Key Takeaways
- There’s something about in-person multiplayer that takes gaming to a different level.
- From innovative co-op campaigns, to award winning co-op experiences, there’s never been a better time to fire up a second controller.
Online gaming has made multiplayer more accessible than ever. But still, few things bring a group together than old-school, in-person couch co-op. The demand for fun and engaging cooperative game play is strong, and the selection of games is quite good too.
From relaxing farming sims to full-scale co-operative campaigns, co-op gamers have tons of titles and genres to choose from. Today, we’ll feature some of the best couch co-op experiences available to console and PC gamers right now.
Though some of the items on our list are platform restricted, we’ve featured a few from each platform as well as a number of multi-platform games to ensure you don’t leave empty handed.
Stardew Valley
It might have been released in 2016, but Stardew Valley remains relevant to this day. The game is a farming-sim, with lots of RPG elements, and an infinite gameplay loop. Raid the mine, chat with locals, or try your hardest to build a successful business. Stardew Valley builds the world, and gives you the tools to reshape it as you wish.
Not satisfied with its single-player accolades, Stardew Valley decided to take over the couch co-op conversation as well. Though the game didn’t launch with multiplayer, the tireless indie developer added it years after release. Now, four players are able to play together on one farm. Stardew Valley is available on Mac, PC, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and Xbox.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
The Luigi’s Mansion series went from cult favorite to industry darling with the release of Luigi’s Mansion 3 in 2019. The Nintendo Switch exclusive elevated everything series fans loved. The story is fantastic, the visuals are striking, and the gameplay is addictively fun. Sucking up ghosts and wreaking havoc in search of collectibles never gets old.
Nintendo didn’t stop there. The introduction of the gelatinous Gooigi ushers in a cooperative element to the Luigi’s Mansion gameplay loop that makes it hard not to share. The perfect halloween game is a true Nintendo Switch classic, and an absolute must play for those in search of unique co-op experiences.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
There are a lot of shooters that qualify to be included on our list, but few deliver as much co-op content as Halo: The Master Chief Collection. For the cost of one game, you get the first four Halo games. Split-screen co-op is available for each, with a robust online multiplayer community that’s as active as it ever has been.
The games launched as Xbox exclusives but the collection has since been released on PC. The game has greatly improved from a rocky and bug-filled launch, and remains the best way to experience the complete Master Chief story alone or with a few friends.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
The launch of the PS5 marked the return of everyone’s favorite stuffed protagonist. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a 3D platforming experience that’s not unlike Super Mario 3D World. It’s colorful, fun, engaging, and can be enjoyed from beginning to end with as many as four players at one time.
It’s no longer a Playstation exclusive either. Sackboy: A Big Adventure made its way to PC via the Steam online store in October of 2022. It truly is an underrated gem, with a silly story and tons of replay value.
Portal 2
Portal 2 has stood the test of time. It isn’t the prettiest game in the world, but the unique combination of mind-bending puzzles and dark humor are more relevant than ever. Though the single player campaign is the start of the show, Portal 2 features an entirely separate two-player cooperative experience.
The co-op campaign has a story of its very own. It contains a series of standalone test chambers that can only be completed with the help of a friend. Playing your way through the cooperative mode is a must for fans of the Portal series, and serves as a great way to introduce a loved one to this cult favorite.
Cuphead
Cuphead is a humbling experience to say the least. It’s punishingly difficult, but that’s part of what makes it so great. The 1930s inspired character and level design won the game a ton of praise and the soundtrack is one for the ages. The recently released Delicious Last Course DLC adds an additional playable character, new weapons, and a new Inkwell Isle.
Cuphead was released in September of 2017 and can be enjoyed on PC and most modern gaming consoles. The game is more fun when played with a friend, though don’t expect it to get any easier. Though the game doesn’t have online multiplayer, instead, opt to kick it old school with in-person couch co-op.
It Takes Two
It would be a disservice to you if we didn’t include the co-op masterpiece It Takes Two. In it, you and a friend take control of a married couple that’s going through divorce. In a strange turn of events, the couple’s minds are transported into two dolls. The goal is simple: get back into their bodies and get back to real life. How they accomplish that goal is a little more complicated.
It Takes Two innovates the co-op gaming experience with perfectly balanced platforming, a gripping story, and a larger than life environment. This is platforming, puzzle solving, and teamwork at its very best. It Takes Two is the quintessential co-op gaming experience and an absolute must play for anyone that loves games.
Ready Player Two
We hope today’s deep dive into cooperative gameplay delivered a fresh collection of games for you to explore together. But if nothing discussed here quite satisfies your taste, know that there is plenty more where that came from. The genre has been re-energized with exciting new additions being released every week.
So subscribe to your favorite gaming blogs, stay up to date on the latest news, and keep searching for more hidden co-op gems. Don’t be afraid to try something that’s out of your wheelhouse either. At worst, you’ll make new memories with the people that you care about.