Split-screen co-op might feel like a lost art in today’s world of battle royales and always-online lobbies, but for a lot of us, nothing beats the magic of gaming side by side on the same couch. Whether you’re sharing a pizza or trash-talking your best friend mid-match, local co-op just hits different.
Lucky for us, some devs still get it, and they’re putting out absolute gems that make you wanna grab a second controller and dive right in. Here’s our countdown of the 10 best split-screen co-op games you seriously shouldn’t sleep on.
10. Untitled Goose Game
You and your partner take control of two absolute menaces with feathers: geese. Not your average heroes, but definitely the most chaotic. The game’s premise is as simple as it is hilarious, cause mayhem in a quiet village. Steal things, honk at strangers, trap a kid in a phone booth. Pure slapstick energy.
The co-op mode takes it to the next level. One goose distracts while the other pulls off the perfect heist. It’s goofy, unpredictable, and oddly strategic. Like Hitman… if Agent 47 had webbed feet and a grudge against gardeners.
9. PHOGS!
You and your buddy are two ends of the same stretchy, double-headed dog. Sounds weird? It is. And it’s awesome.
PHOGS! throws you into a colorful, puzzle-filled world where every level is built around cooperation. You’ll bark, bite, and bounce your way through three dream-like realms, Food, Sleep, and Play, solving challenges that demand communication and timing. It’s charming, it’s ridiculous, and it’s one of the most wholesome couch co-op experiences out there.
8. TowerFall Ascension
Fast, chaotic, and insanely fun. TowerFall Ascension is a 2D archery combat game where quick reflexes and dirty tricks are key. The co-op Quest Mode pits you and your partner against waves of monsters in tight arenas full of traps and power-ups.
You’ll dodge, double-jump, and snipe enemies with limited arrows, so you’ll be scrambling to pick them back up mid-fight. It’s frantic in the best way, and the pixel art style is just icing on the cake. Perfect for short bursts or all-night sessions.
7. Totally Reliable Delivery Service
You’re delivery workers. The packages? Fragile. The physics? Completely bonkers.
In Totally Reliable Delivery Service, you and your friends attempt to deliver parcels using bouncy vehicles and very questionable coordination. Expect explosions, ragdoll chaos, and a whole lot of shouting. Driving is hard. Flying is worse. And trying to load a box into a truck while your buddy accidentally grabs your leg instead? Comedy gold.
This one thrives on failure, and that’s what makes it so damn fun.
6. A Way Out
For the sixth spot, we’ve got A Way Out, a full-blown split-screen cinematic experience where co-op isn’t just encouraged, it’s mandatory. You and your partner play as two prisoners, Leo and Vincent, working together to escape a maximum-security prison and navigate life on the run.
The game is built from the ground up for two players. You’ll solve puzzles, sneak past guards, and break out Shawshank-style, literally digging behind a toilet in your cell while the other player distracts the wardens. The split-screen design lets both stories play out simultaneously, adding layers of tension and emotion.
This isn’t just a game, it’s a co-op movie you play. And trust me, escaping prison never felt so good.
5. Can’t Drive This
You drive. Your friend builds the road. At the same time. What could go wrong?
In Can’t Drive This, one player steers a truck that explodes if it slows down, while the other frantically places road tiles ahead to keep it moving. Think Speed meets Tetris, and throw in a ton of laughter and panic.
It’s fast, it’s weird, and every round feels like a homemade stunt course built by lunatics. Get ready to yell “LEFT, LEFT, NO, OTHER LEFT!” more times than you’d care to admit.
4. The Escapists 2
You’re not just escaping prison here, you’re planning every move, every distraction, every dig. Unlike A Way Out’s cinematic flow, The Escapists 2 is a sandbox of pure strategy and slapstick, where pixelated prisoners dream of freedom and you get to make it happen.
Each day you follow the schedule: roll call, meals, chores… while secretly hoarding tools, crafting weapons, and, yep, digging a tunnel behind the toilet while your buddy distracts the guards at lunch. The top-down view and rigid routines make every moment tense, and split-screen co-op adds chaos and charm.
Shout instructions, pass contraband, and create the wildest prison break since the movies. Plus, you get to customize your character with tattoos, bandanas, and more, because even inmates need to look sharp.
3. Borderlands: Legendary Collection
Guns. Loot. Chaos. Borderlands has always been wild, but couch co-op takes it to another level.
With the Legendary Collection, you get Borderlands 1, 2, and The Pre-Sequel in one fat package. It’s split-screen, shoot-and-loot mayhem with hilarious writing, over-the-top weapons, and missions that range from serious to straight-up absurd.
You and your partner pick your characters, each with unique abilities, and dive into a world packed with bandits, bosses, and more loot than you’ll ever need. It’s addictive, ridiculous, and totally perfect for duo sessions on the couch.
2. Kingdom Two Crowns
Strategy games aren’t usually the go-to for couch co-op, but Kingdom Two Crowns nails it.
You and your co-ruler ride horses, build your kingdom, defend it from nightly monster raids, and manage your resources, all while working together in beautifully minimal pixel art landscapes. Timing and planning are key, and split-screen makes it feel like running an empire with your best friend.
The game doesn’t hold your hand. You’ll experiment, fail, rebuild, and slowly learn what it takes to survive. It’s chill but intense, and once you’re hooked, it’s hard to stop.
1. Split Fiction
And at number one: Split Fiction. This one’s special.
You play as Zoe and Mio, two struggling authors tricked by a shady tech company into uploading their creative minds. One wrong move and Mio ends up stuck inside Zoe’s digital story world, and now, both have to work together to escape. It’s wild, imaginative, and totally made for split-screen co-op.
Each player controls one half of the same “narrative avatar,” and that means absolute teamwork. Puzzles, platforming, code manipulation, it’s all shared. You’ll be rewriting corrupted dialogue, dodging digital firewalls, and glitching your way through a story gone rogue.
What makes it hit even harder? Split Fiction is a full-on takedown of those tech bros who think creativity can be mined by AI and repackaged for profit. It’s bold, smart, and doesn’t pull punches, and that’s exactly why it deserves the top spot.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re into prison breaks, pixel-perfect strategy, or chaotic delivery runs, these split-screen games remind us why local co-op still matters. They bring people together in ways no headset can match, and turn a casual game night into something unforgettable.
So grab your player two, fire up one of these titles, and relive the glory of sharing a screen. Trust us, it never gets old.
