Local co-op might not be as common as it was during the '90s, but the practice has not completely died down either. Similarly, the puzzle genre continues to produce new projects at a reasonable rate, even if the releases tend to be indie projects that do not attract too much mainstream attention.

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There are plenty of games to get people talking and thinking together. Some are more mechanics oriented while others have a little more story and narrative involved. Puzzles can take many forms, whether it be about shapes, instructions, physics, and/or portals. As time passes, puzzle co-op games will continue to evolve and grow.

Updated on May 28, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Co-op puzzle games are relatively common, even if they tend to be mostly produced by the indie market. Whether played with siblings, friends, or a partner, these upcoming titles should be able to challenge the mind and maybe provide a few giggles along the way.

15 Human: Fall Flat

Metacritic: 73

Lovers of funky physics will likely get a kick out of Human: Fall Flat. One to eight players can play, and there are multiple solutions to the puzzles. Due to the physics as well as having the ability to mess with other players, the game is a great pick if someone is craving a bit of laughter, although they should be prepared for the occasional bout of frustration.

Human: Fall Flat is one of those multiplayer games that gets more chaotic and fun as more players join in. With no real narrative to speak of, the game drops players into fairly open levels and gives them small hints on how to overcome the area's puzzles.

14 Trine 4

Metacritic: 81

Trine is generally awesome. Except for the somewhat maligned third entry, which is not devoid of charm either, all the games in the series are decent starting points for newcomers. If push comes to shove, Trine 2 is probably the franchise's most popular game, but there is little separating it from Trine 4. Once again, the latter allows players to go on a fantastical journey as three fantasy archetypes (wizard, thief, and knight); this time, their goal is to find a lost prince.

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As an adventure co-op game, Trine 4 is an unquestionable triumph; however, when analyzed purely on the quality of its puzzles, the title is merely good with moments of brilliance.

13 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes

Metacritic: 88

This is a game with a lot of talking involved between the players, so it is not for everyone. Basically, there is a bomb that needs to be diffused. Only one person can see the bomb, and they have to guide the remaining players through the process of defusing it.

Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes will get the adrenaline pumping, as the bomb has a time limit before it explodes. Things can get stressful quickly as the group tries to solve the destructive puzzle in front of them. For some though, that is a fun and unforgettable way to spend an evening.

12 Never Alone

Metacritic: 73

Players can enjoy this title solo or with a friend. It is quite special, as it is based on a traditional Iñupiaq tale. In fact, it was made from a partnership between the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and E-Line Media. This makes the game a wealth of cultural insights.

Never Alone has eight chapters that focus on a little Iñupiaq girl, Nuna, and her arctic fox companion. In co-op, one player can control Nuna and the other can control the fox. The game has the two characters solve puzzles together and, with completion, literally unlock cultural insights about the Iñupiaq. For even more content, check out the game's expansion Foxtales.

11 It Takes Two

Metacritic: 89

Hazelight specializes in co-op games, with both A Way Out and It Takes Two requiring two players. While the decision to omit single-player support might have limited the potential audiences for both games, it also means that these campaigns are designed entirely around co-op, ensuring that teamwork and coordination are not only central to the mechanics but also the stories.

Both titles are very good, but It Takes Two gets the nod as it is slightly more polished and features more puzzles. That said, Hazelight loves to play around with genres, so neither game is purely a puzzle experience. After another fight, a married couple are on the brink of a divorce, only to find themselves inhabiting their daughter's dolls. This turn of events paves the way for a wild and creative adventure that blends mini-games, platforming, puzzles, and storytelling to perfection.

10 Portal 2

Metacritic: 95

Portal 2 is rightfully hailed as one of the best single-player puzzle games of all time, and it completely deserves that reputation. However, Valve's project also comes with a co-op campaign that is almost as fantastic. Cast as two robots, players must work their way through a series of levels while GLaDOS provides a running commentary that tries to (not so) subtly pit the partners against each other.

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As with most co-op puzzle games, Portal 2 steadily ramps up the complexity with each new challenge; however, the game also tweaks the nature of the puzzles' solutions. While initially they are designed in a way that could lead to one person taking charge, the later stages are far more concerned with teamwork.

9 Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together!

Metacritic: 80

This underrated Switch game has two players solve various shape and physics-based puzzles together, as they can change the shape of the characters they play as. A lot of the puzzles involve moving objects or making themselves into the perfect shape to do various tasks.

The puzzles are diverse enough and cover a fairly decent range in terms of difficulty. That said, Snipperclips is ultimately a family-oriented game that is accessible to children.

8 Unrailed!

Metacritic: 77

This chaotic game tasks players with building a railway while a train is moving. Gamers should be prepared for a lot of panicked yelling among themselves as they try to keep the train from going off the rails.

In terms of puzzle games, Unrailed! is all about quick thinking, although people can ease themselves into the experience as there are four levels of difficulty. While the premise might sound simple on the surface, the title can get pretty challenging.

7 KeyWe

Metacritic: 74

A cute co-op game about two kiwis who manage a postal office, KeyWe takes a silly concept and creates a charming campaign that can keep someone entertained for a couple of hours. For more than 30 levels, players will have to work together to ensure packages get to where they need to go, and the developers do a good job of shaking up the formula to ensure things remain interesting.

KeyWe's puzzles are not extremely difficult, but they are not braindead either and complement co-op well. While solo runs are possible, they are not the ideal way to experience this delightful little title.

6 Shift Happens

Metacritic: 69

Meant for two people, Shift Happens is a game with four stages and plenty of puzzles to solve. While players can work together, the game also lets you stab each other in the back if fancied. After all, friends sometimes love to mess with each other.

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Although Shift Happens has a cute, minimalist design, the levels do get more complex as the campaign progresses. For a group of friends who are looking for a compelling narrative though, this game may not be for them.

5 Knights And Bikes

Metacritic: 83

If someone wants a co-op puzzle game that follows a story with interesting characters, Knights and Bikes is the title for them. Players take on the role of childhood friends, Nessa and Demelza, as they explore an ancient island. They also have a pet goose named Captain Honkers.

The characters have different skills that are required for the various puzzles in the game. Besides the brain-teasers and story, there are fun little bits like customizing your bike. There is also a single-player mode where the player can team up with an AI. Although packed with puzzles, it should be said that they are not particularly challenging, and they tend to take a backseat to exploration and the story. Consequently, Knights and Bikes is a great co-op game with puzzles rather than a great co-op puzzle game.

4 Tick Tock: A Tale For Two

Steam User Rating: 86%

As the title describes, this game is for two people. The players can be remote or local, but they do need to be able to talk to each other. Story-wise, Tick Tock: A Tale For Two took some inspiration from Scandinavian fairy tales. The players are trapped in an eerie world that was created by a clockmaker, and they have to solve various puzzles to escape.

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Tick Tock: A Tale For Two sets itself apart by walking the line between single-player and multiplayer. Two people need to own the game on separate hardware and then start a campaign. They will need to work together to complete their playthroughs, but Tick Tock does not provide any way for them to communicate. Consequently, they will need to arrange their system.

3 Death Squared

Metacritic: 80

Death Squared is an addictive puzzle game that is an easy recommendation for both solo players and people craving co-op goodness. The goal sounds simple: move the colored blocks to their allocated spots. Naturally, things get complicated rather quickly due to the introduction of obstacles like traps or lasers, most of which are tied to the movement of the blocks. Consequently, players have to analyze their respective blocks' influence on the environment and then coordinate their movements to ensure they all arrive at their destinations in one piece. Either everyone succeeds or nobody does.

Death Squared has a Story Mode that supports two players, with one person taking charge of a blue block while the other controls the red variant. While not containing much of a narrative, this mode provides some context through a voice-over conversation between an AI and a human operator, and they are generally entertaining. There is also Party Mode, which presents a plethora of fresh stages for four players to tackle.

2 Ibb & Obb

Metacritic: 83

Unlike some co-op puzzle games, Ibb & Obb does not have a single-player option; therefore, it is multiplayer or nothing. All puzzles in this game are based on gravity, with the world being split into two mirror realms with inverted pulls. Consequently, ibb and obb must coordinate and sync their movements, a process that demands constant communication.

While there are 15 levels to complete, players also have secret stages to find that should add a few more hours to the gameplay. Along with cute graphics, well-done co-op, and challenging but not frustrating puzzles, Ibb & Obb also has great music. Kick back with a friend, and solve some puzzles together to these relaxing electronic tunes by Kettel.

1 We Were Here Forever

Metacritic: 81

What makes We Were Here stand out from other puzzle co-op games is that the players are separated, although their collective goal is to escape a castle (although We Were Here Forever expands on that setting). What connects the two players is just a walkie-talkie and the need to help each other out with the clues they find in the abandoned castle they are trapped in.

All the games are a blast to play through, but We Were Here Forever is generally regarded as the franchise's crowning achievement, and it is an absolute blast to play. The puzzles are challenging but not particularly obtuse, especially since their difficulty largely comes down to the players' communication skills.

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