Summary
- Sportsfriends: A hidden gem with Olympic sports minigames that demands coordination from players at all times.
- LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga - A nostalgic adventure that bundles all six original films for local co-op fun.
- Ultimate Chicken Horse: A chaotic platformer with creative competitions that balance competition and cooperation.
Co-op games are a great way for people to come together and put aside their differences, spending a few hours just working together regardless of age or gaming capabilities. The best co-op games out there offer a simplistic experience that is very easy to get into and has a bunch of replay value for a group of players to really enjoy the gameplay again and again.
8 Best Co-Op Games That Explore Mature Themes
While these co-op games are a lot of fun for one or more friends, they also involve story elements intended for older audiences.
Sometimes it's working in teams against an opponent, and with others, the goal is universal and requires coordination across the board in order to clear the level or succeed. No matter the case, playing games locally is always a treat and reminds players of a simpler time when video games were less accessible and more about pure fun.
8 Sportsfriends
Simple Games With Surprising Depth
Sportsfriends
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
WHERE TO PLAY
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Sportsfriends is a hidden gem in the world of co-op games that had mostly flown under the radar. The game includes several minigames that are closely based on Olympic sports, ranging from pole-vaulting basketball to sumo wrestling, each of which can be played in teams where coordination is demanded at all times.
The game has a very unique style, with a pixelated aesthetic that is as timeless as it is iconic. It has all the same energy and flair as any other couch co-op game, but brings an added level of simplicity that means anyone can pick up the mechanics in a second and enjoy the laughs and shouts that come with every single game.
7 LEGO® Star Wars™ - The Complete Saga
The Classic Adventure All In One Place
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
- Released
- November 6, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PC, Android, iOS
Lego Star Wars is for many people a memory from their early gaming days and an example of how to reimagine a classic universe in the perfect way. The Complete Saga bundles together all six of the original films into an action-packed adventure that can be enjoyed in all their blocky glory with a friend in local co-op.
Revisting iconic locations and fighting against some of cinema's most loved villains is a nostalgia trip on steroids, and the ability to do so in a cooperative capacity adds a level of enjoyment that is virtually impossible to match. The box set is a great way to enjoy the universe, but for fans who really want to push for the whole story, The Skywalker Saga brings in the later films as well.
6 Ultimate Chicken Horse
Absurd Platforming With So Much Variety
Ultimate Chicken Horse
- Released
- March 4, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a chaotic and endlessly creative platformer that redefines what local co-op competition can be. Players take turns placing traps, platforms, and hazards on a blank level before racing each other to the finish. The game has a great blend of competition and cooperation, as players can decide how they want to engage with one another, both friend and foe.
The game’s vibrant art style and bouncy animations add to its charm, but the real magic is in how accessible yet strategic it becomes. It’s the perfect mix of party game and puzzle platformer, where every round results in laughter and a healthy dose of betrayal. Whether it's building the perfect death trap or somehow dodging everyone else's, it is the kind of local multiplayer game that’s just as fun to fail as it is to win.
5 Death Squared
Isometric Puzzles To Make An Entire Group Scratch Their Heads
Death Squared
- Released
- July 13, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone // Alcohol Reference
- Developer(s)
- SMG Studio
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Death Square d is a clever and often hilarious puzzle game that thrives on teamwork and occasionally tests friendships to their limit. Players control colorful robot cubes navigating through deadly obstacle courses that require precise movement, timing, and most importantly, coordination. What starts as a simple block-pushing challenge quickly becomes a chaotic exercise in trust and communication that requires teamwork at all times.
Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games On PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus has something for everyone, and that includes great couch co-op and split-screen games. Here are the absolute best on Sony's service.
The game’s minimalistic design is deceptively charming, with a clean, futuristic aesthetic and witty dialogue that keeps the tone light even when things get tense. Every mistake usually ends with an explosion, making for plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. With a vast array of puzzles that are designed specifically for two or four players, the game is a local co-op gem that balances brain-teasing gameplay with party-game energy, perfect for friends who love solving problems.
4 Overcooked 2
Running A Kitchen Can Be Pretty Damn Stressful
Overcooked 2
- Released
- August 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Team17, Ghost Town Games
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Platform(s)
- Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, Amazon Luna
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The sequel to an already amazing title, Overcooked 2 takes the restaurant chaos from the first game and cranks everything up a notch. The gameplay is fast-paced and requires perfect precision to complete orders in an orderly fashion, while managing everything else within the kitchen as a group.
There are often some comedic trade-offs that need to be decided upon, like leaving a stove on with a fire blazing in order to tend to a needy customer, which can either lead to a successful service or the untimely downfall of the entire team. Every moment is pure laughter, and working together is very rewarding, as without that extra set of hands, the onslaught of orders would never get cleared.
3 Human Fall Flat
Physics-Based Puzzles
Human Fall Flat
- Released
- July 22, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone
- Developer(s)
- No Brakes Games
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Switch, Android, iOS, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Human Fall Flat is a remarkable game that was made by a single developer and quickly became one of the best-selling games of all time. The charm and draw come from the simple art style and even simpler mechanics, where players work with one another and the world through physics interactions by piloting a ragdolling character that isn't afraid of getting hurt.
7 Best Couch Co-Op Sports Games
Friends can team up to win (or lose) together in these acclaimed couch co-op sports games.
Every stage has a different set of puzzles and obstacles that players need to overcome together, using the grab ability to swing one another, lift objects, and climb walls in a pretty unconventional manner. The whole game just breathes fun, and with more stages being added and a sequel on the way, now is as good a time as any to pick up the game and experience the fun firsthand.
2 It Takes Two
Split-Screen Action Taken To New Heights
It Takes Two
- Released
- March 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It Takes Two is among the best when it comes to co-op experiences that redefine the genre and bring in a whole new level of quality that has never been seen before. The signature split-screen feature means that playing locally makes everything feel much closer and immersive, and the teamwork elements are elevated to new heights.
There are so many iconic and memorable sections that bring memories from everyone's childhood into cinematic scenes that are just as fun to interact with as they are beautiful. And the story that goes along with the excellent cooperation is certainly best experienced as a pair, to fully appreciate the writing and narrative excellence.
1 Gang Beasts
Hilarious Fights That Never Fail To Bring Joy
Gang Beasts
- Released
- December 12, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Boneloaf
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Party Game
Gang Beasts is a wildly unpredictable brawler that turns every match into a slapstick showdown. Set in absurd, physics-driven arenas like moving trucks, meat grinders, and collapsing elevators, players control gelatinous, wobbly fighters trying to throw each other off the map using unorthodox fighting styles along with plenty of flailing limbs.
The beauty lies in its simplicity, as there are only a handful of controls, but the physics-based combat makes every encounter feel unique and unscripted. Whether pulling off a heroic comeback or getting knocked out by an overzealous punch, the game keeps the laughs coming nonstop. And when playing in teams, the coordination is less about careful timing and more about seeing which set of players can make the fewest mistakes.
Best Co-Op Games On Steam To Play Right Now
From online multiplayer titles to local masterpieces, Steam has plenty of fantastic co-op games that cover a wide spectrum of genres.