Best Co-Op Games Coming in 2026
About the only thing better than playing a great game, is playing it with someone you care about. Co-op games provide the ability to have a genuine connection with someone and find shared success together, which is a great bonding experience, but co-op games aren’t new.
What is new is how many developers are adopting the Hazelight model of asymmetrical co-op. A type of co-op game that provides a different experience than just gaming with someone, which is why many games on this list feel inspired by Hazlight and their impressive work on A Way Out, It Takes Two and Split Fiction.
Co-op gaming is just a different experience. There is an atmosphere that provides unforgettable memories filled with joy, laughter, sadness and even sometimes anger (looking at you Overcooked!, which happens to be one of my most played games of all time).
These are the most anticipated (mostly) family friendly upcoming co-op games for 2026 that are guaranteed to create unforgettable moments. So in no particular order here is number ten.
MOST ANTICIPATED UPCOMING CO-OP GAMES OF 2026
10. REANIMAL
Ok, so before we go any further, this title is definitely not family friendly with the exception of it being about kids that have lost their friends. REANIMAL is an atmospheric horror adventure game from Tarsier, the studio behind Little Nightmares 1 and 2. In REANIMAL you play as orphan siblings who have to go through some form of hell to rescue their three friends, which might be a metaphor for hope and redemption. This is one of the great aspects of dark, atmospheric platformers like this and how they are open to all sorts of interpretations.
REANIMAL has been designed to be a co-op adventure either locally or online, but can also be played single player. Unlike recent co-op adventures from studios like Hazelight that feature a dynamic camera that separates when the characters go their different ways, the camera system in REANIMAL has been designed in a way that ensures everyone has the same experience.
REANIMAL seems to lean more into a 3D world as opposed to their previous work that was a lot of 2.5D side scrolling platforming and puzzle solving. This appears to be one way that Tarsier will be challenging themselves, which has me very intrigued by what else they might have in store, not only for the studio, but for the players.
One thing that they have said was with their first two games, they kept the players in the dark with a mysterious world, which lead to a lot of different interpretations. While the world of REANIMAL will still be rich with mystery, according to Narrative Director David Mervik “we definitely give player more than in previous games, but it’s nice to keep a little bit back and meet in the middle to see what people make with what you’ve given them”
OK, from here on out, it’s all family friendly.
9. LEGO Batman: Legacy of The Dark Knight
You can’t talk about family friendly without talking about Lego, which means that Lego Batman: Legacy of The Dark Knight is the only logical place to start this list. After their work on the critically acclaimed Lego Skywalker Saga from 2022, TT Games is back and at this point, have set high expectations for what can be expected of them. The one caveat with Legacy of The Dark Knight is that it won’t feature online co-op, so the only way to experience the adventure is through local couch co-op, which is definitively the best way to do it.
In Legacy of The Dark Knight, you will begin as young a Bruce Wayne as he begins training with The League of Shadows. Throughout the campaign, you will build a roster of familiar allies including Robin, Catwoman, Nightwing, Batgirl and of course Jim Gordon. Batman will need to protect Gotham from the most recognizable villains including Joker, Penguin, Ra’s al Ghul, Bane and likely many other surprises.
Witty writing and smooth gameplay is expected, but Legacy of The Dark Knight is bringing a completely new dynamic combat system that looks very reminiscent of the Batman Arkham series from Rocksteady full of chains, counters and takedowns. It wont just be for kids either, as it will feature a caped crusader mode with enhanced difficulty and challenge.
The list of iconic Batman moments that you will get to perform sounds endless as you grapple, glide, drive, zip, soar, solve puzzles and roam the open world in LEGO Batman: Legacy of The Dark Knight when it launches on May 29, 2026.
8. Luigi’s Mansion 4
Luigi's Mansion 4 hasn’t been announced yet, but I have never been more sure that a game will release than this. Next Level Games from Vancouver had a very long and mostly successful relationship creating games for Nintendo dating back to 2005 and in 2021, the studio was acquired by Nintendo.
In 2019, Luigi’s Mansion 3 was a breakout success for the series and sold nearly 15 million copies. What makes Luigi’s Mansion 4 guaranteed is because Next Level Games have been operating like clockwork prior to their acquisition from Nintendo. Every three years Next Level Games would release a title. In 2022, there was Mario Strikers Battle League, in 2019 there was Luigi’s Mansion 3, in 2016 it was Metroid Prime Federation Force and in 2013 it was Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon. This means that 2025 should have been the year for the studio to release a new game, but it’s likely that Nintendo didn’t feel the need to release it due to their release calendar for the first year of the Switch 2 and was able to offer the studio more time to work on it or move onto their next project.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 was one of the best games for the Nintendo Switch of which there were many, and although it might not look that way, it’s one of the best co-op games of recent years as well. The major criticisms I had was that it took too long to acquire the Gooigi ability meaning that the second player had to wait a few missions. Getting the second player involved right away is crucial for Luigi’s Mansion 4. The other criticism is that you collect a wild amount of money in Luigi’s Mansion 3, but never really offered much intrigue for spending. Using the Super Mario Odyssey blueprint to purchase outfits, or the Donkey Kong Bananza one to upgrade abilities via a skill tree or perks that come with certain outfits would greatly increase the incentive to buy and spend more time in the game.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 had the best gameplay of the series, while the first two entries in the series had a darker tone. Luigi’s Mansion almost felt like a Nintendo-fied version of Resident Evil on the GameCube with the exploration of a dark and spooky mansion. It would be incredible if Next Level Games could manage to find the best of both worlds with a slightly darker tone, but expand the gameplay depth for LM3 needed for a modern entry.
7. Over The Hill
I don’t think Over The Hill will feature local co-op, but if it did that would be incredible, but it certainly features co-op and it’s certainly a family friendly adventure that you could share with anyone as you explore the lo-fi world in the golden age of off roading with iconic vehicles from the 60’s through to the 80’s from the developers of Art of Rally.
Over The Hill is almost an off roading choose your own adventure as you trek through the minimalist wilderness that feels reminiscent of Firewatch where you can go brave the wild outdoors alone or with friends. You can challenge yourself with the harsh elements, dynamic weather, full day/night cycle, and realistic terrain deformation or just enjoy the beauty of the world by taking the easier path for a more cozy experience as you take full advantage of the stunning photo mode.
Over The Hill will feature multiple different areas with objectives for people that like to achieve goals. It will also feature many different vehicles, upgrades, customization options and cosmetics for those that love to tinker around. Not matter what you choose to do, Over The Hill has something for everyone. If you’ve ever watch classic Top Gear or The Grand Tour, you know that as simple or as mundane something might seem, the experience isn’t about the destination, its about the memories made along the way.
6. Ikuma: The Frozen Compass
Ikuma: The Frozen Compass is a game set in 1864 about a young boy named Sam and his loyal husky Ellie who becomes stranded in the Arctic after going searching for a lost expedition. Ikuma was inspired The Franklin Expedition, a real historical event from 1845. While looking for the Northwest Passage, the whole expedition including the two ships disappeared for over 150 years, until it was discovered in 2014.
This missing expedition only serves as the catalyst for the story as the game is centered the emotional narrative about Sam’s coming-of-age as he will need to make peace with his past and understand his place in the world. Throughout the adventure Sam will explore unfamiliar environments and terrain, forage for food, solve puzzles and uncover mysteries.
Ikuma looks to balance the beautiful, bright and colourful world with darker elements including curses and unsolved mysteries that feel natural. It can be played solo, but it would be a lot more fun if one person controls the husky and one person controls Sam.
5. Hela
At Gamescom 2025, Hela was awarded the Most Entertaining and Most Wholesome as you explore the Scandinavian countryside as two mice. More than just being about exploring the world as two mice, Hela is about a kind witch who has become gravely ill and needs her animal familials to help, which means that not only is this adventure going to be wholesome, but it will also be fantastical as the world is based in magic.
Hela is being developed by the creators of Unravel, which is a little tricky to figure out just how as Unravel was developed by Coldwood Interactive under EA. As far as it seems, Coldwood is still operating at EA and hasn’t been closed down like many of their other studios, so it would be assumed that many of the people from Coldwood left to start Windup Games.
Gameplay seems fairly straightforward as the two mice explore vibrant countrysides, rugged mountains, magical forests and tranquil lakes. You will need to work together to solve puzzles and face the challenges of the natural world that mice would have trouble with. You will do this with the help of your frog shaped backpack, which holds of piece of magic gifted to you by the witch that will allow the mice to glide through the air, swing between branches, pull, plunge and nudge objects beyond what a tiny mouse should be able to accomplish.
What sounds promising is how much control you have over the outcome of the game as acts of kindness will create ripples throughout the world and leave a larger impact that you understand.
4. Blighted
One of the games that I did get to play at Summer Game Fest Play Days with the developers was Blighted. If you’re unfamiliar, Blighted is the upcoming game from Drinkbox, the Toronto based studio who are best known for Guacamelee and Nobody Saves The World. If Drinkbox Studios, are making a new game, it will immediately get my attention, but this is especially true if they are returning to the metroidvania genre with a new perspective and fresh ideas. The Toronto based studio is known for their quirky ideas and Blighted is no different.
The premise revolves around an ancient culture that would bury their dead with seeds in their brains because they had great knowledge, which would then grow into a tree that would bear fruit and the knowledge would be passed from generation to generation to those that eat the fruit from the tree. I haven’t even gotten to the weird part yet. The evil Sorcisto decided that he would cut out the middle man and just go straight to eating the brains of the living making him the most powerful and robbing everyone else of knowledge. To somehow make matters worse, Sorcisto has also infected the world with a deadly blight.
However, one of the most interesting aspects of Blighted is that you can either choose to embrace the blight, which makes you more powerful, but also increases the challenge. It also has this psychedelic, western aesthetic, but still rooted in a Drinkbox style.
I was fortunate enough to sit down with the lead game designer and go through the first level of Blighted because it will be available in both solo or co-op, but playing in local with someone on the couch beside you was an absolute blast. Blighted was instantly accessible, fun to play, with gorgeous visuals and a unique story making it a strong contender to be the studios best work yet.
3. Stage Fright
When it comes to family friendly co-op games, there are basically two groups: Hazelight style games that feature team work and asymmetrical gameplay. The other are games like Overcooked, which is controlled chaos with friends that never gets old and while there have been many imitators, Overcooked has never been duplicated. But what if Ghost Town Games, the incredibly small studio behind Overcooked and Overcooked 2, tried their hand at something more akin to Hazelight.
In Stage Fright, you take on the role of Drew, Blake and Charlie, as you help guide these kids through a coming-of-age story full of exploration, escape room style puzzles and fiendish obstacles. Since Ghost Town Games is based in England, the trailer was full of dry humour that you can expect. Not to forget their past, Stage Fright also promises to be full of chaotic moments, which Overcooked strongly became known for.
The trailer was bursting with colors, and unique environments that look incredibly fun to explore, but Stage Fright is a big moment for Ghost Town Games. To begin with, the studio has only created Overcooked, which leaves a big gameplay challenge as both entries in the series were built around a few very small gameplay mechanics.
The other big challenge is in the narrative, because if you ask many people, they might not be aware that there even was a story in either Overcooked titles as you had to protect the onion kingdom. Not only is the pressure on the studio to deliver an experience that proves they are more than a one trick pony, there is also the added pressure of trying to make an asymmetrical co-op game in a post Hazelight world.
Personally, I think Ghost Town Games are up for the challenge and considering that Overcooked 2 released in 2018, and Stage Fright should release in 2026, it will mean that the team has been working on it for at least eight years to find the fun and polish the narrative.
2. Out of Words
One of my biggest disappointments of Summer Game Fest Play Days was that I wasn’t able to secure an appointment to go hands on with Out of Words, because it looked amazing and after getting a chance to try the other two titles that Epic brought, End of Abyss and Infinitesimals, it was clear that they only brought their best offerings.
Out of Words is one of those games like Cuphead that immediately jumps off the screen, which in this case is because the whole experience is created in the real world first using stop motion animation.
Out of Words is about Kurt and Karla and their quest to save their relationship. They have somehow been transported to the realm of Vokabulantis and have lost their voices. The game is pure co-op and will require great communication or words. In what has become the norm for the co-op platformer, you will need to solve physics defying puzzles throughout your journey that will take you from ancient catacombs to Nounberg where clay skyscrapers go as far as the eye can see.
It also features an incredibly adorable sidekick that looks like a stingray and behaves like a dog that people are almost guaranteed to fall in love with. Also if you want to see a bunch of behind the scenes on how the whole thing is created, it's all being documented on their YouTube channel with a very interesting look behind the curtain with a few videos per month.
1. Orbitals
The whole reason that I decided to put together this list is because of Orbitals, which was one of the announcement highlights from The Game Awards 2025, which began by seeing the Kepler logo beforehand, which has now become synonymous with unique quality experiences after only a handful of years publishing. Titles like Bionic Bay, Sifu, and Clair Obscur Expedition 33, not to mention all of the very promising titles that they have coming in 2026 like Ontos, the new game from the devs behind SOMA and of course Orbitals.
The elevator pitch for Orbitals is that it’s an anime Hazelight, which is understandably reductive, but this actually provides indie developer Shapefarm plenty of opportunity. To begin with, the most common criticism that people had with Split Fiction was that the narrative was predictable and shallow. Orbitals has a chance to surpass Hazelight with more engaging writing and characters.
The other big opportunity is that since the game will be a Switch 2 exclusive and has been built from the ground up in Unreal Engine Five for the new Nintendo hardware, Shapefarm have the chance to make it look and perform better than Split Fiction. Since the art direction of Orbitals is retro anime, there might be less demand compared to Split Fiction, which was trying to go for a more realistic look. Playing Split Fiction on Nintendo Switch 2 felt like a massive downgrade compared to the PS5, not just in terms of the visuals being toned down, but gameplay didn’t feel as responsive.
In Orbitals, you play as Maki and Omura, two inseparable space explorers who need to brave the unknown to save their home from a supernatural cosmic storm. Your adventure will be filled with everything you expect from a Hazelight inspired co-op set in space from solving puzzling, flying through zero gravity and piloting a spaceship. Orbital is overflowing with promise from the publishing by Kepler, the Hazelight inspired gameplay, the Switch 2 exclusivity and the 90’s anime inspired plot and art direction. Here’s hoping Shapefarm can stick the landing.
Those are the best upcoming co-op games of 2026. I hope you enjoyed. If you are interested in checking out our Top 26 Upcoming Indies of 2026, then click here.
