In the first one, you could drop in and out of each other’s games and you would share progress on relevant missions. In number 2 you would join one players game, only they would get credit for any progress and it tethered you together.
So although technically co-op, it was a significant downgrade from the first game and didn’t lend itself to the open world nature of the game, more like being player 2.
I have a co-op buddy too and heaps of good suggestions from others here. Two that I’ve been enjoying as 2 person co-op:
Wartales: started this after completing BG3 and it was a real interesting change in thinking. This is fantasy party adventure, but you run a team of mercenaries, so it’s more about the team build and strategy, rather than the specific character focus that you have in BG3.
The Wild Eight: an isometric survival, crafting, set in a plane crash in the snow. Some story, discovery elements included.
In the first one, you could drop in and out of each other’s games and you would share progress on relevant missions. In number 2 you would join one players game, only they would get credit for any progress and it tethered you together. So although technically co-op, it was a significant downgrade from the first game and didn’t lend itself to the open world nature of the game, more like being player 2.