The Best Two-Player Co-Op Games To Strengthen (Or Test) Your Friendships

The best two-player co-op games are built especially for two, or include a full collaborative experience, rather than a tacked-on multiplayer option to a primarily single-player game. Sometimes you want to experience a game from start to finish with a friend, enjoying the highs and lows of puzzle solving, combat, or exploration, and working toward a shared outcome.While drop-in co-op is plenty of fun on its own–check out some of our best couch co-op games for plenty of recommendations on that front–this list focuses more on games where communication and collaboration are an intrinsic part of the experience. Quests in these games progress because you’re both playing together, rather than despite it. These are games that feel more intimate than competitive multiplayer and more dynamic than traditional couch co-op–sitting in that sweet spot in the middle where both players are equally important.From emotional narratives to mind-bending puzzles, these games offer something for every