Multiplayer Roguelikes

Roguelikes are usually a solo obsession, so every few weeks someone asks the internet the same thing: which ones can I actually play with friends? Rather than hand you my favorites, I read fourteen Reddit threads asking exactly that, counted every upvote on every co-op game anyone suggested, and let the totals decide the order. Risk of Rain 2 ran away with the top spot, but the real surprise is second place: Ravenswatch, a game the threads keep calling S tier, across 79 games and 3,828 votes.

None of this is my personal ranking. I did not score these by what I like. Every spot is the sum of real Reddit upvotes from the threads people actually find when they search this, so the order is the community's, not mine. I just counted.

If you only want a recommendation, take the quiz below and it will match you to a game based on how you play together, from a couch duo to a squad of four. If you want the full picture, keep scrolling. One thing worth flagging up top: I kept a few couch-only and two-player picks such as Enter the Gungeon and Ship of Fools, because the community keeps recommending them for co-op, and I note the catch on each.

Written By

Steven SchneiderCo-founder, Rogue Ranker

20+ hours reading 14 co-op Reddit threads and tallying 3,828 upvotes across 79 multiplayer roguelikes, from Risk of Rain 2 to Ember Knights.

Last updated 2026-07-01

Reviewed By

AidenCo-founder, Rogue Ranker

Aiden has been an avid gamer for 15+ years, with hundreds (and thousands) of hours in games like Rust, Risk of Rain, DRGS, Vampire Survivors, Brotato, and more.

Find Your Next Co-op Roguelike in 8 Questions

About My Data Collection Process

If you have read one of our other roundups, this will look familiar, because the method is the same every time. The whole point is to keep my taste out of the ranking. I am not telling you these are the best games because I played them and you should trust me. I am showing you what thousands of other co-op players upvoted, and counting it honestly.

How I Chose the Reddit Threads

I searched Google and Reddit the way anyone would, with phrases such as best co-op roguelites and multiplayer roguelikes to play with friends, then collected the threads that ranked and read them directly on Reddit. They came mostly from r/roguelites, plus r/gaming, r/roguelikes, and r/CoOpGaming. I filtered to cross-platform video-game threads, so board-game and tabletop suggestions did not muddy the count. Fourteen qualifying threads made the cut after dropping two whose comment sections were too large for my capture to read in full.

How I Chose the Games

If a game with a genuine co-op or multiplayer mode was suggested and no one argued it did not belong, it made the list. The one filter I applied comes from the community itself: these threads are full of people saying that popular co-op games such as Valheim, Stardew Valley, Baldur's Gate 3, and Don't Starve Together are not roguelikes, so those never scored. I also dropped store-link self-promotion, joke answers, and games named only as a comparison rather than a recommendation.

How I Ranked the Games

A game's score is the sum of upvotes on every comment that suggested it, added up across all fourteen threads. So if one comment recommending Ravenswatch earned 41 upvotes in one thread and another earned 36 in a different thread, Ravenswatch is credited with both. A comment naming four games hands its full upvote count to all four, which is how one thoughtful, highly-upvoted reply can lift several picks at once. Nothing is ranked by hand beyond that counting.

One note on terminology. Most of these are technically roguelites, but co-op players use roguelike and roguelite interchangeably and so do the threads, so I counted votes the same way no matter which word a commenter used. The votes decide; I just count them.

The Top 10 From 3,828 Upvotes

TL;DR

These ten lead the community vote. The names link to each game store page if you want a closer look, and we do not earn a cent from your purchases.

1		Risk of Rain 2	287 votes
2		Ravenswatch	248 votes
3		Ember Knights	208 votes
4		Gunfire Reborn	205 votes
5		Streets of Rogue	159 votes
6		Across the Obelisk	128 votes
7		Ship of Fools	114 votes
8		Astral Ascent	110 votes
9		Heroes of Hammerwatch	103 votes
10		Enter the Gungeon	98 votes

The Full Ranking: All 79 Games

Every game suggested across the fourteen co-op threads, ranked by total upvotes. Sort by any column to find your fit.

#^	Game	Votesv	Mentionsv	Platforms
1	Risk of Rain 2	287	61	PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch
2	Ravenswatch	248	43	PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch
3	Ember Knights	208	45	PC, Switch
4	Gunfire Reborn	205	34	PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, Mobile
5	Streets of Rogue	159	24	PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch
6	Across the Obelisk	128	17	PC, PS5, Switch
7	Ship of Fools	114	19	PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch
8	Astral Ascent	110	23	PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch
9	Heroes of Hammerwatch	103	17	PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch
10	Enter the Gungeon	98	25	PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch
11	Vagante	94	15	PC
12	Children of Morta	91	17	PC
13	Roboquest	90	21	PC
14	Wizard of Legend	85	23	PC
15	Spelunky 2	79	10	PC
16	Nuclear Throne	78	13	PC
17	Shape of Dreams	75	19	PC
18	For the King	74	13	PC
19	Inkbound	74	9	PC
20	Synthetik	72	12	PC
21	PlateUp!	71	10	PC
22	Hellcard	69	12	PC
23	Barony	68	16	PC
24	Rabbit and Steel	63	13	PC
25	TMNT: Splintered Fate	62	16	PC
26	Absolum	61	22	PC
27	Crab Champions	60	10	PC
28	The Binding of Isaac	50	13	PC
29	Slay the Spire	50	12	PC
30	Windblown	45	12	PC
31	Lost Castle	45	11	PC
32	Bravery and Greed	41	8	PC
33	Stolen Realm	41	5	PC
34	Sworn	38	17	PC
35	Dungeon of the Endless	34	4	PC
36	Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos	30	4	PC
37	Rotwood	29	12	PC
38	Crawl	29	5	PC
39	Vampire Survivors	26	6	PC
40	Tape to Tape	26	3	PC
41	Vellum	24	5	PC
42	Magicite	24	2	PC
43	Cult of the Lamb	23	8	PC
44	Crypt of the NecroDancer	23	7	PC
45	Endless Dungeon	23	5	PC
46	Knights Within	23	2	PC
47	Death Road to Canada	22	4	PC
48	The Spell Brigade	20	6	PC
49	Fury Unleashed	20	3	PC
50	Deadzone Rogue	18	8	PC
51	Caveblazers	17	3	PC
52	Returnal	16	7	PC
53	BlazBlue: Entropy Effect	16	5	PC
54	TomeNet	16	3	PC
55	Bounty of One	14	3	PC
56	Blazing Beaks	14	2	PC
57	Spacelines from the Far Out	13	1	PC
58	Deep Rock Galactic	10	4	PC
59	MAngband	10	3	PC
60	Gatekeeper	9	4	PC
61	Wizard of Legend 2	9	3	PC
62	Roguelands	7	1	PC
63	Entropy Survivors	5	3	PC
64	Risk of Rain Returns	5	3	PC
65	Wizard with a Gun	5	3	PC
66	Greedland	4	2	PC
67	Sundered	4	1	PC
68	Eversiege	3	2	PC
69	Lynked	3	2	PC
70	Fantasy Survivors	3	1	PC
71	Neurovoider	3	1	PC
72	Temtem: Swarm	3	1	PC
73	Cat Quest	2	2	PC
74	33 Immortals	2	1	PC
75	Abyssus	1	1	PC
76	Infected Shelter	1	1	PC
77	Iron Cryptical	1	1	PC
78	Never Split the Party	1	1	PC
79	The Black Pool	1	1	PC

The 10 Best Multiplayer Roguelikes, Examined

1

Risk of Rain 2

Source

#1 Most Recommended

287 votes12 threadsPCPS5PS4XboxSwitch

Community consensus12 of 14 threads

GenreAction Roguelike

StyleThird-person co-op survival shooter with scaling difficulty

AvailablePC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch

Avg Cost$24.99

Risk of Rain 2 was named in more threads than any other game here, and it is the answer people reach for the second co-op comes up. You and up to three friends drop onto a hostile planet, hoover up items that stack into absurd builds, and race a clock where the difficulty climbs the whole time you play. The loot snowball is the hook: nobody forgets the first run where the whole squad turns into an unkillable wall of turrets, drones, and homing missiles.

It works because the chaos scales with your group rather than against it, and there is always one more item to chase. The honest catch, which the threads raise themselves, is that co-op is mostly everyone fighting the same swarm rather than solving puzzles together, and a friend who falls behind on items can spend a lot of the late game watching. Even so, it is the near-unanimous starting point for a roguelike to play with people.

What Works Well

• Named first in more co-op threads than anything else on the list.
• The item-stacking snowball turns a whole squad into a spectacle.
• Difficulty scales with your group, so four players stays tense.
• Deep unlock pool keeps a group coming back for months.

Common Criticisms

• Co-op is fighting side by side, not real teamwork puzzles.
• A player who falls behind on items can get left in the dust.

Quotes from the Threads

"

I'd say Risk of Rain 2. I've had great fun playing it with friends, however the coop part in it is tied to just fighting together against the enemies.

u/Abasakaar/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Risk of Rain 2 is a lot of fun in coop, at least until players fall hopelessly behind.

u/TheDukeofArgyllr/roguelitesvia Reddit

View on Steam

2

Ravenswatch

Source

#2 Most Recommended

248 votes10 threadsPCPS5XboxSwitch

Community consensus10 of 14 threads

GenreAction Roguelite

StyleTop-down real-time co-op with dark-fairytale heroes

AvailablePC, PS5, Xbox, Switch

Avg Cost$24.99

Ravenswatch is the game the threads keep calling S tier, and it climbed to second on the strength of pure enthusiasm. From the Curse of the Dead Gods studio, it drops a team of twisted fairytale heroes into an open, timed map where you clear objectives by day and survive escalating bosses by night. Each hero plays completely differently, and the fun is in the synergy: builds that feel fine solo turn genuinely broken when two or three of them lock together.

It left early access with a full roster and a co-op-focused character duo, so the version people are recommending now is the complete one. It asks more of you than a pick-up-and-mash roguelite, since the maps reward map knowledge and precision, but a coordinated group gets a payoff few games on this list can match.

What Works Well

• Repeatedly called the best co-op roguelite in the threads.
• Distinct heroes whose abilities chain into powerful team combos.
• Out of early access now, so it is the complete package.
• Same studio pedigree as Curse of the Dead Gods.

Common Criticisms

• The timed open maps have a learning curve that solo play exposes.
• Less pick-up-and-play than the twin-stick options here.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Ravenswatch is great with friends.

u/Codwun99r/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Ravenswatch is S tier.

u/rhuanrjr/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Y'all gotta play Lost Castle 2 and Ravenswatch. They are absolute peak co-op action roguelites.

u/SincerelyPhoenixr/roguelitesvia Reddit

View on Steam

3

Ember Knights

Source

#3 Most Recommended

208 votes12 threadsPCSwitch

Community consensus12 of 14 threads

GenreAction Roguelite

StyleTop-down hack-and-slash built for up to four

AvailablePC, Switch

Avg Cost$19.99

Ember Knights is the pick people bring up when someone wants a roguelite that was built around co-op rather than having it bolted on. Up to four knights blitz through fast, punchy rooms, swapping weapons and stacking relics, with local split-screen and online both supported. Commenters keep saying the same thing: it plays great solo but was clearly designed for a group, and the polish shows in the combat feel, the art, and the boss fights.

It is more accessible than Ravenswatch or Risk of Rain 2, which makes it a strong on-ramp for a group with mixed skill levels, and there is a long grind toward the true ending for the people who stick with it. The trade-off is scope: it is a tight, focused game rather than a hundred-hour sink, so some groups burn through the core loop faster than they expect.

What Works Well

• Built for co-op first, with local split-screen and online.
• Fast, superbly polished combat that stays readable at four players.
• Accessible enough for a group with mixed skill levels.
• A real hardcore grind waiting for players who want the true ending.

Common Criticisms

• Tighter in scope than the biggest sinks on this list.
• Only on PC and Switch, so console groups miss out.

Quotes from the Threads

"

I would suggest Ember Knights, had a lot of fun with 2 friends playing this 3 player, local co-op. It has solid progression and is in a very good state.

u/pyr0paulr/gamingvia Reddit

"

Ember Knights, super well polished, amazing game good solo, designed for and amazing when playing in groups of 4, fantastic art, gameplay and bosses, super fun.

u/that_confetti_cannonr/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Someone already mentioned Ember Knights, and I will second that recommendation. Its gameplay and upgrades and progression are superbly done.

u/TheButterPlankr/gamingvia Reddit

View on Steam

4

Gunfire Reborn

Source

#4 Most Recommended

205 votes10 threadsPCPS5PS4XboxSwitchMobile

Community consensus10 of 14 threads

GenreFPS Roguelite

StyleFirst-person shooter with heroes and looted builds

AvailablePC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, Mobile

Avg Cost$19.99

If your group would rather aim down sights than swing a sword, Gunfire Reborn is the near-universal recommendation. Up to four players pick animal heroes, then blast through stages hunting guns and scroll upgrades that turn ordinary loadouts into wild elemental builds. It sits somewhere between a looter-shooter and a roguelite, and it is one of the few games here that couples and long-distance friends mention playing together for years.

Co-op is generous: scrolls can be shared, there is a revive system, and the difficulty tiers give a group somewhere to grow. It is on basically everything, phones included, which makes it easy to get a whole group in. The knock is that runs can get samey once you have seen the stages, so it lives or dies on how much your group loves the moment-to-moment gunplay.

What Works Well

• The default answer whenever someone wants a co-op FPS roguelite.
• Shared scrolls and a revive system make co-op forgiving.
• On PC, all consoles, and mobile, so anyone can join.
• Ascension difficulty tiers give a group a long ladder to climb.

Common Criticisms

• Stages can feel repetitive once you have cleared them a lot.
• Build variety leans on a handful of strong scroll combos.

Quotes from the Threads

"

I love Gunfire Reborn for that. I've played it with my other half on and off for over a year now. If you don't mind FPS games, it's superb.

u/Grizz3dr/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Gunfire's really good for multiplayer, easy to share scrolls and there's a revive system.

u/WhyHeLO_THeRE_SIRr/roguelitesvia Reddit

View on Steam

5

Streets of Rogue

Source

#5 Most Recommended

159 votes11 threadsPCPS4XboxSwitch

Community consensus11 of 14 threads

GenreImmersive-sim Roguelite

StyleTop-down chaos sandbox for up to four players

AvailablePC, PS4, Xbox, Switch

Avg Cost$19.99

Streets of Rogue is the one people recommend when the goal is laughing with friends more than mastering a system. Every level is a little sandbox you can solve by hacking, bribing, poisoning, going full stealth, or just turning everyone into a gorilla and starting a riot. With up to four players in local or online co-op, the emergent chaos is the whole point, and no two groups tackle a floor the same way.

It is a roguelite in structure, with unlockable characters and traits between runs, but the draw is the immersive-sim freedom rather than tight combat. That makes it endlessly replayable and a bit janky at the edges, which is exactly the trade most groups happily accept. The long-promised sequel is on the way, but the original is still one of the best chaos machines on this list.

What Works Well

• Every level solvable a dozen ways, which co-op turns into comedy.
• Up to four players in both local and online co-op.
• Deep roster of characters and traits to unlock between runs.
• Cheap, endlessly replayable, and perfect for a rowdy group.

Common Criticisms

• Combat is basic; the appeal is the sandbox, not the fighting.
• Intentionally janky, which will not suit every group.

Quotes from the Threads

"

I found streets of rogue pretty fun and couch co-op is pretty good in it.

u/Wh33lor/gamingvia Reddit

"

Streets of rogue i think would be considered a rogue-lite, but its very fun and can be played with up to 4 players.

u/Agianni2110r/roguelikesvia Reddit

"

As someone with nearly 100 hours in Streets of Rogue I recommend playing as gorillas with ya boys and going on a rampage lol.

u/longtimelurkingpedor/roguelikesvia Reddit

View on Steam

6

Across the Obelisk

Source

#6 Most Recommended

128 votes9 threadsPCPS5Switch

Community consensus9 of 14 threads

GenreRoguelite Deckbuilder

StyleCo-op card battler for up to four

AvailablePC, PS5, Switch

Avg Cost$19.99

Across the Obelisk answers a question that stumps most groups: can four people play a deckbuilder together? Here each player controls their own heroes and deck, and the fun is coordinating a party the way you would in a tabletop RPG, timing your buffs and crowd control so the whole team's cards combo. If your idea of co-op is planning a turn out loud with friends rather than dodging bullets, this is the one.

Runs are long, around a couple of hours, but you can stop and resume mid-run, which suits a weekly group. The card and hero pool is enormous, so the build depth keeps a party experimenting for a long time. It is the most brain-forward pick in the top ten, and comparisons to Slay the Spire and Darkest Dungeon come up constantly, with the key difference being that this one was designed for a group from the start.

What Works Well

• A genuine four-player co-op deckbuilder, which is rare.
• Party coordination gives it a tabletop-RPG feel.
• Huge card and hero pool for deep, replayable builds.
• Stop-and-resume runs fit a weekly group.

Common Criticisms

• Runs are long, which asks for a committed session.
• The slow, tactical pace is the opposite of the action picks here.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Across The Obelisk is a co-op roguelite deck builder and it is a really good time. A full run takes about 3 hours, but you can stop anywhere during the run and resume from the same place later on.

u/Spunkmasterr/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Across the Obelisk, for a slay-the-spire type game. Only played with 2 or 3 myself, but prob still fun for 4.

u/Tanklike441r/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Across the obelisk is worth a look here. Especially in reference to build variety.

u/FlaringPainr/roguelitesvia Reddit

View on Steam

7

Ship of Fools

Source

#7 Most Recommended

114 votes10 threadsPCPS5PS4XboxSwitch

Community consensus10 of 14 threads

GenreAction Roguelite

StyleTwo-player naval cannon defense

AvailablePC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch

Avg Cost$19.99

Ship of Fools is the couples-and-duos champion of these threads, and it comes up over and over as the game people play with a partner. Two sailors defend a little ship, scrambling to grab cannons, load them, aim at whatever is boarding from either side, and paddle away incoming threats while you pick a path across a randomized sea. It is cooperative by design: one person cannot cover both sides of the boat, so you are constantly shouting positions and trading roles.

It is charming, tightly scoped, and easy to teach, which is why so many comments describe playing it with a wife, husband, boyfriend, or girlfriend. The catch is right there in the pitch: it is built for two, so it is not the pick for a squad of four, and a determined duo can see most of what it offers before the depth of the bigger games kicks in.

What Works Well

• The most-recommended two-player roguelite in the threads.
• Genuinely cooperative: one person cannot do it all alone.
• Charming, cheap, and easy to teach a non-gamer partner.
• Satisfying item combos reward a coordinated duo.

Common Criticisms

• Built for two, so it does not scale to a squad of four.
• Tightly scoped, so a committed duo runs through it fairly quickly.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Had fun with ship of fools. Is it best of all time? Nah. But fun, get it on sale.

u/sunm8r/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

My boyfriend and I have been loving Ship Of Fools. It's a top down set on a tiny ship, you have cannons you can pick up and slot into different sides of the ship depending on where the enemies are.

u/aedvocater/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Wife and I play it. We have lots of fun with it.

u/ohyayitstreyr/roguelitesvia Reddit

View on Steam

8

Astral Ascent

Source

#8 Most Recommended

110 votes8 threadsPCPS5PS4XboxSwitch

Community consensus8 of 14 threads

GenreAction Roguelite

StyleFast side-scrolling co-op with pixel bosses

AvailablePC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch

Avg Cost$21.99

Astral Ascent is the pick for duos who want something fast, deep, and beautiful. It is a side-scrolling roguelite with slick spell-slinging combat, standout boss fights, and a soundtrack and pixel art that people single out by name (it shares a composer with Wizard of Legend). Two players can go through it in couch or online co-op, and the threads are full of couples who put a hundred hours into it together.

Under the style is real depth: a huge pool of spells and permanent upgrades between runs means a pair can chase very different builds. The honest caveat, which players raise, is that it was designed as a solo-first experience, so it caps at two players and the screen can get busy in co-op. For a duo that wants the polish of Hades with a friend along, it is hard to beat.

What Works Well

• Fast, deep combat with standout bosses and a great soundtrack.
• Big spell and upgrade pool for varied builds run to run.
• Couch and online co-op that couples pour 100 hours into.
• One of the most visually polished picks on the list.

Common Criticisms

• Caps at two players, so it is not a squad game.
• Designed solo-first; the screen can get busy in co-op.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Astral Ascent was one of my absolute favorites with my husband. And we also really liked the first Wizard of Legend.

u/thereisnohinmynamer/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Astral ascent is co op and it's absolutely amazing.

u/hammer248r/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Check out Astral Ascent. It has samescreen couch coop. It's a fast sidescrolling roguelite with lots of build options and permanent upgrades between runs. My wife and I put over 100 hours into it.

u/IonizedPlasmar/gamingvia Reddit

View on Steam

9

Heroes of Hammerwatch

Source

#9 Most Recommended

103 votes9 threadsPCPS4XboxSwitch

Community consensus9 of 14 threads

GenreAction Roguelite

StyleTop-down dungeon crawler with town meta-progression

AvailablePC, PS4, Xbox, Switch

Avg Cost$14.99

Heroes of Hammerwatch is the pick for groups that want a longer haul: a top-down dungeon crawler where up to four players descend through procedural floors and pour their gold into a shared town that permanently upgrades everyone. That town meta-progression is the hook. Each run funds the next, and a group grinding together toward better shops, skills, and classes is the whole loop. One commenter simply says to forget everything else and play it, because it was made for co-op.

It is deeper and grindier than the pick-up-and-play options here, and the pixel-art presentation is unassuming, but a committed group gets a huge amount out of it, and there is a sequel now for people who want more. The flip side of the shared-progression design is that dropping in far behind your friends can feel rough, so it rewards a group that levels up together.

What Works Well

• Shared town upgrades make every run feed the next.
• Up to four players, with real class and build depth.
• A long grind that keeps a dedicated group busy for weeks.
• A sequel exists now for groups that want even more.

Common Criticisms

• Grindy and slower to get going than the action picks.
• Joining friends who are far ahead can feel like catch-up.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Heroes of Hammerwatch is a great one IMO.

u/keldir/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Forget everything and try Heroes of Hammerwatch. This game was made for co op.

u/chen19921337r/roguelitesvia Reddit

"

Heroes of Hammerwatch is always a blast.

u/Discombobulated_Ebb0r/roguelitesvia Reddit

View on Steam

10

Enter the Gungeon

Source

#10 Most Recommended

98 votes10 threadsPCPS5PS4XboxSwitch

Community consensus10 of 14 threads

GenreTwin-stick Roguelite

StyleBullet-hell dungeon shooter with local co-op

AvailablePC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch

Avg Cost$14.99

Enter the Gungeon is a beloved twin-stick bullet-hell where you dodge-roll through a dungeon of gun-themed enemies hunting an ever-weirder arsenal, and it is a staple recommendation whenever the genre comes up. It is tight, tough, and endlessly replayable, and plenty of commenters name it as a favorite to bring a second player into.

Here is the honest part the threads flag: its co-op is local only, for two players, and the second player is locked to a dedicated character, the Cultist, rather than the full roster. For a couch duo who love precise, punishing shooters, it is a fantastic time. If you specifically need online play or a squad of four, this is the pick to skip. It is included because the community keeps recommending it for co-op with that caveat attached.

What Works Well

• A tight, replayable twin-stick bullet-hell with tons of guns.
• Excellent couch co-op for a precise, patient duo.
• Cheap, on everything, and a genre benchmark.
• Endless secrets and unlocks to chase across runs.

Common Criticisms

• Co-op is local only and capped at two players.
• Player two is locked to the Cultist, not the full roster.

Quotes from the Threads

"

Well enter the gungeon is a very neat game if you're willing to play with 1 friend but on the same pc like the old multiplayer games (there's a way to play it online tho).

u/meat_rocket-69r/roguelikesvia Reddit

"

I think EtG is couch co-op. It's also limited to the second player playing as the Cultist.

u/Del_Duio2r/roguelikesvia Reddit

View on Steam

Risk of Rain 2 vs. Gunfire Reborn

Risk of Rain 2

vs

Gunfire Reborn

The two big co-op shooters, and the pairing groups deciding on a squad game agonize over most.

Risk of Rain 2 is the bigger spectacle; Gunfire Reborn is the pick if your group prefers gunplay and easy drop-in.

Ravenswatch vs. Ember Knights

Ravenswatch

vs

Ember Knights

The two top-ranked action co-op roguelites, and the choice comes down to depth versus accessibility.

Ravenswatch rewards a coordinated group willing to learn it; Ember Knights is the friendlier on-ramp and the only one with local split-screen.

Ship of Fools vs. Astral Ascent

Ship of Fools

vs

Astral Ascent

The two duo darlings of the threads, both perfect for two players but built for very different couples.

Ship of Fools is the gentler two-player night in; Astral Ascent is the deeper, flashier pick for a duo that wants real build depth.

What Counts as a Multiplayer Roguelike?

A roguelike is built around runs: you start over when you die, the layout and rewards are randomized, and getting better means learning the systems rather than grinding levels. A roguelite softens that with meta-progression, permanent upgrades that carry between runs, which is why most of the games here (Risk of Rain 2, Ember Knights, Astral Ascent) are technically roguelites. The threads use the two words interchangeably and so does this list, since the community votes the same way regardless of the label. The word that actually matters here is multiplayer: every game on this list genuinely has a co-op or multiplayer mode, which rules out a lot of the genre. That is also why favorites such as Hades, Slay the Spire, Balatro, and Dead Cells do not appear, since their core is single-player. Co-op comes in a few shapes worth knowing before you buy: online play from separate homes, local couch co-op on one screen, and the size of the party (some games are two-player only, others scale to four). Each card below spells out which a game supports, because a squad of four and a couch duo want very different picks. If you want the wider picture, our best roguelike games ranking and the roguelike vs roguelite explainer go deeper, and our Risk of Rain 2 recommendations cover the co-op action side.

Multiplayer Roguelikes: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best multiplayer roguelike?

By the community's count, Risk of Rain 2, and it is not especially close. It is the game named first when co-op comes up: you and up to three friends stack items until the whole squad becomes an unstoppable wall of damage. Ravenswatch is a close and rising second, repeatedly called S tier for co-op, with Ember Knights and Gunfire Reborn rounding out the top four.

What is the best co-op roguelike for four players?

Risk of Rain 2, Ember Knights, Gunfire Reborn, Heroes of Hammerwatch, and Across the Obelisk all support full four-player groups. Ember Knights is the friendliest for mixed skill levels and even has local split-screen, while Across the Obelisk is the pick if your squad would rather play a co-op deckbuilder than an action game.

What is the best co-op roguelike for two players?

Ship of Fools is the most-recommended two-player game in these threads, a cozy naval defense built for exactly two. Astral Ascent is the deeper duo pick with fast, gorgeous combat, and Enter the Gungeon is a great local two-player bullet-hell as long as you do not mind that its co-op is couch-only and locks player two to one character.

Which of these have local couch co-op?

Ember Knights, Streets of Rogue, Astral Ascent, Ship of Fools, and Enter the Gungeon all support playing on one screen, which is rarer than you might expect in this genre. A lot of the top picks, including Risk of Rain 2, Ravenswatch, and Gunfire Reborn, are online-only, so check the co-op line on each card before you buy.

Why are Hades and Slay the Spire not on this list?

Because their core is single-player. This list only ranks games with a genuine co-op or multiplayer mode, so single-player staples such as Hades, Slay the Spire, Balatro, and Dead Cells do not qualify no matter how beloved they are. Slay the Spire turns up in the threads only through a community co-op mod, which is why it lands well outside the top ten.

How are these games ranked?

Entirely by Reddit upvotes. I read fourteen threads asking for the best co-op and multiplayer roguelikes, tallied the upvotes on every comment that suggested a game, and added them up across all of them. The total decides the order, with no personal scoring. Every source thread is linked at the bottom of the page.

More RogueRanker Guides

Hunting for your next obsession? These guides go deeper on the games and genres above.

• The Best Roguelikes on Xbox, Ranked by Reddit
• Vampire Survivors Recommendations, Ranked by Reddit
• Brotato Recommendations, Ranked by Reddit
• Megabonk Recommendations, Ranked by Reddit
• The Best Bullet Heaven Games, Ranked by Reddit
• The Best Bullet Hell Games, Ranked by Reddit