Hey guys!

I'm looking for a cRPG to play with a friend and atm I'm torn between Icewind Dale, Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate.

How does co-op work in each one?
I don't want the second player to just feel like a helper or sidekick. Which one has the best co-op in that regard?

Thanks!

In Baldur's Gate one of the characters is THE "main character" of the story -- the central storyline will heavily revolve around this person. The other person will very much feel like they're along for the ride.

Icewind Dale does not have a single protagonist -- the storyline treats your party as a collective group and doesn't call out any single character.

Neverwinter Nights offers the greatest variety. The out-of-the-box campaign included with the game is sorta "meh", but the game truly shines when you start playing through the amazing treasure trove of custom adventures (called "modules") that other players have made. How co-op is handled depends entirely on the module. But there are many that would fit exactly what you're looking for with both players feeling like they're equal partners in the adventure.