🛋️The 22 Best Couch Co-op Games Ever Made
Local multiplayer never actually died, it just stopped being the default. These are the games worth buying a second controller for, grouped by era so you can find one that matches the console already under your TV.
Every entry here supports two or more players on a single screen — no online requirement, no second console.
Modern couch co-op
It Takes Two (2021)
- PC
- PS5
- Xbox Series X|S
- Switch
Designed exclusively for two, with a new mechanic every twenty minutes and a friend pass so only one copy is needed.
Split Fiction (2025)
- PC
- PS5
- Xbox Series X|S
Hazelight's follow-up, alternating between sci-fi and fantasy worlds. Same friend-pass model, same relentless invention.
Overcooked! 2 (2018)
- PC
- PS5
- Xbox
- Switch
Kitchen chaos that will test any relationship, in short escalating levels. Up to four players.
Baldur's Gate 3 (2023)
- PS5
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC
Full split-screen co-op through a 100-hour campaign, with each player free to wander off entirely.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (2022)
- PC
- PS5
- Xbox
- Switch
Nine films, drop-in two-player and no fail state. The default recommendation for playing with a child.
Cuphead (2017)
- PC
- PS4
- Xbox
- Switch
Hand-drawn boss rush that is genuinely hard, with a second player who can revive you. Beautiful and merciless.
Streets of Rage 4 (2020)
- PC
- PS4
- Xbox
- Switch
Modern beat 'em up with four-player local support and a soundtrack worth playing loud. Stages run ten minutes.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
- Switch
Four-player split screen, 96 tracks, and the most forgiving racing handling Nintendo has made. Still the party default.
Split-screen classics
GoldenEye 007 (1997)
- N64
- Switch (NSO)
- Xbox
Four-player deathmatch with proximity mines and the licence to argue about screen-watching.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (2014)
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC
Six campaigns with split-screen co-op, plus the original multiplayer suites. Unmatched value for couch play.
Timesplitters 2 (2002)
- PS2
- GameCube
- Xbox
Bots, a map editor and challenge modes made it the deepest split-screen shooter of its generation.
Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)
- GameCube
Fast, technical and still played competitively two decades later. Also perfectly readable for a first-timer with items on.
Mario Party 2 (1999)
- N64
- Switch (NSO)
Board-game structure and minigames that need no explanation. The best of the N64 Mario Party games.
Contra III: The Alien Wars (1992)
- SNES
- Collections
Half an hour of two-player run-and-gun that you will lose repeatedly. Short enough to keep trying.
Secret of Mana (1993)
- SNES
- Modern ports
Three-player action RPG co-op in 1993, via the multitap. Still one of the few co-op RPGs that works locally.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (1991)
- SNES
- Cowabunga Collection
Four-player arcade brawling with a time-travel structure. The Cowabunga Collection adds online play.
Best two-player games for non-gamers
Stardew Valley (2016)
- PC
- PS5
- Xbox
- Switch
- Mobile
Split-screen farming with no pressure and no fail state. The most requested co-op game for couples.
Unravel Two (2018)
- PC
- PS4
- Xbox
- Switch
Gentle physics puzzles for two, with a rope mechanic that requires cooperation rather than reflexes.
Portal 2 (co-op campaign) (2011)
- PC
- PS3
- Xbox
- Switch (cloud)
A separate co-op campaign built around two portal guns. The best puzzle co-op ever made.
Snipperclips (2017)
- Switch
Cut each other into shapes to solve puzzles. Learnable in ten seconds by anyone.
Jackbox Party Pack (2014)
- PC
- PS5
- Xbox
- Switch
Players use phones instead of controllers, which removes the biggest barrier for non-gamers. Perfect for groups.
Rayman Legends (2013)
- PC
- PS4
- Xbox
- Switch
Four-player 2D platforming with beautiful art and musical levels. Forgiving enough for mixed skill levels.
Gear that fits this list
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