The Polygon report on Project Sirius layoffs made two things clear: CD Projekt Red’s multiplayer Witcher project is in trouble, and the timeline for a proper co-op RPG in the Witcher universe just slipped past most planning horizons. Which is a shame, because the co-op RPG lane on PC has been thin. Party-based single-player is thriving. Actual sit-down-with-friends shared-world RPGs are rarer than the marketing suggests.
Below are the eight cooperative open-world RPGs on PC we would actually recommend to a Witcher fan looking for a co-op replacement. Every pick ships today, has meaningful multiplayer beyond a lobby, and is still receiving updates.
What to look for in a co-op open-world RPG
Six things separate “co-op works” from “co-op is the point”:
- Shared persistent world. Everyone in the party sees the same map, the same enemies, and the same loot at the same time. This rules out most “co-op mode bolted on.”
- Meaningful character progression. If your character only exists in your friend’s session, motivation drops fast. Look for host-agnostic saves.
- Two-to-four player scaling. Fights should be tuned so a duo is not stomped and a full four-person party is not bored.
- Voice or text chat that respects the fiction. Party chat that ducks during cutscenes and combat callouts that carry the drama.
- Cross-platform or crossplay. Not mandatory, but a strong tie-breaker.
- Modding. Adds hundreds of hours to any game that survives its first year.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Party size | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | Deepest tactical co-op RPG on PC | 2-4 | Free demo | $59.99 | 96 on Metacritic |
| Divinity: Original Sin 2 | Best older CRPG for co-op | 2-4 | Free demo | $44.99 | 93 on Metacritic |
| Elden Ring | Massive open world, drop-in-drop-out summoning | 2-4 | Free trial windows | $59.99 | 96 on Metacritic |
| Grounded | Survival RPG with real endgame | 2-4 | Free trial via Game Pass | $39.99 | 82 on Metacritic |
| Enshrouded | Third-person Zelda-adjacent co-op survival | 2-16 | Free demo | $29.99 | 82 on Metacritic |
| Palworld | Open-world creature-collecting co-op | 2-32 | Free demo | $29.99 | 78 on Metacritic |
| V Rising | Vampire-themed co-op RPG on servers | 2-40 | Free demo | $34.99 | 82 on Metacritic |
| Valheim | Longest-running Viking co-op survival | 2-10 | Free demo | $19.99 | 88 on Metacritic |
The apps
1. Baldur’s Gate 3 — Best overall
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the game to play with the friends who actually finish RPGs. Larian built the entire campaign to hold two, three, or four players simultaneously, and character decisions ripple through the party in ways that solo play cannot reach. The Fifth Edition D&D rules translate cleanly, the writing is best-in-genre, and combat runs turn-based so nobody has to keep up in real-time.
Where it falls short: Turn-based combat drags in long sessions. Full first campaign takes 90 to 120 hours per party. If you drop out for a month, catching up is harder than in most co-op games.
Pricing:
- Free: demo mission on Steam
- Paid: base game around $59.99
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick BG3 as the primary answer for co-op open-world RPG in 2026. Nothing else operates at this level.
2. Divinity: Original Sin 2 — Best older CRPG for co-op
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is Larian’s previous game, and the one that convinced Wizards of the Coast to hand over Baldur’s Gate. Same tactical rigor, same environmental combat mayhem, cheaper. Four-player campaign, split-screen, drop-in-drop-out.
Where it falls short: UI is dated compared to BG3. Class balance is lopsided; the mage-heavy parties dominate the late game. Combat visibility on dense encounters can be rough at four players.
Pricing:
- Free: demo on Steam
- Paid: base around $44.99, Definitive Edition included free
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (via Proton).
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick this if BG3 is too big a commitment right now, or you have already finished BG3 and want more of the same shape.
3. Elden Ring — Best massive open world for co-op
Elden Ring allows two players to explore the same Lands Between via a jolly cooperation system, and boss fights scale up. The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC added another sixty-plus hours of co-op-friendly content in 2024. It is not a full four-person party game, but for two-player co-op it is unmatched.
Where it falls short: Co-op is invasion-adjacent; PvPers can crash your session. Only two-player fully cooperative; three-player is possible but the extra summon slot is a wildcard. Difficulty spikes are real.
Pricing:
- Free: rotating free access weekends on Steam
- Paid: base around $59.99, Shadow of the Erdtree around $39.99
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Elden Ring if you and one friend want the biggest, most memorable open world on PC.
4. Grounded — Best survival-RPG for four
Grounded is a first-person survival game set in a suburban backyard where you and up to three friends have been shrunk to ant size. Obsidian, better known for tactical RPGs (Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds), gave this proper story, quests, and boss fights. Multiplayer is drop-in on the host’s world.
Where it falls short: Progress is tied to the host’s save unless you use dedicated servers. Some fights have insect-scale visibility problems on smaller monitors.
Pricing:
- Free: available on Xbox Game Pass PC
- Paid: base around $39.99
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Grounded for a survival co-op RPG that has an ending, unlike most of the genre.
5. Enshrouded — Best third-person co-op survival
Enshrouded landed in early access in early 2024 and has stayed on the front page of Steam most weeks since. Sixteen-player servers, third-person melee-and-magic combat, a world half survival-craft and half proper zone-based RPG. It is closest thing on this list to “Zelda with friends.”
Where it falls short: Still officially in early access, so some late-game systems are shorter than the early ones. Story is thin compared to Baldur’s Gate.
Pricing:
- Free: demo on Steam
- Paid: base around $29.99
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Enshrouded when you want a survival co-op that looks and moves like an RPG rather than a base-building sim.
6. Palworld — Best creature-collecting co-op
Palworld is Pokemon crossed with Ark: Survival Evolved, and yes, it is real. Up to 32 players share dedicated servers where they catch, breed, and battle creatures called Pals, plus fight the humans hunting them. The game was 2024’s biggest surprise and has kept its player base through 2026.
Where it falls short: Story is thin. Balance patches change weapon meta often. Server hosting is easier now than at launch but still not free.
Pricing:
- Free: demo on Steam
- Paid: base around $29.99
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Palworld when the “open world with friends” itch is really “capture and level up creatures with friends.”
7. V Rising — Best co-op with a persistent identity
V Rising launched in full 1.0 in 2024 and has a stable community running servers ever since. Isometric camera, vampire-flavored RPG progression, and PvP or PvE server modes so you can pick your poison. Duo and full-clan play both work; the game is tuned for two to five friends per castle.
Where it falls short: Isometric camera is polarizing for players who wanted first or third-person. PvP servers can grief; PvE servers are the pick for most groups.
Pricing:
- Free: demo on Steam
- Paid: base around $34.99
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick V Rising when you want an isometric co-op RPG with servers you can rejoin next month and still find your castle intact.
8. Valheim — Best long-running Viking co-op
Valheim launched in early access in 2021 and shipped its Ashlands major update in 2024. Ten-player dedicated servers, Viking survival theme, proper endgame bosses, and a modding scene that has kept the game fresh for going-on five years. Still one of the best-value co-op games on Steam.
Where it falls short: Still technically in early access. Late-game biome unlock cadence is slow.
Pricing:
- Free: demo on Steam
- Paid: base around $19.99
Platforms: Windows, Linux.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Valheim when the priority is longevity per dollar. Five years of updates already, more coming.
How to pick the right one
- If you want the deepest co-op RPG right now: Baldur’s Gate 3.
- If BG3 is too much time: Divinity: Original Sin 2.
- If it is just you and one friend: Elden Ring.
- If the group is four and you want a hard cap: Grounded.
- If you want the closest thing to a co-op Zelda: Enshrouded.
- If the group wants creatures and progression: Palworld.
- If you want a castle that survives between sessions: V Rising.
- If the group is bigger than four and cheaper matters: Valheim.
FAQ
What is the best co-op RPG on PC in 2026?
Baldur’s Gate 3, by a distance, for tactical depth and story. Elden Ring for two-player scale. Valheim for the best value if you plan to play together for months.
Is there a multiplayer Witcher game?
Not yet. CD Projekt Red’s Project Sirius, the multiplayer spin-off, has hit development trouble; the Polygon report on layoffs at the associated studio in mid-2026 suggests a long wait. Baldur’s Gate 3 is the closest tactical fantasy co-op available today.
Can four people play Baldur’s Gate 3 together?
Yes. Full party of four is supported end-to-end, with each player controlling their own character.
Which of these games has crossplay?
Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3, Grounded, and Palworld all support crossplay across their launched platforms. V Rising and Valheim are PC-only.
What is the cheapest co-op RPG worth playing?
Valheim at $19.99 gives you the most hours per dollar. Enshrouded at $29.99 is the next-cheapest pick that still delivers a full RPG shape.
