17 Best Co-Op Games on PS5 & How to Play Them Lag-Free

Why co-op gaming on PS5 is so thrilling 

Before listing top games, let’s see why co-op is so awesome on this generation’s console. Online multiplayer has been around for years, but it’s never been this exciting. Why?

• PlayStation 5 console displays games in crisp 4K visuals, which is a real advantage compared to previous PS4 and PS3 models. 
• PS5’s large SSD really shortens loading times. 
• Sony’s recent DualSense® wireless controller provides advanced haptic feedback which makes your gaming experience more immersive. 
• PS4 games are also available for PS5 thanks to backward compatibility, and gamers like it. 
• As more gamers are into 2-player games on PS5 these days, developers also focus on creating shared experiences in new co-op games, in particular for the PS5 console.

Enough talking. Let’s jump in! Here’s a list of the best co-op titles on PS5 divided by genre, complete with local vs. online support, and must-play highlights.

Best action co-op games for PS5

Adore fast-paced combat, epic action scenes, and tricky challenges? Here are your potential go-tos:

It Takes Two

A whimsical action-adventure about a married couple on the verge of divorce who magically turn into toy dolls. You and your friend must collaborate on platforming segments, puzzles, and boss fights to return them to their normal bodies.

• Key co-op features: The game introduces new mechanics for you at each level. You and your partner in crime will need to work together to complete missions and overcome different challenges.
• Local or online: Both. You can either play via local split screen or online multiplayer.
• Why it’s a must-play: Winner of multiple awards for its heartfelt story and inventive, ever-changing level design.
• Rating: 9/10

Split Fiction

This is the game where narrative and strategy collide in a cooperative adventure. In Split Fiction, you and your partners become storytellers, where each wields some unique abilities to piece together fragmented tales from parallel worlds. As you explore shifting timelines and hidden clues, every decision reshapes the breathtaking narrative.

Key co-op features: You Choose from distinct narrative heroes, each with unique skills that influence the story. Experience innovative split-reality gameplay where actions in one timeline alter the other.

Local or online: online co-op with optional local split-screen mode.

Why it’s a must-play: Groundbreaking narrative mechanics and engaging co-op gameplay are a refreshing twist on interactive storytelling. You and your partner will need to think creatively and cooperate to make a story together.

Rating: 9/10

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends

The co-op mode for Ghost of Tsushima spins a supernatural twist on feudal Japan. You and your allies become legendary warriors battling demons and rival samurai in wave-based survival missions or story arcs.

• Key co-op features: Choose between four classes (Samurai, Hunter, Ronin, Assassin), each with their own abilities that complement team play.
• Local or online: Online only.
• Why it’s a must-play: Stunning visuals, polished combat, and a mythical spin that sets it apart from the single-player campaign.
• Rating: 9/10

FPS shooters for PS5 

Having hot fights against enemies with your squad beats the thrill, right? Team up with friends and grab your weapons in these adrenaline-fueled shooters: 

Back 4 Blood

This one is a spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead. Form a team with up to three other players to blast through zombie-infested towns and survive each frantic level. 

• Key co-op features: Intense first-person combat, a deck-building system that allows customizing your character’s abilities, and random corruption cards that keep every run unpredictable.
• Local or online: Online co-op (no couch co-op).
• Why it’s a must-play: If you love zombie shooters, it’s a high-octane, replayable ride — especially once you master each character build.
• Rating: 8/10

Destiny 2

Bungie’s epic online shooter puts you in the shoes of a Guardian defending humanity. Join forces in space raids, dungeons, and seasonal events. 

• Key co-op features: Up to 6-player raids brimming with puzzles, boss encounters, and top-tier loot. Open-world zones let you tackle public events and form your fireteams.
• Local or online: Online only.
• Why it’s a must-play: The gunplay is really smooth, and the evolving story keeps veterans coming back. Perfect for gamers who love space-fantasy themes.
• Rating: 8.5/10

Open-world co-op games for PS5

Exploring vast and immersive worlds,  and taking epic quests or just roaming freely and discovering hidden secrets along the way is always more exciting with a friend. These are some of the best open-world co-op games for PS5 to consider:

Far Cry 6

Venture into the tropical land of Yara as you join a guerrilla revolution against a ruthless dictator. Drive, fly, or trek across a vast island playground with your homie. 

• Key co-op features: The entire campaign is playable in 2-player drop-in/drop-out co-op mode. Share gear, ride horses, or blow up outposts together.
• Local or online: Online only (no option for split-screen gaming on this PS5 game). 
• Why it’s a must-play: Over-the-top open-world chaos with players holding comedic weapon mods like CD-launcher. Perfect for letting off your steam.
• Rating: 8/10

Dying Light 2

A post-apocalyptic urban playground filled with hordes of infected. Parkour across rooftops by day and battle terrifying zombies by night.

• Key co-op features: Up to 4 players can tackle main quests or side missions, or just explore the world freely. Cooperative parkour combos and dynamic day-night cycles will keep you on your toes.
• Local or online: Online only.
• Why it’s a must-play: The game’s unique parkour system and heart-pumping nighttime chases make for a unique co-op twist on the open-world survival genre.
• Rating: 7/10

Horror co-op games for PS5

To survive solo-horror can be terrifying, but with a friend, it’s a scary journey you won’t forget. Playing the following co-op horror games for PS5 will allow you to try escape relentless monsters, solve sinister puzzles, and more:

Resident Evil 5 (Remastered)

Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar team up to investigate a bio-weapon threat in Africa. Classic Resi action with an emphasis on co-op synergy. 

• Key co-op features: Trading ammo, covering each other’s backs in difficult situations, and quick puzzle-solving under pressure.
• Local or online: Both. Perfect for a spooky couch session with a friend or matching up online.
• Why it’s a must-play: An oldie but goldie game that still packs suspenseful moments and offers a fully fleshed-out campaign for 2 players.
• Rating: 9/10 (for Resident Evil 5 before the remake) 

Dead by Daylight

The blood-chilling game with 4 vs 1. Four survivors must escape a savage killer. You and your 3 friends are survivors who cooperate to repair generators, and the killer is trying to hunt you and your team down. 

• Key co-op features: The plot is predictable, but interesting. Each survivor has unique perks that encourage teamwork to survive. 
• Local or online: Online only.
• Why it’s a must-play: True pulse-pounding tension. Team strategy is crucial if you want to avoid a grisly end.
• Rating: 9/10

RPG co-op games for PS5

Enjoy epic adventures, deep storytelling, and strategic battles with these best RPG co-op games for PS5:

Diablo 4

Blizzard’s dark action RPG set in a gothic world teeming with demons. Explore dungeons, level up your hero, and gather legendary loot.

• Key co-op features: Smash demon hordes together in local split-screen for two players, or squad with up to four people for online playing. 
• Local or online: Both.
• Why it’s a must-play: Gorgeous, moody visuals, and an ever-expanding endgame. Hugely replayable for fans of hack-and-slash loot games.
• Rating: 9/10

Baldur’s Gate 3

A modern masterpiece of RPG storytelling. Form a party of heroes plagued by mind flayer parasites, forging alliances and romances in the Forgotten Realms.

• Key co-op features: Up to four players online, or two-player split-screen locally. Explore dungeons, solve puzzles, and role-play your way through branching storylines together.
• Local or online: Both (split-screen limited to two players).
• Why it’s a must-play: Immersive story, deep turn-based combat, and a great level of game freedom.
• Rating: 10/10

Strategy co-op games for PS5 

For strategies, victory is not only about applying brute force. It’s about thorough planning, harmonious teamwork, and smart decision-making. Challenge yourself with friends in the following best strategy co-op games for PS5:

Overcooked! All You Can Eat

Chaotic kitchen simulator that sees up to four chefs frantically preparing dozens of meals. Colliding with teammates is a part of the fun. 

• Key co-op features: Work together to chop, cook, and serve dishes before time runs out. Communication in this game is everything.
• Local or online: Both. Ideal for the best couch co-op games for PS5 ever if you love comedic tension.
• Why it’s a must-play: Huge variety of zany kitchen layouts, and the mayhem forces constant problem-solving.
• Rating: 7/10

Moving Out 2 

A co-op “furniture moving simulator” that demands strategy, coordination, and plenty of comedic chaos. Navigate tricky rooms and get objects out safely. 

• Key co-op features: Similar to Overcooked, you’ll need teamwork and quick thinking. Maneuvering large couches around corners tests both skill and patience.
• Local or online: Both. Up to four players can move across bizarre environments.
• Why it’s a must-play: Silly, surprisingly challenging, and an excellent test of group communication.
• Rating: 8/10

Sports co-op games for PS5

Team up and pass the ball, or race to the finish line with your game partner. Feel the competitive fun and teamwork in these sports co-op games for PS5: 

EA SPORTS FC™ 25 

The annual soccer (football) titan. Form teams with friends to compete against AI squads or online rivals. (In gaming society it is also referred to as FIFA 24).  

• Key co-op features: Up to four players can share one screen in this local co-op game for PS5, or play in Pro Clubs against more teams online.
• Local or online: Both.
• Why it’s a must-play: Authentic stadium atmospheres, official licenses from major leagues, and fluid gameplay.
• Rating: 6/10

Rocket League

High-octane “soccer with rocket-powered cars.” Perfectly blends an arcade 2-player racing game with sports strategy. 

• Key co-op features: Team up in 2v2 or 3v3 modes, coordinating passes and scoring epic aerial goals.
• Local or online: Both. Two players can share a screen, or join online matches.
• Why it’s a must-play: Easy to pick up, tough to master. It really beats the adrenaline of scoring a last-second aerial goal.
• Rating: 9/10

Family-friendly co-op games for PS5

It’s fun when family members of all ages can enjoy PS5 gaming. Here are the best fun co-op games you can play together on PS5:

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

This 3D platformer is set in the handcrafted LittleBigPlanet universe. Help Sackboy hop through whimsical worlds and collect shiny orbs.

• Key co-op features: Up to four co-op players. You’ll collaborate on bonus stages, fetch hidden items, or mischievously toss each other around.
• Local or online: Both. Perfect for families, thanks to friendly controls and minimal violence.
• Why it’s a must-play: Charming graphics, playful music levels, and straightforward platforming. Great for kids and grown-ups alike.
• Rating: 8/10

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

A lighthearted retelling of all nine Star Wars films in iconic Lego style. Blast through battles, spaceship sequences, and puzzle segments galore.

• Key co-op features: Two-player local co-op. Each player can freely drop in or out at any time.
• Local or online: Local only.
• Why it’s a must-play: Hilarious cutscenes, straightforward mechanics, and a ton of side quests. Ideal for fans of the galaxy far, far away.
• Rating: 8/10

Even if the best online co-op PS5 games are pure joy, network hiccups like lags and throttling from your Internet Service Provider may spoil the whole experience. Luckily, there is a decision – using a VPN for PS5. 

Why use a VPN for PS5 co-op gaming

It may sound counterintuitive to add an extra step to your network to make it all work faster. But a good VPN service can improve your gaming experience: 

Reduce lag and connection delays

Even if the ISP throttles your connection, a VPN creates an encrypted tunnel that masks your online activities. This way, your provider won’t be able to detect your online activities and selectively slow down your data when you’re gaming online.

Bypass region locks

Play with friends from different regions without geo-restrictions. You can get seamless access to international game servers, which will allow you to enjoy global gaming.

Protection against DDoS attacks 

A solid VPN provider masks your IP address and secures your connection. This added layer of protection helps shield your network from malicious DDoS attacks and ensure that your gaming sessions will remain smooth and uninterrupted.

Fix NAT issues

Resolve “NAT Type Failed” errors on your PS5 through VPN-assisted routing. 

But not all VPNs are the same. Free ones often offer slow servers, data usage limits, weak encryption, and high latency, so it’s almost impossible to play games online. Even worse, many free providers log users’ browsing history and may sell users’ data to third parties. In this sense, you pay to use so-called “free” VPNs with your privacy. Therefore, consider using a credible VPN provider – VeePN.  

VeePN benefits for PS5 co-op experience

VeePN offers weighty benefits for your PS5 co-op gaming sessions with friends: 

Gaming-optimized servers

VeePN has high-speed and low-latency servers that are fully optimized for gaming. When you’re on such a server, you’ll see minimal lag and even smoother online multiplayer sessions. 

Military-grade AES-256 encryption

VeePN protects all your traffic and makes it invisible to prying eyes so that snoopers won’t intercept any of your sensitive data and payment card details. 

Unlimited bandwidth 

VeePN has no data caps or speed throttling. Enjoy uninterrupted and fast gaming.

Router compatibility 

You can set up VeePN on your home router and secure all devices connected, including your PS5, for co-op gaming.

Multiple device connections 

You can use VeePN simultaneously on up to 10 devices like PS5, mobile phones, PCs, and others under one subscription. In this way, you can secure your gaming experience through all your gadgets.

Steps to set up VeePN for lag-free co-op on PS5

Follow these steps to install and use VeePN on your PS5 for seamless online multiplayer gaming: 

1. Select a subscription plan that fits your gaming needs. Check out VeePN pricing here.

2. Install VeePN on your router, since PS5 doesn’t support native VPN apps. 

3. Log into your router’s settings and enter VeePN credentials. If needed, read our guide for VeePN router setup with detailed steps (Alternatively, you can use an Ethernet-sharing method from a PC running VeePN)

4. Connect to an optimal server closest to your game’s regional servers or your co-op partner’s location for the lowest ping.

5. Launch your favorite PS5 co-op game and enjoy it lag-free!

Upgrade your setup for a premium gaming experience with VeePN. Try using it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Written by Oliver Bennett Oliver Bennett is a dedicated cyber security content writer with a knack for breaking down intricate cyber topics into accessible and actionable insights.

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