The RPG genre has continually provided some of the best experiences in gaming for many years. For instance, the likes of Skyrim, Persona 5, and Fallout 3 are incredible. However, those games, like many others in the genre, have one downside: they don't allow cooperative play.
Co-op enhances pretty much any game. Just think of how incredible Mass Effect would be if there were two of you running the Normandy. Yet, it's pretty rare to see in RPGs. That doesn't mean no entry in the genre offers this type of experience, though. For example, the following role-playing games are great to play with friends.
8 Wasteland 3
In Wasteland 3, you take control of a ranger team from Arizona that is in need of help in the post-apocalyptic world. So, you visit the frozen wasteland of Colorado and meet the locals. However, instead of immediate assistance, you're given jobs to do.
Most of these jobs revolve around speaking to people and taking part in isometric turn-based battles. You also have an abundance of difficult choices to make that heavily impact the world around you. You can experience all of this with a friend by your side - yet, you may have to put up with some bugs.
7 Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley combines role-playing elements with life simulation ones. The result is a relaxing game about farming. At the beginning of your adventure, you inherit a farm from your deceased grandfather. It's in pretty bad shape at the time. However, that is the point, as your goal is to build the place up.
Besides improving the farm, there's no real objective in this one. You can fish, forage, talk to locals, or do pretty much whatever you want. It's your virtual life, after all. And you can invite a buddy to join you in the experience as a loyal farmhand.
6 Diablo 3
When it comes to the RPG genre, few series are as famous as Diablo. After all, the series has been around since the '90s and is still popular today. Each entry is set in a fantasy world and features isometric real-time combat.
You start the third one by choosing between several character classes, which all have their own abilities and voice actors. Once you've selected your character, you head out on a dark adventure, which sees you face off against all sorts of beasts, from ghouls to bats to scarabs. You can fight them all with up to three friends by your side.
5 Magicka
Magicka is set in a fantasy world filled with goblins, orcs, oversized spiders, and other classic fantasy creatures. You and potentially three others play as mages who go on an adventure to stop all the evil beings causing problems for the populace. Admittedly, it isn't the most compelling RPG storyline of all time, but the gameplay more than makes up for it.
Since you play as mages, the game is mostly about casting spells. You don't just do that with a single button press, though. You have access to various elements, and you must combine them to figure out different spells. The system encourages experimentation.
4 Torchlight 2
At the beginning of Torchlight 2, the titular town gets destroyed due to the actions of The Alchemist. Naturally, it's up to your character to hunt the villain down and stop their rampage. To do that, you must enter and explore a bunch of different dungeons. This is, after all, a dungeon crawler at heart. Yet, you don't spend all your time underground, as you explore plenty of other places.
Most locations you visit, though, include enemies of some sort. You must use your skills and fighting ability to take them out. Alternatively, you can invite five other players on your journey and have them do the hard work.
3 Monster Hunter: World
As the game is titled Monster Hunter: World, you can probably guess what you do in this one. To put it simply, you hunt monsters. These aren't just any beasts, though. These are large and powerful creatures that even the best hunters in gaming would struggle to take down. And you don't play as some super-powered being.
You're just a talented hunter that has to kill or trap the various beasts that are roaming around the nearby environment. It's a tall task, but not one you need to tackle alone. You can team up with three others to hunt these creatures.
2 Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2 is what you get when you mix an RPG with an FPS and add a bit of wackiness. The story revolves around a group of Vault Hunters who intend to stop the evil and very funny Handsome Jack. It all takes place on the wild planet of Pandora.
You must survive this dangerous world while completing quests and fighting various foes. There is a litany of different types of weapons at your disposal to help you accomplish that. Plus, you get a special ability, which is dictated by your choice of class. Three teammates can join you online, or you can play with one through split-screen.
1 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Disaster strikes early in Divinity Original Sin 2, as the veil between the beautiful fantasy world of Rivellon and the dark Void is weakened. Thus, creatures from the latter come through and invade the former. The main hope for stopping them is, of course, the protagonists. It's a classic RPG tale that you can influence with your choices and actions.
The combat is turn-based. In fact, it's one of the most enjoyable turn-based RPGs in recent memory due to the focus on strategy. This isn't a game where you can just spam the same attack a bunch of times to achieve victory. You need to make use of your environment and different party members. And if you're not the best strategizer, you can bring up to three friends along with you to help.