Best Games to Play with Friends After School: From Casual Fun to Epic Co-Op Adventures

Multiplayer games have always been one of the easiest ways to unwind with friends. After school, it’s a familiar routine everyone logs on, and the session just runs.

There’s a lot to choose from now. Whether you’re into fast rounds or slower co-op, short bursts or longer progress, most of the good games today can fit whatever you’re in the mood for. Some focus on teamwork, some just let you mess around. The best ones land somewhere in between.

Game	Release	Genre	Developer
Terraria	2011-05-16	Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure	Re-Logic
Stardew Valley	2016-02-26	Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure	ConcernedApe
Minecraft Java Bedrock Edition	2022-06-07	Adventure	Mojang Studios
Baldurs Gate 3	2020-10-06	Adventure & Tactical	Larian Studios
EA SPORTS FC 26	2025-09-26	Sport	EA Vancouver
Deep Rock Galactic	2018-02-28	Indie & Adventure	Ghost Ship Games
Peak	2025-06-16	Indie & Adventure	Aggro Crab Games
REPO	2025-02-26	Adventure	semiwork
HELLDIVERS 2	2024-02-08	Tactical & Shooter	Arrowhead Game Studios
Elden Ring Nightreign	2025-05-30	Role-playing (RPG)	FromSoftware
Monster Hunter Wilds	2025-02-28	Adventure & Hack and slash/Beat 'em up	CAPCOM
Dead By Daylight	2016-06-14	Strategy	Behaviour Digital Inc.

Terraria

Release date:	2011-05-16
Genre:	Adventure & Platform & Role-playing (RPG) & Simulator & Strategy & Indie
Developer:	Re-Logic

Terraria mixes a simple look with surprising depth. You start with basic tools and a blank world, then dig underground, gather resources, and fight enemies while slowly building something that looks like your own.

Image credit: Re-Logic

The map is generated fresh every time. What starts small can scale up fast, especially if you’re playing with others.

Co-op lets one player focus on crafting while another explores, or you can just stick together and clear through the tougher areas as a group.

You may like it because
World is different each time Teamwork adds to progression without forcing roles Combat, building, and exploration are balanced Works well for both short play and longer runs

Terraria

Release date:	2016-02-26
Genre:	Role-playing (RPG) & Simulator & Strategy & Indie & Adventure
Developer:	ConcernedApe

Stardew Valley starts with a simple setup. You inherit an old farm plot from your grandfather and move out of the city to take it over. With a few basic tools and some coins, your job is to turn that overgrown land into something worth living on.

Image credit: ConcernedApe

The game moves at your pace. You can plant crops, raise animals, explore caves, or spend time getting to know the townspeople. Each villager has a personality and a schedule

The game works well for groups that want a longer-term project. You do not have to all play at once, but when you do, it feels like progress is shared.

You may like it because
Relaxed pace and long-term goals fit group play Shared tasks make co-op feel productive Over 30 characters to interact with Up to 8 people can play together online or locally

Stardew Valley

Release date:	2013-11-19
Genre:	Simulator & Adventure
Developer:	Mojang Studios

Minecraft is built around simplicity. You start in a world made of blocks, with nothing in your inventory. From there, it is up to you how to play.

Image credit: Mojang Studios

There are two main ways to play. Creative mode gives you full access to every block and tool. It is good for building without limits. Survival mode adds hunger, enemies, and health. You gather resources, craft gear, and try to stay alive.

Minecraft is flexible and works for any kind of group. Whether you want to build a town, run custom maps, or just hang out and dig, it fits.

You may like it because
Everyone can go off and do their own thing You can build something small or spend days on a huge project Some people like survival, others just want to build both work Each world starts different, so you never get the same map twice

Minecraft

Release date:	2018-02-28
Genre:	Shooter & Adventure & Indie
Developer:	Ghost Ship Games

Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative shooter where you play as space dwarves sent into dangerous caves to complete missions.

Image credit: Ghost Ship Games

Each mission takes place in a procedurally generated environment. You never see the same layout twice.

Playing solo is possible, but the game is clearly made for a group. Each class complements the others, and teamwork is often the only way to finish a mission.

You may like it because
Maps change each time, so missions don’t repeat Each class has its own job Moving and fighting is quick Missions are short, so you can play even with limited time

Deep Rock Galactic

Release date:	2020-10-06
Genre:	Role-playing (RPG) & Strategy
Developer:	Larian Studios

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a role-playing game where combat is turn-based and decisions stick. You guide a team through a long fantasy campaign. Everyone in the party has their own skills, and choices shape what happens next.

Image credit: Larian Studios

Fights take place in turns. You move characters across the map, set up spells or attacks, and try to stay ahead of enemies. In co-op, each player controls one or more characters. You can stay together or split off and explore separately.

Multiplayer is slow-paced. It works best with a regular group that enjoys long sessions.

You may like it because
Co-op is fully supported for the whole campaign Everyone can make their own choices Turn-based system keeps things organized Choices carry over and shape later events

Baldur’s Gate 3

Release date:	2025-02-26
Genre:	Adventure
Developer:	semiwork

R.E.P.O. is a co-op horror game where up to six players head into dark, unstable environments to recover physical objects. The tone is strange but not overdone.

Image credit:

You are working for a mysterious boss and dragging stuff like pianos and dishes through creepy buildings filled with unpredictable creatures.

Players use voice chat that only works when you are near each other in-game, so staying close has more than one benefit.

You may like it because
Teamwork is required to move items and avoid danger Voice chat is tied to distance, which boosts immersion Each mission is unpredictable Gameplay mixes humor, horror, and shared problem-solving

R.E.P.O.

Release date:	2025-06-16
Genre:	Indie
Developer:	Aggro Crab Games

PEAK is a co-op climbing game where you and your group try to escape a mysterious island by reaching the summit at its center. You play as scouts, and the only way out is up.

Image credit: Aggro Crab Games

You can go alone, but the game is built for teams. Players use ropes, hooks, and other tools to help each other climb ledges and cross tricky gaps.

There is no open matchmaking. You play with people you know. Voice chat is distance-based, like in R.E.P.O. That adds a layer of urgency, especially when someone gets left behind or needs help fast.

You may like it because
Climbing mechanics force players to cooperate Daily map shifts keep the challenge fresh Tools and hazards change how each run plays out Requires communication and planning under pressure

PEAK

Release date:	2024-02-08
Genre:	Shooter & Tactical
Developer:	Arrowhead Game Studios

Helldivers 2 is a team shooter where you and a squad fight to clear alien threats across different planets. It plays from a third-person view. The tone is chaotic and brutal.

Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios

The combat is messy in a good way. Aliens swarm. Explosions go off. Blood sprays. Friendly fire is on by default, so players need to watch their aim or risk taking out teammates by accident.

You can play solo, but that is not really the point. The game is best with three other players who communicate.

You may like it because
Co-op requires timing and positioning Combat is intense and unforgiving A wide range of gear and strategies keeps it flexible Friendly fire forces players to work together, not just rush in

Helldivers 2

Release date:	2025-09-26
Genre:	Sport, Football Sim
Developer:	EA Vancouver

FC 26 is the latest football sim in the EA series. It keeps the usual core, with updated teams, new animations, and gameplay tweaks based on community feedback.

Image credit: EA Vancouver

You can play solo, compete online, or run local matches with friends.There are new live challenges, which drop short-term objectives with story elements tied to the season.

If your group likes friendly competition, it’s a strong option.

You may like it because
Local and online co-op work for different setups Fast matches make it easy to jump in and out Supports casual and ranked play Shared teams allow friends to build and compete together

FC 26

Release date:	2025-05-30
Genre:	Role-playing (RPG)
Developer:	FromSoftware

Elden Ring Nightreign is set up like a continuation of the original, but with new areas and systems layered onto the same type of structure.

Image credit: FromSoftware

You can play solo or bring others into your game. Co-op is supported, though limited in some ways depending on how the world state is set. There are also competitive modes where players can invade others or join factions that affect PvP.

Like the base game, there’s a mix of tough enemies, bosses with long health bars, and hidden items behind hard-to-reach areas.

You may like it because
Co-op lets you face tough areas with a friend PvP adds tension to open-world travel Shared discoveries give real value to team play Combat stays skill-based with little room for error

Elden Ring Nightreign

Release date:	2025-02-28
Genre:	Role-playing (RPG) & Hack and slash/Beat 'em up & Adventure
Developer:	CAPCOM

Monster Hunter Wilds follows the same loop as past entries. You pick a monster, gear up, track it, fight it, carve parts, and repeat. That loop works because every hunt feels different.

Image credit: CAPCOM

You play as a hunter sent into large open maps. These are not small arenas. You might chase a target across several zones before finishing the job. Some fights last ten minutes, some take longer.

Multiplayer is built into the structure. You can join other hunts mid-session or invite friends into yours. Team play is not mandatory, but it makes certain targets easier. Everyone contributes differently depending on the loadout.

You may like it because
Team hunts let you share roles and adjust strategy Cross-platform support makes grouping easier Gear variety gives each player a purpose Environmental changes keep hunts unpredictable

Monster Hunter Wilds

Playing after school is a great way to relax together. Whether it’s a quick session or a longer getaway, each of these games offers something to share.