If you’ve exhausted all your board games, watched all of Netflix’s Tiger King, and have no clue what else to do to pass the time during quarantine, it might be time to boot up your gaming laptop or desktop PC and play some co-op games on Steam.
Steam is the most popular game client on PCs, and its newest feature, quietly released in November, is called Remote Play Together. It lets people play local multiplayer games over the internet. One player streams the game to another player's screen, and the two are able to enjoy couch co-op games without being in the same home.
Only one copy of a game is required for two or more people to utilize this feature. This means that when it comes to just about any supported local multiplayer game, as long as you own it, your pal(s) can play it. And since the software is being streamed from your hardware, it doesn't matter if your friends have a laptop, PC, or even a smartphone—they'll be able to play the most graphically demanding games your computer can handle right alongside you.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to Remote Play Together, along with recommendations for a handful of great games that utilize the feature well.
First, check out Valve's recommended system specs. It advises "a minimum of a quad-core CPU for the computer running the game." The client PC "should have a GPU that supports hardware accelerated H.264 decoding."
Most modern machines meet those requirements. More importantly, the person hosting the game should ideally rely on a wired Ethernet connection, but you might have a good enough experience if you have a strong Wi-Fi network.
The next steps are fairly easy:
Make sure you and your friend both have up-to-date Steam clients. Having the same version number is essential. You can tap on Steam in the top bar and click Check for Steam Client Updates to make sure you’re on the latest version.
Boot up the local multiplayer game you want to play. You can filter your game library (or the Steam store page) to show you games that support Remote Play Together.
Once the game has booted, open your in-game Steam overlay (Shift + Tab), click on your friend's name, and you'll see an option to invite them to Remote Play Together. Select that and you're done!
Remote Play Together is a new feature, so you might encounter a few issues or bugs. Here are a few common troubleshooting solutions to basic problems.
If you can't invite a friend to Remote Play Together, make sure your Steam clients are updated to the latest version and that you're either both opted in or out of the client beta, since disparities can cause issues. When in doubt, opt out of the beta for the best odds of troubleshooting success.
In the event your friend receives an error message when accepting your invitation, try re-inviting them. Sometimes canceling the old invite and sending a new one is all it takes to get things running.
Unplug and reconnect all controllers, keyboards, and mice if someone's inputs aren't being detected. Controllers are ideal for most games, since only one detected keyboard's inputs are allowed during Remote Play Together.
If you're game-sharing your library with the person you want to remote play with: have them try to host the session if there are technical issues when you host. Having a different host can remedy all issues in one fell swoop, if you're lucky.
Depending on the speed and consistency of your internet connection, some of these games might be more fun than others. Still, all of them are an absolute blast for Remote Play Together. For more options, check out this list from Steam and our guide to the Best Co-Op Games. A good gaming headset also helps.
Cuphead: Though even the tiniest bit of lag from streaming can cause headaches in Cuphead due to its emphasis on precision, the sheer thrill of having online co-op in this game eclipses it. It’s the perfect time sink for hardcore gaming pals to dig into while social distancing, since it's hard as nails and requires hours of cooperative practice to master.
Guacamelee: Guacamelee 1 and 2 are among the best action-platformers out there, especially if you invite one, two, or three luchador friends along for the ride. Fans of platformers, 2D brawlers, and memes will all get a kick out of this series.
Lego games: Whether you're a Lego Star Wars, Lego Lord of the Rings, or Lego Batman kind of person, you can Remote Play Together with all of them. These games have never had traditional online multiplayer, but now you can play any of them cooperatively with a friend over the internet.
Gang Beasts: This is a weird, blobby brawler that's only enjoyable with two or more people, so having the ability to share your copy of this niche indie game with friends is a godsend. Gang Beasts' unique brand of beat-'em-up goodness is great for generating laughs and chaos.
Sonic Mania: If you want to square off in heated splitscreen races against your pals, this Sonic game is your best bet. Studiopolis Zone awaits!
Death Squared: This is a game about cute cubes working together to solve angular enigmas. Up to four people can play, making it great for groups of idle minds in need of some cerebral exercise.
If you buy something using the links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Here’s how this works. You can also support our reporting and reviewing by purchasing a 1-year print + digital WIRED subscription for $5 (Discounted).
- The mathematics of predicting the course of the coronavirus
- What to do if you (or a loved one) might have Covid-19
- First denial, then fear: patients in their own words
- Fun tools and tips to stay social while you’re stuck at home
- Should I stop ordering packages? (And other Covid-19 FAQs, answered)
- Read all of our coronavirus coverage here
