Best Co-op Games on PC and Xbox for the Holidays, Ranked
By the Metacritic score shown on Steam (checked November 2, 2026), the top co-op picks that are also on Xbox are Baldur's Gate 3 (96), It Takes Two (89), Stardew Valley (89), Valheim (89) and Deep Rock Galactic (85). For a family on one couch, It Takes Two, Stardew Valley and Overcooked! 2 support shared or split screen co-op on PC. Stardew Valley, Overcooked! 2, Grounded and Sea of Thieves are in the US Game Pass catalog.
Checked Nov 2, 2026.
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How we built this list
- Co-op on PC, and released on Xbox. Each pick has co-op listed on its Steam page. We note where Xbox availability still needs a check.
- Ranked by critic score: the Metacritic score Steam shows. Games without a Steam Metacritic score are listed after the ranked ones.
- Cross play: we say "Steam lists cross-platform multiplayer" only when the Steam page includes that feature. Otherwise we flag it to check, because cross play rules vary by game.
- Couch co-op: from Steam's "Shared/Split Screen Co-op" feature tag, PC version.
- Game Pass: presence in the US Game Pass catalog (PC list and console list) on November 2, 2026. Libraries change monthly.
The ranked list
1. Baldur's Gate 3 (Metacritic 96)
A story RPG you can play with up to three friends online. Best for groups who like long sessions.
- Co-op on PC: online and LAN (Steam).
- Cross play: Steam lists cross-platform multiplayer
- Xbox: Xbox Series X|S
- Game Pass (US): No
- From $55.64, checked Nov 2, 2026
2. It Takes Two (Metacritic 89)
A two player only adventure built around co-op. Great for couples and siblings.
- Co-op on PC: online and shared/split screen (Steam)
- Cross play: Yes, with Friend's Pass
- Xbox: in the US console Game Pass catalog (listed as "It Takes Two, Digital Version")
- Game Pass (US): console list, Yes; PC list, No
3. Stardew Valley (Metacritic 89)
Farm together at your own pace. Low stress and good for mixed ages.
- Co-op on PC: online, LAN and shared/split screen (Steam)
- Xbox: in the US console Game Pass catalog
- Game Pass (US): Yes, PC and console
4. Valheim (Metacritic 89)
A Viking survival game for a small group who want to build and explore together. Steam shows a release date of September 9, 2026.
- Co-op on PC: online (Steam)
- Cross play: Yes, Steam and Xbox
- Xbox: Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
- Game Pass (US): not in the catalog on November 2, 2026
- From $18.77, checked Nov 2, 2026
5. Deep Rock Galactic (Metacritic 85)
Four player dwarves mining and fighting bugs. Short missions and a friendly community feel.
- Co-op on PC: online (Steam)
- Cross play: No, Steam and Xbox cannot play together
- Xbox: Xbox One
- Game Pass (US): not in the catalog on November 2, 2026
6. Grounded (Metacritic 83)
Survival in a backyard, shrunk to the size of an ant. Approachable for younger players.
- Co-op on PC: online (Steam)
- Cross play: Yes, with a free Xbox account
- Xbox: in the US console Game Pass catalog
- Game Pass (US): Yes, PC and console. Grounded 2 (Game Preview) is also listed
7. Overcooked! 2 (Metacritic 81)
Chaotic kitchen co-op. Best on one couch with a few controllers.
- Co-op on PC: online and shared/split screen (Steam)
- Cross play: Steam and Epic only, not Xbox
- Xbox: in the US console Game Pass catalog
- Game Pass (US): Yes, PC and console
- From $5.43, checked Nov 2, 2026
Also great (no Metacritic score on Steam)
- Split Fiction. The 2025 follow-up to It Takes Two from the same studio. Steam reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive, 96% (English). Online and shared/split screen co-op; Steam lists cross-platform multiplayer. Game Pass (US): No. Xbox Series X|S: Yes.
- Sea of Thieves. Pirate crews on one shared sea. Steam reviews: Very Positive, 88%. Steam lists cross-platform multiplayer. Game Pass (US): Yes, PC and console (listed as "Sea of Thieves: 2026 Edition").
- Helldivers 2. Four player squad shooter. Steam reviews: Mostly Positive, 79%. Game Pass (US): No. Xbox Series X|S: Yes, with cross play.
Quick table
| Game | Metacritic (Steam) | Couch co-op on PC | Cross play | Game Pass (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldur's Gate 3 | 96 | Steam lists it | No | |
| It Takes Two | 89 | Yes | Yes | Console list |
| Stardew Valley | 89 | Yes | Yes | |
| Valheim | 89 | No | Yes | No |
| Deep Rock Galactic | 85 | No | No | No |
| Grounded | 83 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Overcooked! 2 | 81 | Yes | PC only | Yes |
Tips for co-op gifts
- Two copies or one? Most online co-op games need a copy per player. It Takes Two and Split Fiction offer a Friend's Pass so a second player can join free.
- Match the platform. A Steam key will not work on Xbox, and an Xbox key works on PC only for Xbox Play Anywhere games. See Does an Xbox key work on PC?
- Gifting. Our guide on how to gift a PC or Xbox game covers Steam gifts, Xbox "Buy as gift" and region limits.
- Game Pass first? If the group already has Game Pass, check the catalog before buying. See Game Pass or buy the key?
Sources
All checked on 2026-11-02.
- Steam store pages and appdetails data (Metacritic score, co-op and cross-platform feature tags, review summaries): Baldur's Gate 3 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1086940/ ; It Takes Two https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426210/ ; Stardew Valley https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150/ ; Valheim https://store.steampowered.com/app/892970/ ; Deep Rock Galactic https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/ ; Grounded https://store.steampowered.com/app/962130/ ; Overcooked! 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/728880/ ; Split Fiction https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001120/ ; Sea of Thieves https://store.steampowered.com/app/1172620/ ; Helldivers 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/553850/
- Xbox Game Pass catalog, US PC list: https://catalog.gamepass.com/sigls/v2?id=fdd9e2a7-0fee-49f6-ad69-4354098401ff&language=en-us&market=US
- Xbox Game Pass catalog, US console list: https://catalog.gamepass.com/sigls/v2?id=f6f1f99f-9b49-4ccd-b3bf-4d9767a77f5e&language=en-us&market=US
- Xbox, "Xbox Play Anywhere": https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/xbox-play-anywhere
FAQ
What is the best couch co-op game on PC?
From this list, It Takes Two (89), Stardew Valley (89) and Overcooked! 2 (81) have shared or split screen co-op on Steam.
Which co-op games are on Game Pass?
On November 2, 2026, Stardew Valley, Overcooked! 2, Grounded and Sea of Thieves were in the US PC and console catalogs. It Takes Two was in the console list.
Do co-op games work between PC and Xbox?
Only if the game supports cross play. Steam lists cross-platform multiplayer for Baldur's Gate 3, Split Fiction and Sea of Thieves. Check each game's own support page for the rest.
Do both players need to own the game?
Usually yes, for online co-op. Friend's Pass games are the main exception.
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