Dozens of new games release across PC and consoles every week, but it's cooperative games that feel hard to come by, especially ones that look good enough to spend time and effort on. Not all hope is lost, however, as there are a handful of upcoming games in 2026 that tout some excellent cooperative action. Here are six you should watch for in the coming months.
Minecraft Dungeons 2
Keeping the whimsical theme, Minecraft Dungeons 2 is also a great option for having some co-op action without high stress levels. The Diablo-inspired action RPG simplifies the genre down enough for anyone to approach it without losing the addictive loot grinding loop.
Up to four players can jump in together for this top-down dungeon-crawling adventure, so you’ll want to grab as many friends as possible to start loading up on loot.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 is coming out on September 29 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2.
Orbitals
If you're a fan of games like Split Fiction or It Takes Two, then Orbitals should be right up your alley. This two-player split-screen game features a gorgeous retro-anime-inspired art style, putting you and a friend in the roles of astronauts Maki and Omura for a puzzle adventure.
Each astronaut controls their own unique gadgets, so getting past levels requires combining those tools and creative thinking. As a plus, while local play is supported, you only need a single copy of the game to play with a friend online too.
This is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that's releasing on September 3, 2026.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2
Keeping the lauded claustrophobic panic of the first game and expanding on the mission structure, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 is coming with even more aliens to fight through from the hit movie franchise.
With four players now in the Colonial Marines squad, you might think it will be easier to survive against incoming hordes of Xenomorphs, mutated creatures, and Weyland-Yutani synthetics. But the studio has confirmed expanded enemy types and smarter and aggressive AI for even tougher battles.
This horror action sequel arrives on August 25, 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Gears of War: E-Day
The Gears of War franchise shouldn't be an unfamiliar one for any co-op game fans, and the upcoming prequel, Gears of War: E-Day, is ramping up just how much you can do with your friends.
First there is the fully cooperative four-player campaign that is slated to last 14 hours, bringing in Locust slaughtering action from the beginning for the war. E-Day is also delivering a new Horde Siege mode that offers 12-player co-op in massive maps with multiple objectives and dynamic boss battles.
Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch on October 6, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
No Rest for the Wicked (1.0 release)
Moon Studios is perhaps best known for its Ori series, but its next project turned out to be a stylish, isometric action RPG with co-op play. The game has you playing a warrior exploring a medieval island plagued by a curse, and that means plenty of enemies and bosses to defeat.
The weighty combat, customizable class system, and separate town building and survival elements make this a substantial investment of time for you and your friends.
While the game has been in early access for a while, its 1.0 release is happening sometime in October.
Rayman Legends Retold
Ubisoft already had a hit remake release in 2026 with Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, but this next one is suited for more than one player. Rayman Legends Retold is bringing back the 2013-released hit platformer with a fresh engine, rebuilt 3D visuals, new levels, and even fully voiced cinematics.
Rayman, Globox, Grand Minimus, and Barbara are back as playable characters, though only local couch co-op is available. Outside of the platforming campaign, the soccer-inspired multiplayer mode is back with new and improved mechanics, too.
Ubisoft is planning to drop this remake on October 1, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Cooperative game fans have no shortage of games to play for the rest of the year. Now, the hard part is finding friends with enough time to play all these before the backlog becomes even more clogged once 2027 arrives
