The 32 Best Couch Co-Op Games (2024)

Sony Interactive Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios / Nintendo / ONE37pm

Published Jan 18, 2024

While online multiplayer gaming has become more popular and accessible in recent years, there's still something special about sitting side-by-side with friends for some classic couch co-op action. Though its heyday has perhaps passed, local cooperative gameplay remains a delightful and underrated way to meaningfully connect with friends in the comfort of your own home. Fortunately, there are still plenty of stellar same-screen multiplayer games across genres - from frenetic party games to story-driven adventures - that are perfect for some offline bonding. On this list, we highlight the 32 best couch co-op video games that will keep you and your player two, three, or four happily gaming on the couch for hours on end.

RELATED: The 26 Best Co-Op Games on PC

Warner Bros. Games

• Developer: Hazelight Studios
• Rating: M for Mature

A Way Out's break prison break story forces cooperation by cleverly delivering a mature and gritty narrative that is best experienced with two players side-by-side. Whether you're stealthily sneaking past guards or bickering about what to do next, A Way Out's asymmetric co-op design makes playing feel like a hangout session thanks to distinct roles as Vincent and Leo, who are forced to work together and form a fast friendship. From orchestrating thrilling escapes to quiet conversations, A Way Out facilitates connection, ensuring a one-of-a-kind emotional journey that you and a companion on the couch are bound to remember.

• Developer: Hazelight Studios
• Rating: T for Teen

From the genius minds at Hazelight Studios that brought us the co-op spectacle A Way Out comes yet another co-op adventure meant for two players in It Takes Two. Inviting players into its charming diorama worlds full of possibilities for collaboration and humor, It Takes Two thrives on the chaos of its cooperative platforming across a heartfelt narrative centered around divorce and reconciliation. With minigames and mechanics changing at almost every level to keep teamwork fresh and fun, Hazelight has once again engineered the perfect game for nights of distraction or deep conversation with a friend by your side. It Takes Two touches on the humor and sentiment of relationships in a delightful experience that is enhanced by playing offline.

• Developers: Dotemu, Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games
• Rating: T for Teen

As a satisfying revitalization of Sega's iconic beat ‘em up franchise, Streets of Rage 4 overwhelms with hordes of dangerous foes and levels crammed with environmental hazards to bash your co-op partner into for a good laugh. While its barebones online multiplayer only supports up to two players and has connectivity issues to boot, Streets of Rage 4 finds its addictive heartbeat in four-player couch co-op chaos. With diverse combat styles between playable characters to complement one another's strengths up close on the same screen, Streets of Rage 4 is an ideal game for handing a friend a controller and reminiscing about the glory days of cooperative arcade chaos. By the way, you can enjoy the first three Streets of Rage games with couch co-op capabilities via the Sega Genesis Classics collection. If you're more of a Capom fan, check out the four-player couch co-op available in the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle.

• Developer: Studio MDHR
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

With no ability to play cooperatively online whatsoever, Studio MDHR's brutal boss rush Cuphead essentially demands you share its difficulty with a brave friend by your side. Its finger-busting fights are infinitely more manageable when you've got a 2nd player covering your back, taking some of the edge off its relentless challenges. Even though there are some online workarounds, parrying projectiles, reviving fallen comrades, and bouncing strategies off each other prove far more effective when done feverishly on the same screen rather than remotely. Given its extreme difficulty, Cuphead is more enjoyable when tackling its battery of outrageous bosses shoulder-to-shoulder on the sofa.

• Developer: Nintendo EPD
• Rating: E for Everyone

The wonderfully chaotic Super Mario Bros. Wonder turns Mario's signature platforming into a raucous, grin-inducing party perfect for your next game night. With levels specifically built for co-op, Wonder delivers infectious fun ideal for playing with up to three local friends as all four of you peruse through creatively concocted stages together as Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Daisy. The sheer delight of bouncing around stages together makes Super Mario Bros. Wonder a vibrant, nostalgic blast tailor-made to enjoy while smushed next to your best friends on the sofa, especially when using hilarious power-ups like the "Elephant Suit."

• Developer: Ghost Town Games
• Rating: E for Everyone

Overcooked! All You Can Eat serves up a delicious feast of chaotic couch co-op for you and up to three other less-than-sterling chefs to hustle through. With no online option, this bumper buffet of Overcooked's finest forces you to feel the real-time pressure and exhilarating hysteria face-to-face in the same cramped kitchen. All You Can Eat is a rambunctious all-you-can-experience package overflowing with camaraderie and cathartic yelling as you bump elbows prepping plates. From tossing ingredients around ramshackle restaurants to unceremoniously tossing underperforming teammates out, All You Can Eat delivers delightful local multiplayer mayhem essential for stress-relieving game nights.

• Developer: Valve
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

Portal 2's genius spatial puzzles are only improved when you've got a trusted partner in crime solving them by your side IRL. Though hopping into "Aperture Science" is captivating solo, Portal 2's inspired co-op campaign comes alive most when played in a local split-screen setting, letting you and one other player collaborate, gleefully high-five each other, and solve puzzles together. The delightful, dark humor hits harder when you've got a friend next to you, and having someone to bounce ideas off of face-to-face makes conquering Portal 2's challenges immensely satisfying. From playfully nudging your buddy into an abyss to saving them from turrets, Portal 2 creates unforgettable escapes that you'll be reminiscing about long after GLaDOS lets you go. If you happen to own either an Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, you can enjoy this selection since it's backward compatible with those consoles.

• Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

Rayman Legends' spectacular platforming pops even more when you and up to three friends are crammed together in front of the screen thanks to its fantastic local four-player co-op action., Rayman Legends thrives most in offline chaos - whether you're strategizing on how to time your jumps perfectly or amusingly catapulting each other to death for giggles mid-level. This energetic, bizarre 2D platformer remains an unsung local multiplayer gem and an under-the-radar, rambunctiously fun time, offering an inspired spectrum of stellar couch co-op action.

• Developer: HAL Laboratory
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

Kirby's first foray into full 3D platforming becomes even more magical when you've got a second pink puffball pal playing alongside in local co-op across Kirby and the Forgotten Land's vibrant post-apocalyptic wastelands. Inhaling enemies and copying abilities with a friend gives Forgotten Land a delightful new life, especially when coordinating clever tandem "Power Combo" moves up close. Tailor-made for in-person teamwork, Kirby and the Forgotten Land taps into that nostalgic, heartwarming Nintendo couch co-op spirit as you mercilessly swallow your real-life player two into a hilarious "Star Spit" surprise.

• Developer: The Behemoth
• Rating: T for Teen

Castle Crashers Remastered resurrects all the retina-searingly colorful beat 'em up action that made the original Castle Crashers a couch co-op legend for you and three knights to bash side-by-side offline. Although you can certainly bulldoze the barbarians and wizards solo just fine, Castle Crashers truly soars in local four-player chaos - strategic character combos fade away into unexpected hilarity as your living room descends into good-natured griefing one another instead of baddies. From start to finish, Castle Crashers Remastered delights in and even rewards the good-hearted local co-op for a blast of nostalgia with buds that pack even bigger laughs than you remember.

• Developers: SMG Studio, DevM Games
• Rating: E for Everyone

If Overcooked's chaotic couch cooperation left you hungry for more culinary crisis teamwork, Moving Out 2 serves up more delightful local four-player pandemonium - this time centered around relocating furniture from precarious houses, Moving Out 2 finds its goofball groove in same-screen play as you chuck couches out windows and continually high-five or "accidentally" smash your pals amidst the mayhem. With physics-defying feats of sofa surfing and dangerously stacked items ready to topple, Moving Out 2 takes Overcooked's formula of failing upwards to joyous new heights with buds by your side. This sublimely silly moving marathon takes workplace monotony and transforms it into the most fun Overcooked fans can have to demolish houses alongside their roommates.

• Developer: Traveller's Tales
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga assembles the greatest "brick-ified" adventure in a galaxy far, far away for a nostalgic-inducing romp across the entire saga made infinitely better with couch co-op companions along for the ride. Although previous LEGO games have always offered delightful yet limited local co-op functionality, Skywalker Saga perfects the franchise’s formula with expanded two-player puzzles and platforming that keep the delightful mayhem continuous rather than segmented. With revamped combat and new mechanics like blaster turrets and starship battles built for two, Skywalker Saga intertwines the best LEGO game elements with the best of Star Wars for a cheerful, family-friendly adventure built to enjoy.

• Developer: Nintendo EPD
• Rating: E for Everyone

While Bowser's Fury offers a taste of open-world Mario action, the real star of this Switch double feature is the delightful Super Mario 3D World and its infectious brand of four-player local co-op platforming madness. With its creative array of themed worlds crammed with secrets, 3D World's ingenious level design pops even more when you've got up to three friends in the same room to strategize through stages. From tossing one another into pitfalls to coordinating to snag out-of-reach collectibles, Super Mario 3D World delivers an inspired spectrum of ledge-dangling couch co-op not found in Bowser's Fury more solo-focused adventure.

• Developer: Mossmouth, BlitWorks
• Rating: T for Teen

Spelunky 2 takes the addictive roguelike platforming that made the original a legend and expands the adventure into even more hilariously hazardous situations with up to four-player couch co-op. Spelunky 2 really finds its wings when played with friends right beside you. Whether griefing each other with bombs, using your partner's corpse as a springboard platform, or actually managing genuine teamwork to uncover secrets, the capacious co-op campaign amps up the shenanigans to levels only possible when goofing around in person. This ingeniously expanded adventure cements itself as an essential local multiplayer experience full of crazy chaos.

• Developer: The Coalition
• Rating: M for Mature

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition polishes the legendary cover-based shooter to a visceral sheen, making blasting through its harrowing campaign with a co-op buddy controlling Dom by your side as Marcus the ideal way to experience its tragic story up close. Gears' greatest strength lies in local co-op, whether you're mutually reinforcing each other's flank in battle or talking smack when one accidentally meat shields the other. Marcus and Dom's rapport and loyalty in the face of unspeakable horrors create a uniquely rewarding, foxhole-like bond that only emerges from weathering Gears’ onslaught shoulder-to-shoulder with a friend. This polished package stands the test of time as a narrative-driven couch co-op masterpiece perfect for adrenaline-filled game nights.

• Developer: Retro Studios
• Rating: E for Everyone

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze brings its kinetic, controller-flinging 2D platforming to new heights by letting two friends bash through its vibrant worlds together with seamless local co-op support. Thanks to Joy-Con compatibility, having an extra banana buddy breeze through levels as Diddy, Cranky, Dixie, or DK himself is as simple as handing out an extra controller to a friend. Whether you strategize to utilize both primates' skills or simply chuck each other into parrots for laughs, Tropical Freeze's demanding level design becomes even more gratifying when tackled through tandem teamwork.

• Developer: Larian Studios
• Rating: M for Mature

Baldur's Gate III allows you to truly immerse yourself in its fantastical tabletop-inspired world by letting you and up to three friends across two devices craft characters and conquer its challenges together in engrossing same-screen co-op action. Thanks to seamless couch co-op support, having a fellow Forgotten Realms fanatic by your side to collaborate and roleplay through quests face-to-face makes journeying across "Faerûn" even more magical. Whether debating battle tactics or dramatically acting out conversations with NPCs, Baldur's Gate III facilitates immersive escapism best when enjoyed with some friends — no dungeon master needed. This long-awaited revival delivers an unforgettable portal for you and your favorite dungeon-delving party to escape side-by-side.

• Developer: ConcernedApe
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

Stardew Valley's charming small-town life simulator becomes even more delightful when you bring a real-life friend along to build your pixelated farm together thanks to seamless two-player local co-op support. While living off the land is idyllic solo, plowing fields, gifting villagers, and exploring mines with your bestie by your side makes "Pelican Town" feel like a true home away from home. From perfecting your harvests to settling down at the saloon for the night, Stardew Valley creates priceless memories when enjoyed with someone special by your side - no WiFi needed. This cozy crafting phenomenon remains a blissful escape built to enjoy some gentle, wholesome old-fashioned fun with your favorite player two.

• Developer: Coldwood Interactive
• Rating: E for Everyone

Unravel Two weaves an imaginative, heartwarming platformer perfectly suited for snuggling up on the couch with your special someone thanks to clever co-op gameplay built for two. Playing as adorable "Yarneys," tackling puzzles hand-in-hand with a loved one using complementary abilities makes for magical shared memories. From navigating gorgeous natural backdrops to holding on for dear life as you swing each other across treacherous terrain, Unravel Two blends whimsy and challenge into an artistic experience best enjoyed with your better half. This ingenious indie platformer delivers laughs, thrills, and maybe even some cuddles that couch couples won't soon forget.

• Developer: Dead Mage
• Rating: T for Teen

Children of Morta lets you journey with a trusted ally into the dark depths of the foreboding "Mount Morta" thanks to smooth two-player couch co-op support. When playing as one of the heroic Bergson family members, teaming up in person with a friend to hack through hordes of foes across its dynamic dungeons makes for satisfying action. Whether you perfectly coordinate signature moves between two characters or simply laugh your way through the onslaught of beasts together, Children of Morta captures an addictive, teamwork-based appeal akin to going on an actual adventure with your player two. This imaginative hack-and-slash gem makes diving into the darkness much less daunting when you’ve got backup right by your side.

• Developer: Clever Endeavour Games
• Rating: E for Everyone

Ultimate Chicken Horse blends the creative chaos of level building and platforming in a frantic four-player couch competition custom-made for your next game night. Designing deadly gauntlets in real-time alongside three friends before trying to sabotage their success with devious traps creates incredible living room drama. From ingeniously utilizing components like blocks and saws to designing hilarious death-defying challenges, Ultimate Chicken Horse distills the cooperative competition of games like Super Mario Maker into accessible fun with endless replay value. This delightfully simple party platformer delivers devilish laughs perfect for your next group game session.

• Developer: Keen Games
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

Portal Knights lets you hack, slash, and build your way across a vibrant fantasy realm shattered by evil alongside three trusted allies thanks to full-game four-player local co-op support. While exploring the vast array of islands and dungeons solo offers fun Zelda-esque action, Portal Knights really shines when enjoyed with friends in person as you construct bases together, debate battle tactics, or simply goof off during quests. Whether perfectly coordinating classes during intense boss battles or just laughing your way through side quests together, Portal Knights captures a magical social adventure vibe that hits differently when you’ve got your closest player two, three, and four in your party.

• Developer: Tanuki Creative Studio
• Rating: T for Teen

Jitsu Squad serves up a slick brawler built purely for in-person parties, allowing up to four martial arts mavens to team up or face off in frenetic fighting madness. Jitsu truly finds its footing in its off-the-wall action as friends crowd around to master intricate combos or simply spam specials in chaotic all-out anime warfare. With Tag Team mode letting you take control of two characters from the zany roster for delightful 2v2 antics as well, Jitsu Squad mirrors the frenetic pace and showmanship of arcade icons translated into a nostalgic, friendship-testing beat-em-up bash best enjoyed in your living room. This sofa-ready scrapper is built purely for amping up enjoyment alongside roommates ready to rumble.

• Developer: JoyMasher
• Rating: T for Teen

Blazing Chrome brings the heat with old-school run-and-gun action, letting you and a friend wage an all-out war against an army of evil AI oppressors together in seamless drop-in/drop-out local co-op play. While taking down waves of robots solo as Mavra or Doyle scratches a retro itch, obliterating mechanical baddies alongside your player two amplifies the explosive action across its vigorously paced stages. Whether perfectly coordinating devastating combos or simply smack-talking during the relentless onslaught of enemies, Blazing Chrome captures that distinct Contra-esque camaraderie that emerges from battling overwhelming odds with your bro/sis. This fast-paced sci-fi shooter will have you yearning for one more credit to keep the nostalgic carnage continuing with your co-op buddy all night long.

• Developer: Sumo Digital
• Rating: E for Everyone

Sackboy: A Big Adventure takes the cuddly LittleBigPlanet mascot on his most delightful quest yet across ingeniously constructed 3D worlds perfect for tackling with up to three platforming pals thanks to complete campaign co-op support. Sackboy becomes an absolute blast in four-player couch co-op as you laugh your way through levels created specifically for chaotic party play madness. Whether perfectly timing long jumps for that extra boost from a friend or tossing allies across gaps to save them from certain death (or just for laughs), Sackboy captures a uniquely warm-hearted camaraderie that emerges from uniting to complete imaginative challenges together. This big-hearted platforming adventure delivers laughs and grins galore when enjoyed alongside your very best couch buds.

• Developer: Sparpweed Games
• Rating: E for Everyone

ibb & obb flips platforming upside down with its ingenious gravity-based puzzles, allowing two players to take control of the black and green blob duo to traverse the game's mind-bending stages together. ibb & obb is a hilarious head-scratcher perfect for couch co-op as you and a friend utilize each blob's unique abilities to manipulate gravity, coordinate jumps, and overcome obstacles. Whether perfectly timing double jumps to clear massive gaps or simply laughing off blunders as you accidentally toss each other into the abyss, ibb & obb captures a distinct two-person teamwork dynamic emerging from confronting disorienting puzzles together.

• Developer: Asteroid Base
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime spaceship snafus are made infinitely more hilarious and frantic by sharing ship duties across a four-player crew of friends right next to you thanks to full campaign couch co-op support. Lovers finds its niche in frenzied same-screen teamwork as you and your friends scramble to manned turrets, shields, and thrusters to blast through waves of baddies. Whether perfectly coordinating roles or simply yelling directives during beautiful bullet hell chaos, Lovers captures a uniquely chaotic couch camaraderie that emerges under the pressure of navigating outer space. This stellar indie darling remains a friendship-fortifying must-play perfect for your next group game night.

• Developer: SMG Studio
• Rating: E for Everyone

Death Squared takes the ingenious cooperative cube-pushing from Portal 2 and refines it into an inventive friendship-testing local multiplayer challenge allowing up to four players. When played in local co-op mode, Death Squared turns communication, arguments, and maybe even some griefing into hilarious circular puzzle-solving. Whether perfectly coordinating to avoid deadly drops into the void or simply reveling in the chaos when no one really knows the solution, Death Squared captures a delightfully tense camaraderie that emerges from confronting spatial stumpers together. This test of teamwork brilliance thrives as a battleground for your next game night of brains versus brawn.

• Developer: Stonewheat & Sons
• Rating: E for Everyone

KeyWe delivers delightfully absurd postal puzzles perfect for couch co-op as you and a friend guide adorable Kiwi birds, Jeff and Debra, across interactive landscapes jam-packed with levers, bells, and buttons in their quest to get mail delivered on time. Jumping, pecking, and butt-stomping your way through tons of brain-teasing mayhem requires you and a buddy to perfectly coordinate your featherless flock or else risk squawking at each other when a puzzle goes awry. KeyWe captures an infectious, upbeat vibe emerging from confronting quirky challenges together beak-to-beak, with smiles guaranteed the next time you and a friend are searching for offbeat fun on game night.

• Developer: House House
• Rating: E for Everyone

The hilarious honking madness of Untitled Goose Game is taken to new heights in the game's local co-op mode. Allowing two players to cooperatively waddle around town pulling pranks and stealing hats, the mode brilliantly captures the spirited fun of causing lighthearted chaos with a friend. Though simple in premise, the sandbox structure creates an enjoyable playground for you and a fellow goose to unleash creative havoc across a charming village populated by delightfully exasperated townsfolk. With its clever co-op integration, Untitled Goose Game proves itself to be even more of an uproarious good time when enjoyed with a partner-in-crime by your side.

• Developer: Tribute Games
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

You can never go wrong with a beat 'em up based in the anthropomorphic warriors-filled world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. TMNT: Shredder's Revenge brings all four turtles, Master Splinter, April O'Neil, Casey Jones, Miyamoto Usagi, and Karai to the forefront for a new 2D side-scrolling crusade against Master Shredder and his loyal "Foot Clan." This game is the ultimate party game as it offers six-player drop-in, drop-out co-op across one of the most spirited beat 'em up campaigns you'll ever play. Clever stage layouts, fun Easter Eggs to discover, and crazy boss fights are at the forefront of this retro-stylized game that wouldn't feel out of place in the arcades during the 90s golden age. Side note - enjoy some of the old TMNT games via local co-op via The Cowabunga Collection, too!

• Developers: Blizzard Team 3, Blizzard Albany
• Rating: M for Mature

The Diablo series sits at the top of the mountain when considering the finest top-down action RPGs on the market. Diablo IV marks the latest entry and it manages to retain the addictive gameplay loops of past games while reverting to the supremely dark themes that weren't as prevalent in Diablo III. Two players can explore the ravaged lands of "Sanctuary," which is composed of the locales "Scosglen," "Fractured Peaks," "Dry Steppes," "Hawezar," and "Kehjistan." The evil forces of Lilithmust fall by you and your local ally's hands - powerful combat classes such as the Barbarian, Sorcerer, Druid, Rogue, and Necromancer should help you and your buddy finalize your chosen one and play off of each other's strengths in battle.