Best Early Access co-op games that are still being updated (2026)
Short answer
Jump Space, TaleSpire, VEIN and Roadside Research have the steadiest update records of any Early Access co-op game with a solid review base right now. Subnautica 2, Grounded 2 and Project Zomboid are the biggest co-op games that are still patching regularly.
Buying an Early Access game for a group is a bigger bet than buying one for yourself. If the studio stops patching, four people are stuck with the same bugs. So this list starts with one question: which co-op gamesare still getting regular updates?
Every game below has Co-op or Online Co-op in its Steam store categories, at least 1,000 reviews with 80% or more positive, and an update in the last 30 days. They are ordered by consistency score, which rewards a steady schedule over the occasional big patch. All numbers come from our daily checks of Steam, as of October 24, 2026.
Which Early Access co-op games are still being updated?
| Game | Last update (2026) | Consistency |
|---|---|---|
| Jump Space | Oct 13 | 94, Very consistent |
| TaleSpire | Oct 15 | 94, Very consistent |
| VEIN | Oct 20 | 88, Very consistent |
| Roadside Research | Oct 19 | 84, Very consistent |
| ASKA | Oct 9 | 77, Consistent |
| Subnautica 2 | Oct 6 | 73, Consistent |
| Sunkenland | Oct 19 | 71, Consistent |
| Cave Crawlers | Oct 19 | 71, Consistent |
| Grounded 2 | Oct 20 | 69, Consistent |
| Cosmoteer | Oct 16 | 68, Consistent |
| Species: Unknown | Oct 9 | 68, Consistent |
| Sky: Children of the Light | Oct 15 | 66, Consistent |
| Project Zomboid | Sep 28 | 60, Consistent |
The steadiest schedules
Jump Space has been in Early Access since September 19, 2025 and has missed only onemonth since. Its last patch note went out on October 13, and it scores 94. TaleSpire matches that score with a much longer record. It entered Early Access in April 2021 and still had updates in 11 of the last 12 months, which is rare for a game that old.
VEIN scores 88 and pushed a beta build on October 20. It turned one year old in Early Access on October 24, 2026, with updates in 10 of its first 12 months. Roadside Research is the newest game in the top group. It launched on February 12, 2026, has had an update in 7 months since then, and posted a patch note on October 19.
Big co-op games that are still patching
Subnautica 2 has the most reviews of the newer games here, at 129,035. It entered Early Access on May 14, 2026 and has had an update in every one of the 6 months since, for a score of 73. Grounded 2 had updates in 11 of the last 12 months and shipped a patch note on October 20. Its score is a little lower, 69, because the gaps between updates are uneven.
Project Zomboid is the biggest game on the list by far, with 490,611 reviews. Its last patch note was September 28, and it scores 60. That is consistent, though it updates in larger, less frequent drops than the games above it.
Smaller co-op games worth a look
Cave Crawlers and Cosmoteer have some of the best review scores here, 93% and 94% positive. Both updated in the last 10 days. Species: Unknown is also 94% positive, with updates in 11 of the last 12 months. ASKA and Sunkenland are both survival builders with a score above 70 and a patch note in October.
What about Phasmophobia and Schedule I?
Phasmophobia and Schedule I are two of the most reviewed co-op games in Early Access, with 841,857 and 320,839 reviews. Both shipped something in early October, and both had updates in 10 of the last 12 months. They each score 58 because their updates arrive in bursts with long quiet stretches between them. Neither one is abandoned. You just should not expect a patch every few weeks.
How to pick a co-op game your group will keep playing
- Check the last update date, including beta builds. Anything inside 30 days is a good sign.
- Look at how many of the last 12 months had an update. Ten or more means the team ships on a rhythm.
- Read the latest patch note for multiplayer fixes. Desyncs and host migration bugs are the usual pain points.
- Check the Steam store categories for Online Co-op. Player tags are less reliable.
- Make sure everyone can run it. One friend with an old laptop can end a session before it starts.
Common mistakes
- Buying four copies on the strength of a launch trailer from two years ago.
- Reading a high review score as proof the game is still supported. Reviews keep piling up after the updates stop.
- Missing that a game only updates its beta branch. Steam's own notice only reads the public branch.
The short version
For the safest pick, go with Jump Space, TaleSpire or VEIN. If your group wants something bigger, Subnautica 2 and Grounded 2 are both patching regularly. For more steady games outside co-op, see the most consistent devs list, or check what shipped in the last few days on updated this week.
Frequently asked questions
Which Early Access co-op game updates most regularly?
Jump Space and TaleSpire both have a consistency score of 94, with updates in 11 of the last 12 months. VEIN is close behind at 88, with updates in 10 of the last 12 months.
Is Subnautica 2 still being updated?
Yes. It entered Early Access on May 14, 2026, has had an update in each of the 6 months since, and posted its latest patch note on October 6. Its consistency score is 73.
Is Grounded 2 still in Early Access?
Yes. Grounded 2 is still listed as Early Access on Steam. It had updates in 11 of the last 12 months and posted a patch note on October 20, 2026.
How did you decide which games count as co-op?
Every game here lists Co-op or Online Co-op in its Steam store categories, not just in player tags. We also left out games with fewer than 1,000 reviews or under 80% positive.
Why are Phasmophobia and Schedule I not at the top?
Both are huge and both updated in October, but their updates come in bursts. Each scores 58, which we call Irregular. They are still being worked on, just not on an even schedule.