Best Games to Play With Friends: Free, Cheap & Co-op Picks

Picking the best games to play with friends usually comes down to three questions: how many of you are there, what does everyone own, and how much do you want to spend. This guide answers all three fast, with real prices and real stores, then goes deep on the standouts. No hype, just the games worth your group's evening.

Last updated: June 7, 2026.

Prices checked: June 2026. Sources: Steam, Epic, publisher pages and partner stores. We refresh prices and sale notes regularly.

Best picks at a glance

• Best free pick: Among Us for chaos, Apex Legends for shooters
• Best cheap pick (under 10): Deep Rock Galactic
• Best premium co-op: Baldur's Gate 3
• Best for 2 players: It Takes Two
• Best for big groups (5+): Fall Guys
• Best couch / local: Overcooked! 2
• Best cross-platform: Fall Guys and Apex Legends
• Best for horror nights: Dead by Daylight
• Best long-haul grind: Destiny 2

Quick list

Best free games to play with friends

If nobody wants to spend a cent, you still have excellent options. Among Us is the obvious starter for groups of four or more, and it costs almost nothing even on the paid platforms. The whole game lives in the conversation, so it shines when your friends actually talk.

Fall Guys went free a while back and remains the friendliest party game around. It supports up to 60 players, full crossplay, and rounds short enough that latecomers can jump in. For shooter fans, Apex Legends is the standout free battle royale built around three-player squads, with a ping system so good you barely need a mic.

Want something with a longer tail? Destiny 2 has a free entry point and some of the best cooperative endgame content in any shooter. And if your group is competitive and patient, Dota 2 is completely free with no paywalled heroes, though the learning curve is steep.

Best cheap co-op games (under 15)

This is the sweet spot for most groups. Deep Rock Galactic is our top value pick: four dwarves, procedural caves, and genuine teamwork, all for under ten on a sale. It runs well on modest hardware too.

Lethal Company is the cheap horror darling, built for four friends scavenging in an abandoned facility while one of you inevitably dies screaming. Phasmophobia covers the slower, spookier ghost-hunting side and is just as affordable. For sandbox fans, both Stardew Valley and Terraria deliver hundreds of hours of shared progress for the price of a sandwich.

Don't sleep on Left 4 Dead 2 either. It is over a decade old, frequently discounted to a few dollars, and still one of the tightest four-player zombie shooters ever made.

Best premium games to play with friends

Sometimes the group wants a real campaign. Baldur's Gate 3 is the modern benchmark for online co-op storytelling, supporting up to four players through a huge, reactive adventure. It is full price for a reason, and worth it if your crew commits.

For souls-style challenge runs, Elden Ring lets you summon friends to take on its bosses, and the open world makes co-op exploration genuinely relaxing between fights. Fans of the older formula can grab Dark Souls III for the same jolly cooperation at a lower price. Monster Hunter Wilds rounds out the premium tier for groups who want to grind giant boss hunts together.

Helldivers 2 sits just below full price and earns its spot through chaos: four players, generous friendly fire, and a galaxy-spanning war effort. It is the best pure laughter-per-mission pick if your group enjoys things going wrong.

Best games for 2 players

Duos have specific needs, and the standout is It Takes Two. It requires only one copy thanks to a friend pass, it is built entirely for two, and it cycles through more genres in one playthrough than most studios attempt in a decade.

If you both prefer something competitive or open-ended, Grand Theft Auto V works well as a two-person playground in its online mode. Stardew Valley is the cozy duo pick, perfect for a couple or two long-distance friends building a farm together.

Best games for 3-4 players

Four is the magic number for co-op design, so you are spoiled here. Deep Rock Galactic, Lethal Company, Phasmophobia, Helldivers 2, and Baldur's Gate 3 all cap neatly at four and are built around that count. Dead by Daylight flips the format with four survivors against one killer, which is a great option when you have an odd number and someone wants to play the villain.

Best games for 5+ (big groups)

Bigger crews need games that scale. Fall Guys handles dozens of players and is the easiest group invite on this list. Among Us comfortably hosts up to fifteen. For shooters, Battlefield 2042 supports very large lobbies with vehicles and squads, while Destiny 2 tops out at six for its raids. Valheim and Stardew Valley both stretch to large survival and farming sessions if your group prefers building over fighting.

Best couch / local co-op

If you are all on one sofa, Overcooked! 2 is the gold standard for shouting at people you love. It is cheap, instantly readable, and ruthless about teamwork. Fall Guys also supports local play on console, and many of the survival picks like Terraria offer split or shared screens depending on platform.

Best cross-platform games

Mixed hardware is the most common real-world problem, and crossplay solves it. Fall Guys and Apex Legends both offer full crossplay across PC and consoles. Dead by Daylight supports cross-platform matchmaking, and Among Us works across PC, console and mobile so nobody is left out. Always confirm crossplay is enabled in your friends' settings before you all queue up.

Honourable / adjacent picks

• Euro Truck Simulator 2: Primarily a solo sim, but the community TruckersMP mod lets you convoy with friends. Adjacent because the base game has no built-in co-op.
• Dying Light: Strong four-player co-op, but it leans heavily into solo campaign pacing, so it sits just outside the pure party-game core.
• Forza Horizon 4: Brilliant online racing, listed as adjacent only because much of its appeal is the solo open world. With friends in a convoy it is fantastic.

FAQ

What is the best free game to play with friends? For most groups, Among Us or Fall Guys win because they cost nothing, support large lobbies, and have almost no learning curve. If your friends prefer shooters, Apex Legends is the strongest free option built around squads.

What is the cheapest co-op game that is actually good? Deep Rock Galactic is the best value, often under ten on sale, with deep four-player teamwork. Lethal Company and Left 4 Dead 2 are similarly cheap and excellent for short, intense sessions.

What is the best game for exactly 2 players? It Takes Two, because it needs only one copy via the friend pass and is designed from the ground up for two people. It is the rare game that nearly everyone finishes together.

Which games work across PC, console and mobile? Among Us crosses all three. Fall Guys, Apex Legends and Dead by Daylight support crossplay across PC and consoles. Always check that crossplay is toggled on in each player's settings.

What is the best premium co-op game right now? Baldur's Gate 3 for a full campaign, or Helldivers 2 if you want chaotic shooting. Both reward groups that show up regularly, and prices ease during seasonal sales.

How many players can join the biggest group games? It varies widely. Fall Guys handles dozens, Among Us up to fifteen, and Battlefield 2042 runs very large lobbies. For tighter teamwork, four-player games like Deep Rock Galactic are usually the better experience.

Are these games good on Steam Deck? Many are. Check our Steam Deck list for verified titles, since handheld performance varies by game and patch.

When is the best time to buy? During major sales. Watch our Steam sale tracker and the deals page, since most premium co-op games drop 30 to 60 percent a few times a year.

The bottom line

The best games to play with friends are the ones that fit your group size and budget, not the ones with the biggest hype. Start free with Among Us or Fall Guys, spend a little on Deep Rock Galactic, or commit to a premium night with Baldur's Gate 3. Whatever you choose, compare prices first: browse the full catalog at /games and check /deals for current discounts before anyone hits buy.

Alex, Scout Team