10 Best Split-Screen (Couch Co-Op) Games for PC

Even though online multiplayer gaming is on an insane rise these days, there are still gamers who like playing local multiplayer games with their friends or family. And while split-screen and couch co-op games are becoming a dying breed, there are still some excellent games that anyone interested in local multiplayer games should try out. If you are also looking for such games, you have come to the right place. Here are the 10 best split-screen and couch co-op games for PC that you can play in 2023.

Last updated on January 9, 2024, to include new games like Baldur’s Gate 3, It Takes Two, and more. Have any more suggestions? Tell us in the comments section.

1. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

An official image of the split-screen co-op game LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga.

LEGO games are a great example of split-screen co-op titles on PC. And that continues with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, the latest entry by developer Double T, or Travelers Tale.

A compilation of every single mainline Star Wars movie, players get to experience the epic sci-fi space opera story with a lot of LEGO humor put into it. The game runs well in split-screen or as a couch co-op title as soon as you plug in a second controller. Hence, this is the best pick if you and your favorite second player want the perfect split-screen gaming experience.

2. Overcooked! 2

An official imagte of the split-screen co-op game overcooked 2.

One of the greatest couch co-op titles to grace the PC platform, Overcooked 2 is a team-based game where you and a group of your friends band together to finish a set of cooking tasks. You have to communicate and navigate various chaotic levels while fulfilling various orders.

While Overcooked 2 does not have split-screen support, it does have a well-received local couch co-op. And because of the camera orientation, you barely need a split-screen. Give this a try if you and your friends are coming over for a house party and need a perfect party title.

3. A Way Out

A Way Out

Some split-screen co-op games have to be on this list as they are essential games you need to play. A Way Out, made by Hazelight, is one such experience where the whole game is tailored around split-screen co-op.

You and your friend play as two American felons with their motivations, teaming up to break out of prison to meet their loved ones. You cannot play this game solo. You will need a friend to try it out. Hence, if you want a real split-screen experience, A Way Out is one of the many games on this list that best fits the criteria.

4. It Takes Two

An official imagte of the split-screen co-op game It Takes Two.

Another Hazelight gaming experience that is solely created around split-screen experience, It Takes Two is an adventure game where you play as a pair of estranged partners who get transformed into little dolls. After their kid gets kidnapped, they set aside their differences to team up and save their kid. The game is known for its fun co-op puzzles and emphasis on teamwork. This is a must-pick if you want something more challenging than our previous recommendation.

5. Portal 2

Portal 2

Portal 2 is all about solving puzzles and going through different dimensions to solve each part of the puzzle. You can play a completely different co-op experience by trying out the multiplayer mode. You and a friend work together in the co-op mode to solve the puzzles and overcome obstacles. This game is a must-try for puzzle enthusiasts.

Even though the multiplayer mode in Portal 2 is not as intriguing and exciting as the single-player campaign. Furthermore, you jump through some hoops to get the local co-op working. But, if you are willing to put up with everything, then this game is the perfect one for you and a friend.

6. Road Redemption

Road Redemption

Remember Road Rash released by EA Games years ago? While we never got a remaster or a sequel to that game, indie developers took it upon themselves to launch a spiritual successor. Enter Road Redemption, a bike racing game where you punch, kick, and beat your opponents all to get that first place.

While Road Redemption is a simple title, as you participate in racing, it has one of the essentials on this list. Yes, you can locally split-screen co-op in this game. Road Redemption allows for up to four-player split-screen co-op, which is rare in recent years. True, the game needs some more polish and content. But it is a fun little game you and your friends can try out if the genre fits your needs.

7. Castle Crashers

Castle Crashers split-screen co-op game

Castle Crashers is a four-player brawler where you compete through multiple levels and take out enemies in search of your queen. Offering beautiful cartoony visuals and a cheesy background soundtrack, Castle Crashers makes the entire gameplay experience more immersive.

You can play this game online or in local co-op mode. This is an amazing game if you are looking for a hack-and-slash adventure with your friends.

8. Cuphead

Cuphead

Cuphead is a run-and-gun shooting game in which you control the animated Cuphead and his brother Mugman after a deal with the devil goes awry. They now have a debt on their head and have to take out multiple souls for the devil. While doing their bidding, they venture out to various levels, donning painstakingly recreated retro cartoon visuals.

Cuphead is fun to pick up and extremely difficult to master, making it a must-have for any of you looking for a fun local co-op game on your PC. And, with the release of the Delicious Last Course DLC, you can now play as a new character in place of Cuphead or Mugman.

9. Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 wins game of the year at the Game Awards and also a spot in the Best of Steam 2023

We’ve spoken at length about Baldur’s Gate 3, and so has the whole gaming community. Winner of multiple Game of the Year awards in 2023, the sequel to classic DnD CRPG takes you through the journey of Faerun after Mind Flayers kidnap you and others to create a Thrall.

While the Mind Flayer plan turns to folly, you and a group of eccentric individuals journey through the lands to remove the tadpole while getting entangled in fights that can change Baldur’s Gate forever.

The game offers replayability and freedom of choice and respects player agency. However, if you have two separate controllers, you can play this game in split-screen co-op mode. However, in my testing, I found that you need two controllers for this to work, which means you cannot do one keyboard and mouse and one controller.

This makes sense since controller orientation is vastly different than the other option. However, we couldn’t help but recommend this title.

10. Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2

The original Left 4 Dead game introduced a zombie-killing adventure that two players can enjoy together. Nothing beats the fun and excitement of bashing zombie skulls with different weapons while working with a friend in split-screen mode. You can even play with four players in the “Versus” mode.

Join forces with your friend in the post-apocalyptic world and start bashing some zombie skulls to survive in this world. The game also offers exciting new campaigns and modes to expand the story further and more zombies to kill. It is a must-have for all zombie-killing fans out there.

Honorable Mentions

These are our picks for the best split-screen and couch co-op games you can try on PC. We covered some of the essentials that are worth your time and attention. However, If you think there are some other amazing split-screen games, feel free to mention them in the comments below.

Can you play split-screen on Steam games?

Yes, you can play compatible split-screen games from Steam. Moreover, you can play local co-op and split-screen games online with Remote Play Together.

comment Comments 50
  • Ronald Koenecke says:

    LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga
    This game is big, me and my wife have been playing this game for over a year, we got all the low hanging rewards, working on the tough ones now.
    As you go along, more of the game opens up as you earn the right, if you are a Star Wars movie goer, this game follows the story line, and you will love it.
    Upgrade your many characters abilities along the way as you travel to 24 planets, wars in outer space, through hyperspace.
    This game is over the top and ideal for two players since many of the puzzles need two players to solve.
    Both me and the wife are true jedis now!
    We be a Husband Wife team now.
    R~

  • killjoy says:

    split-screen, you keep using that word, i don’t think it means what you think it means.

  • Jacob says:

    “Borderlands: The Handsome Collection features all of the games in the Borderlands franchise” and then goes on to say it only has borderlands 2 and the prequel. Not borderlands 1 or 3 or tiny tinas wonderland (not released but certainly announced at time of writing)

  • Andy says:

    I can not believe this top 20 list does not have the conflict games……. conflict of Desert Storm Conflict of Vietnam e c t… very fun two player co-op on the couch. Me and my brother used to play them all the time and hands down one of the best co-op games you will ever play when it comes to shoot them up games

  • Whatever says:

    Sonic is not a Nintendo classic.

  • Lincoln says:

    I SAID FREE BLOODY USELESS INTERNET.

    • Weston says:

      Rocket League is free

  • Tero says:

    The Trine series is a great couch co-op. 1-3 players.

  • Sebastian Johansson says:

    Please tell me how Don’t Starve Together is split screen on PC. It’s not. Only on console. As usual.

    • big D says:

      buying one instance of dst gives a second one for free in steam inventory, easy game to run too

      • fuyck you says:

        that isnt couch multiplayer

    • E. says:

      There’s a mod you can download to splitscreen. It works fine, check out video somewhattechy on youtube. He explains how to do it with download in description

  • sam says:

    Human fall flat is a great option

  • aziz abdalah says:

    na9so bra rab troll nik omkom

  • Deepesh says:

    Add hotwheels to the list.the multiplayer stock battle is the best to play with a friend on splitscreen

  • sdub says:

    Don’t Starve Together not split screen on PC. 🙁

  • mirddes says:

    half the games on this list dont even have splitscreen on PC

  • Saad Ahmad says:

    i need splitscreen storyline game 3rd person under 5gb

    • Jonas Joyson says:

      did u find one yet bro?? reply to @jonasjoyson (insta) if u did.. even i have been searching for one

      • Alex says:

        Kane ans Lynch but only Part 1 works.with Split screen

    • danny says:

      PROJECT ZOMBOID IS GREAT

    • Dark says:

      not possible in splitscreen

  • Ramil says:

    I would like to add Cat Quest 2.

  • Hesperian says:

    Why isn’t Outward on this list?

    • 669 says:

      thx bro

    • TaitNBake says:

      Literally the best.

    • Neba Bryan says:

      It’s there

  • shady says:

    LEFT 4 DEAD 2 is only split screen with mod I heard, is that true?

    • daksh says:

      No it is not true

    • Jamsin says:

      yes true

    • TheBlaster690 says:

      it is splits screen you have to open the developer tools with ` then type ss_map c and use the arrow keys and pick any map u want then put a space and put either co-op or versus then when the game loads then open developer tools again then put connect_splitscreen localhost 2 then it’ll load the other player if you can move make sure your gamepad is enabled then put on the developer tools again and type exec_360controllerb then ur set if u have ps4 use ds4 the only problem when playing splits screen with ps4 it doesnt let player 2 look up or down

      • aryan says:

        ty dude its help a lot

    • sayim2210s says:

      no

  • JOHN STEPHENSON says:

    Not just lego batman we can play most lego games in couch co-op.

  • Dilawer Soomro's mum says:

    the nig ger writing this must actually be re tarded, some of the games are simply not split screen and his Explanation why as shit ty as the streets of inida

    • no hate says:

      wow man with little p. e. n. i. s/ so jealous. Hate much?

  • brot says:

    Stupid asshole COD4 is not splitscreen on pc

    • Idiot comment replier says:

      cod4 isn’t even in the list

      • i love idiots says:

        hahaha…that’s so funny.

  • BrokenGamer says:

    I searched FREE games… what a disappointment …

    • Donald J Trump says:

      just like your life

      • gameskeepsmesane says:

        dammmnn!!

    • Shogun says:

      Ooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

    • Aakash Buddha says:

      well u can download cracked games just go serch in fitgirl you’ll find it

  • abdo bicho says:

    cod 4 mw is split screen on playstation. not pc.

  • Habeel says:

    how is cod modern warfare a split screen game?

    • Dilawer Soomro says:

      The Xbox/PlayStation version supports Couch co-op on CoD 4. It’s really fun.

      • Yoko says:

        Yea, but this article says “Best split screen games on PC”…

      • Christopher Taylor says:

        “15 Best Split-Screen (Couch Co-Op) Games for PC”

        you should remove modern warfare 4 its misleading and people that don’t know any better are going to waste $20 thinking they can split screen it on PC

      • Carlie izunagi says:

        Goddamit i fell for the misleading information

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