecraft
An Open-Ended Co-Op Sandbox
Minecraft is difficult to beat for those seeking a cooperative experience that offers freedom over rigid levels. Players are placed into a world with few immediate demands and allowed to decide where they want to go and what they want to do, whether that be mining materials to build structures with the game’s LEGO-like mechanics, exploring every region of a procedurally generated world, or practically anything else they can think of.
This openness makes it particularly appealing to non-gamers who may feel overwhelmed by rigid objectives or constant threats, and would prefer an experience where they can take things at their own pace and create their own fun with their friend.
Phogs!
A Lighthearted Co-Op Game Built Around Shared Movement
Phogs! is a puzzle-platformer that forces players to work in constant tandem. A bit like the classic Nickelodeon show CatDog, each player controls one end of a stretchy, double-headed dog, requiring coordination and communication to navigate colorful, toy-like environments.
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Like many games on this list, the controls in Phogs! are intentionally simple, and success depends more on cooperation than technical precision. The game makes things approachable for new players as it features no enemies or punishing fail states, so it doesn’t feel too punishing for less-skilled gamers.
Stardew Valley
Slow-Burn Co-Op Done Right
Stardew Valley is akin to the aforementioned Minecraft in the sense that it offers sandbox freedom over contained and constant action. The game is built around routine and gradual growth, making it especially approachable in co-op. Players share a farm and can work toward long-term goals that unfold over many in-game days. However, nothing demands immediate perfection, and inefficiency never blocks progress.
In multiplayer, players can gravitate toward activities that feel enjoyable rather than challenging. One player might focus on farming while another explores town relationships, allowing cooperation to develop naturally.
Spiritfarer
A Gentle Co-Op Experience With Emotional Weight
In Spiritfarer‘s co-op mode, one player controls Stella, while the second takes on the role of Daffodil, whose actions are deliberately less demanding. This design ensures that both players feel included, even if their experience levels differ significantly.
The game unfolds at a measured pace, focusing on exploration, resource gathering, and caring for spirits aboard a traveling boat. There are no harsh fail states, and most tasks allow players to work together without urgency. The emotional tone encourages reflection rather than competition, making cooperation feel intimate and purposeful.
Portal 2
Problem-Solving Over Mechanical Skill
The co-op mode in the acclaimed puzzle game Portal 2 is built entirely around teamwork and problem-solving. Each puzzle requires players to communicate, test ideas, and adjust together. Progress comes from mental problem-solving rather than executing difficult inputs on the controller, making the game a rewarding challenge for non-gamers.
Failures reset instantly, removing pressure and encouraging experimentation. Mechanics are introduced gradually, allowing players to build confidence as they progress. While the portal gun may take some getting used to for some non-gamers, the cooperative design rewards communication above all else.
30 Co-Op Games Parents Can Play With Their Children
Parents wanting to play kid-friendly video games with their children should try the following cool co-op games.
