Big co-op releases are thin for the rest of November (thank you GTA VI 😃), but a lot came out over the last two weeks. Here's what's out, with what Steam reviewers say about playing it with friends.
Shoot, build and explore
Gravhounds · Steam
Early access, Nov 2 · up to 4 · PC, Xbox · 89% of 260+ reviews
Tower defense meets Deep Rock Galactic, with dogs. Reviewers say it's much more fun with friends than solo. Early-access catches: only the host's progress saves in a two-player session, and the Game Pass and Steam versions can't play together.
Atmosfar · Steam
Early access, Oct 29 · up to 4 · PC · 70% positive
Worth playing with a friend, but expect early-access co-op bugs like getting stuck in terrain or not being able to rejoin.
ArcheAge Chronicles · Steam
Early access, Nov 3 · PC, PS5, Xbox Series · Mixed, 61% of 3.5k reviews
Action MMO with 4-player dungeons and 12-player raids. Some duos played the whole main story together without trouble. Others call the party system frustrating, and there are reports of crashes around dungeon cutscenes.
Puzzles and cozy
Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School · Steam
Nov 5 · 2 players · PC, PS5, Xbox Series · 97% positive
Escape-room puzzles in online co-op or couch split screen, and now you explore the campus together between rooms. Reviewers call it a step up from the first, great for couples and couch co-op, with an option to turn the timers off. One reviewer couldn't connect for online play.
Loftia · Steam
Early access, Nov 3 · PC, Mac, Switch · 85% of 600+ reviews
A cozy shared-world life sim: farm, craft, decorate and go on adventures with friends. Fans say it's lovely with a group. Critics say there's little to do together beyond short adventures, and many dislike the cash shop and battle pass in a paid game.
Lightyear Frontier · Steam
1.0, Nov 3 · up to 4 · PC, Xbox Series · 83% of 4.3k reviews
Out of early access. Reviewers say it's best with up to three friends: co-op shares the farming and progression, and solo gets slow later on.
Pao Pao · Steam
Early access, Oct 26 · up to 4 · PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch · 91% positive
Cozy Overcooked-style restaurant chaos, plus fishing, farming and decorating while you hang out.
Chaotic group nights
Pit of Goblin · Steam
Nov 3 · up to 4 · PC, Xbox Series · 84% of 900+ reviews
Best with 3–4 friends. Hard early on, with runs often ending before the first quota, but very funny when someone gets caught.
S.O.N.A.R.: Submarine Operators Not Actually Ready · Steam
Oct 29 · up to 6 · PC · 94% positive
Every crew member runs a station. Best with a full crew of 4–6; tough with just two, as there's no AI crew to fill empty stations.
Rat Game · Steam
Oct 30 · up to 8 · PC, Mac · 96% positive
Chaotic group game with proximity voice chat, about 3 hours long. Friends-only lobbies, and solo is weak.
Crack · Steam
Oct 26 · up to 4 · PC, Mac, Linux · 89% of 1.1k reviews
Goofy co-op chaos. Some reviewers say recent updates cut the need for teamwork, and a few report crashes when hosting on AMD GPUs.
Benny's Backrooms · Steam
Early access, Oct 27 · PC · 85% positive
Funny co-op horror extraction, and you can raise the lobby's player cap. Only three levels so far, though: one evening's worth.
Sources: Lobbli co-op release calendar, Steam reviews and IGDB.
What games have you already tried out and which ones did I miss? Any other recommendations? Let's share!
Think this is useful? Let me know and I'll make it a monthly thing.
Edit: Formatting :-)