Unmissable Co-Op Games to Play on Steam Deck Right Now!

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Due to Steam introducing the Steam Deck OLED in 2023, this platform has significantly enhanced its offerings, delivering an outstanding gaming experience characterized by extended battery life, a larger screen, and faster WiFi connectivity. The portable Steam Deck device allows users to enjoy the benefits of accessing a vast library of games on Steam from anywhere with ease. Although not all games are optimized for the Steam Deck, there is already a considerable selection of native recommendations that have been officially verified by Steam or remain playable, even if they’re not fully optimized.

When it comes to playing games with friends on your Steam Deck, you’ll often find the same popular titles suggested. The question then arises: What other cooperative games are worthy of a download? To help answer that question, here is a list of Steam Deck games ideal for cooperative play.

10. Elden Ring

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Steam Deck: Verified

If you’re seeking a game that demands over 200 hours of your time and offers a stunning, difficult, and story-driven experience, consider giving Elden Ring a try. This game, falling under the Soulslike genre, immerses you in an epic mythological tale penned by George R.R. Martin and transformed into a sprawling open-world RPG by FromSoftware.

Just like many Soulslike games, the combat mechanics are relatively simple to grasp but demand commitment to excel, particularly when battling tough enemies and bosses. Notably, Elden Ring performs admirably on Steam Deck and offers co-op play. However, there are some constraints: multiplayer is only activated through summoning friends into your game world; non-host players can’t earn rewards, can’t use checkpoints for character rests, and resources are more scarce for them.

Should the constraints seem overwhelming, stay alert for the upcoming game titled “Elden Ring: Nightreign“, scheduled for release in May 2025.

Ale & Tale Tavern

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Steam Deck: Playable

The “Ale & Tale Tavern” is an ideal game to unwind with on a comfy couch. In this first-person tavern simulator, you can team up with up to four friends in online multiplayer mode. Scienart Games has skillfully blended the aspects of managing a tavern and brewing drinks with the fun of crafting new recipes and unlocking them. The game also includes an exciting adventure element where you need to farm, hunt, fish, raise livestock, and trade for ingredients to cater to your numerous customers’ needs.

At Ale & Tale Tavern, you’ll find an open-world environment ripe for exploration and a variety of distinct quests that make it stand out among similar games in the cozy gaming genre. Its one-of-a-kind humor adds a unique touch. Although it hasn’t been officially verified by Steam Deck, the game performs exceptionally well on this platform, giving the impression that it should be. As of March 10th, Scienart continues to provide updates and new content for the game post-release.

Northgard

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Steam Deck: Playable

As a gaming enthusiast, particularly into real-time strategy games, I can vouch that there aren’t many titles optimized for play on the Steam Deck. However, an exceptional game that buckles this trend is Northgard. In Northgard, you step into the shoes of a Viking tribe that has embarked on a new continent. Engage in PvP multiplayer where the goal is to claim various territories, gather and amass resources, and construct armies for defense or conquest.

In this game, events and tough weather situations happen regularly to increase the difficulty for players. Moreover, there are numerous victory conditions that allow a distinct gaming experience in each fresh round. Since the game’s mechanics focus on expanding your tribe, the tempo is more leisurely compared to other real-time strategy games like Age of Empires, which makes it suitable for Steam Deck users who are still learning the controls.

The Forest

Steam Deck: Verified

If you’ve never experienced an open-world, survival game like The Forest before, it’s high time you give it a try. Upon finding yourself stranded on an island following a harrowing plane crash, your son has been abducted and the only inhabitants of this island are a group of mutated cannibals. To ensure your own survival, you’ll have to adapt quickly by gathering resources, constructing a shelter, and fabricating essential survival tools. However, it’s the chilling mystery that underlies the game that will keep you captivated until the very end.

As a gamer, I can dive into the thrilling world of “The Forest” with up to four comrades in an online cooperative session. The challenge of this game ramps up based on how much we craft, build, and fortify our bases, as well as the length of time we’ve managed to survive on this haunting island. Be prepared for the chilling darkness that descends at night and the ominous depths of the caverns – this game delivers a heart-pounding survival-horror experience that will keep us on our toes!

In the year 2024, Endnight Games introduced a sequel to their game The Forest, titled Son of the Forest. This subsequent release is an impressive continuation. Nevertheless, the original title offers a broader range of craftable items that provide a more engaging and realistic survival experience on a mutant, cannibal-inhabited island.

Grounded

Steam Deck: Verified

Imagine if the offspring of movies like “Goonies” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” grew up to be a video game. That would be “Grounded”. This open-world, cooperative survival game was brought to life by Obsidian Entertainment, renowned for creating games such as “The Outer Worlds”, “Fallout: New Vegas”, and their latest production, “Avowed”.

In Grounded, you’ll find yourself transformed into an ant and your mission is to regain your normal size as well as discover the mystery behind your shrinkage. The path will be tough with encounters against formidable foes from the backyard such as spiders, stinkbugs, ants, ladybugs, and other creatures. This survival game can accommodate up to four players in cooperative play.

Ark: Survival Evolved

Steam Deck: Verified

In the game “Ark: Survival Evolved“, you find yourself starting naked on an island teeming with living dinosaurs. The adventure begins by gathering primitive tools, gradually progressing to advanced equipment as you gather resources, tame and breed dinosaurs, and advance in levels to unlock engrams (crafting instructions). Alongside dinosaurs, crafting, and guns, it seems there’s everything you could ask for!

In “Ark”, you can engage in a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) experience. You have the option to join existing public servers and team up with other players to form a tribe, or establish your own tribe on a server specifically for you and your closest friends. If you opt to create your own server in “Ark”, it’s essential to run a non-dedicated server, which may restrict how far you and your companions can roam from one another. Starting out, new players may find the gameplay easier to grasp when learning the mechanics at a steadier pace.

Stardew Valley

Steam Deck: Verified

Stardew Valley has become a benchmark for farming and life simulation games, often recognized as one of the genre’s most comprehensive offerings. In this game, you take over a run-down farm from your grandfather, which you must gradually restore. Upon arriving at your farm, you’ll also immerse yourself in a friendly community of interesting townsfolk. As you work to improve both your farm and the town, these relationships can deepen.

In addition to farming and nurturing relationships, Stardew Valley offers a variety of additional activities such as side quests, cave exploration, combat elements, seasonal celebrations, and discovering new recipes to keep you captivated. The game supports up to eight players per farm, ensuring everyone can participate, and it runs seamlessly on the Steam Deck.

Don’t Starve Together

Steam Deck: Verified

If you enjoy survival games, crafting, and open-world adventures, “Don’t Starve Together” is an ideal choice that provides a substantial level of difficulty. This game lives up to its name as it drops you into a vast landscape where you must establish a base, gather resources, farm, and prepare for the diverse seasonal hazards and bosses that could leave you hungry if you’re not properly prepared.

In “Don’t Starve Together,” up to six players can join either public or private games. You’ll need to cooperate in a pure PvE setting to gather resources, prevent hunger and insanity, conquer foes and bosses, and discover various biomes both above and underground. The game offers high replay value as each new game presents a unique procedurally generated map that necessitates strategic planning each time you restart the game.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Steam Deck: Verified

2023 saw the release of Baldur’s Gate 3, a game by Larian Studios that’s still considered one of the best ever made. It’s an exquisite creation set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe and is remarkable for its detailed character development, intriguing storyline, and strategic turn-based battles. Regardless if you’re new to the series or planning a return to Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll consistently find an immersive adventure where your decisions significantly shape the game’s outcome.

In the digital realm, you can now embark on an adventure with up to four companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, a captivating role-playing game. For those of you who are new to the party-based RPG genre crafted by Larian Studios, it would be well worth your while to delve into Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2 as well.

Hazelight Studios

Steam Deck: Verified or Playable

In essence, you’re correct that Hazelight Studios isn’t a game itself, but rather a studio that creates them. Since its inception in 2018 with the release of A Way Out, this studio has been renowned for producing some exceptional couch co-op/online co-op experiences. Engaging with their collection of games promises a wealth of enjoyable hours spent playing with friends, loved ones, or family members.

Lately, Hazelight Studios unveiled their new game called Split Fiction. This latest release serves as a sequel to It Takes Two, and within just 48 hours of its launch, it managed to sell over 1 million copies. On Steam, it has earned a nearly perfect rating of 98%, with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Meanwhile, It Takes Two has surpassed the impressive milestone of 20 million copies sold, and A Way Out has also reached the 10 million mark in sales.

Each title’s success primarily stems from a shared recipe that maximizes emotional impact: every game offers an engaging narrative and captivating storyline. The real magic happens when you play them with others, as the shared experience is what truly cements those moments in your memory. This unique aspect caters to both newcomers and seasoned gamers, as the skill level required for each game is balanced and accessible to all. Notably, many of these games are optimized for Steam Deck, making them a worthwhile investment from Hazelight Studios.

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2025-03-25 14:15