Best Online Co-Op Games On PS Plus

Sony’s PlayStation Plus Extra subscription gives players access to a wide plethora of games that cover most needs. The service has lengthy RPGs like Dragon Quest 11 and Skyrim, shorter action games like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and competitive multiplayer titles like Soulcalibur 6 and For Honor. There should be something for just about anyone, and that includes co-op.

Local co-op and split-screen games encourage friends to come together for a night in front of the TV, and the best examples of these releases on PS Plus are mentioned in this article. However, online co-op is also popular, and this option is not neglected by Sony. What are the best online co-op games on PS Plus?

Updated March 31, 2024: PS Plus Extra and Premium’s March 2024 lineup was decent, as long as a subscriber was not craving online co-op. Except for Lego DC Supervillains and NBA 2K24, none of the games offer much in the way of a multiplayer experience, and those two exceptions are nothing too exciting. PS Plus already has plenty of Lego projects, while NBA 2K24 is the definition of an acquired taste. On a more positive note, PS Plus Essential’s April 2024 lineup includes Minecraft Legends, which does support 4-player online co-op. The other two included titles, Skul: The Hero Slayer and Immortals of Aveum, are solo adventures.

Games that only support online co-op will be prioritized since
local co-op titles are highlighted in a separate article
, but a few exceptions will be included. Also, if a game’s “PS Plus Availability” is set to “N/A,” that means the title was removed from the service since this article’s most recent update.

If it exists, a title’s Amazon page will be linked in case someone prefers to go physical.

1 Ghost Of Tsushima: Legends

Metascore: 87

Ghost of Tsushima is a fantastic action-adventure game with a robust single-player campaign. A few months following the base title’s debut, Sucker Punch dropped Legends, a co-op side experience deep enough to justify a standalone release. Along with common modes like Survival, Legends also comes with a Story that guides two players through roughly 6 hours of content.

Legends has four classes: Samurai, Ronin, Assasin, and Hunter. Each one fits an archetype and has a specific role they should be fulfilling in combat scenarios. While some options like the Samurai are viable for solo or two-player runs, classes like the Ronin are designed with support in mind. Legends might just be the best PS Plus online co-op game.

2 Back 4 Blood

Metascore: 77

Back 4 Blood is a first-person co-op shooter reminiscent of Left 4 Dead. Turtle Rock’s project wears its influences on its sleeve, which is hardly a terrible thing considering the market is not flooded with these sorts of titles. Back 4 Blood has solid gameplay and visuals, along with a card-based customization system that permits players to tweak their loadouts.

The differences between Back 4 Blood‘s playable survivors are not skin-deep either. Each character has unique traits and default weapons, which encourages teams to craft parties consisting of survivors that bring the best out of each other. Even though it is not a masterpiece and has had a fairly short lifespan for this type of project, Back 4 Blood is more than good enough to keep a group of friends engaged for a few hours.

3 Warhammer: Vermintide 2

Metascore: 81

A popular first-person action game, Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is celebrating its five-year anniversary in 2023. Despite its growing age, Fatshark’s release is still reasonably active, and it is arguably the best action-oriented Warhammer game of the last decade. Vermintide 2 pits the Heroes of Ubersreik against wave after wave of rat-themed enemies, showering them with loot if they manage to survive.

While the vanilla version only has 13 missions (+4 from free updates), the stages are meant to be repeated endlessly as players upgrade their class and weapons. Vermintide 2‘s five playable characters are wildly different from each other, ensuring most people find someone who suits their preferences.

4 The Dark Pictures Anthology: House Of Ashes

Metascore: 72

Supermassive’s The Dark Pictures is an anthology series that will eventually include 8 games; at the moment, four main entries have been released along with a VR spin-off. While not quite as robust as Supermassive’s other horror projects like The Quarry and Until Dawn, The Dark Pictures‘ chapters are consistently great picks for co-op, especially local. In online co-op, House of Ashes opts for a shared experience where players get to stir the ship for a while before handing over control to their friends.

Although overshadowed by the couch iteration, House of Ashes‘ online co-op is a valid option in its own right. Limited to two participants, the game automatically picks who will be actively playing the campaign and decides when to switch control. This system might not be to everyone’s fancy, but it does provide a unique co-op experience since one player’s actions directly impact the full group.

5 Returnal

Metascore: 86

Housemarque knows a thing or two about co-op. Dead Nation, Resogun, and Alienation all make good use of the feature, and they support both local and online connections. The developer’s most recent project, Returnal, did not launch with multiplayer, but an online two-player co-op option was added as part of the Ascension update. Thanks to this addition, players can now join forces to take on the game’s roguelike challenges, and there is the option to use a public or private server.

Returnal is challenging, and co-op does not necessarily make the experience easier. However, it does introduce a revive option into the gameplay loop, granting players a second chance. Otherwise, co-op provides essentially the same core experience as solo runs, albeit with two Selenes rather than just one. As the base package is fantastic, the same can be said about Returnal‘s co-op.

6 Dead By Daylight

Metascore: 64

Dead by Daylight is the most famous asymmetrical multiplayer game on the market, and that seems unlikely to change anytime soon. The game pits four survivors against one killer, with many of the available characters being based on popular IPs (although there are several original creations too). While one side of the equation will not be cooperating with anyone, the survivors should try to work together since they are considerably weaker than any of the killers. That said, players are largely left to their own devices, so they can decide themselves whether they wish to prioritize communication or not.

Dead by Daylight is kind of a weird inclusion as it is primarily advertised as an online multiplayer rather than co-op experience, which makes sense since matches are PvP rather than a group of players against AI. Nevertheless, it still works well as a co-op game, and it is among the best and most popular titles on PS Plus.

7 Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Metascore: 76

Supporting both local and online co-op, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is the latest FPS release in the Borderlands franchise, and the spin-off should be able to scratch the same itch as the mainline entries. The game caters to solo players quite well, offering them an enjoyable campaign set in a world inspired by D&D, all the while Tiny Tina acts as Dungeon Master. While the fantasy aesthetic provides a different feel than the post-apocalyptic sci-fi tone of the numbered games, Wonderlands is still ultimately a Borderlands project at heart, which means endless loot, an aggressive sense of humor, and a decent range of classes with a few build options. The gameplay feels similar to Borderlands 3, albeit with a few tweaks and novelties thrown in for good measure.

While a single-player run is fun, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands truly comes alive when partaken in co-op, a statement that is true for nearly every game in the franchise. Considering its D&D inspiration, playing with friends is an even better fit for the spin-off than the main entries, even if the game’s handling of the feature is not all that different from Borderlands 3. Wonderlands provides a few options so that parties can craft a co-op experience that suits them, including a choice between shared or exclusive loot.

8 Tetris Effect: Connected

Metascore: 93

2018’s Tetris Effect gave the ultimate classic video game a contemporary makeover, creating a modern reimagining that stuck true to the original’s blueprint while carving out a unique identity all of its own. That version was and still is fantastic, an easy recommendation for players craving a robust puzzle game designed around solo content. In 2020, Tetris Effect: Connected hit the market, an upgrade that – as suggested by its subtitle – focused on multiplayer. Providing a fairly addictive PvP experience, this iteration incorporated a range of modes that complement the gameplay loop. While Tetris is largely associated with single-player content, the franchise is obviously a good match for competitive play, and Connected showcases as much.

As fun as PvP is, Tetris Effect: Connected is specifically named after its online co-op mode. This option allows a few players to share the screen as they work towards completing separate puzzles while taking on an AI opponent. On the surface, this might sound like a basic implementation of co-op that does not add all that much to the core experience; however, Connected has one great twist: the players’ puzzles combine to create a single canvas. This development is a treat whenever it triggers during matches, and it creates a cooperative exchange that works wonders.

9 Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Metascore: 72

Team Ninja’s Final Fantasy prequel got a mixed reception at reveal and launch, dooming it to become something of a footnote in the franchise’s long legacy. Despite only coming out in 2022, the game has been forgotten already, and it is hardly an easy project to recommend since it does not try to scratch the same itch as most Final Fantasy releases. However, if a player is specifically searching for a hack and slash title with a linear campaign and a fairly robust job system, they should find what they are looking for with Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Unsurprisingly, the combat is fast-paced, deep, and satisfying; while not quite reaching Ninja Gaiden Black or Nioh 2 levels, it is still high quality. The story is generally entertaining nonsense that the characters take very seriously, which just adds to the amusement.

A less-advertised feature of Stranger of Paradise is its co-op support, which allows three players to join forces. Outside the tutorial and a couple of missions, most of the campaign can be played in online co-op, with the guest players taking charge of Jack’s comrades. Players will need to have reached an appropriate level in their playthroughs (or by playing co-op) to join in, so a beginner cannot jump into a late-game co-op session. Although prioritizing solo runs, Stranger of Paradise implements co-op fairly well, and the feature brings a new dimension to the gameplay. It also makes replaying missions way more fun.

10 Zombie Army 4: Dead War

Metascore: 72

Another zombie shooter akin to something like Left 4 Dead or Back 4 Blood, Zombie Army 4: Dead War is for those people who prefer a third-person perspective. Even though the game does not quite have the same name recognition as either of those projects, it is a respectable entry in the subgenre. As is always the case, four players can join forces to blast their way through fairly self-contained levels filled with a colorful and grotesque assortment of flesh-eaters.

Zombie Army 4 shakes things up by being set after World War 2 and granting a Nazi coat of paint to its armies of the walking dead. This setting is the element that distinguishes the game the most from its peers, and the campaign makes good use of the premise. Zombie Army 4 guides players through an over-the-top and entertaining story that is long enough to feel substantial without overstaying its welcome. Along with a decent selection of weapons, Dead War uses a rewarding perk system that adds some flavor to combat.

11 World War Z

Metascore: 67

Even though PS Plus Extra’s World War Z loses points for being just the base game rather than the superior Aftermath upgrade, the third-person shooter is still a decent option for anyone looking to demolish thousands of zombies alongside a few friends. Push comes to shove, Zombie Army 4 is the superior experience since it features a more enjoyable and over-the-top story; nevertheless, Saber Interactive’s project is polished, entertaining, and well worth a playthrough if a group of friends are craving a small change of pace for their next play session.

World War Z is one of those releases that is difficult to passionately recommend to solo players, even though it supports the feature. The game is intended to be experienced as part of a team, and a single-player run can become dull quickly. However, multiplayer enhances the gameplay’s value, justifying a playthrough. Fans of the World War Z book or movie might also enjoy jumping into the universe, although the game does not have much to do with either property.

12 Darksiders Genesis

Metascore: 77

Darksiders has led such a strange existence. Each entry tackles a different subgenre of action-adventure games, with some even venturing into RPG territory. Darksiders Genesis marks the franchise’s biggest departure to date, as the spin-off is a top-down hack and slash akin to something like Victor Vran. The game is also clearly meant to be experienced in co-op since it features two playable Horsemen: Strife and War. Solo players can swap between the two at will, which generally means they pick War when melee combat is the focus and then switch to Strife for ranged damage.

In local or online co-op, two players take charge of either Strife or War, allowing the powerful Horsemen to rain havoc simultaneously. Although they do not sync up all that much, Darksiders Genesis‘ characters are both fairly deep and offer a good range of loadout options to keep things interesting throughout the campaign. Since couch co-op utilizes a restrictive split-screen, online multiplayer is the better option in this case.

13 Moving Out 2

Metascore: 80

A day-one release added in August 2023 to PS Plus Extra, Moving Out 2 is an addictive co-op party game that takes an annoying real-life venture and makes it aggressively entertaining. On paper, a game that revolves around moving furniture sounds tedious, and Moving Out 2 wisely does not eliminate the act’s inherent frustration but instead uses it as fuel for its physics-based shenanigans. Players will need to work together to carefully and safely guide each item from one home to the next, and the routes can get pretty crazy as the campaign progresses.

Moving Out 2 is divided into levels that are extended puzzles, and there is no attempt to adhere to reality. Compared to the original game, which is also on PS Plus Extra, the sequel goes for broke in its settings, opting to throw multidimensional travel into the mix. This decision pays off beautifully and creatively. While solo play is possible, Moving Out 2 is 100% designed for co-op.

14 Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

Metascore: 80

Frozenbyte’s Trine is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for co-op-driven action-platformer games. All the franchise’s titles are worth seeking out, however, PS Plus subscribers will need to settle for Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince. Despite the number in its title, this entry can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of its predecessors, so newcomers can start here.

Trine 4 follows three heroes (a mage, thief, and knight) as they go on an epic fantasy-laden adventure that tests their might and teamwork. While not devoid of combat, the campaign focuses on puzzles and platforming, with the former requiring creative use of the characters’ abilities. In solo runs, players can switch between the characters with the click of a button; in co-op, each user takes charge of one hero. Trine 4 features two modes: Classic and Unlimited. The former ties three players to specific heroes, while the latter allows four users to swap to any character whenever they want.

15 Sniper Elite 5

Metascore: 77

Rebellion’s Sniper Elite has been on an upward trajectory since its debut, resulting in a 2022 release that is comfortably the franchise’s most polished entry to date. As with its predecessors, Sniper Elite 5 takes place during World War 2 and follows Karl Fairburne as he infiltrates an array of well-guarded locations. Even though stealth is the name of the game since detection typically leads to death, Karl is not defenseless in a firefight either, so players who prefer to take a more explosive approach can try their luck.

Despite being largely regarded as a single-player series, Sniper Elite also tries to cater to multiplayer fans, especially the fifth entry. The campaign can be played in two-player co-op, allowing friends to take on the 9 main missions as a unit. Naturally, this comes with both benefits and challenges since doubling the sniper count means doubling the opportunities to trigger an alarm. Alongside the campaign, Sniper Elite 5 also has a Survival four-player option that is essentially a horde mode. Difficult and fun, Survival serves as an enjoyable way to enhance the game’s replayability.

16 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Metascore: 85

They might not come around as often as they once did, but it is always an exciting day when a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game launches. And, in a nice change of pace from most of the franchise’s post-2000s efforts, Shredder’s Revenge is also great. Looking to recapture the Turtles’ beat ‘em up glory days, Tribute Games basically created a game ripped right out of the ’90s, albeit with enough modern touches for it to come across as a loving homage rather than just an antiquated throwback. Up to six players can join forces to take on the Foot Clan, and they are free to pick from the Turtles, Master Splinter, April, and Casey Jones. Even at face value, that is a more than solid selection for this type of game, and that is before taking into account each character’s unique traits. All the playable figures bring something fresh to the table, so even solo players can enjoy replaying the campaign by switching between the characters.

Gameplay-wise, Shredder’s Revenge sticks fairly close to the standard beat ‘em up formula. The characters have a limited but satisfying moveset, and the levels pack a considerable punch. The boss fights are quite difficult and require mastery of the combat system’s mechanics to overcome. The stages are overflowing with references to TMNT‘s past, and the nods cover many of the franchise’s sides rather than just its gaming history.

17 Demon’s Souls (2020)

Metascore: 92

FromSoftware’s Souls games incorporate a unique form of multiplayer that enables players to visit each other’s worlds, and the Demon’s Souls remake is no exception. Depending on the item used, players can either invade and engage in PvP or be summoned to provide a helping hand. While the former tends to get more attention, the latter is also a common practice.

Up to four players can convene to take on the game’s plethora of challenging fights, with the helpers being sent back to their universes if they die or take down a boss. It should be noted that while co-op is ongoing, two invaders can also show up to add a PvP twist to the tale, so players should always be on their toes.

Bloodborne
is also on PS Plus Extra and supports online co-op. The mechanic generally functions in the same way as in
Demon’s Souls
, although only three players can team up.

18 Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Metascore: 82

The Division 2 builds on its predecessor’s solid foundations. The action RPG tries to be both a single-player third-person shooter and a live-service always-online experience, and, for the most part, it does an impressive job.

The main story will keep players engaged for a good 30 hours, and this section can be largely enjoyed solo. Alternatively, most of the campaign can be experienced in co-op, which unlocks after the story’s intro is completed. In comparison, the endgame content revolves heavily around PvP and online co-op. Four players can combine to create squads and take on missions, while that number is doubled for raids.

19 Killing Floor 2

Metascore: 75

PS Plus Extra has a few co-op games capable of scratching someone’s “blast zombies in the face” itch, and Killing Floor 2 compares favorably with any of its peers. Despite being fairly old by this point, the 2016 release holds up well thanks to its enjoyably over-the-top core gameplay loop along with a surprisingly addictive progression system. The campaign guides teams through a series of levels filled with wave after wave of enemies.

Killing Floor 2‘s gameplay loop is not complicated, and it is arguably simpler than games like Left 4 Dead; however, it is complemented by Perks that essentially serve as classes. Coming with unique abilities and weapons, each Perk can be leveled up, which adds a lot of replayability to the package. Killing Floor 2 supports up to 6 players simultaneously, and this is one of those games that simply needs to be experienced in co-op. Technically, single-player is an option, and while not unplayable, it is not great either.

20 Payday 2: Crimewave Edition

Metascore: 71

In 2023, Payday 2 celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and the co-op shooter is still as popular as ever. The game has a simple but brilliant premise: team up with friends to pull off heists. It is possible to take on missions solo, but Payday 2 is intended to be experienced with a consistent group of friends.

The progression system revolves around unlocking better gear and skills, both of which play significant roles in enhancing a crew’s professionalism. Consequently, players genuinely feel like they are improving with each new heist as their crew gradually morphs into a well-oiled machine.