2023 has often been called one of the best year’s in gaming history when it comes to high quality new releases. Practically every genre saw the release of a critically-acclaimed game, giving gamers of all tastes something exciting and new to play. The same can be said for co-op games, with 2023 proving to be one of the absolute best years for co-op gamers, whether they want to play with their friends online or prefer local co-op.
This year has seen the release of truly incredible co-op games of all kinds. From fantasy RPGs to horror games to platformers, co-op gamers have plenty of options when it comes to new 2023 games.
The 10 Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2023
Although it’s nearly seven years old, the Nintendo Switch has just had one of its best years ever, and these 10 excellent titles prove that.
Co-op gamers looking for the absolute best co-op experiences 2023 has to offer need look no further. Please keep in mind that this list is not ranked and is instead presented in alphabetical order.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Read Game Rant’s Baldur’s Gate 3 Review
Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3 has earned universal acclaim, taking home multiple Game of the Year awards and being hailed as one of the best RPGs ever made. While there are many who choose to experience Baldur’s Gate 3 as a single-player adventure, the game also has robust co-op support. Baldur’s Gate 3 has online co-op for up to four players, and it also has 2-player split-screen on all platforms minus Xbox Series S. In an age where many developers have abandoned local co-op entirely, it’s great to see Larian make the effort to include split-screen co-op as a key feature in its massive RPG.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a Dungeons and Dragons inspired RPG developed and published by Larian Studios. Featuring both a single player and cooperative element, players create their character by selecting a starting class, take on quests, level up, and engage in turn-based combat using the D&D 5th edition rule set.
- Franchise
- Baldur’s Gate
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 30 Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles
There were all kinds of co-op games released in 2023, but few as unhinged as the bizarrely-titled Bang-On Balls: Chronicles. Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is a wild 3D platformer where up to four players online and two players in split-screen are let loose to roam themed worlds that are stuffed full of hilarious pop culture references. There are goals to accomplish and things to collect, but much of the fun in Bang-On Balls: Chronicles comes from the absolute mayhem players can wreak on the game world thanks to its destructible environments. It may have flown under the radar for many, but Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is a great deal of fun, and may especially appeal to fans of the Goat Simulator games. Those interested can check out Bang-On Balls: Chronicles on PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox.
Cassette Beasts
Pokemon fans wanting a proper co-op twist on the franchise’s monster-catching formula should definitely not let Cassette Beasts pass them by. One of the best Pokemon-style games in years, even when compared to Pokemon itself, Cassette Beasts sees a custom player character and their companions explore a strange world filled with bizarre monsters to catch, train, level up, and evolve. Cassette Beasts lets a second player take control of the currently active companion, giving them free rein to explore the game world and participate in battles.
Cassette Beasts
Bytten Studio’s Cassette Beasts is a monster-taming RPG with a turn-based combat system. Set on a peculiar island, players join the Rangers as they seek to help the local community while also investigating the world’s mysteries. In battle, Rangers can not only transform into monsters but also fuse together to create an extra-strong beast.
- Released
- April 26, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Bytten Studio
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everybody 10+ due to Fantasy Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 18 Hours
Dead Island 2
Read Game Rant’s Dead Island 2 Review
Dead Island 2 was a long time coming, but for many co-op gamers, it was worth the wait. Dead Island 2 lets up to three friends team up to complete quests and massacre zombies together in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. Killing undead hordes with friends never gets old, and Dead Island 2 gives players a huge arsenal of weapons to play around with. While it is disappointing that Dead Island 2 lowered the number of players from four to three, the game is still one of the meatiest co-op experiences of the year with even more content on the way.
Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2 is scheduled to release in February 2023, almost ten years after it was originally announced. The game has switched development studios twice in that time; it was originally developed by German company Yager Development, then by British studio Sumo Digital, before another British company, Dambuster Studios, took over.
- Franchise
- Dead Island
- Released
- April 21, 2023
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Metascore
- 73
- Number of Players
- 1-3
Diablo 4
Read Game Rant’s Diablo 4 Review
Co-op has been part of Diablo‘s DNA since the first game released in 1997, and so it’s no surprise that it’s one of Diablo 4‘s major selling points. Diablo 4 supports 2-player local co-op, but its co-op experience really shines when taking the game online. While exploring Diablo 4‘s huge world, it’s possible to run into others that are playing the game and party up with them to complete quests and tackle dungeons together. While there are those who have been disappointed by Diablo 4‘s post-launch support, the game does continue to receive new content and has a sizable expansion on the way for 2024, ensuring that there will be plenty more Diablo 4 co-op adventures to come.
Diablo 4
Diablo 4 is an action RPG developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It’s the fourth mainline game in the franchise and lets players pick from five playable classes as they explore an open world Sanctuary in order to take down Lilith, while also completing quests, leveling up, and gaining better loot.
- Released
- June 6, 2023
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG , Hack and Slash
- Metascore
- 88
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- Split Screen Orientation
- N/A (Shared Screen)
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
Disney Illusion Island
Read Game Rant’s Disney Illusion Island Review
Metroidvania platformers are a dime a dozen, but Disney Illusion Island stands out from the pack thanks to its vibrant art style inspired by classic Disney cartoons and, of course, its 4-player co-op support. On a single Switch console, four players can play as iconic characters Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy as they explore the game world, and in typical Metroidvania fashion, obtain new abilities that in turn allow them to reach previously unreachable areas. While some co-op platformers struggle with the actual “cooperation” part of the equation, Disney Illusion Island encourages players to work together by incorporating special co-op moves like Rope Drop and Leap Frog.
Disney Illusion Island
Disney Illusion Island is a Switch exclusive that follows Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Minnie as they investigate the island of Monoth. The 2D platformer has multiple playable characters, 4-player co-op, and hand-drawn animation.
- Released
- July 28, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Dlala Studios
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Lethal Company
Lethal Company came out of absolutely nowhere to become one of the most popular Steam games of the entire year, with the early access co-op horror game proving to be a viral hit with serious staying power. For those unfamiliar with the game, Lethal Company is a sci-fi horror game where players work together to explore abandoned facilities, often encountering horrifying creatures in the process. It has found incredible success in early access, and so it will be exciting to see how the developers expand on the game in future updates and if they bring it to more platforms.
Lethal Company
Zeekerss’ Lethal Company is a 4-player online co-op game that is in Steam Early access. Players must explore moons infested with monsters in search of loot.
- Released
- October 23, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Zeekerss
- Publisher(s)
- Zeekerss
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Steam User Rating
- 97% (November 21, 2023)
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
Moving Out 2
The original Moving Out was a big hit with co-op gamers, utilizing a similar chaotic feel as the Overcooked games to create high pressure and hilarious situations. Moving Out 2 is bigger and better than the original game, throwing online co-op and all kinds of different gimmicks into the mix to keep players on their toes. Easily one of the most memorable co-op experiences in all of 2023, Moving Out 2 delivers hours of laugh-out-loud entertainment.
Moving Out 2
SMG Studio and Devm Games’ Moving Out 2 is a physics-based moving sim with a cartoony art style and a sense of humor. Expanding beyond just Packmore, the game tasks players with moving furniture and keeping them in one piece. Along with single-player, Moving Out 2 also supports local and online co-op.
- Released
- August 15, 2023
- Developer(s)
- SMG Studio , Devm Games
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op , Online Co-Op
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Crude Humor
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- Metascore
- 80
- Number of Players
- 1-4
Remnant 2
Read Game Rant’s Remnant 2 Review
Remnant: From the Ashes took the Soulslike genre in some interesting new directions thanks to having a greater emphasis on co-op play and ranged weaponry compared to its peers. Remnant 2 retains everything that made its predecessor great, but dials it up to 11. Remnant 2‘s procedural generation has been greatly enhanced so that players and their co-op companions are constantly dealing with fresh challenges. Soulslike fans will find a lot to love about Remnant 2, and its co-op support really helps put it over the top as one of the year’s best games.
Remnant 2
The sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes, Gunfire’s Remnant 2 is a Soulslike RPG that primarily plays like a third-person shooter. Focusing on co-op while still supporting single-player, the game features hard-as-nails bosses, an upgrade system, multiple classes with their own abilities, and dynamically generated dungeons that enhance replayability.
- Released
- July 25, 2023
- Publisher(s)
- Gearbox Publishing
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike , Third-Person Shooter
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- ESRB
- M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- Metascore
- 85
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Nintendo discovered a winning co-op formula with New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which let four players simultaneously run and jump their way through Super Mario stages for the first time ever. Co-op has been a major focus of 2D Super Mario games ever since then, with 2023’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder the latest game in the series to take a crack at it. While Super Mario Bros. Wonder could have rested on its laurels, the new game takes the Super Mario co-op experience to new heights.
While some fans initially weren’t happy that Super Mario Bros. Wonder removed player collision, the choice actually resulted in a far less frustrating co-op experience, one that let players more easily experience the game’s fast-paced platforming challenges with friends. Super Mario Bros. Wonder also introduces Dark Souls-style online features to the Super Mario franchise for the first time, letting players see others playing the game as they play, with ways to communicate with and aid strangers encountered online.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
A return to the franchise’s 2D side-scrolling roots, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Supporting up to four-player co-op and featuring playable characters like Princess Peach and Luigi, Super Mario Bros. Wonder revamps a classic formula with fresh twists, including a mechanic called Wonder Effects that cause stages to come alive.
- Released
- October 20, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
