I’m looking to set up a co-op video game night with my friends and I’m looking for suggestions for a cozy game we can all play together virtually. We all enjoy Stardew Valley but we’ve all played it and I’d like to start something new with them. Looking for ideas that would allow me to walk away from the computer if I need to take care of my kids but still allows my friends to continue playing.
Here’s some parameters to narrow down the list:
- switch, Steam, or GOG availability
- can walk away and not die without having to pause for my friends
- preferably affordable
- lower graphics requirements, we all have older hardware
- game controller compatible
- fun to play over multiple short sessions
- either 2 player or up to 4 players
Thanks everyone in advance!
Edit: I’m so excited with all the suggestions! I realized I should put co-op in the title and add the number of players. Might be anywhere between 2 and 4. Even the single player suggestions I’ve been getting are so up my alley I’m excited to check them out. This was my first post on this platform and it’s been amazing thank you!
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Escape Academy or similar type of escape room/puzzle games might work.
Slay the Spire 2 has a good co-op option. And technically any digital boardgame (ticket to ride for example) would meet your vibes.
Maybe a little more intense, but Rayman Legends/Origins are pretty cozy.
Any of the Lego games would probably work.
Peak has an “easy” setting that just makes it a goofy teamwork based game.
Dome Keeper is a really fun up-to 4-player co-op game about digging for minerals beneath a dome and defending it from creatures on the surface who try to break in every so often.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1637320/Dome_Keeper/
It’s mostly a chill game, but the defense of the dome can be exciting, though only one player needs to actually man the defenses, the rest can continue to mine below ground.
Great recommendation!
And there is an accessible game play mode available that turns off the dome defense portion of the game, as well.
Yes! My partner and I love playing this. I defend and she mines
Voxlibre has solid cozy / accessible settings, and great multiplayer support. (And is free!)
I recommend Heave-Ho even though it doesn’t meet your second point. Dying is so funny, I often found myself doing it on purpose for a laugh.
Surprised nobody recommended “Overcooked!” It has really fun bite-sized rounds with four player local coop.
EDIT: It’s also $4 on Steam with right now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/448510/overcooked/
Overcooked is great, but rather the opposite of what I’d call “cozy”.
I agree haha, it’s low stakes but high stress imo. Lots of fun with the right group though!
True actually it can get quite hectic 😅
Tiny Bookshop! Stardew valley vibe but the core gameplay is more relax as you decide the kind of books you store on your shelves and give book recommendations to your client. Very chill
Astroneer i believe fits all your needs
Go Go Town on steam came out recently, co-op available local or online, controller compatible, up to 4 players (aside: you didn’t tell us how many players needed, but stardew is 4 so I’m going to assume a 4 max isn’t a problem). Not sure on system requirements, might be a little heavier than stardew but it’s not all that graphically intense. Had a blast playing it local co-op with the kids.
Gameplay loop is familiar: extract resources to grow your town, unlock higher tiered buildings, eventually automating most of the logistics such that it runs itself like a little town simulator. The game is very casual friendly and forgiving, for example, you can freely just pick up and move a building, no reconstruction or lost costs, you can’t really “die”, and if you need to step away, shops might run out of inventory and stop producing but they won’t death spiral or anything.
I also recommend Palworld as others have suggested. Or Valheim, for it’s darker grim cousin.
Maybe unconventional recommendation, but FFXIV has an extremely generous, unlimited time free trial. Like hundreds of hours of free trial. Most of it’s dungeons and content is designed for roughly 4 players concurrently (tank, healer, 2dps), though every class does lots of damage so nobody is just standing there bored. There’s combat of course as an MMO but it’s pretty relaxed pace most of the time. But this is a big commitment of course.
Core Keeper is basically Stardew Valley + Minecraft. You kill bosses and stuff but also mostly gather resources and farm and upgrade gear.
Factorio and Satisfactory has multiplayer, if you enjoyed the automation and progression part of Stardew Valley.
Raft you are on a raft at sea — you all work together to upgrade your raft.
I’ve heard good things about Dinkum and Grounded and Coral Island but haven’t tried them yet.
You missed a big plus for FFXIV - it’s controller support is next level. People successfully do end raids with a controller just fine.
If MMOs are on the table Lord of the Rings online should also be looked at. Peak cozy
+1 for Dinkum (Think multiplayer animal Crossing but with minimal combat, progression, and Stardew Valley-esk day timer instead of real time) Also +1 for Grounded, it’s more survival crafting and combat but still a great vibe.
+1 to Palworld. The difficulty/accessibility settings are very good for achieving co-op chill vibes.
Depending on what you enjoy Minecraft on peaceful mode may be an option :)
If you’re a Millennial I highly suggest the “Emily is Away” trilogy.
3 games that are extremely simple, but god damn do they make you feel like a teen/20 something again.
The first game, “Emily is Away” takes place in AOL IM. it’s a visual novel but it’s very good and allows you to set your avatar, etc just like you did with AOL IM. it’s brutal when it gets to the end. the Second game “Emily is Away Too” also takes place in AOL IM but is a bit more difficult as this time there are timing choicse. the third game “Emily is Away <3” takes place on the original Facebook IM. that one is even more difficult. so the difficulty between the games ramps up.
fantastic series. I have all three and I love them. honestly the first game made me cry at the end.
As someone who was all over AIM in the early 2000s and had some similar experiences, yeah that first one made me tear up too at the end.
it was so brutal at the end wasn’t it? like the constant backspacing was like “oh man that was me”
You Don’t Know Jack. There are several packs of trivia and party games, and you can use smartphones as controllers. Available on Steam and reasonably priced.
On edit: I didn’t notice the “virtual” part. I’m not sure if you can do that.
This is a great idea, we could use a screen share to play and it doesn’t take long to pick up and play. Thank you!
Honestly you could jump on a zoom call or whatever, as long as everybody has the same game room code loaded on their phone YDKJ Party Packs should be pretty fun. No need for game controllers even.
I’m really loving Splatoon Raiders.
Raft, but you will die if you walk away too long but there might be settings where this isn’t the case. I have no idea about the controller since I never tried to play that way.
Lovers in Dangerous space time and Pico Park come to mind. Sort of couch co-op vibes but can be online.
