6 Co-op Roguelike Games on Steam for Two Players

Start with Ember Knights for top-down action, Ship of Fools for shared ship duties, or Gunfire Reborn for first-person shooting. If you share a computer, narrow the list to games with local co-op before choosing a combat style. Online co-op and couch co-op are separate features.

These co-op roguelike games on Steam for two include both roguelikes and roguelites: the common thread is repeated runs with changing builds or encounters, rather than one strict definition of the genre. Each supports a pair, even where a larger group can join. Selection and trade-offs below are based on official Steam descriptions checked on October 21, 2026, rather than hands-on testing.

Choose by the work you want to share

The setup column reflects the official feature listings and descriptions linked below. For the difference between native online play and streaming a local session, read our local co-op vs online co-op guide.

1. Ember Knights: for a pair who wants close-range action

Ember Knights combines fast combat, dodging, weapons, skills, and relics that change a run's build. Its developer explicitly encourages co-op players to coordinate combinations between their playstyles. Steam lists both online and shared-screen co-op. Official Steam page.

Choose it when both players want to fight actively while discussing what their builds can do together. The appeal is turning separate weapon and skill choices into a useful partnership. It is a better starting point for that goal than a game where one player mainly manages support tasks.

The trade-off is execution: timing attacks and dodges remains part of the challenge. If one partner wants to discuss every move before acting, build variety will not remove the need to react. Agree that learning enemy behavior and trying another run are activities you both want.

2. Ship of Fools: for a pair who wants one shared responsibility

Ship of Fools puts you and a shipmate aboard a vessel that needs defending and repairing. You operate cannons, fight sea creatures, combine item effects, and chart a route through a changing storm. Its Steam page lists online and shared-screen co-op, and specifies that a controller is required for local multiplayer. Official Steam page.

Choose it if your favorite teamwork involves noticing which shared job needs attention. The ship gives you a common problem beyond keeping your own character alive: firing effectively matters, but so does responding when the vessel needs help.

The drawback follows from that shared workload. A player who wants uninterrupted combat may dislike switching to repairs, while a pair seeking a quiet evening should consider the developer's emphasis on frantic encounters. This is our pick for coordinated duties, rather than independent adventures side by side.

3. Wizard of Legend: for a couch pair who wants spell combinations

Wizard of Legend is a fast dungeon crawler built around chaining spells and collecting relics. Its local co-op description specifically suggests equipping spells and items to complement your partner. Steam also lists Remote Play Together, which provides a streaming option for the local mode. Official Steam page.

Choose the original Wizard of Legend when experimenting with magical loadouts sounds more appealing than choosing guns or managing a ship. It gives a pair a concrete planning question: which spells should each wizard bring to make the combination interesting?

The limitation is the connection arrangement. The page documents couch co-op rather than a native online co-op feature, so distant friends should understand the streaming setup before buying. Our Steam Remote Play Together guide explains the process. Its emphasis on quick movement also makes this a poor substitute for turn-based planning.

4. Ravenswatch: for an online pair who wants distinct hero roles

Ravenswatch uses heroes drawn from tales and legends in a top-down action roguelike. Its official description emphasizes hero synergies, activities across changing maps, and building power before a chapter's boss confrontation. The Steam feature list specifies online co-op. Official Steam page.

Choose it if you want to compare how two different heroes work together while deciding what to pursue during a run. The draw is a partnership that extends beyond fighting the same target: choosing activities and developing complementary abilities are part of the documented structure.

The trade-off is time management. The developer describes a limited preparation period before confronting a boss, so a pair who wants unrestricted sightseeing should weigh that pressure. For this Steam recommendation, plan an online session; the cited page does not advertise couch co-op.

5. Gunfire Reborn: for an online pair who prefers first-person shooting

Gunfire Reborn combines first-person shooting with hero abilities, randomly dropped weapons, and procedural levels. The official description supports solo play or co-op with other players, while Steam lists online co-op. Official Steam page.

Choose it when both partners want the repeated-build structure but would rather aim weapons than watch combat from above. Hero abilities and changing equipment give the pair something to discuss between encounters, while shooting remains the central activity.

The drawback is the same distinction that makes it stand out. Someone comfortable with top-down action may still dislike first-person movement or aiming, so check that preference before treating it as an interchangeable alternative. It is an online pick here: the cited Steam features do not list shared-screen co-op. A pair sharing one computer should choose another entry with documented local support.

6. Risk of Rain Returns: for a pair who wants item interactions

Risk of Rain Returns is a side-view action roguelike with different Survivors and items that combine to change how a run behaves. The developer explicitly suggests choosing Survivors with complementary strengths and weaknesses, and documents both online and couch co-op. Official Steam page.

Choose it if discussing character combinations and discovering unexpected equipment interactions is what keeps you returning. Compared with Ship of Fools' shared maintenance duties, this is a recommendation for players who want the team's composition and accumulated loot to be the main conversation.

The trade-off is learning that variety. Different Survivors and unpredictable combinations are attractive if both players enjoy experimenting; they are less useful if one person wants a familiar, fixed kit every evening. Choose it for a pair interested in repeated discovery rather than a single cooperative story to finish.

Decide on the setup before the first run

For a shared computer, compare Ember Knights, Ship of Fools, Wizard of Legend, and Risk of Rain Returns first. For separate computers, Ravenswatch and Gunfire Reborn add different combat perspectives to the choices. Check each game's current system and input requirements on its own page; this list does not establish device compatibility or crossplay.

If repeated combat sounds less appealing than talking through a problem, our co-op puzzle games on Steam for two offer another direction. If you want to compare couch games beyond roguelikes, start with local co-op Steam games for two.