The Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games You Can Play On The PS5

There was once a time when almost every home console game on the market

featured

split-screen multiplayer gameplay. As the popularity of online gaming has increased, however, those looking for the perfect couch co-op title to enjoy with friends or loved ones now find their options severely limited. Thankfully, though, there are still some developers who see the value in local split-screen and co-op multiplayer.

Although it’s only been around for a few years, the PS5 already has a fairly decent selection of local multiplayer games; thanks in large to the console’s backward compatibility with PS4 titles. Many of the best 2-player PS5 games, like

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

and


EA Sports

FC 24

, confine their action to a single shared screen, but there are plenty of other titles with split-screen options included as well.

AEW Fight Forever

Metacritic Rating: 64 (PS5)

It may have taken a little longer to arrive than some would have liked, but most will feel that

AEW Fight Forever

was well worth the wait. Unlike the

WWE 2K

series, which aims to be a more realistic sports entertainment simulation,

Fight Forever

focuses firmly on fun, serving as a blood-soaked love letter to classic turn-of-the-century wrestling games like

WWF No Mercy

and

WCW/nWo Revenge

.

Granted, the game is a little rough around the edges and nowhere near as well-polished as its more established rival, but, when combined with the game’s over-the-top action, the arcade-style experience that’s on offer here makes it a more than worthy competitor. Playing the game locally with a friend is even more enjoyable, with plenty of great game modes available.

Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia

Metacritic Rating: 65 (PS5)

Released in late 2022,

Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia

is an action-adventure game that supports up to four-player local co-op. It’s far from the best-looking game on the PS5 and the pulled-back camera angles can at times make it a little difficult to keep track of what’s going on, but that doesn’t stop the game from being a lot of fun most of the time; particularly when played with friends.

Younger players probably won’t be all that familiar with the titular characters, with the comedy satire comic book series having first debuted all the way back in 1959. That shouldn’t stand in their way of enjoying what’s on offer though, as a lot of the game’s charm is derived from the way that the characters behave on-screen rather than the events that led them to their latest adventure.

Balan Wonderworld

Metacritic Rating: 51 (PS5)

When

Sonic the Hedgehog

creator Yuji Naka announced that he was working on a new 3D platformer, a lot of people were excited. That Square Enix would be publishing and presumably helping out with the development of

Balan Wonderworld

only amplified this initial excitement. Naturally, the final game failed to live up to the hype, though that’s not at all to say that it’s not worth playing.

If nothing else,

Balan Wonderworld

is an incredibly weird video game with plenty of baffling design choices and a lot of confusing themes. Despite this, though, like an overturned car on the side of the freeway, it can be difficult to look away, with players constantly left guessing what kind of craziness will be coming their way next. As is often the case with games like this, this randomness is best shared with a friend.

Baldur

‘s Gate 3

Metacritic Rating: 96 (PS5)

The

Baldur’s Gate

series has always been popular, but the franchise’s third mainline installment helped to bring it to a whole other level.

Baldur’s Gate 3

is one of the best role-playing games of all time and is made all the better by the inclusion of a split-screen local co-op mode.

Players can also experience the title via online multiplayer, though this is arguably not as fun as doing so with a friend or loved one by one’s side. The game is full to the brim with content, so those looking for something to while away the days with should definitely consider checking it out.

The Binding of Isaac: Repentance

Metacritic Rating: 90 (PS5)

As far as indie game darlings go, they don’t come much bigger than

The Binding of Isaac

. Together with the likes of

Undertale

,

Celeste

, and

Super Meat Boy

, it played a hugely important role in the popularization of indie titles, while also helping to bring about a resurgence of sorts for the roguelike genre.

For those who are yet to play Edmund McMillen’s masterpiece,

The Binding of Isaac: Repentance

is a great place to start. Not only is it the perfect entry point for new players, but also a great way for long-time fans of the title to rediscover what makes

The Bing of Isaac

so special. With four-player local co-op support, it can be just as fun with friends as it is solo, if not more.

Borderlands 3

Metacritic Rating: 91 (PS5)

Gearbox Software’s

Borderlands

series hasn’t changed all that much since making its debut back in late 2009. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though, with the latest entry providing all of the same carnage and loot-oriented gameplay that made earlier entries so enjoyable. It looks great too, and while some may bemoan the lack of innovation, they can at least be thankful that loot drops remain free rather than being locked behind aggressive and predatory microtransactions.

The

Borderlands

games have always done an excellent job of incorporating split-screen and this is once again the case in

Borderlands 3

. The game features both horizontal and vertical options and, exclusively on next-gen consoles, as many as four players can get involved at once. While playing online, it’s also possible for additional players to drop into the session, although the maximum number of players at any given time is four.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Metacritic Rating: 75 (PS5)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

picks up right where its predecessors left off, providing high-octane gunplay and one of the best FPS multiplayer experiences around. The single-player campaign is pretty decent too as one might expect from a

Modern Warfare

title, but, as is so often the case with

Call of Duty

games, it finds itself playing second fiddle to the multiplayer madness.

Unfortunately, split-screen support in

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

is a little lackluster at launch, with players only able to play in certain game modes while utilizing the feature. Whether or not Infinity Ward will allow split-screeners to play in more game modes in the future remains to be seen, though what’s on offer can still be enjoyable when approached with the right attitude.

Can’t Drive This

Metacritic Rating: 67 (PS5)

In some ways, Pixel Maniacs’

Can’t Drive This

is actually an anti-co-op game, despite players sharing a single split-screen. The way that it achieves this is incredibly innovative, with one player creating tracks and puzzles for the other using a series of modular components akin to those found in one of those old connect-the-pipes-style games.

The developer describes the game as a competitive co-op title, which seems somewhat fair given its core mechanics. Ultimately, however, the game is a lot of fun whatever one wishes to call it, and is well worth checking out. Granted, with four players involved things can quickly get a little hectic, but that’s arguably a big part of what makes it so appealing to so many players.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

is one of the best indie games since

Undertale

and boasts a simple yet enjoyable gameplay loop that makes it perfect for multiplayer. Unlike many of the other great co-op multiplayer games on the PS5, in which a momentary lapse in focus can potentially have major and irreparable consequences,

Chicory

is refreshingly forgiving, with players easily able to make amends for their mistakes.

Together with its vibrant and charming visuals, the low-stakes nature of

Chicory

makes it a great game to play with young children who perhaps lack the dexterity for more complex games. Conversely, the ease with which it can be picked up makes it a great jumping-off point for those who are unfamiliar with video games. This unmatchable accessibility allows players to relax and focus on sharing this charming experience with the friend or loved one with whom they are playing.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

Metacritic Rating: 86 (PS5)

Would the multiplayer experience on offer in

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

have been better if the developers had allowed players to play together simultaneously? Absolutely. Even so, the fact that a co-op multiplayer mode was implemented at all is still a nice bonus, particularly for a platformer of this quality.

The game implements a controller-swapping system, with players handing over the pad after reaching a checkpoint or dying. There’s also a more head-to-head oriented mode that sees players racing to reach checkpoints or break as many boxes as possible, though this is again all handled with a single controller, meaning that players will have to sit and wait their turn.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me

Metacritic Rating: 70 (PS5)

Much like Supermassive Games’ other narrative-driven survival horror games,

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me

supports both local and co-op multiplayer. In a welcome change though, the experience ends up being a lot better for those playing locally, with support for up to five players as opposed to just two. Granted, four of those players will be sat doing nothing for most of the time, but it’s nice to have the option of playing together nonetheless.

Each player can be assigned to a different character (or multiple characters if there aren’t enough players) and will be handed the controller whenever the time comes to make a decision or act. One wrong move can lead to their own character’s death, or, in some cases, the death of one of the other players’ characters instead. It’s this near-constant sense of jeopardy that makes the game so enjoyable and a must-play for any horror fan.

DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos

Metacritic Rating: 76 (PS5)

A lot of modern superhero games are geared more toward teenagers and young adults than they are young children, not just in terms of the way that they control, but also some of the themes that their narratives tackle.

DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos

bucks the trend in this regard, providing players with a family-friendly open-world adventure that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Better still,

DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos

offers up a local co-op experience, allowing two PS5 players to share the screen as they explore Happy Harbor together. It’s not the longest game in the world, with the main story lasting just ten hours or so, but for those playing the game with younger children, this may actually be ideal, particularly if they happen to have a short attention span.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles

Metacritic Rating: 69 (PS5)

Given the massive popularity of the

Demon Slayer

anime, a video game adaptation always seemed like something of a certainty. Likewise, that it ended up taking the form of an arena fighter probably didn’t surprise too many people, given that the fighting game sub-genre so often goes hand in hand with anime adaptations.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles

isn’t the best fighting game to come out of 2021, but it’s still a decent enough game. Fans of the anime should really enjoy what the game has to offer, more so if they experience it with a like-minded friend or family member as opposed to on their own.

Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed

Metacritic Rating: 67 (PS5)

Though its single-player experience ultimately failed to live up to the high standards set by some of its predecessors,

Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed

is far from a bad game. In fact, for better or worse, it’s an incredibly faithful recreation of the 2006 original, bringing Crypto kicking and screaming into the modern era of gaming.

The game supports two-player local co-op with each player given their own part of the screen as well as a shared mini-map and objectives list. Though it’s pretty normal for a game to be better when played with a friend, few benefit quite as much as

Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed

, with its split-screen co-op mode helping to turn what would otherwise be a bang-average experience into a truly great one.

Diablo 4

Metacritic Rating: 88 (PS5)

Much like its predecessor,

Diablo 4

supports couch co-op, with PS5 players able to share their screen with a friend. The game itself is one of the best

Diablo

games in years, offering players an exciting and challenging experience that few other franchises can come close to matching.

As far as dungeon crawlers go, they really don’t come much better than this. Granted, the visuals are a little basic, but the gameplay more than makes up for this, as too does the immense customizability when it comes to the game’s classes and end-game builds.

Dirt 5

Metacritic Rating: 80 (PS5)

Dirt 5

is arguably one of the best multiplayer racing games released in the past few years and a great one to enjoy with friends or family on the couch. It features a plethora of cars, varied and challenging courses, and a wide variety of game modes and challenges to keep players busy for hours at a time.

Racing games have always done a fantastic job of implementing split-screen and

Dirt 5

is no exception. The game features many different screen options and, unlike many other split-screen titles, adjusts the field of view accordingly rather than simply maintaining the original aspect ratio and filling the excess space with black bars.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons

Metacritic Rating: 67 (PS5)

Few franchises did more for the beat ’em up genre than

Double Dragon

, with Billy and Jimmy kicking countless asses throughout the late eighties and early nineties. In the years that followed, however, the series followed the genre into a deep slumber, which, despite numerous attempts to revive it, would end up lasting several decades.

Fast forward to the year 2023 and the franchise returned with

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons

; a roguelite spin-off from developer Secret Base. Released across multiple platforms, the game proved to be a hit with both players and critics alike. Like so many of the games that came before it, it supports couch co-op and is a must-play title for fans of the long-forgotten genre.

EA Sports FC 24

Metacritic Rating: 76 (PS5)

Like many other long-running sports sims, EA’s

FIFA

franchise is often criticized for its lack of innovation, and for good reason. For years it has felt like the franchise has been treading water, though that’s not really the case with the series’ last few entries. The HyperMotion technology used in

FIFA 22

and

FIFA 23

helped the games feel like true next-gen titles and made them some of the most realistic football games ever made, both in terms of their mechanics and their visuals.

EA Sports FC 24

takes this one step further with HyperMotion V and offers great local multiplayer support to boot.

Up to four local players can play the game offline, while two can play together while connected to PSN. Unlike some other co-op games with online multiplayer, only one of these players will need to have a PS Plus account, with the other able to join as a guest by pressing the triangle button. Local co-op works in just about every game mode, including Volta, Kick-Off, and the microtransaction-heavy Ultimate Team.

Escape Academy

Metacritic Rating: 79 (PS5)

Released in July of 2022,

Escape Academy

is a puzzle game in which players are placed into the shoes of students who are training to become escape room masters. The game can be played by a single person, but becomes infinitely more enjoyable when tackled with a friend. Players can either do this over the internet or while sitting together on the couch, as this is one of the many split-screen games on the PS5.

There are numerous escape rooms found throughout the game, each of which is based on a different academic subject. This makes it great for local co-op encounters, as the strengths of one player can make up for the weaknesses of the other. Granted, some of the puzzles are a little too easy, while others are perhaps just a tiny bit too hard, but the complete package remains a fun one when all’s said and done.

F1 23

Metacritic Rating: 82 (PS5)

Though there are definitely better racing games available on the PS5, none are able to capture the high-octane excitement of Formula One quite as well as

F1 23

. The customization options should be more than enough to satisfy all but the most hardcore of gearheads, while the visuals are all that one might expect from a big-budget current-gen title.

The game features a healthy selection of cars and tracks and the MyTeam Career Mode should appeal to those who are looking to sink some serious time into the game. Better still, career mode supports co-op split-screen gameplay, allowing two players to race together on the same team.

Fortnite

Metacritic Rating: 78 (PS4)

Having helped to spark the battle royale trend that just doesn’t seem to want to go away,

Fortnite

has grown from strength to strength. It’s now one of the most popular and most profitable video games of all time, having generated billions of dollars in revenue for its developer and publisher, Epic Games.

Fortnite

‘s split-screen mode is beautifully presented, although some may have preferred having a slightly wider field of view rather than character images. That said, it’s arguably a far better solution than simply having black or empty space on the screen as many other developers opt for. Both players are able to take part in the battle royale insanity online and it’s even possible for one player to leave midway through the match without it affecting the other.

Gran Turismo 7

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)

While there can be no excusing the aggressive monetization found throughout

Gran Turismo


7

, it’s hard to argue that the gameplay itself isn’t top-notch. Those looking for a realistic driving simulator really aren’t likely to be disappointed, with all of the cars measuring up almost perfectly to their real-world counterparts.

It is worth noting, however, that for some strange reason, the team over at Polyphony Digital thought that it would be a good idea to lock the game’s multiplayer mode behind single-player progress. As such, those looking for a multiplayer racing game that they can dive right into may be better served with

WRC 9

or the excellent

Dirt 5

.

Goat Simulator 3

Metacritic Rating: 68 (PS5)

Those who enjoy causing chaos will likely adore

Goat Simulator 3

. It offers all of the same wacky antics as its predecessor does while also opening up the door to local co-op multiplayer, with support for up to four players and the ability to play with either horizontal or vertical split-screen depending on the number of players.

Playing with friends makes the classic

Goat Simulator

madness all the more enjoyable, particularly when there are four players involved. Though it might not be the best split-screen multiplayer game on the

PlayStation 5

, there is a strong argument to be made for it being one of the most enjoyable, albeit in short bursts.

Haven

Metacritic Rating: 72 (PS5)

There are a lot of great cooperative games out there that may appeal to couples. Playing a game together can be a fun, easy, and entertaining way to strengthen a relationship. Although most cooperative games feel great with friends, titles like

Haven

make the experience feel even more fulfilling for couples.

The story follows a pair of lovers who have ended up on a mysterious planet and must co-exist with the

alien

life found there. It’s relaxing, engaging, and has moments of excitement sprinkled in via exploration and battles. The storyline is engaging and feels realistic. There’s a lot to enjoy with

Haven

and it looks beautiful on the PS5.

Heavenly Bodies

Metacritic Rating: 75 (PS5)

Developed and published by Australian Studio 2pt Interactive,

Heavenly Bodies

is one of the more unique couch co-op multiplayer games on the PS5. It takes place out in the vast nothingness of outer space, wherein players must work together to perform various duties aboard a futuristic space station.

The game plays like a combination of

Getting Over It

and

QWOP

, with each of the analog sticks on the controller tied to one of the playable character’s arms. The lack of gravity allows for some excellent physics-based puzzles, while the simple yet difficult-to-master control scheme provides plenty of challenge.

Hot Wheels Unleashed

Metacritic Rating: 75 (PS5)

There were countless video games based on Mattel’s popular Hot Wheels franchise around the turn of the century, but things eventually dried up after a decade or so. Since then,

Hot Wheels

games have come around every four or five years or so, which has helped to restore some of the sense of wonder that was lost as a result of the earlier over-saturation.

Hot Wheels Unleashed

does a brilliant job of capturing the essence of the toys and is a little reminiscent of some of the fantastic

Micro Machines

games from back in the nineties as a result. Those looking for something a little less realistic than

Gran Turismo

yet not quite as wacky as a kart racer would therefore do well to check it out.

The House of the Dead: Remake

Metacritic Rating: 63 (PS4)

There were plenty of great lightgun games back in the nineties and early two-thousands, but few were quite as memorable as

The House of the Dead

. Despite its corny writing and voice acting (or perhaps because of it), the series went on to garner something of a cult following, leading to a remake being released across multiple platforms in early 2022 and a PS5 update arriving the following year.

Sadly,

The House of the Dead: Remake

is nowhere near as good as its predecessors, though that’s not to say that it’s a bad game. In fact, when played with a friend it can actually be a lot of fun even with the game’s many shortcomings. The lack of a light gun definitely holds it back, but the ability to use PS Move controllers makes up for somewhat, as too does the game’s use of the DualSense’s touchpad.

Human: Fall Flat

Metacritic Rating: 67 (PS4)

Those looking for something a little more relaxing and a lot more comedic will definitely want to check out

Human: Fall Flat

. This hilarious ragdoll-physics-based game is pure fun, featuring a wide array of levels, outfits, and more.

The basic premise sees players trying to make it through hazard-filled levels, or simply trying to get from point A to point B using their less-than-reliable characters. With physics similar to titles like

Gang Beasts

and

Party Animals

,

Human: Fall Flat

is a great game for families. It never takes itself too seriously and can actually be quite challenging in later levels, requiring players to work together to make it to the goal.

It Takes Two

Metacritic Rating: 88 (PS5)

Games designed specifically with co-op gameplay in mind can often be something of a mixed bag, but, for the most part, at least,

It Takes Two

manages to hit all the right notes. It looks great, requires a fair amount of critical thinking, and promotes teamwork and cooperation among its players. Perhaps most importantly though, it’s a lot of fun.

Given that

It Takes Two

requires two players to complete, it should come as no surprise that it features a local split-screen mode, although, for a game centered around co-op gameplay, the lack of a horizontal option is perhaps a little disappointing. Thankfully, that’s just about the only thing about the game that could be described as such. Just about everything seems to have been designed with a two-player experience in mind and the subsequent results really do speak for themselves.

Just Dance 2023

Metacritic Rating: 70 (PS5)

When it comes to dance and rhythm games, they really don’t come much better than Ubisoft’s

Just Dance

series. Granted, the formula may be fairly repetitive, but for those who enjoy bumping and grinding, that likely won’t be too much of an issue. In fact, repetition probably won’t matter at all for anyone who likes doing such things with their friends or family.

As one might expect from a series’ most recent installment,

Just Dance 2023

is the most action-packed

Just Dance

game yet. It features some of the most popular songs from recent years, with

Just Dance Unlimited

providing access to hundreds more. Players can enjoy these tracks alone or together locally with up to five other people, much like most of the franchise’s other installments.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Metacritic Rating: 82 (PS5)

For those who enjoy

LEGO

games, they really don’t get much better than

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

. Brick for brick, it’s one of the largest

LEGO

games ever made, and the skill and accuracy with which Traveller’s Tales has arranged them all is just as impressive as the game’s ambitious scope. It covers the stories of all nine mainline

Star Wars

movies and boasts a somewhat ridiculous 380 playable characters for players to choose from.

Granted,

LEGO

games can be something of an acquired taste, but there really is a lot to love here. Those put off by the art style would do well to watch a trailer or two before writing off the game entirely, as some of the visuals and environments that the developer has been able to create can actually be quite stunning in their own special way. Playing through the game solo can be a lot of fun, but doing so with a friend promises to be an absolute blast and is a must for

Star Wars

fans.

Madden NFL 24

Metacritic Rating: 65 (PS5)

For pretty much everybody outside of the United States,

FIFA

is the ultimate football game. When it comes to American football, however, no franchise can compete with

Madden

, with more than 40 different editions being released in the three and a half decades or so since the series first made its debut back in 1988. Thanks to the power of the PlayStation 5 and its peers, this year’s edition is one of the most visually impressive yet and features an improved co-op franchise mode.

Sadly, like all annual sports sim titles and an increasing amount of modern video games in general, the microtransactions in

Madden NFL 24

are both excessive and intrusive. Granted, the game can still be enjoyed without spending any additional money and is a must-play for those who love American football, but the aggressive nature of its monetization does tarnish the overall experience quite a bit.

MLB The Show 23

Metacritic Rating: 82 (PS5)

Though most games tend to lean more toward online multiplayer these days, players can always rely on sports sims to keep things on the couch. To be clear,

MLB The Show 23

does feature online co-op, but it also allows for up to four players to team up locally without the need for an internet connection, making this a must-play game for local multiplayer-loving baseball fans.

Thanks to the power of the console and the skill of the development team, couch co-op fans can enjoy one of the best local multiplayer experiences around right here with this game. It features a variety of different game modes too, though it’s important to note that not all of these support local multiplayer.

NBA 2K24

Metacritic Rating: 69 (PS5)

For the most part, the first wave of annual sports games to hit the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles were a little underwhelming and struggled to justify their $70 price tags. Thankfully, however, the following years brought with them several great sports titles that gave players a much better idea of what exactly the next-gen consoles were truly capable of. One such title was

NBA 2K24

.

To be clear, it’s far from a reinvention of the wheel and the manipulative microtransactions are just as problematic as ever. However, the improved graphics and mechanics make this a must-play for any serious basketball fan. Even those with only a passing interest in the sport should be able to take enjoyment from the game’s local multiplayer options, which allow for up to four players at any given time.

Nobody Saves the World

Metacritic Rating: 76 (PS5)

Nobody Saves the World

borrows a lot of its ideas from other dungeon crawlers, but manages to put them all together in a way that feels both fresh and unique. The gameplay is challenging but fair and the way that players are forced to constantly switch up their loadout ensures that they are a lot less likely to become complacent or bored during a run.

Although the game didn’t feature local co-op at launch, the feature was eventually patched in after a couple of months to coincide with the game’s PlayStation and Switch releases, allowing two friends to play together on a single console. The experience is every bit as enjoyable as online co-op, if not more so, with players now able to vent their frustrations a lot easier due to their partner sitting right beside them on the couch.

Outward: Definitive Edition

Metacritic Rating: 69 (PS5)

Released in mid-2022, the definitive edition of

Outward

brought with it a wide range of improvements, helping to turn what was already an enjoyable co-op RPG experience into an even better one. From combat to difficulty, everything is now much more well-balanced, with the visuals also being noticeably improved.

While there are certainly better co-op RPGs out there, those looking for a great two-player PS5 game to share with a friend could definitely do a lot worse. It’s not a game to be played with young children on account of its violent combat, but older players may well prefer some of its darker and more mature themes.

Overcooked 2

Metacritic Rating: 81 (PS4)

While

Overcooked 2

may not be a traditional split-screen game, it’s still one of the best local co-op titles available on the PS5. This release is an absolute blast and an ideal family game thanks to its wholesome yet hectic theme. The action all takes place on one screen, but each player is free to control their own character.

To succeed in

Overcooked 2

, players will need to work together to overcome a hazardous kitchen while simultaneously balancing a variety of foods and recipes to cook a spectacular dish. It’s a ton of fun in a group and can be pretty challenging to boot, particularly if not everybody is on the same page.

Quake Remastered

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS4)

The

Quake

series is one that should need no introduction, at least not for gamers of a certain age. Together with other popular FPS series like

Doom

,

Wolfenstein

, and

Unreal

, id Software’s multiplayer first-person shooter helped to shape and define the genre. Much to the delight of fans, a remastered version of the franchise’s debut installment was released for the PlayStation 5 in late 2021 and is every bit as enjoyable as the original.

While it’s undeniable that the fps genre has come a long way in the two-and-a-half decades since the game’s original release, the remastered version of

Quake

still oozes class and will evoke fond memories of classic nineties multiplayer shooters in those old enough to remember them. Better still, players will be able to play the game locally with up to three of their friends, either in co-op or deathmatch modes.

The Quarry

Metacritic Rating: 74 (PS5)

As is the case with some of the other great titles from Supermassive Games,

The Quarry

features a somewhat unique couch co-op mode. Rather than players each having their own controller, they’ll instead be assigned a different role, with players having to pass the gamepad among one another depending on whose character is in the hot seat.

When it comes to gameplay,

The Quarry

is incredibly similar to the studio’s other interactive games, though stands apart from its

Dark Pictures Anthology

series. This arguably makes it much more accessible and a lot more in keeping with the developer’s breakthrough title

Until Dawn

. It’s a solid enough game with more than 100 endings, so can be a great way to pass the time with friends.

Runner

Metacritic Rating: 71 (PS5)

There are plenty of great online multiplayer games for the PSVR 2, but very few that are able to offer players an enjoyable couch co-op experience.

Runner

is one of those games, with the eighties-inspired title allowing a second player to handle the driving with a DuelSense controller while the person wearing the headset takes care of weaponry. Alternatively, players can just take a Sense controller each, allowing them to choose who does what.

Local co-op support is just one of many things that help

Runner

to stand out though, with its stylish visuals and vibrant colors chief among them. Despite being a little repetitive in places, the core gameplay loop is a lot of fun too, and is about as close to a VR

Road Rash

experience as one could ever hope to find. Developer Truant Pixel deserves a lot of credit here, not just for the quality of the game itself, but for finding such an innovative way of incorporating local co-op.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Metacritic Rating: 79 (PS5)

Sumo Digital is a developer that’s renowned for its ability to churn out fun and engaging games, and this is once again the case with

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

. Granted, it perhaps doesn’t look quite as impressive as one might expect from a PS5 launch title, but it’s far from ugly and makes up for its lack of visual fidelity with tight platforming and an all-around charming adventure.

The game’s co-op mode is a little reminiscent of the one found in

Portal 2

, with players working together to solve puzzles and progress through stages. In fact, certain stages can only be tackled with multiple players, meaning that players will need to work together to fully complete the game. This is obviously more fun with friends or family, though the game does now feature online multiplayer for those who prefer it.

Sonic Origins Plus

Metacritic Rating: 78 (PS5)

Many feel that couch co-op is going the way of the dodo, and there’s plenty of evidence to support that point of view. The number of new local co-op games being released every year is shrinking rapidly, but there is a reprieve of sorts. Many classic games that supported two players are being remade or remastered, with their co-op modes thankfully remaining intact.

One such example of this is

Sonic Origins Plu


s

, which bundles together 16 classic

Sonic

games into one single collection. Not all of these games support two players, but most of them do. As a result, it’s the perfect purchase for those looking to relive their childhoods and perhaps share some of these treasured memories with their own kids or other loved ones.

Stardew Valley

Metacritic Rating: 86 (PS4)

The success of games like

Stardew Valley

serves as a true testament to the importance of the indie game scene. Much of the title was developed by just one man, Eric Barone, with the young developer hoping to provide a viable alternative to the

Harvest Moon

series. Half a decade on from the game’s release, it seems safe to say that he managed to achieve exactly that – and a whole lot more.

Split screen co-op was added to

Stardew Valley

as part of its 1.5 Update and completely changes the way that the game is played. In order to get started, existing players will first need to ask Robin to build them a cabin, which will set them back 100 gold as well as some resources. As soon as it’s built though, split-screen co-op can be enabled from within the game’s menu. New players can instead enable the setting by default from the “Advanced Options” menu before starting up a new game.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Metacritic Rating: 85 (PS4)

The

TMNT

franchise led the way when it came to sidescrolling brawlers back in the day, with many considering

Turtles in Time

to be one of the best arcade games ever made. It’s for this reason that fans of the genre were so excited for the release of

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

, and boy did it live up to the hype.

Shredder’s Revenge

is an expertly crafted love letter to a bygone era of gaming and a must-play for any fan of the genre. Sadly, the PlayStation version is limited to four local players rather than the six that some of the other platforms are able to accommodate, but this should still be more than enough for all but the most popular of players.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Metacritic Rating: 76 (PS5)

Gearbox Software’s

Borderlands

games have always had fantastic local co-op support, and

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

, which serves as a spin-off, of sorts, continues this rich tradition. Like the most recent

Borderlands

game, it supports four-player split-screen on next-gen consoles, which can be an absolute blast on a large enough screen. It also works well for those looking to play locally with just a single friend rather than three, as they’ll now have the choice between either a vertical or horizontal split.

Though it still suffers from a lot of the same flaws that besiege the main series,

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

can still be a lot of fun and offers near-endless replayability thanks to the wide array of weapons on offer and its newly refined class system. The Coiled Captors DLC is a bit of a letdown, mind, so players may want to save themselves a few bucks and spring for the standard edition of the game rather than the Chaotic Great Edition.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2

Metacritic Rating: 90 (PS5)

The

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater

games were incredibly popular around the turn of the century, not to mention some of the best sports sim games ever made. With this in mind, the decision to remake the series’ first two installments for the modern age seemed like something of a no-brainer, particularly with so many lesser titles being successfully remade or remastered.

Though not quite as impactful as the original titles,

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2

was still incredibly well received, with Activision later confirming the game was the fastest-selling entry in the franchise to date. A highly-rated next-gen release followed a few years later, with the game then given away to PS Plus subscribers in August of 2022.

Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef

Metacritic Rating: 77 (PC)

Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef

is a 2D sidescroller that was released in October of 2022. Fans of classic run-and-gun games should find a lot to like here, even if they have little to no knowledge of the

Warhammer 40,000

universe. It’s one of the most underrated 2-player PS5 games of the past few years, offering a healthy spattering of fun and hand-drawn violence for a very reasonable price.

There are four different classes in

Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef

, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses. This bodes well, as the game supports up to four players either locally or online, providing them with an impressive arsenal of weapons with which to cause absolute chaos. It’s a bit like

Contra

, only with orcs, and a lot more going on.

Warhammer: Chaosbane – Slayer Edition

Metacritic Rating: 67 (PS5)

Anyone who’s already played

Warhammer: Chaosbane

will probably want to skip the Slayer Edition of the game. This is because it’s effectively just an enhanced version of the original and not a particularly good one at that. To be clear, it does offer some subtle improvements here and there as well as a 4k facelift, but these extra bells and whistles don’t really come close to justifying purchasing the game again.

However, those who enjoy

Warhammer

games and are yet to experience the base version of

Chaosbane

should give the Slayer Edition some serious thought, particularly if they’re able to pick it up on the cheap. It boasts some excellent boss fights, an endless supply of loot, and a decent amount of customization through classes. There are one or two rough edges and the voice acting is laughable in places, but these minor niggles are very easy to overlook when playing the game with friends.

WRC Generations

Metacritic Rating: 74 (PS5)

The

World Rally Championship

series has never quite reached the same heights as some of the more established racing game franchises, although

WRC Generations

arguably comes pretty close. The game looks great and, much like many of its predecessors, supports both online and local multiplayer.

Despite split-screen functionality being included, however, the inability to alter the orientation of the split in the screen may frustrate some players, as too might the two-player limit. Those only wishing to play with a single friend or family member should be fairly satisfied with the experience that’s on offer though, particularly if they prefer a more rugged driving experience.

WWE 2K23

Metacritic Rating: 82 (PS5)

Following a one-year absence, the

WWE 2K

series made a triumphant return in early 2022. Granted,

WWE 2K22

is far from the best wrestling game ever made, but it’s considerably better than anything else that the

WWE 2K

series has had to offer in almost a full decade.

WWE 2K23

continues this upward trend, improving on its predecessor in just about every measurable way.

Though the majority of game modes are tailored towards the single-player experience, exhibition matches allow for all manner of multiplayer mayhem. There are a ridiculous number of match types available, with players also able to tweak and change the rules and settings to their liking. For wrestling fans, this really is a must-play title.

MORE: The Best Non-WWE Wrestling Games