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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Ale and Tale Tavern is great co-op fun, and terribly cozy. It’s primarily fantasy themed overcooked, but with much chiller vibes.
There’s optional adventurer stuff, but it is pretty light, there’s good accessibility settings, and the adventuring can be delayed until stronger gear is available or done cooperatively, making it much easier.
Over time, you can upgrade your gear and decorate the tavern.
If anything, the game’s flaw is just that it’s relatively short, for an economy simulation game.
(6 to 8 hours with my group unlocked everything. We played past the end for maybe another two hours just for the chill vibes.)
this doesn’t fit super well but might feel good for some people, TerraFirmaGreg. cook for each other, Smith tools, loot dungeons, and make progress.
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
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.
Thank you so much for your detailed reply! These are all amazing suggestions and I cannot wait to give them a go
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.
Palia is free to play and keeps expanding their game. No problem if you just walk away, no player health meter, just focus to get extra XP from the things you are already doing. Fun for solo, duos or more. Has hunting creatures that are more challenging to track down, basic supply gathering via wood chopping and mining, crafting of all kinds of stuff, farming and ranching too! Crazy they still have it for free.
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
Looks so cute thank you!
Witchspire - similar to Palworld, but “witchy” themed
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.
Heave Ho is hilarious! I’ll suggest it to the group thanks for the reminder
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.
Aww this one looks cute, thank you for the suggestion!
Voxlibre has solid cozy / accessible settings, and great multiplayer support. (And is free!)
Chill game about basically just going around a bird sanctuary and taking pictures of birds.
It’s an early access game about sledding… Kinda self explanatory as to what you do in game.
Edit:
Cannot confirm right now whether they got controller support, but most games do anymore so it shouldn’t be a huge problem.
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 😅
Overcooked is a blast, thanks for the suggestion!
Astroneer i believe fits all your needs
This looks like a great option for us thank you!
In case you want something closer to Stardew Valley, a couple of good choices in that genre would be Coral Island and Fields of Mistria. Both farming sims with their own unique spins on things, can check both of them out and see if either one fits your vibe better.
Coral Island has been full release for a while now, but Fields of Mistria has its 1.0 official release on Aug 5.
