Ah, the holidays. A magical time of year when families gather, friends reconnect, and someone inevitably starts a debate about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
But instead of relying on awkward small talk or another round of Pictionary, why not spice things up with some gaming chaos? Co-op games are the ultimate way to bond, or bicker, over frantic teamwork, strategic planning, or just plain hilarious mishaps.
Whether you’re herding Rabbids, dodging zombie hordes, or arguing about who forgot to water the virtual crops, there’s a co-op game out there for everyone.
So grab a controller, call dibs on your favourite character, and get ready for a holiday season filled with laughter, mayhem, and just the right amount of competitive banter.
Family-Friendly Co-Op Games
Nothing brings loved ones together like a little friendly competition or chaotic teamwork. Whether you’re shaking a Joy-Con, dancing your heart out, or collectively trying to decide whose turn it is to pick up the controller, these games are guaranteed to spark laughter and fun.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
It’s Mario! It’s Rabbids! It’s chaos in space! Gather your family, form a dream team of mushroom-loving plumbers and manic bunnies, and blast your way through a galaxy filled with tactical battles and giggle-worthy antics.
Just Dance 2025
Platforms: PlayStation 5; Nintendo Switch; Xbox Series X/S
Get It Here
Get ready to show off your moves – or completely embarrass yourself in front of your family. Just Dance 2025 is all about wiggling, flailing, and doing whatever it takes to get a better score than your cousins.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
Friendships will be tested, family bonds may be strained, but nothing says holiday fun like sabotaging your sibling with a well-timed Boo stealing their coins. Super Mario Party Jamboree offers mini-game madness, colourful boards, and endless opportunities for playful trash talk.
LEGO Horizon Adventures
Platforms: PlayStation 5; PC; Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
Take the post-apocalyptic beauty of Horizon Zero Dawn and smash it together with the brick-tastic fun of LEGO, and you’ve got LEGO Horizon Adventures. Perfect for parents who love Aloy and kids who love building…and breaking everything.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
Move in together, decorate your island, and argue over who’s responsible for planting more cherry trees. The holidays are the perfect time to bond over fishing, bug-catching, and wondering why Tom Nook still doesn’t have a single festive discount.
Action-Packed Co-Op Games
When family charades get too tame, and board games don’t provide enough adrenaline, these action-packed co-op games are here to save the day.
Diablo IV
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PlayStation 5; PC; Xbox One; Xbox Series X/S
Get It Here
The family that slays together, stays together. In Diablo IV, dive into the grim, demon-infested world of Sanctuary and unleash holiday spirit…via fireballs, sword swings, and maybe a summoned skeleton army.
Cuphead
Platforms: PlayStation 4; Nintendo Switch; macOS; Xbox One; PC
Get It Here
Nothing says holiday cheer like Cuphead and Mugman’s relentless boss battles. Test your family’s patience and reflexes in this cartoonishly brutal, side-scrolling shooter.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PlayStation 5; PC; Xbox One; Xbox Series X/S
Get It Here
The holidays need more explosions, and Call of Duty delivers. Team up for pulse-pounding co-op missions, or take the family to the multiplayer battlefield.
Left 4 Dead 2
Platforms: PC; macOS
Get It Here
Nothing bonds a family quite like surviving a zombie apocalypse. Left 4 Dead 2 brings fast-paced, nail-biting action as you work together to mow down hordes of the undead.
Borderlands 3
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PlayStation 5; PC; Xbox One; Xbox Series X/S; Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
Guns, loot, and an intergalactic heist? Borderlands 3 is a chaotic carnival of mayhem perfect for families who enjoy a little irreverent humour with their bullet storms.
Indie Gems for Co-Op Play
Indie games are where creativity thrives, and these co-op gems prove that big fun doesn’t require a big budget. Whether you’re farming, escaping prison, or accidentally yeeting your sibling into the void, these games promise unforgettable (and hilarious) holiday moments.
Don’t Starve Together
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PC; Xbox Series X/S; Xbox One; macOS
Get It Here
Survival has never been so stressful—or so fun. In Don’t Starve Together, you and your family are dropped into a Tim Burton-esque wilderness to gather resources, avoid starvation, and try not to get eaten by shadow monsters.
A Way Out
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PC; Xbox One
Get It Here
This cinematic co-op adventure puts you and your co-player in the shoes of two inmates plotting their escape. It’s part prison break, part buddy movie, and all teamwork.
Stardew Valley
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PC; Xbox One; Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
Farming is the ultimate therapy—or at least it is in Stardew Valley. Team up to grow crops, raise animals, and maybe even save the town from the clutches of an evil corporation.
Gang Beasts
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PC; Xbox One; macOS; Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
Floppy physics + slapstick brawling = guaranteed hilarity. In Gang Beasts, you’ll shove, punch, and awkwardly grapple your way to victory in colorful arenas. It’s perfect for families who love a bit of chaos—just don’t let the youngest player figure out how to throw people into the meat grinder.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Platforms: PC; Xbox One; PlayStation 4; Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
Nothing says “family bonding” like piloting a neon spaceship through the void. In this colourful and chaotic co-op game, you’ll work together to navigate, shoot, and save adorable space bunnies.
Games for Bigger Groups
Sometimes, the more, the merrier—or at least, the more chaotic. These games are perfect for large gatherings, whether you’re strategizing as a team, battling for glory, or simply laughing at each other’s missteps.
League of Legends
Platforms: PC
Get It Here
It’s the perfect game for bringing people together…to argue over lane assignments and ult timings. League of Legends lets you and your friends team up in epic 5v5 battles where strategy meets chaos.
Fortnite
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PlayStation 5; PC; Xbox One; Xbox Series X/S; iOS; Nintendo Switch
Get It Here
Dance your way into the holiday spirit with Fortnite. Whether you’re building, battling, or emoting obnoxiously after a victory, it’s a great way to get the whole group involved.
Jackbox Party Packs
Platforms: Android; Apple TV; macOS; PC; Nintendo Switch; PlayStation 4; PlayStation 5; Xbox One; Xbox Series X/S
Get It Here
You bring the laughs, Jackbox brings the games. With trivia, wordplay, drawing challenges, and other mini-games, these party packs are perfect for groups of all ages.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Platforms: PlayStation 4; PlayStation 5; PC; Xbox Series X/S; Xbox One; Nintendo Switch; iOS; Android
Get It Here
Imagine a battle royale…but everyone’s a wobbly jelly bean, and the stages are made of chaos and bad decisions. Fall Guys is the ultimate party game for bigger groups, offering hilariously clumsy competition that’s part obstacle course, part slapstick comedy.
Supervive
Platforms: PC
Get It Here
Ever wanted to jump, glide, punch, and nuke your way to victory, all while yelling at your squad to “stick together” for the hundredth time? Welcome to Supervive, the wild, sky-high battleground that combines MOBA strategy, battle royale chaos, and hero shooter flair. Think of it as the gaming equivalent of a holiday family gathering: unpredictable, competitive, and way too much fun to stop playing.
There you have it – your ultimate guide to surviving the holidays, one co-op session at a time. These games aren’t just about playing; they’re about creating stories you’ll laugh about long after the last slice of fruitcake is gone.
Sure, someone might rage-quit during Cuphead, and you’ll probably hold a grudge over Mario Party, but that’s all part of the fun!
So, fire up the consoles, keep the snacks within arm’s reach, and embrace the chaos.
