Its flood of two-like local co-op games are happening

For me, it wasn't until I played Split Fiction I remember that the world needs more games like this It takes twoGames where cooperation is not only possible, but necessary for success. playing It takes two The first time with my partner all those years ago proved to be a uniquely fun and bonding-accenting experience, as the game forced us to constantly work together and communicate; More than that, it rewarded us for it. be clear It takes two (And logically Split Fiction) set the gold standard for co-op games, and if you're looking for great experiences like this, then you're in luck, because there's a tsunami of engaging and original co-op titles on the way. Here are just a few of the most promising.

Hela

• Hela Release date: TBA 2026

What is “playing and having fun in a beautiful world”? Hela According to the developer Windup, many are about, and one look at this whimsical game is a strong proof of that statement. You and four other players control familiar mice from Woodland Dutch who have fallen ill and need help. As these little mice, players can climb, jump, glide and use the lasso to build bridges and rope swings with a magical backpack.

One Sandbox is the most promising aspect HelaBecause it offers ample opportunities for use with the game's cooperative multiplayer systems. For example, the aforementioned lasso can be thrown to another player by creating a crossable bridge. Players' backpacks also serve as trampolines, making it easy to bond with a friend that boosts or avoids treacherous terrain. These freeform, system-based co-op mechanics look incredibly appealing, so here's hoping it all comes together in the end.

issued

2026

ESRB

teenager

developer(s)

Windup

Publisher(s)

Night's Peak

Multiplayer

Online co-op

Wheelmates

• Wheelmates Release date: TBA 2026

Wheelmates Basically a video game representation of what most kids think RC car racing is like. My wild 3rd-grade imagination might have pictured the RC weaving deftly throughout my house, leaping impossibly into the air, climbing up walls, and overall behaving more like a house fish than a mini motorized vehicle. This is more or less what it is Wheelmateswhich sees you and a partner playing as dismantled RC cars completing platforming and puzzle challenges.

Its multiplayer systems include cooperative puzzle-solving (such as one player pressing a button to open a door for another player) and exploration, which includes areas that can obviously be accessed with the help of another player. Wheelmates Something is real Honey I shrunk the kids and Hot wheels Energy, and it looks gorgeous.

classes

• classes Release Date: Summer 2026

Amazingly similar It takes two and Split Fiction on the surface, classes Boasting a hypnotic 90s anime aesthetic and a high-stakes sci-fi action story. Games like Hazlight, classes Designed with multiplayer in mind rather than being a single-player game can Play with two people. In other words, puzzles, platforming challenges, and the like are all built around two-person cooperation.

The game follows Omura and Maki, two space explorers whose station is caught in a “supernatural cosmic storm” and is on the verge of total collapse. Together, they must venture through deep space to find a solution, braving countless dangers in the process. It promises a more dramatic – though still Saturday-morning cartoon – tone classes An exciting and entertaining cooperative adventure.

systems

issued

2026

ESRB

T for teenagers

developer(s)

Shapeform KK

Publisher(s)

Kepler Interactive

Multiplayer

Online co-op, local co-op

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IKUMA – Frozen Compass

• IKUMA – Frozen Compass Release date: TBA 2026

If you are looking for a cool and atmospheric game to share with a friend IKUMA – Frozen Compass Might be up your alley. It comes from Mooneye Studios, whose previous work has been defined more by laid-back exploration and satisfying movement than challenge or tension. IKUMA Seems like a lot is cut from the same cloth.

Players assume the role of a young boy, Sam, and his dog Ellie, as they brave the treacherous Arctic to find their way home. As you may have already guessed, you can play as both Sam and Ellie, which is where the cooperative multiplayer elements come into play. Knowing the studio's history, it will be interesting to see how deep the human and dog gameplay mechanics go, and how different they are from each other.

issued

2026

developer(s)

Muni Studio

Publisher(s)

Muni Studio

Multiplayer

local cooperative

Number of players

1-2 players

Haunted Claws

• Haunted Claws Release date: TBA

Haunted Claws There may not be a release window yet, but I guess I couldn't resist including one more dog-type co-op game. In this cute-horror adventure title, two players create their own dogs and embark on a treacherous journey through a haunted mansion, where their “best human friend” is trapped. To free them, the dogs must solve various puzzles and face terrifying creatures, relying on each other and using their dog abilities along the way. It's a game that tries to strike a balance between heartwarming and scary,

And I, for one, will be watching it with great interest.

systems

developer(s)

LazyFlock

Publisher(s)

LazyFlock

Multiplayer

Local co-op, online co-op

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