Summary
Gaming is always best in the company of others. Whether with random strangers in online multiplayer or your close companions in couch co-op, video games are most delightful when the experience is shared. However, with cooperative play, you may not always be in the mood for intense gameplay.
There are a wealth of games out theredesigned to be as relaxing as possible. Just like most titles, even these cushy offerings can be elevated when you’re playing with friends. These games provide some of the more stress-free, cooperative experiences you’re able to have with your buddies.
Updated on July 31, 2025, by PJ Molloy:When times get stressful, cozy games and friends are a great way to unwind. We’ve updated the list with more must-play recommendations with relaxing multiplayer gameplay.
13Galaxy Burger
A Cooking Sim In Space
Have you ever wanted to serve burgers to cats in mech suits? You can in Galaxy Burger. Set in the distant future, the game has you manage an intergalactic fast food restaurant where you serve whimsical sci-fi creatures, many of which are kittens. Take their order, cook them a tasty meal, and hope for a good review. The more you play, the more recipes you unlock.
The gameplay is all about listening. Customers are very particular about how they want their burgers prepared. Pay attention and make sure you’re cooking it to their satisfaction. There’s even online co-op, allowing you to play with up to seven friends.
12Handshakes
A Free-To-Play Puzzler
Handshakes isa free-to-play co-op puzzle gamewith a delightfully silly concept. You and a buddy each control a person with remarkably stretchy arms. The goal is to shake each other’s hands without moving from your designated spot. The catch? Your arms can only stretch so far. It’s up to you to push blocks, open doors, and hold down buttons to make it possible for your hands to touch.
It’s a short yet wonderful campaign with many clever brain-teasers to get the gears turning in your head. Thankfully, the puzzles never get too challenging, resulting in a laid-back, stress-free experience perfect for a cozy afternoon.
It’s sometimes fascinating how mundane jobs can become enjoyable when translated into the video game medium, such as a doctor, barista, and even a rock. If you’re looking for the perfect simulator game to play with friends, look no further than PowerWash Simulator.
PowerWash Simulator puts you in the role of a cleaner in the town of Muckingham. With the help of your friends, your job is to polish the streets and the assortment of arbitrary locations as you build up your business.
Sea of Thieves was a disappointment when it first came out. While praised for its visuals, the game was held back because there was nothing to do. In order to have any kind of fun, you really had to venture out for it.
Thankfully, with several substantial updates, Sea of Thieves has become the game it seemed destined to be. You can go around getting into quarrels and ship battles, but just coasting through the sea with your crew can prove quite the serene time-killer.
Re-Logic’s Terraria has been one of thequintessential sandbox titles for years. Although it’s often compared to fellow genre juggernaut Minecraft, it does many things to stand out from its blocky cousin.
You can choose to fight through the game’s 2D world, but if you’re just seeking to loosen up, Terraria presents an abundance of options. It’s plenty satisfying playing solo, but much like any quality sandbox game, it’s vastly more entertaining to play with friends.
As soon as you launch Core Keeper, you’re placed in a small room with some wood and one major building, the Core. Your job is to dig your way out of the area and explore around, uncovering new biomes, bosses, and even walls that can stop you from going further until you’ve completed the challenge.
While the general idea of this game sounds not-so-cozy, you may have a surprising amount of chill vibes from it if you take it easy and don’t rush through the biomes. As you unlock more biomes, you can even just relax and make your ore and wood farming completely automated.
Depending on who you ask, space is either enticing or intimidating. Even though humanity still knows disturbingly little about what’s out there in the cosmos, that hasn’t stopped hundreds of games from tackling the wonders of the universe.
Astroneer presents the idea of space exploration through a colorful lens. Whether you decide to journey by yourself or with friends, Astroneer gives you a vast cluster of distinctive planets to explore. There might be an end, but it’s recommended you take your time.
Puzzle platform games can encompass everything from gentle serenity to rapid intensity. Whereas certain subgenres like run-and-gun are action-packed affairs, there are other variants of puzzle platformers, which can be pretty calming.
Human Fall Flat is that rare combination of comedy, puzzle, and leisure. The rag-doll nature might make the game receptive to all sorts of shenanigans, but it’s the gradual pace coupled with the soothing music that makes Human Fall Flat a particularly tranquil title.
To say Minecraft has been a success is an understatement. Not only is Minecraft one of the bestselling video games ever, but it’s one of those rare cases of a title breaking through the barrier between gaming and pop culture.
Even though Minecraft has evolved over the years, it’s a relatively pure and amiable game at its core. The suite of tunes that coat the Minecraft blanket does wonders at easing you in. When you have friends along, it’s a fruitful time for all.
When Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out in 2020, it was an instant hit, evoking cozy vibes that were much needed at the time.
Like other entries in the series, New Horizons embraces pleasant vibes, this time on your island. Between interactions with villagers, fishing, archaeology, and boundless creation, New Horizons took full advantage of people’s need for escape and to form a long-distance connection with friends.
