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There are plenty of games to get people talking and thinking together. Some are more mechanics oriented while others have a little more story and narrative involved. Puzzles can take many forms, whether it be about shapes, instructions, physics, and/or portals. As time continues, this puzzle and co-op genre of games have gotten quite popular.
Updated on April 21st, 2021, by Allison Stalberg: Luckily for gamers, there are even more puzzle co-ops out there if they know where to look. These games can be played by two friends sitting on the couch, or people in different time zones on a Discord call. Working together in puzzle games like these can bring people closer, on adventures that range from science fiction to endearing comedy.
15 Trine Series
For fans of Medieval fantasy, the Trine series is a side-scrolling action platform-puzzle game. The player controls either a thief, a knight, and/or wizard. The game can be played solo, but it is most fun as a co-op with multiple people playing all the roles simultaneously.
The puzzles are environmental, and the players have to keep in mind the various skills of the different characters in order to solve them. The first game of the series came out in 2009 for the PS3 and Microsoft Windows. The latest title has come out in 2018 for the Nintendo Switch.
14 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
This is a game with a lot of talking involved between the players, so it is not for everyone. Basically, there is a bomb that needs to be diffused. Only one player can see the bomb and the rest of the players cannot but have instructions for how to diffuse it.
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The game is one that can get the adrenaline pumping, as the bomb as a time limit before it explodes. It can be stressful and get friends yelling at a lot at each other. For some though, that is a fun and unforgettable way to spend a evening.
13 Never Alone
Players can enjoy this title solo or with a friend. It is quite special, as it is based on a traditional Iñupiaq tale. In fact, it was made from a partnership between the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and E-Line Media. This makes the game a wealth of cultural insights.
Never Alone has eight chapters that focus on a little Iñupiaq girl, Nuna, and her arctic fox companion. In co-op, one player can control Nuna and the other can control the fox. The game has the two characters solve puzzles together and, with completion, literally unlock cultural insights about the Iñupiaq. For even more content, check out the game’s expansion Foxtales.
12 Portal 2
Portal is known as one of the best puzzle titles out there, and its sequel has a co-op game mode. Players get to play as robots test subjects with their own portal guns. The players go through courses together where they must solve puzzles and the further they progress, the harder the puzzles get. There are a total of five courses.
After the five courses are completed, there is also a couple extra courses such as Art Therapy and for those you bought DLC, Non-Emotional Manipulation.
11 Snipperclips
This game is mostly known for being a launch title for the Nintendo Switch back in 2017. The underrated Switch game has two players solve various shape and physics based puzzles together, as they can change the shape of the characters they play as. A lot of the puzzles involve moving objects or making themselves into the perfect shape to do various tasks.
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The puzzles are diverse enough, that some may feel difficult while others feel easy. Many critics praised the game for being family friendly as well as cunning.
10 Lost Elements
Lost Elements is a 2D puzzle platformer that allows up to four players to play together. The game centers on four element friends that get lost in a forest. Dewy, Ember, Gale, and Brick each have abilities fitting of their element: water, fire, air, and earth. These abilities are all central to the puzzle solving.
The game is only available for Windows. On the bright side, though, it is free to download on its website. Players who are interested in playing it as a co-op game should consider using the Parsec computer application.
9 Unrailed!
This chaotic game puts players up to the task of building a railway while a train is moving. Gamers should be prepared for a lot of panicked yelling between themselves and any co-players as they try to keep the train from going off the rails.
In terms of puzzle games, this one is all about quick thinking. The co-op can either be via local or online, and there are four varied levels of difficulty. The game was released in 2020, and has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam.
8 Biped
Named after its bipedal playable robots, this game has the players control the legs of these cute little automatons individually. Reviews do mention that the game is rather short, but there are collectible hats and stars that can keep players interested even after beating the game.
The game came out in 2020 and is available on the PC and Nintendo Switch.
7 Shift Happens
Meant for two players, Shift Happens is a game with four stages and plenty of puzzles to solve. While players can work together, the game also lets you stab each other in the back if fancied. After all, friends sometimes love to mess with each other. With that kind of gameplay, a lot of players on the Steam reviews admitted to getting some laughs.
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Levels do get more difficult as the players advance through the game and it has a cute, minimalist design. For someone who is looking for a compelling narrative though, the game may not be for them.
6 Knights And Bikes
For someone who wants a co-op puzzle game that does follow a story with interesting characters, Knights and Bikes is the title for them. Players take on the role of childhood friends, Nessa and Demelza, as they explore an ancient island. They also have a pet goose named Captain Honkers.
The characters have different skills that are required for the various puzzles in the game. Besides the puzzles and story, there are fun little bits like customizing your bike. There is also single-player mode where the player can team up with an AI.
5 DYO
In DYO, two people play as minotaurs solving puzzles in order to get out of cursed labyrinth. Like many co-ops, there is a split screen – however, players can manipulate this feature in order to help solve the puzzles. The split screens can merge, and the characters can hop from one to the other.
This game has 30 levels and can take up to four hours to beat. All the levels can have multiple solutions, so gamers can extend their playtime by trying to find each and every one. While DYO does feature single player capabilities, the game is at its best in its two player co-op.
4 Human: Fall Flat
Lovers of funky physics would get a kick out of this game. One to eight players can play, and there are multiple solutions to the puzzles. Due to the physics as well as having the ability to mess with your friends, the game can get a lot of laughs. It is the most of game where the more players there are, the more chaotic and hilarious it gets.
One downside is that the game is short, but the upside is that it still gets plenty of updates and new content from time to time.
3 We Were Here Trilogy
What makes this game stand out from other puzzle co-op games is that the players are separated and their goal is to escape a castle. What connects the two players is just a walkie talkie and the need to help each other out with the clues they find in the abandoned castle they are trapped in. The game great atmosphere and an interesting story.
According to its description on Steam, the game was inspired by real life escape rooms and the famous horror title, Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
2 Tick Tock: A Tale For Two
As the title describes, this game is for two players. The players can be remote or local, but do need to be able to talk to each other. Story-wise, the game took some inspiration from Scandinavian fairy tales. The players are trapped in an eerie world that was created by a clock maker, and they have to solve various puzzles to escape.
While the game is short, it does have a nice mixture of both easy and difficult puzzles for the players.
1 Ibb & Obb
Unlike some co-op puzzle games, this games does not have a single player mode. Be sure to have a friend local or online – or be prepared to play with a stranger online.
All puzzles in this game are based on gravity. While there are 15 levels to complete, players also have secret levels to find. Fans of this game don’t just enjoy the cute graphics, co-op, and puzzles, but love it for the music. Kick back with a friend, and solve some puzzles together to these relaxing electronic tunes by Kettel.
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