It's often said that couch co-op is dead these days, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Granted, split-screen multiplayer games are a lot less prevalent than they once were, but there are still plenty of great modern titles that offer local co-op modes, not to mention a rich back catalog of classic couch co-op titles that still hold up reasonably well today.
The Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games You Can Play on the PS5
Although couch co-op isn't as common as it once was, there are still plenty of great local co-op and split-screen games for the PlayStation 5.
The very best couch co-op games had a lasting effect on the industry, either by refining existing ideas and mechanics or introducing brand-new ones that would forever change their respective genres. From first-person shooters to top-tier sports sims, those looking for the best local multiplayer games of all time have plenty of great titles to choose from.
Updated January 26, 2024, by Tom Bowen: Although there are still plenty of great local multiplayer games being released for current-gen consoles, many of the best couch co-op games of all time were products of a bygone era of gaming. In most cases, those looking to re-experience these timeless classics will therefore need to dig out their old discs or cartridges or hope that the game in question has been remastered or remade for modern platforms. Some of these titles were technically impressive for their eras while others made use of unique mechanics to provide players with an exciting and fun-filled experience that just couldn't be found elsewhere. The very best split-screen games are therefore dripping with nostalgia, having provided many great memories to gamers of a certain age.
12 Castle Crashers
Metacritic Rating: 85 (PS3)
Castle Crashers arrived at a time when online multiplayer was in the ascendancy, yet served as a perfect reminder of why couch co-op experiences were and still are important to this day. Sitting down with a few friends and burning through a few chapters was incredibly enjoyable, and remains so today thanks to the game's timeless 2D art style.
The game has been ported to numerous systems over the years, with players still able to play it on current-gen consoles thanks to the Xbox One and PS4 versions. The Behemoth's title has inspired countless other indie games in the years since its release and continues to be a firm favorite of many local multiplayer aficionados thanks to its unique and exciting take on the hack-and-slash genre.
Castle Crashers
- Released
- August 27, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
11 Perfect Dark
Metacritic Rating: 97 (N64)
It's a little depressing to see what's become of Rare since the iconic British developer was acquired by Microsoft in 2002. In the years leading up to the acquisition, though, the studio had been responsible for many of the best games released on the Nintendo 64, with Perfect Dark arguably being the team's crowning achievement.
The fact that it was based on a brand-new IP rather than a licensed one or an existing video game franchise caused it to fly under many people's radars, but on a technical level, it was easily one of the most impressive games of its era. For that reason alone, it would be impossible to talk about the best local multiplayer games of all time without at least mentioning Perfect Dark.
Perfect Dark (2000)
- Released
- May 22, 2000
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Animated Violence, Animated Blood
- Developer(s)
- Rare
- Publisher(s)
- Rare
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 64
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Stealth
10 Left 4 Dead 2
Metacritic Rating: 89 (Xbox 360)
Like Rockstar Games and id Software, Valve has a pretty impressive track record when it comes to its strong back catalog of games. It doesn't release new titles all that often anymore, but when it does, they're all but guaranteed to become verified classics, as was once again the case with 2009's Left 4 Dead 2.
Much like the previous game, Left 4 Dead 2 is built around co-op gameplay, with players teaming up with three friends or strangers and then tasked with surviving in a zombie-infested world. It has inspired countless other titles in the years since its release but is still widely regarded as being one of the best co-op zombie games around.
Left 4 Dead 2
- Released
- November 17, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
9 WWF No Mercy
Metacritic Rating: 89 (N64)
With support for four controllers right out of the box, the N64 was clearly a console that was designed with couch co-op in mind. Many developers and publishers were quick to take advantage of those two extra controller ports, leading to plenty of fantastic titles like Asmik Ace Entertainment's WWF No Mercy.
Whereas WWF Attitude and the WWF Smackdown! Games on the original PlayStation generally sought to provide a realistic wrestling simulation, WWF No Mercy offered up more of an arcade-style experience. This made the game a lot more fun to play with others and more than made up for the visuals being a little less polished.
WWF No Mercy
- Released
- November 17, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Publisher(s)
- THQ
- Developer
- Asmik Ace Entertainment, AKI Corporation
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 64
- Genre(s)
- Sports, Fighting
8 It Takes Two
Metacritic Rating: 89 (PS4)
With the turn of the century bringing with it a shift toward online gaming, it's little surprise that most of the best couch co-op games of all time were released in the nineties and early two-thousands. However, despite fewer and fewer games supporting split-screen co-op these days, there are still some that do, including Hazelight Studios' It Takes Two.
The Best Online Multiplayer PS5 Games, Ranked
With so many to choose from these days, finding the best online multiplayer games on the PS5 can be a lot more challenging than one might think.
Unlike a lot of other modern games that feature split-screen functionality as more of a throwback or an afterthought, It Takes Two is built with co-op gameplay firmly in mind. Its poignant story and fantastic gameplay saw the game awarded the top prize at The Game Awards 2021 and are a big part of what makes it a must-play title for any and all couch co-op enthusiasts.
It Takes Two
- Released
- March 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch
7 Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Metacritic Rating: 86 (Wii)
Neither Guitar Hero nor any of the series that it helped to inspire are all that impressive when it comes to innovation or game design, but to downplay their importance to the gaming industry would be doing these titles a massive disservice. Between them, they generated more than $1.8 billion in revenue, with the games' plastic instruments accounting for a significant proportion of that amount.
Although games like Rock Band were arguably a little more inclusive due to them allowing players to choose between several different instruments, Guitar Hero helped to popularize an entire genre and led the way in both single and multiplayer gameplay. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock excelled when it came to the latter, with its co-op career mode contributing toward the game's hugely impressive $100 million week-one sales.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
- Released
- October 28, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Neversoft, Aspyr Media, Vicarious Visions, Budcat Creations, RedOctane
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm, Music
6 Portal 2
Metacritic Rating: 95 (PC)
The first Portal game is a masterpiece, offering up a series of creative and thought-provoking puzzles and some of the best writing to ever grace a video game. Portal 2 improved upon its predecessor in just about every conceivable way, while also bringing with it a top-drawer split-screen multiplayer experience that few - if anyone - saw coming.
Portal 2's co-op mode is a great example of a developer providing players with something they had no idea they wanted. Just like the ones found in its predecessor and in its own single-player campaign, the puzzles typically require excellent timing and coordination. This time, however, these things will be needed from two players instead of only one.
Portal 2
- Released
- April 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
5 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Metacritic Rating: 98 (PS1)
The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series used to be kind of a big deal. It helped to get countless disenfranchised kids into skating. It entertained many more with its memorable pop-punk soundtracks, creative game modes, and varied roster of skaters, which typically included a few unlockable characters such as Spider-Man, Doom Guy, and Shrek.
The Best Sports Games Of All Time
Over the decades, the sports genre has produced some of the greatest games of all time, be it football, basketball, or boxing.
Like many of the best local co-op games of all time, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 offers up a more than serviceable single-player mode, but it's at its best when two players are involved. Whether playing Trick Attack, Graffiti, Horse, or Tag, players are almost certain to have a great time. The original still holds up fairly well, but those looking for something a bit more polished can check out the game's 2020 remake.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
- Released
- September 20, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Neversoft
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), Windows, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Game Boy Color, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Sports
4 Halo: Combat Evolved
Metacritic Rating: 97 (Xbox)
When Microsoft decided to move into the home console space, the company's higher-ups knew they'd need a killer app to compete with the likes of Sony and Nintendo. A lot of money was spent to secure console exclusives, but, ultimately, it was a first-party title from newly acquired Bungie that ended up being the real system seller. That game, of course, was Halo: Combat Evolved.
Released alongside the original Xbox, Halo proved to be an instant hit with players. Its engrossing narrative and out-of-this-world combat were certainly contributing factors, but for many, it was the state-of-the-art multiplayer functionality that really made it a game worth playing. It not only paved the way for future online multiplayer titles but also offered up one of the best couch co-op experiences of all time.
Halo: Combat Evolved
- Released
- November 15, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bungie
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox (Original), Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- FPS
3 Borderlands 2
Metacritic Rating: 91 (PS3)
Whereas Halo typically demands a more strategic approach from its players, Borderlands is more about having fun. To be clear, that's not to say that it's some mindless action game, nor that playing it is easy. However, for those looking to kick back and have a little fun with their friends, Borderlands 2 arguably serves as the better option.
The loot system in Borderlands 2 is perfectly balanced, with players constantly improving as they make their way through the main story without ever becoming too overpowered. There's a ridiculous amount of content on offer too, with the game offering some of the best DLC expansions of all time. Unlike its 2019 sequel, it can also be pretty funny at times.
Borderlands 2
- Released
- September 18, 2012
