10 Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

Rocket League

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

Rocket League was a surprise hit when it released on PlayStation 4 as part of the PlayStation Plus promotion. Being free to many, it became hugely popular, reaching more people than it probably would have done before. Now, nearly three years later, it is popular on PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, as well as its debut platform.

It’s also the perfect game to play with friends. Forming a team, you can take on others in a friendly, or not so friendly, game of car soccer. The possibility for the spectacular is huge, if you can master the art of flying, but the controls and gameplay are easy enough to grasp that you can play competently even on your first try. You might come up against some superstars now and again, so try to choose the friend that’s the most skilled as your teammate.

Borderlands: The Handsome Collection

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

While many first-person shooter experiences feature split-screen co-op, the Borderlands games certainly differ in terms of style. The art is a comic-style of sorts, matching the over-the-top, cartoony tone of the story and characters, some of which will put off some players.

The game is also very loot focused, with the RPG progression system taking center stage. As you take out enemies and complete missions, you level up and head out to grab improved weapons. This can be a bit of a grind alone, but it’s a lot more fun when you’re playing alongside someone else.

Call of Duty: WWII

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

Moving away from the usual, futuristic warfare that the last few Call of Duty games have focused on, WWII took us back to World War II, removing regenerating health and scopes to give a “boots on the ground” feel that made the once over-used time period feel fresh again.

Now, unfortunately, the main campaign isn’t splitscreen co-op enabled; probably due to the story and cutscene focus of the mode, but the Zombies mode is. Alongside a few others, you can tackle the puzzles and undead that the zombies mode throws at you. The characters you play as are crazy, the locations are weird but wonderful, and some of the weapons are unlike anything you’ve used before. It can make for some great fun alongside some friends.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

While any LEGO themed game would work, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is the most recent and certainly one of the best. With the ability to control almost any Marvel superhero you could think of, even the extremely obscure ones, you take on iconic bad guys, destroy LEGO constructions, and collect the items littered around the world.

When playing local co-op, another player can join you on all the adventures. You can divvy out tasks, tell your friend to go and get something, or activate something, and work together to take on the bad guys. It makes everything a little easier than switching between the characters alone and organizing yourselves can be great fun.

Minecraft

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

One of the most popular games of all time, and one that you’ve probably at least dabbled with before, has a split-screen co-op option on most of its platforms. Alongside a friend in Minecraft, you can build things, scavenge for items, do everything you can to protect yourself from the threats that roam the world, or simply explore.

For whatever experience you want: something to relax with on a rainy afternoon, a cooperation focused builder, or a survival game, Minecraft will provide you with what you’re looking for.

Fire Emblem Warriors

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

Unlike most of the other games on this list, Fire Emblem Warriors doesn’t feature an online component, sticking instead to split-screen co-op. After you progress past chapter one, you should be able to have another player join you in the fights against hordes of enemies. You can issue strategic commands, organize your offense with your partner, take control of your favorite character, and team up for attacks themselves. Keep in mind, however, that split-screen co-op is only available on the Switch version, and cannot be done remotely over two consoles.

Gears of War 4

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

As has been the case in every Gears of War, splitscreen co-op is a vital part of the most recent release. As Coalition studio head, Rod Fergusson, confirmed, “Any way that you can play Gears of War4, you can play it split screen.”

You can expect bloody action, powerful weapons, and plenty of shouting. You’ll need to keep talking to your partner to complete the objectives and take out the waves of enemies. Whether you want to play the classic horde mode, the main campaign, or the multiplayer against bots, splitscreen co-op is great in Gears of War 4. You can also play the co-op options in the previous games with the Xbox One’s backwards compatibility.

Halo (Master Chief Collection)

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

Since it includes Halo: CE Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4, the Master Chief Collection is the perfect choice if you’re looking for some co-op shooter action on Xbox One. It was dropped for Halo 5, but you can choose to jump back into any of the games you probably spent hours with when they came to Microsoft’s previous systems.

Each of the four games include split-screen play in their campaigns, for up to two players. You can, therefore, work through almost the entirety of the franchise with a friend. Also, the games now run at a smooth 60fps, with an improved resolution, so they’ll look better than you remember if it isn’t your first time.

Don’t Starve Together

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

Alone, Don’t Stave is an engaging, albeit lonely, survival experience. From the moment the game begins, your focus is finding materials and items that will keep you alive and protected against the monsters that inhabit the world. The odd visual style, that’s reminiscent of a Tim Burton film, also emphasizes the creepy tone.

Alongside someone else, however, it doesn’t feel quite so lonely, but it’s no less creepy. You work together to find food and materials to keep your characters sheltered at night, sharing tasks so that your daily efforts are more efficient. It can be great having someone beside you to help you through the dark nights, but it is one more mouth to feed.

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2

Best Splitscreen Co-Op Games

Unlike the hugely popular mobile games, Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 gives you the chance to take on either the hordes of zombies or plants alongside a friend. Whether you’re protecting a garden from zombies with plant pots on their heads, or taking a graveyard back from the undead, it can be great fun.

A lot of the co-op fun will come from team composition. Like many other class-based shooters, particularly other huge EA series, combining different character types is vital to success in Garden Warfare 2. Two long-range shooters won’t cut it against the larger hordes of zombies, so you’ll need to vary your attack slightly. That being said, GW2 is frequently funny and always good fun.