Co-Op RPGs just as good or better than Baldur's Gate 3

RPGs, at their core, have always been cooperative. Obviously, there are plenty of good examples of single-player RPGs, but the feeling of taking on a giant obstacle with a group of friends is pretty hard to beat. When talking about RPGs, it's pretty hard not to bring up Baldur's Gate 3because not only did the game completely change the genre and the perception around it, but it also managed to deliver one of the best co-op experiences in the entire genre. The reason for this is how well it integrates tabletop ideas into a virtual world, allowing each player to feel like they play an important role in the campaign by giving them a huge amount of power, both in terms of combat power and in the character interactions that drive the majority of the story.

However, despite that BG3 considered by many to be one of the best co-op RPGs ever made, there are still some games out there that manage to match it in terms of quality, with some even surpassing it in some specific ways. That's a pretty high bar to cross, and only the very best games in the genre can happily sit alongside Larian's crown jewel, each bringing an insanely high caliber of gameplay, story, and world-building that can all be enjoyed as a group. Making an exceptional RPG is hard enough as it is, but when you factor in multiplayer, things get incredibly complex. Nevertheless, many developers over the years have defied expectations and shown that not only is it possible to create a great co-op role-playing game, but that it can actually be even more fun to play with friends than to go on an adventure alone.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Fighting is better together

Details:

• Fully reactive battle scenarios

• Party members each have a narrative role

Divinity: Original Sin 2 remains one of the most fully realized cooperative RPGs ever designed, and in many ways represents the purest expression of Larian's design philosophy. Its world is reactive to the extreme, with combat encounters built around elemental interactions, environmental manipulation and improvisation, all components that only become more impressive when experienced with other players. Every fight becomes a playground for creativity, as players can choose to scatter elements or explode nearby objects to cause chaos, and it feels like almost every system exists to be exploited by those willing to work together.

Also, the co-op aspects are so seamlessly integrated into both the combat and the story. Party members can pursue conflicting goals, betray each other, or split entirely, allowing the role-play to emerge naturally rather than players feeling forced into a specific path. In addition to this, many conversations can actually be influenced mid-scene by other players, enhancing the feeling of a shared world where everyone gets to have their say. Unlike Baldur's Gate 3's Taking a more cinematic approach, the game embraces chaos and player-driven storytelling above all else, proving that Larian is not just a one-trick pony, but an unmatched creative force in the RPG world.

Monster Hunter: World

To master the beasts as a team

Details:

• Skill-based fights

• Meetings built around teamwork

Monster Hunter: World stands out not through a huge range of branching stories, but through mechanical depth and cooperativeness. Each hunt is a complex puzzle that requires preparation and coordination, as well as a healthy dose of skill from each player involved. Rather than each existing as a separate entity, each player fills a distinct role based on weapon selection and playstyle, and unlike traditional RPGs, their progression is directly tied to their ability to work together and learn the ins and outs of each monster and the weapons used to take them down, rather than stats alone.

Solo players can, of course, find tremendous success in the fights, but co-op turns the hunts into tactical battles where positioning and communication matter as much as raw damage. The main reason for this is how dynamic the creatures are, as they are constantly reacting to player behavior, tripping, and feeling the full force of status effects and environmental traps placed by the party. While the story elements certainly take a back seat, the game still manages to feel incredibly engaging from start to finish, giving players of all stripes a chance to truly feel like a mighty warrior capable of toppling giants.

Fire Ring

Conquer titans with the power of friendship

Details:

• Coordination is needed in tougher encounters

• Support for modification to increase collaboration functionality

Fire Ring follows the classic FromSoftware style of not incorporating a simplified co-op mode, instead forcing players to use summons, passwords and, frankly, awkward connection methods to actually play with each other. But with the seamless co-op mode, all of those pains are taken away, turning the giant world into a cooperative landscape where players are free to work together and take out as many bosses as they want without ever having to return to their world. It's very clear that some encounters were even made with multiplayer in mind, but the extra set of swords doesn't guarantee victory, as the team will still need to play well and coordinate their swings to make it through alive.

One thing that really supports co-op is how many different builds and playstyles the game offers. Players can run headfirst, use a giant greatsword, or step back and launch magical missiles from afar, but no matter what strategy they take, they will always contribute in some way. Even just moving around the world feels super enjoyable with others, as the lone wolf's journey suddenly becomes a joint effort to fight evil and rid the world of all who seek to corrupt it. And for those who have never experienced the glory of Fire Ring Outside of solo play, the mod is a great way to jump back in to try something new that they absolutely won't regret.

Wastelands 3

Difficult choices but shared consequences

Details:

• Group decision making

• Tactical squad-based combat

Wastelands 3 offers a tightly integrated co-op storytelling experience that remains one of the best in the genre. Designed from the ground up for two-player co-op, it allows players to control troops independently while shaping the world together, making tough decisions and thinking about long-term consequences that can easily have a huge impact on the entire campaign.

When it comes to combat, there's a heavy emphasis on tactical positioning and squad synergy, rewarding coordinated players who choose to use their tools together over those who value raw power. There's also a strong sense of shared responsibility, as rather than one player driving the story forward, everyone involved plays an important role in determining the outcome of small and large plot points. By simply having another player in the world, every interaction seems to carry more weight, and there will be countless moments where the discussion of what to do next actually takes longer than the actual actions.

Honorable Mentions – Very near exceptional

Details:

• Outwards – dependence on teammates for exploration
• Diablo 4 – Lighter on RPG, but still good game
• The path of exile – huge build variety without much narrative depth

Outwards thrives on difficulty and shared struggles, forcing players to navigate without holding hands, making cooperation essential for basic survival. Each trip will be a test of preparation and confidence, and although it may not quite reach the quality of BG3it still stands as a great co-op RPG experience.

Diablo 4 delivers polished, drop-in co-op action, blending accessibility with long-term progression for players who really want to grind into the late game. The RPG elements certainly become secondary to the fights, but the action is enough to keep any player entertained for hours on end.

PoE offers unprecedented construction complexity and theorizing depth that can cause many players to spend huge amounts of time just thinking about how to develop their character. Not as immersive as some other RPGs, it manages to provide enough content and variety for a whole group of players to have fun and work together, whether they're a DPS mage or a fancy blower.

These games all deserve recognition in the RPG space for their ability to reward co-op play in genuinely meaningful ways. As in many cases, the gameplay comes first, which can reduce the overall narrative impact of the experience, but there's still enough at stake for players to stay invested and continue coordinating their party for many sessions to come.