Co-op games are currently very popular in the gaming world, according to data from Alinea Analytics.
Steam’s cooperative games have already earned over $7 billion in revenue just during 2025, according to a recent report.
Co-op games have seen significant growth in recent years. They generated $3.5 billion in revenue in 2019, which increased to around $6 billion in 2022. Popular titles like Helldivers 2 and the recently launched ARC Raiders are major contributors to this upward trend.
Since launching on October 30th, ARC Raiders has become the best-selling extraction shooter of all time, with over 4 million copies sold.
I was looking at the player numbers for ARC Raiders, and it’s pretty interesting – about half of us who played that also jumped into Lethal Company, Helldivers 2, and Phasmophobia. Seems like a lot of us enjoy those co-op, teamwork-focused games!
Co-op games are becoming increasingly popular and profitable, but surprisingly, a recent study by Midia Research found that most gamers – 53% – still prefer playing games alone.
Research shows that most young gamers – around 70% of those under 19 – enjoy playing games with others. But as players get older, this preference changes, and more tend to favor playing alone.
Players between 25 and 34 years old enjoy both single-player and multiplayer games equally. However, players aged 45 to 54 overwhelmingly prefer single-player games, with 74% favoring them.
Are Single-Player Titles at Risk Due to Multiplayer Games Hitting Record-High Sales?
Despite the huge success of co-op games, many players still prefer playing games on their own.
The research also examined various gaming systems. Interestingly, on mobile devices, a significant majority – 58% of players – continue to choose games they can play by themselves.
It may seem surprising, but there’s a good reason why more gamers choose to play alone, even though games with cooperative play actually earn more money.
Many games now focus on making money after release through things like ongoing updates, small in-game purchases, and cosmetic items. These features often draw in a large player base because they encourage social interaction.
These are among the key reasons that a lot of multiplayer games make more money.
Different players enjoy different game types. For example, a recent study showed that about 34% of players prefer single-player role-playing games (RPGs). Player-versus-player (PVP) multiplayer games were the next most popular, with 29% of players choosing them, and cooperative multiplayer games were enjoyed by 18%.
Generally, players with more experience often prefer single-player games, likely because they have less free time for longer multiplayer sessions. Younger players, however, usually gravitate towards multiplayer games.
So what does this mean for developers and publishers?
Adding cooperative and social elements to a game can increase its potential earnings. However, it’s important not to overlook single-player gamers, as many players still prefer that experience.
This suggests hybrid games could become popular, offering a strong single-player experience with the added option of playing with others cooperatively or competitively.
Players will find even more ways to enjoy the game, whether they prefer playing alone or with others. This update offers a wider range of choices for everyone.
Wrapping Things Up
2025 is looking like a major moment for gaming. The huge success of cooperative games, such as Helldivers 2 and ARC Raiders, proves that more and more players are enjoying gaming together.
However, since over half of gamers still enjoy playing single-player games, strong stories and campaigns are still very important.
As a gamer, it’s awesome to see that whether you like playing by yourself or with buddies, there are more games than ever made just for you! It feels like the industry is really paying attention to what players want now.
If anything, it means that the gaming world is more diverse, with tons of options to choose from.
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2025-11-11 19:38