- Games
- Sanctum 2
Sanctum 2
A four-player shooter where you build tower mazes and fight the aliens trying to reach your core.
Online co-op for up to 4 players.
- 4 online
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op4 players
- Local co-opNot confirmed
- Not confirmedFriends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- YesA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckVerifiedValve's own rating
About the game
You defend oxygen-producing cores from alien waves on LOEK III. Before an attack, you place walls to shape the route and spend resources on towers. Once the enemies arrive, you fight among your own defenses in first person. You choose a character, weapons, towers and perks before each map, then adjust your defenses between waves.
Up to four players share the same defense online. Different guns suit different targets, and the group can cover separate approaches when enemies arrive from several directions. Picking a useful mix of towers matters as much as landing shots on weak points. Completing maps raises your rank and opens more equipment, while optional difficulty modifiers give you reasons to return to earlier missions.
How it feels
Kind of game
A team takes on missions or runs full of enemies. You pick gear, cover each other and pick each other up.
- At its heart
- Now and then
- Laughter and chaos
- Calm and coziness
- Story
- Time to hang out
- Exploring
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- About
- Science fiction, Monsters
Rated on our own feel scale. 3 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked Sanctum 2
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
4:LOOP
Why it scores 89%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Science fiction and Monsters
- Core to both
- Fighting
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
How 4:LOOP differs
- Less building than Sanctum 2
- A roguelike, so every run starts over
- Not out yet
- 4 online
- Crossplay
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both are about science fiction and monsters that hunt you. Both have a lot of fighting side by side.
But less building than Sanctum 2.
Far Far West
Why it scores 88%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Science fiction and Monsters
- Core to both
- Fighting
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
How Far Far West differs
- Less building than Sanctum 2
- Early access
- 4 online
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both play in runs or missions you repeat. Both are about science fiction and monsters that hunt you.
But less building than Sanctum 2.
Killing Floor 2
Why it scores 88%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Squad shooter
- About
- Science fiction and Monsters
- Core to both
- Fighting
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op
How Killing Floor 2 differs
- Scarier than Sanctum 2
- Less building than Sanctum 2
- 6 online
Both send your squad into fights where you watch each other's backs. Both are about science fiction and monsters that hunt you. Both have a lot of fighting side by side.
But scarier than Sanctum 2.
All co-op facts
Last checked 24 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Local co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Not confirmed
- Split or shared screen
- Not confirmed
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
- 1
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Crossplay
- Not confirmed
- Crossplay between
- Not confirmed
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Sources
6 pages
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online, Platforms, Release status, Release date, Laughter and chaos, Sessions, Genres, Free base co-op.
- Online co-op: The current store lists native online co-op.
- Most players online: The feature list explicitly identifies four-player co-op.
- Platforms: The buyable Steam release lists Windows, macOS and Linux requirements.
- Release status: The base game has a purchase option and a past release date.
- Release date: The store dates the release to May 15, 2013.
- Laughter and chaos: The Funny player label supports occasional humour, rather than frequent comic failure.
- Sessions: Maps, survival play and difficulty modifiers support returning to individual missions.
- Genres: The publisher description explicitly names FPS and tower defense and uses a Deep Strategy heading.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID.
- Steam app ID: Steam identifies Sanctum 2 as app 210770.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Verified on Steam Deck.
coffeestain.comOfficial site, read 24 October 2026
Backs Most players online, Genres, About, Building and creating, Story, Unlocks and progress, Planning ahead.
- Most players online: The feature heading specifies four-player co-op.
- Genres: The maker explicitly describes first-person shooting and tower defense with strategic loadout selection.
- About: Future oxygen cores and hostile aliens establish science fiction and monsters.
- Building and creating: Designing mazes and placing defensive towers are central activities.
- Story: Comic pages unlocked after maps explain the alien conflict.
- Unlocks and progress: Rank increases unlock weapons, towers and perks.
- Planning ahead: You choose towers, weapons and perks and design the paths enemies must follow.
gamewatcher.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Kind of game, Tension and danger, Calm and coziness, Working in sync, Exploring, Fighting, Time to hang out, Getting better.
- Kind of game: The May 28, 2013 PC review describes complementary armed characters covering alien approaches together.
- Tension and danger: Enemy waves threaten the core and bosses can destroy defenses.
- Calm and coziness: The review separates building periods from active defense rounds.
- Working in sync: Different weapons and separated entrances give the group useful roles.
- Exploring: Decorative side areas and a few hidden items give limited reasons to look around.
- Fighting: Players shoot alongside their towers during repeated alien attacks.
- Time to hang out: Planning defenses between waves offers short breaks, while fights keep attention on the map.
- Getting better: Weak-point aiming and adapting to mixed enemy types reward practice.
shacknews.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online, Friends can join mid-game.
- Online co-op: The May 24, 2013 review describes public and private online sessions.
- Most players online: The review describes a team of four with different classes.
- Friends can join mid-game: The reviewer explicitly says friends can enter and leave at any time.