Eurogamer’s Day of the Devs roundup confirmed Trine 6: A Clockwork Conspiracy and a small wave of indie co-op platformers heading into 2026. That’s a good reason to revisit the genre. Co-op puzzle platformers are the best two-player evening genre on PC, and the catalog has gotten deep enough that picking one isn’t obvious. We ran seven of the most-recommended titles through couch nights and Remote Play sessions, ranking on puzzle quality, online co-op stability, controller comfort, and how forgiving they are with one good player and one beginner.
What to look for in a co-op puzzle platformer
- Online vs couch. Some games require both players on the same screen. Hazelight titles ship with their friend pass system; Trine 5 supports both modes; older Portal 2 still works split-screen.
- Friend pass. It Takes Two, Split Fiction, and A Way Out all let one buyer invite a friend who only needs to install a free pass. Huge for cost.
- Puzzle weight vs platforming. Trine puzzles lean physics-based. Portal 2 is pure portal logic. Cuphead and Unravel Two are more reflex-and-timing.
- Voice chat dependency. It Takes Two and Portal 2 lean on real-time communication. Unravel Two is the most enjoyable in silence.
- Steam Deck friendliness. All seven have Verified or Playable status; only a couple feel built for it.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Mode | Free pass | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| It Takes Two | Story-driven duo | Online + couch | Yes | $39.99 |
| Split Fiction | Hazelight’s 2025 sequel-in-spirit | Online + couch | Yes | $49.99 |
| Trine 5 | Three-class fantasy puzzles | Online + couch | No | $29.99 |
| Portal 2 | Pure puzzle co-op | Online + split-screen | No | $9.99 |
| A Way Out | Cinematic prison escape | Online + couch | Yes | $29.99 |
| Unravel Two | Silent yarn-platforming | Couch + remote play | No | $19.99 |
| Cuphead | Hand-drawn reflex co-op | Couch + Remote Play | No | $19.99 |
The 7 best co-op puzzle platformers for desktop in 2026
1. It Takes Two — Best for story-driven duos
It Takes Two is Hazelight’s reigning genre champion. A divorcing couple gets shrunk into toys and forced to cooperate across mini-game-shaped chapters. Every level changes the verb pair, so neither player gets bored, and the friend pass means you only need one copy across two PCs.
Where it falls short: The voice acting and tone split opinions hard. Some chapters (the squirrel-bee war especially) feel longer than they need to. Single-player mode does not exist.
Pricing:
- Free: friend pass for the second player
- Paid: $39.99 base, often $15 on sale
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (via Proton)
Download: It Takes Two on Steam
Bottom line: The default first pick for any couch or remote-play co-op night.
2. Split Fiction — Best Hazelight 2025
Split Fiction is Hazelight’s follow-up to It Takes Two, released in March 2025. Two writers get pulled into the worlds of their own books — one sci-fi, one fantasy — and have to escape across alternating-genre chapters. The mechanics layer the It Takes Two recipe with more verbs per chapter, especially in the sci-fi sections.
Where it falls short: Story leans heavier on writing-as-art monologue than some players will tolerate. Boss fights occasionally feel longer than the chapters that lead to them. Asks for slightly beefier hardware than It Takes Two did.
Pricing:
- Free: friend pass for the second player
- Paid: $49.99 base, occasional $30 sales
- Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: Split Fiction on Steam
Bottom line: The strongest 2025 co-op release; pick this after It Takes Two.
3. Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy — Best three-class fantasy puzzles
Trine 5 is the most recent shipping Trine. A wizard, a knight, and a thief solve physics puzzles across painterly fantasy backdrops. Three-player co-op is the genre’s most fully baked, but two-player works fine if one of you swaps characters mid-puzzle. Trine 6 (announced at Day of the Devs 2026) is on the way; Trine 5 is the play-now option.
Where it falls short: Story is forgettable. Puzzles occasionally have unintended solutions that skip designed sections. Online co-op is region-sensitive; same-region sessions are smoother.
Pricing:
- Free: no
- Paid: $29.99 base, often $10 on sale
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: Trine 5 on Steam
Bottom line: Best fantasy puzzle co-op if you want three classes and a 12-hour campaign.
4. Portal 2 — Best pure puzzle co-op
Portal 2 is still the gold standard for puzzle co-op. The co-op campaign is built ground-up for two players with separate portal sets; the late chambers reward genuine communication. Split-screen works locally; Steam Remote Play handles the rest.
Where it falls short: Single-player and co-op are separate campaigns; some buyers expect them to overlap. Voice chat is essentially required for late chambers. Visuals are starting to show their 2011 age.
Pricing:
- Free: no
- Paid: $9.99 base, $2 on sale; bundled in The Orange Box for $20
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: Portal 2 on Steam
Bottom line: Cheapest, smartest co-op puzzle game on this list and still unmatched in pure logic.
5. A Way Out — Best cinematic narrative co-op
A Way Out is Hazelight’s first hit: a prison-break duo where each player controls one of two convicts. Split-screen runs constantly even online, and the chapters mix stealth, driving, and dialogue choices that close off paths permanently.
Where it falls short: Story leans heavily on a third-act twist that some players see coming. Combat sections feel rougher than the Hazelight follow-ups. Replay value is low after the twist lands.
Pricing:
- Free: friend pass for the second player
- Paid: $29.99 base, $7.50 on sale
- Platforms: Windows
Download: A Way Out on Steam
Bottom line: Most cinematic co-op story on this list, especially worth it at sale prices.
6. Unravel Two — Best silent platformer
Unravel Two is the quietest pick. Two yarn dolls navigate hand-crafted backdrops, solving puzzles by tying themselves and each other to anchors. No voice chat needed; the game communicates entirely through level design. Local co-op only, but Steam Remote Play extends it.
Where it falls short: No online matchmaking; both players must be on the same machine or use Remote Play. Single-player mode lets one player swap between yarn dolls but loses the joint-puzzle feel.
Pricing:
- Free: no
- Paid: $19.99 base, $5 on sale
- Platforms: Windows
Download: Unravel Two on Steam
Bottom line: Best co-op platformer to play next to someone you can’t talk over.
7. Cuphead — Best reflex co-op
Cuphead is hand-drawn 1930s animation grafted to brutally precise boss fights. Two-player co-op makes the bosses slightly easier — second player revives, second target spreads damage — but the difficulty curve still demands real coordination. The Delicious Last Course DLC adds a third playable character.
Where it falls short: Difficulty is the point; new players bounce off fast. Local co-op only out of the box; Remote Play covers the gap. The 2D platforming sections are weaker than the boss runs.
Pricing:
- Free: no
- Paid: $19.99 base, $9 on sale; The Delicious Last Course DLC adds $7.99
- Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: Cuphead on Steam
Bottom line: Best co-op reflex platformer if both players are willing to die a lot.
How to pick the right one
If you want the safest first pick, go with It Takes Two; the friend pass and chapter variety make it the lowest-friction entry. If you’ve already finished It Takes Two, Split Fiction is the obvious next. If you want pure puzzle joy and don’t need a story, Portal 2 still beats every newer attempt at the genre. If three-player fantasy is your speed, Trine 5 is the only modern option that scales cleanly. If you want a narrative arc with one playthrough and you both have controllers, A Way Out is the sale-day steal. If you want a quiet evening with no headset, Unravel Two. If you want to die a hundred times together, Cuphead.
Skip the genre this round if your second player is brand new to platforming; the difficulty curve in five of these seven is steeper than it looks, and It Takes Two is the only fully forgiving pick.
FAQ
What is the best co-op puzzle platformer?
It Takes Two by Hazelight has held the top spot in most rankings since 2021. Split Fiction (2025) is its strongest direct competitor. Portal 2 remains the deepest pure-puzzle option.
What co-op games have a free friend pass?
It Takes Two, Split Fiction, and A Way Out all use the Hazelight friend pass: one buyer hosts and a friend installs a free pass to play the whole game. Trine 5, Portal 2, Unravel Two, and Cuphead do not have a friend pass.
Can I play It Takes Two with one copy?
Yes. One person buys the base game, the second person installs the free Friend’s Pass from Steam and joins online. Both players need separate Steam accounts.
Is Trine 6 out yet?
Trine 6: A Clockwork Conspiracy was revealed at Day of the Devs during Summer Game Fest 2026 with a planned 2026/2027 release window. Trine 5 is the current entry to play.
What’s the best co-op game on Steam Deck?
Cuphead, It Takes Two, and Portal 2 all run well on Deck. Two Decks side-by-side or one Deck plus Remote Play handle local co-op cleanly. Split Fiction works but pushes the hardware in the sci-fi chapters.
