Couch Co-op Games Coming in June 2026

These are the couch co-op games coming in June and some recently announced news.

But first, let’s talk about some of the games that came out in May that I didn’t cover last month.

May Couch Co-op Games I Missed

Forehead Chip

This is a retro sci-fi pixel action game inspired by 80s and ’90s movies. The game supports couch co-op and it plays like a run-and-gun platformer. I haven’t had a chance to try this one out yet.

Project Solar

Project Solar got a demo on May 5th. This is an open-world, fully 3D split screen co-op game with asymmetrical gameplay.

One player controls this larger robot named Ray while the second player controls a smaller drone called Pip. Each character has different abilities, so the game is built around cooperation.

The visuals look really nice here, and I still need to try this one out.

Gangs of Asia

Gangs of Asia also came out on May 5th, and this is a game described as a multiplayer strategy brawler hybrid, so that sounds really unique.

And of course, I’m a sucker for pixel art, so I definitely plan to try this one out.

Dead as Disco

Dead as Disco entered early access on May 5th, although this build of the game does not include local co-op. The full version is supposed to include co-op gameplay.

It’s basically a rhythm-based brawler where combat syncs to the music. I played the early access version a little bit and it was a really good time.

Hydroneer

Hydroneer added four-player split screen to PS5 and Xbox on May 8th. This was already available on PC.

I wish more sandbox games still did local multiplayer like this because most crafting games like this completely ignore split screen.

Stitchlings

Stitchlings came out on May 12th and it’s a totally free game. It’s a co-op puzzle platformer with these cute stitched art style characters.

I haven’t had a chance to try this one out yet, but it has some really good reviews on Steam.

The Clubies

On May 13th, The Clubies was released. This is a 3D platformer that looks pretty cute, and you can play this one with up to four players locally.

I’ll probably end up trying this one out, too.

R-Type Dimensions 3

R-Type Dimensions 3 came out May 18th. I always love seeing old games get modern releases, but this is mostly getting negative reviews.

I think that’s mostly because of some performance issues and some glitches, so hopefully that gets patched out in the future.

The Last Conduit

The Last Conduit came out on itch.io on May 18th, so if you have a PC, you can actually play this game for free.

It seems kind of like a top-down hack-and-slash dungeon crawler, maybe with some tower defense added as well. From the trailer, I gathered that there is this portal where you have to grab things to put in there to strengthen it. And while you’re doing this, you have to fight enemies and keep them away from the portal as well.

Seemed like this one might be pretty fun.

Goonect 2

On May 20th, Goonect 2 came out. This is a sequel to a game that exclusively came out in Japan. I wasn’t familiar with that game, but this looks like a 3D platformer where both characters are connected and you have to obviously work together to get through this environment.

Schrödinger’s Cat Burglar

Schrödinger’s Cat Burglar came out on May 21st, and it’s a puzzle adventure game where you play as these two cats.

Vortica

Vortica came out on May 25th, and it’s another action roguelite that involves shooting down a bunch of aliens.

Bounty Brawl: Most Wanted

Bounty Brawl: Most Wanted came out May 28th. You can play this game with up to four players locally, and it’s a fast-paced action roguelike.

Duo Quest

Duo Quest recently got a demo, and this is another one that’s built around co-op. It mixes some deck building and RPG mechanics.

I’m definitely going to try this one out.

Dang Darn Island

Dang Darn Island came out May 29th, and this is a top-down action roguelike game with some Indiana Jones vibes. It seems like it might have some Overcooked elements as well.

Notable May Couch Co-op Releases

Here are some of the most notable May releases, games that I mentioned last month and now have actually come out.

Mad King Redemption

Mad King Redemption came out into early access on May 14th, and I played this game a couple weeks ago on a live stream.

My first impression is I love the art style here and the gameplay feels really good. It definitely reminds me of Golden Axe, but I found the game to be incredibly difficult and there were a few glitches here and there.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I want to play it some more.

Wheelmates

The demo for Wheelmates came out last month. It’s a game clearly inspired by It Takes Two, but you’re in RC cars.

Really, the only complaint that I had were the controls, which makes navigating and doing just about anything kind of difficult. So, hopefully the full release fixes some of those issues.

Directive 8020

Directive 8020 came out on May 12th, and it’s kind of getting mixed reviews.

I played this for about an hour, and I did like what I saw so far. As a local co-op experience, it’s not exactly ideal as one player is going to just kind of sit there on the sidelines while the other player is walking around and going through the story beats, and then you just switch back and forth.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight came out on May 22nd, and on Steam this is getting overwhelmingly positive reviews. People are praising the overall gameplay as well as the visuals.

I haven’t had a chance to try this one out yet, but I’m definitely looking forward to it.

Couch Co-op Games Coming in June 2026

Here are some of the games that actually have official release dates coming out in June.

Unrailed 2

Unrailed 2 launches on June 7th. The first game was already one of the better chaotic teamwork co-op games out there, so I am interested to see how they expand on that formula here.

Lost Castle 2

Lost Castle 2 is coming out on June 11th. This is a 2D beat ’em up with some roguelite elements.

I’ve heard a lot of people compare it to Castle Crashers. I never played the original one, but I know people like it. I’ll probably be checking both of them out sometime soon.

Adventures of Elliot

Adventures of Elliot comes out June 18th. This is an action RPG with some Zelda-like elements. It has a really beautiful HD-2D art style.

The co-op is just an assist mode where you take control of this fairy character. So, we’ll see how involved that actually is.

Dark Scrolls

Dark Scrolls was supposed to come out in May, but they pushed the release date back to June 22nd.

This is one of my most anticipated games. It has some really nice pixel art that looks like the NES, and it’s an auto-scrolling run-and-gun shooter, so I’m excited for this one.

The Artifactory

The Artifactory is coming to Switch on June 25th. This was already out on Steam.

This is another Overcooked-like, but this one seems to be more focused on witches and a magical theme.

Star Fox

The biggest announcement we got was a complete surprise, which is Star Fox, a complete remake of Star Fox 64.

This one comes out June 25th. Similar to Star Fox Zero on the Wii U, this game has a co-pilot option where one player takes control of shooting and the other takes control of the ship.

I would have liked to see a split screen co-op option, but I do really enjoy this kind of gameplay as well.

What I’ve Been Playing Recently

Here are some co-op games that I’ve been playing recently.

I just finished Cult of the Lamb a couple of weeks ago, and it’s definitely one of my favorite couch co-op games I’ve played recently.

I just started Baldur’s Gate 3 again, which is obviously going to take me forever because that game is massive, but it is a goal of mine to finally play through that game and finish it co-op.

I also replayed a game called Voyage, which is the third time I’ve played through it. Outside of modern games, I’ve been going through and playing every single co-op Super Nintendo game and getting footage for an upcoming project.

Like I said, I played Mad King Redemption a little bit. I also played Saint Slayer, which is a Castlevania clone that has co-op, and it’s incredibly hard, but I do recommend it if you like those types of games.

And with my daughter, I’ve been playing Rotwood, which is also another game I would really highly recommend.

So, yeah, I’ve been pretty busy with some co-op games lately.

Retro Co-op News

Project Neon

Project Neon was originally released on the Neo Geo in 2024, and now it’s getting ports to the Sega Saturn, the Dreamcast, as well as the N64.

What’s interesting is the Saturn version is actually going to be cartridge-based, and I think that’s the first time that’s been done.

This is a vertical scrolling shoot ’em up with co-op. And I always think it’s cool seeing entirely new co-op games still getting developed for old hardware.

Overserved

Those same developers also announced another game called Overserved.

It’s described as a mix between Bomberman and Smash TV, and it supports up to eight players. So, it’s primarily a competitive game, but there are team options. Theoretically, you could do four humans against four AI bots.

This one is coming out on Neo Geo, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, as well as modern platforms, and there’s going to be options to actually play this online with crossplay between all platforms.

So, that is pretty interesting.

They’re also releasing a four-player adapter for the Neo Geo itself, and that has never existed before. That hardware was always limited to only two players, so maybe that’ll open the door for more four-player homebrews on the Neo Geo.

Guardian Heroes

Recently, Treasure has been posting some cryptic stuff around the 30th anniversary of Guardian Heroes.

I’m trying not to get my hopes up too much about this, but hopefully this means some kind of re-release or sequel announcement.

If you don’t know Guardian Heroes, it originally came out on the Sega Saturn and then there was a remake that came out on Xbox 360 Arcade. It’s a really great beat ’em up with some RPG elements. So, anything related to that game I’m excited for.

Disney Afternoon Collection

Disney Afternoon Collection just came out physically on the Switch and Switch 2, so that means more people can finally play stuff like Chip ’n Dale and Goof Troop again.

Evercade Neo Geo Collection

The Evercade also just announced a new Neo Geo collection. The co-op games that are included in that are Metal Slug 4, Blazing Star, Robo Army, Three Count Bout, and King of the Monsters.

So, that’s a pretty solid co-op lineup.

Lethal Wedding

There’s a new game for the Sega Genesis called Lethal Wedding. This is hitting Kickstarter on June 2nd.

The demo for this game has been around for a few years and I’ve actually covered it on the channel, but it plays a lot like Zombies Ate My Neighbors. It’s a pretty decent game, so I’m looking forward to the full release. It sounds like it’s getting ported to some modern platforms as well.

New Couch Co-op Announcements

Cappy Castaway

A new trailer for Cappy Castaway came out, and it has some behind-the-scenes interviews with the developers.

This is a story-based cozy game that was announced a couple of years ago, so hopefully we get a release date soon.

Bot Fest Station

Bot Fest Station was just announced, and this is a 1 to four-player tower defense game.

Taival

Tyal is another game that was just announced, and this one I’m really excited for.

It’s a four-player split screen action RPG with Minecraft visuals.

Lucky Duckies

Lucky Duckies is a 3D platformer, and you can play in split screen co-op.

Just hearing the name alone, it’s not really something that would interest me, but the gameplay itself actually looks pretty interesting.

Aye Aye Captain

Aye Aye Captain is a four-player pirate game where you’re constantly repairing your ship, fighting off enemies, and doing some exploration.

Box Knight

Box Knight is another action RPG, but with a hand-drawn art style and a lot of humor.

Wild n Chill

Wild and Chill was announced. This is a sequel to Cast and Chill, which was a cozy, relaxing fishing type of game.

This seems to be very similar. It has really nice pixel art just like the original game, but this one is focused on foraging, hunting, and building things around your off-grid cabin.

I’m always looking for new cozy games to play, and this one looks great, too.

Redemption: The Sin Eternal

Redemption: The Sin Eternal is a supernatural horror game that you can play in split screen co-op.

Visually, it looks pretty good, and some of the monsters actually look kind of creepy.

We definitely need more 3D games that are split screen co-op, and I’m always looking for horror games, so I’m hoping this one is good.

Wish for Eternity

Wish for Eternity has a teaser trailer.

This game is still in very early development, and the expected release date isn’t until 2028, but I really like the visuals here.

This is a dungeon crawler where you play as these two spirits, and it seems to be built around co-op where you’re going to solve puzzles together. So, I’m definitely going to keep an eye on this game.

Toziuha Night: Nosferatu's Curse

Toa Knight: Nosferatu’s Curse just got a trailer, and it looks like a Castlevania clone with 8-bit graphics.

You can play this one in two-player co-op. There’s no release date for this yet, but if you know me, I love games in this style. So, another one that I’m going to keep an eye out for.

World of Anterra

World of Anterra got a new gameplay trailer. I didn’t know about this game, but I guess it was announced a few years ago.

It’s an open-world RPG with pixel art visuals and turn-based combat. I think this game looks really interesting and it’s supposed to be coming into early access sometime this year.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion

If you’re a fan of Marvel Cosmic Invasion, we got two new characters, Cyclops and the Thing.

I did really enjoy this game, so I’ll probably try this out.

Outward 2

Outward 2 finally got a release date. It’s going into early access on July 7th.

The Crimson Hunt

A trailer for a new third-person shooter just came out called The Crimson Hunt.

I don’t know too much about this one. Visually, it looks pretty good. And it looks like you can play the whole game in split screen co-op.

Lost in Tandem

Lost in Tandem is supposedly coming out in July.

This is a 2D cinematic platformer where you play as a girl and this robot.

Showcase Highlights

There were a couple of showcases that highlighted some upcoming couch co-op games. I think a lot of these games were already announced previously, but they have new trailers.

61 Indie Showcase

The first one was 61 Indie Showcase.

There were 61 games here, but the only couch co-op game that I could confirm was Twins of Olus.

This looks like a top-down action game where there’s this spirit that is attached to the main character. So, I’m guessing player 2 will take control of the spirit.

Visually, this game looks pretty nice. But yeah, that’s pretty unfortunate that out of all of those games, this was the only one announced.

AG French Direct 2026

The other showcase was the AG French Direct 2026.

The couch co-op games that I was able to confirm were Tiebreakers, which is a tennis-themed run-and-gun shooter, and it has a nice hand-drawn art style.

Heave Ho 2 is officially coming out sometime this summer. No official date yet, but this is one that I’m definitely looking forward to.

Clerks and Quirks now has a demo available and this seems like another Overcooked-like game.

Last Moon was already announced previously, but they mentioned it again. This looks like a top-down action RPG with some Zelda vibes as well. I really like the art style for this game, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.

Final Thoughts

So, there you go. Some notable releases from May, a handful of games coming out in June, and some couch co-op news.

There’s quite a bit of couch co-op stuff still happening today, and hopefully some of these caught your attention.

Which games are you most excited for?

Best Family-Friendly Couch Co-op Games

Some couch co-op games are made for hardcore players, but these are the kinds of games you can actually sit down and play with your kids, your partner, your parents, or basically anybody.

A lot of modern co-op games are built around difficulty. Roguelikes, giant RPGs, survival games, and experiences where if one player isn’t already experienced with gaming, they’re probably going to get frustrated pretty quickly. But there are still a ton of family-friendly couch co-op games out there.

These are games where almost anybody can pick up a controller and understand what’s happening within a few minutes. Some are relaxing, some are chaotic, and some are surprisingly emotional. But all of them work really well for families, casual players, or anyone just looking to hang out and play together.

I also wanted to mix retro and modern games together because honestly, some of the best family co-op games ever made are still older games.

Classic Platformers Still Hold Up

Games like Bubble Bobble, Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Kirby Super Star are still some of the best examples of approachable co-op design.

Bubble Bobble is incredibly simple. You trap enemies in bubbles and pop them. That’s basically it. But the arcade pacing and level design make it one of the most addictive co-op games ever made, and there’s almost no learning curve.

Kirby Super Star is another perfect family co-op game because one player can naturally guide the experience while the second player still feels useful. Nintendo has always been great at designing co-op games that allow players of different skill levels to enjoy themselves together.

And modern Nintendo games still carry that same philosophy. Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, Yoshi’s Crafted World, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Super Mario 3D World are all fantastic family games that feel approachable without being boring.

Modern Family Co-op Games

Some of the best modern family co-op games don’t get talked about enough.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is one of the best modern platformers you can play with family or kids. The controls feel great, the levels are creative, and the handcrafted visual style gives it a ton of charm.

Glitch Busters is another underrated one. It’s basically a kid-friendly third-person shooter mixed with a 3D platformer, and the stacking mechanic creates some genuinely fun teamwork moments.

Disney Illusion Island also deserves more attention. It takes inspiration from older Disney platformers like World of Illusion, but modernizes the formula with four-player co-op and a stronger focus on movement and teamwork instead of combat.

And honestly, Survival Kids surprised me a lot. It’s basically a survival game designed for younger players. You gather resources, craft items, build structures, and work together without the usual stress or complexity that survival games often have.

Puzzle Games and Creative Co-op

One of the best things about family co-op games is that they often focus more on communication and creativity than actual gaming skill.

Snipperclips is still one of the best examples of this. Players literally cut pieces out of each other to solve puzzles, and the entire game revolves around teamwork and communication.

Pode is another really relaxing co-op puzzle game where both players have different abilities and need to combine them to progress.

And Chicory: A Colorful Tale feels almost like a giant interactive coloring book. The co-op is built around painting the world together, and it creates this really cozy collaborative experience that almost anybody can enjoy.

RPGs and Dungeon Crawlers for Families

Action RPGs and dungeon crawlers can usually feel overwhelming for casual players, but there are some great beginner-friendly options.

Minecraft Dungeons is probably the easiest example. It basically simplifies the Diablo formula into something families can immediately understand.

Riverbond has a similar vibe. It feels like Diablo or Gauntlet for kids, with colorful voxel visuals and really approachable gameplay.

Portal Knights is another really underrated one because it combines building mechanics with RPG progression. Younger players can focus on building and exploring while experienced players dive deeper into combat and progression systems.

And Cat Quest III is just a really fun, goofy action RPG with simple combat and a lot of co-op charm.

Beat ’Em Ups Are Perfect Family Games

Beat ’em ups are still one of the best genres for couch co-op.

TMNT: Turtles in Time is one of the greatest beat ’em ups ever made and still one of the most approachable. It’s colorful, simple to understand, and genuinely fun for almost any age group.

Shredder’s Revenge modernized that formula perfectly. It keeps everything that made classic Ninja Turtles arcade games great while adding smoother combat, incredible animation, and larger multiplayer support.

Castle Crashers is another classic modern co-op game that still holds up extremely well. The humor, colorful visuals, and simple gameplay make it easy to recommend, especially for families with older kids.

Double Dragon Gaiden is a great choice because of how customizable the difficulty is.

LEGO Games Never Fail

If you’re looking for safe couch co-op games for families, LEGO games are still some of the most reliable options ever made.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is probably the biggest and most polished LEGO game overall, with a massive amount of content and really approachable gameplay.

LEGO City Undercover is basically family-friendly Grand Theft Auto in the best possible way. You explore a giant open world, mess around with vehicles, and play through a surprisingly funny story together.

And LEGO Voyagers feels much more focused on actual cooperation, almost giving off It Takes Two vibes with how both players constantly interact with each other.

Assist Modes Are Great for Younger Kids

Some games handle co-op by giving the second player a support role instead of full control, and honestly, this works really well for younger kids.

Super Mario Odyssey lets player two control Cappy, which allows younger players to participate without constantly worrying about difficult platforming.

Jet Force Gemini is a childhood favorite of mine. Floyd is a robot companion you get get and player two can help double up the firepower.

Pikmin 4 and Donkey Kong Bonanza use similar ideas where the second player supports the main player while still feeling genuinely useful.

Even older games like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic 3 did this years ago with Tails.

These kinds of assist modes are really important because they let families play together even when skill levels are completely different.

Couch Co-op Still Matters

Family-friendly couch co-op games are some of the most important games still being made.

A lot of people’s best gaming memories started with sitting on the couch with siblings, parents, friends, or their kids. And even now, there are still developers making games specifically built around that kind of experience.

If you’ve been looking for couch co-op games to play with your family, hopefully this gave you some good options.

Modern 3D Couch Co-op Games Prove Local Multiplayer Still Has Room to Evolve

Not every modern couch co-op game is a 2D pixel art platformer.

People still kind of act like local multiplayer stopped evolving after the Xbox 360 era. Like every modern couch co-op game is either a retro-inspired indie game or another side-scrolling beat ’em up.

But over the last several years, we’ve started getting way more fully 3D couch co-op games. Bigger games, more cinematic games, open world games, horror games, physics-based games, RPGs, and even a few giant AAA experiences.

Now, to be fair, 2D indie games are still definitely carrying couch co-op right now. That’s still where the genre mostly exists. AAA local co-op is still pretty rare, but the important thing is these kinds of games still exist at all.

And honestly, I think the future is starting to look a lot more hopeful again.

So, I wanted to highlight some modern 3D couch co-op games that prove local multiplayer still has room to evolve.

A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction

When most people think of modern couch co-op games right now, they probably think of Hazelight.

A Way Out was one of the first games in years that really made split screen feel cinematic again. The camera constantly shifts perspectives between players, characters are always doing different things simultaneously, and the entire game was designed specifically around cooperation.

Then It Takes Two came out and took a lot of those concepts and improved on them. It became Game of the Year, which was a huge deal for local co-op. Every chapter was constantly introducing new mechanics. There’s platforming, shooting, flying sections, puzzle solving, mini games. It just never stops changing things up.

Then we got Split Fiction, which continued a lot of those concepts and took them to even bigger places.

Even Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons added co-op. Originally, the game was meant to be played by one person controlling both characters, but the Switch version added co-op, and then the remake let you play through the entire game with a friend.

I actually think it works really well as a co-op experience.

The main thing Hazelight proved is that there’s still a huge audience for couch co-op gameplay. And not just smaller ideas. Fully 3D, immersive stories built from the ground up for two players.

Bigger AAA Couch Co-op Games

We also got Gears of War: Reloaded. Even though the Steam version did not have split screen, the PS5 and Xbox versions still included the original split screen gameplay.

Gears of War was one of the biggest franchises back in the Xbox 360 era, so seeing modern versions of these games still supporting local multiplayer is definitely an important detail.

Borderlands 4 continued this as well. There are definitely not a lot of first-person shooters, especially in the AAA space, that allow split screen co-op. Again, it was missing in the PC version, but on PS5 and Xbox, it still had split screen co-op, and you can play through the entire story that way.

Then there’s Baldur’s Gate 3. This might be one of the most ambitious couch co-op RPGs ever made. It’s a giant open-ended role-playing game with huge battles, exploration, dialogue choices, tons of customization, and full character building.

When I was playing this with my girlfriend, we spent a solid 45 minutes just building our characters. But the entire game can be played in split screen co-op.

Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2 were made by the same developers, and they deserve a lot of credit too. There’s something really cool about sitting on a couch making big giant story decisions together in games that are this massive.

Sackboy and Nintendo’s 3D Co-op Games

On a totally different note, we have Sackboy: A Big Adventure.

This one might feel like a smaller scope of a game, but it was published by Sony, so I feel like it still counts as AAA. It’s a 3D platformer you can play with up to four players, and it’s one of the only games in the genre that really feels like it could rival Nintendo.

And since I mentioned Nintendo, they’ve always been big supporters of couch co-op gameplay. Although a lot of their games are still 2D, they do have some good 3D support as well.

All of the Hyrule Warriors games are fully 3D split screen co-op, and those games have massive stories.

Donkey Kong Bonanza was a huge deal too. It’s a fully open world Donkey Kong game where you can destroy everything. It plays like a 3D platformer. The co-op mode isn’t as equal since the second player takes control of Pauline and mostly assists with some firepower, but it definitely helps.

Back on the original Switch, Super Mario Odyssey took a similar approach with assist co-op. Player two can control Cappy. It’s definitely not equal, but with the right player, it can be really helpful for collecting things and helping with boss fights.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is another excellent game. This was the first time Kirby was actually in a fully 3D game, and the second player takes control of Waddle Dee. He doesn’t have the same copy abilities as Kirby. He just has a spear. So depending on your player, some people might get bored with that, but in the right hands, Waddle Dee can be a great assist player.

I’m a big fan of all of these games, and I think they’re really good examples of doing assist mode the right way.

Astral Chain is another Switch exclusive with interesting co-op. You basically split up the controls, where one player controls the main character and the other controls the Legion. That player does a lot of the combat.

I like the concept, but the execution isn’t great. You have to play with Joy-Cons, you can’t use regular controllers, and the controls are overly complicated and take a lot of getting used to.

Then there’s Pikmin 3 Deluxe, which can be played entirely in split screen co-op. This might be my favorite of all the co-op Nintendo Switch games. You each control your own group of Pikmin, and you work together to solve puzzles and attack enemies. It’s an excellent co-op game.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is another one worth mentioning. I don’t know if this fully counts as a 3D game because the camera is more fixed, but you rotate it around, so I’m still counting it. It’s a really fun puzzle-focused co-op game, and it’s different from the typical Mario platformer.

Smaller Games That Feel Bigger

Outside of the AAA space, we also have smaller teams making games that almost feel like they could be AAA. Maybe double-A is the better term.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a sequel to Journey to the Savage Planet, but this one actually added full co-op support. It feels like a throwback to a weird experimental Xbox 360 era type of game, but modernized.

They did a great job making it feel like an equal co-op experience. It plays like a 3D platformer, similar to games like Jak and Daxter or Ratchet & Clank, but in an open world environment, and you can play it in split screen co-op.

This game just has a really fun energy that works perfectly in co-op.

Then there’s Ys X: Nordics. The PC version actually lets you play through the entire game in local co-op. There’s no split screen. You just share the screen from a third-person perspective.

I think this game works really well as co-op because each character takes an equal role in the story. And it’s just not too often that you see fully 3D action RPGs with local co-op.

PowerWash Simulator 2 also added co-op, and it’s definitely different from everything else here. It’s one of those games where you kind of just turn your brain off and take your time clearing every section of the environment.

I found it incredibly tedious, and it’s just not for me. But it is fully 3D, and I’m glad to see it.

Open World and Soulslike Co-op Games

On a much darker note, we have Outward.

This is pretty much a Soulslike you can play in split screen co-op. It’s a huge open world action RPG, and it’s another really good equal co-op experience.

I have a hard time with Dark Souls games because I’m bad at them, but when it comes to Soulslikes, Outward is probably one of the best co-op versions.

Another one people don’t mention very often is The Last Oricru. It’s similar to Outward in a lot of ways, but with a much lower budget.

That being said, it’s another fully 3D split screen open world Soulslike. It’s definitely lower quality, but I did actually enjoy it, and I think more people should give it a chance. It’s better than its reputation, especially when you play it in local co-op. I think a lot of the complaints were more about connectivity issues when playing online.

While we’re talking about Soulslikes, another one that basically never gets mentioned is Hellpoint. This one stands out because it has more of a horror and sci-fi vibe. I think this game is totally underrated.

Shooters, Horror, and 3D Beat ’Em Ups

Earth Defense Force 6 is a third-person shooter you can play in split screen. You run around shooting giant alien bugs, and this series has been pretty consistent with split screen co-op going all the way back to the PS2 era. This is another pretty good addition.

TMNT: Mutants Unleashed was another interesting attempt at bringing Ninja Turtles into a larger 3D environment. It still has beat ’em up gameplay, but instead of side-scrolling action, it’s a 3D beat ’em up with some platforming sections too. It continues the story of the modern Seth Rogen TMNT movie, and I really like this one. I need to play it some more.

Another big one is Reanimal. I think this is one of the most exciting examples of a local co-op horror game. It was really built around co-op, and it’s one of my favorite couch co-op games of 2026.

Experimental Indie 3D Co-op Games

We’ve also had some fully 3D games made in the indie space, and these are a lot more experimental.

To me, this is where modern couch co-op gets really interesting because indie developers are experimenting with fully 3D ideas way more than they did before.

Bloodborne PSX is a fan game remake of Bloodborne made to look like a PS1 game. The story, map, and cutscenes are actually pretty faithful to the original game, but the visuals have that old school look. I thought it was a really fun way to revisit that game.

While we’re talking about PS1-inspired games, Vaccine Rebirth is another one worth mentioning. It’s a survival horror game that’s clearly an homage to Resident Evil and Silent Hill. It even has that PS1 look, but it also adds roguelite elements. When you enter rooms, the items and map are procedurally generated.

You can play it with a fixed camera or switch to first person. This is actually one of my favorite modern survival horror games, and we don’t get a lot of those with co-op, so this one was really cool.

Chained Together became massively popular because the idea itself is just ridiculous and stressful. You’re physically chained together, trying to climb upward out of hell, while constantly ruining each other’s jumps. If one of you falls, you drag your partners back down. So you really do have to work together here. You can play this one in four-player split screen co-op.

Arise: A Simple Story is another really underrated game. One player controls the main character while the second player manipulates time itself. You change seasons, which affects the world around you.

It’s slower and more emotional than most co-op games, but it creates a really unique collaborative experience. It feels completely different from almost anything else out there.

Together: Moon Escape is a newer one that mixes puzzle solving, platforming, and escape room mechanics into something that feels heavily inspired by It Takes Two in a first-person perspective, but it still does its own thing. I really liked this one.

That game reminded me a lot of Escape Academy, which is basically an escape room simulator you can play in split screen co-op. That’s another one I really enjoyed.

Popucom kind of plays like Splatoon with more focus on puzzles and platforming. You can play it in split screen co-op, and it’s a really unique concept. It’s bright and colorful, but it also gets very difficult.

Then there’s Emissary Zero, which takes things in a much darker direction. This is a fully 3D first-person horror game. You can play it in two-player split screen co-op, but you can also play it online.

I played this with a couple of friends, one locally and one online, and we really enjoyed it. It’s very weird, but in a good way, and I definitely found it pretty creepy. This is a smaller game that not a lot of people know about, so I highly recommend trying it.

Aaero 2: Black Razor Edition is an on-rail shooter that mixes in rhythm-based gameplay. I love the visuals, the soundtrack is awesome, and it works surprisingly well as a co-op game.

KIBORG is a fully 3D beat ’em up with some roguelike elements, and you can play it in two-player split screen. It leans into brutal sci-fi combat. Each run lets you upgrade your armor and weapons, and sometimes you get guns or melee weapons. This one is a lot of fun.

Haven is a turn-based RPG built around co-op. I love the visuals, the turn-based combat is pretty solid, and the soundtrack is really good. But there is a ton of dialogue, and it kind of just goes on and on.

Blood: Refreshed Supply is an old school first-person shooter, but this remake added split screen co-op. You can play four-player split screen on all platforms, and on Xbox and PC, you can play with up to eight players split screen. So if you’re a fan of boomer shooters, this is definitely one worth trying.

Barony also deserves more attention, because there aren’t many fully 3D first-person dungeon crawlers that you can play in co-op. This one lets you play four players locally.

No Straight Roads is a really cool mix of rhythm gameplay, action combat, 3D platforming, and music-driven boss fights. The Switch port even adds a third player option that can jump in and assist.

Frogun Encore is a retro-inspired 3D platformer. If you like early 3D platformers from the PS1, N64, or Sega Saturn era, this is an homage to those types of games.

Onirism is a really interesting game. On the surface, it kind of just looks like a cute little game made for kids, but it’s actually a really fast-paced third-person shooter. I haven’t heard many people talk about it, but I really liked it. It also has some platforming sections, so if you skipped it just based on the look, definitely give it a try.

Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids mixes 3D platforming with strategy elements, and you can play it in split screen co-op. Visually, I think it’s pretty impressive. Similar to Revenge of the Savage Planet, it has that Ratchet & Clank or Jak and Daxter style, but with a strategy element that makes it stand out. This one is definitely a hidden gem.

And then there’s Human Fall Flat. This is way different from most of the games on this list. Maybe it’s considered a friend slop game. I don’t know. You play as these weird characters with ragdoll physics, and the main obstacle is just controlling the characters themselves.

There are puzzles too, but it’s mostly just a fun, lighthearted co-op game that pretty much anyone can pick up and play.

Upcoming 3D Couch Co-op Games

The future lineup is part of why I wanted to make this video, because there are a bunch of couch co-op games coming soon.

Orbitals is at the top of my list. It looks like it’s taking a few notes from It Takes Two and Split Fiction. It’s a co-op-only game with a really nice anime art style, and it’s probably my most anticipated game of the year. It’s coming exclusively to Switch 2.

Hela is another 3D platformer. I think you can play it with at least two-player split screen, maybe up to four, but this one looks pretty unique. It’s made by the same team that made Unravel Two, so they definitely know their way around a co-op game.

Ikuma is another story-based split screen game where one player controls a teenage boy and the other controls the dog. I really like the visuals, and it’s always cool to see more story-based games.

Luminary is definitely inspired by Breath of the Wild. It’s a fully 3D action RPG with a lot of exploration. They originally said it had local co-op, and I haven’t heard any recent updates, so hopefully that’s still there.

Dual Firewall City looks like a really interesting co-op action game that’s definitely inspired by A Way Out. It looks a little lower budget than a Hazelight game, but hopefully it’s still good.

Whisk is a pretty interesting first-person puzzle game where you’re basically playing catch with a little ball that has a cat in it. You have to throw it back and forth between players and try to get the ball to its goal.

Outward 2 is coming, and it looks like it has even better visuals. I’m guessing it’s going to be even bigger than the first game.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a fully 3D game that’s meant to be open world. LEGO games have been a reliable source for couch co-op gameplay for a long time, so I’m really glad they included it here too.

Wheelmates already has a demo available, and it feels like It Takes Two with RC cars. When I played the demo, it definitely had some issues with the controls, so hopefully the full version is tightened up. But this is one I’m definitely interested in.

Dead as Disco is in early access, but they haven’t added co-op yet. Hopefully the full version includes it. I played a little bit of the early access in single player, and it’s really cool. It’s a 3D beat ’em up with rhythm gameplay, where you want to hit enemies on the beat of the song. It’s very satisfying, and I can’t wait to see how they make it work in co-op.

Gears of War: E-Day is another huge one. I don’t know if split screen has been confirmed yet, but every previous entry had split screen, so it would be crazy if they didn’t include it.

On Switch 2, we’re getting a full remake of Star Fox 64, and they confirmed local co-op. It’s not split screen. It takes some ideas from Star Fox Zero, where the tasks are split up. One player controls piloting, and the other handles shooting. I really enjoy games like that, so I’m definitely looking forward to this one too.

Another new game that was announced is Taival. This is a fully 3D action RPG with some Minecraft-style visuals, and you can play in four-player split screen co-op. It says it’s going to have a lot of exploration. I don’t know too much about it yet, and there’s no release date, but it definitely looks interesting and right up my alley.

And probably the biggest one coming out is Halo: Campaign Evolved, a full remake of the original Halo. This is actually coming to PS5, which is just crazy to see. But it has confirmed that the campaign can be played in full split screen.

I have a lot of memories playing the original Halo in co-op. Even though I loved playing Halo competitively over the years, my favorite memories are playing through the story mode in split screen co-op. So the fact that they included that is really, really important to me.

I’m hoping this helps bring split screen shooters back into the conversation, because Halo basically helped define couch co-op shooters in the first place.

Final Thoughts

Are we suddenly back in the golden age of split screen games?

Not exactly.

Most couch co-op games are still indie games, and most are still 2D. But I do think we’re in a good place.

With bigger titles like Halo, Orbitals, and all of the Hazelight games, I think the doors are wide open for future developers to make fully 3D split screen and local co-op games.

I’m really hoping we see that a lot more in the AAA space.

Compared to where things were a few years ago, I genuinely think things are looking a little bit better. And honestly, seeing fully 3D couch co-op games continuing to exist at all gives me a lot of hope for where the genre could go next.

Local Co-op Games You Can Beat in a Weekend

You got some friends but not a lot of time?

Well, here you go.

Here are some couch co-op games you can actually play through in a weekend. Some of these are short enough to beat in one sitting. Some might take a couple sessions. And a few are longer games that are still totally doable if you want to make a whole weekend out of it.

Blazing Chrome

Let’s start with some shorter games you can beat in one session. These are mostly around one or two hours each.

Blazing Chrome is pretty much the peak of the run and gun shooter genre for me. It takes everything from Metal Slug and Contra and just improves on it.

It’s nonstop action, and it still has that classic Contra difficulty, but luckily there are difficulty settings. So, if you just want to experience the game, you can put it on easy and run through it pretty quickly and painlessly.

Of course, if you want to be tested, you can ramp up the difficulty, deal with limited lives, and actually master the levels. But on an easier setting, this is a great quick co-op game.

Final Vendetta

Final Vendetta is an arcade-style beat ’em up that you can probably beat in 30 to 40 minutes.

If you’re a fan of games like Final Fight, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, or Captain Commando, it has that same kind of vibe. It’s a straightforward two-player co-op beat ’em up, and that’s what I love about it.

It doesn’t add a bunch of extra genres or weird systems. It’s just a barebones beat ’em up, but it’s done really, really well.

This one was also developed for Neo Geo hardware, so if you somehow have a super obscure AES console, you can actually play it there. Or if you’re planning on getting the AES Plus console, this is one you could get for it if you really wanted to.

Dandy & Randy

Being a big fan of Goof Troop, Dandy & Randy feels like it was made for me.

It’s basically a Goof Troop-like. It has similar puzzles where you kick blocks into the right position to move forward. It has co-op. It has that same kind of item management. You can get a hookshot.

It’s just a really, really fun game that I think went under a lot of people’s radar. It’s honestly one of my favorite hidden gems when it comes to indie co-op games.

You can beat this one in about an hour.

Micro Mages

Micro Mages is another really good one.

This was actually made for the NES, but it’s also been ported to other consoles and Steam. It’s a four-player precision platformer, and seeing this run on original NES hardware is genuinely impressive.

There’s a lot going on, but the controls feel really solid. The wall jumping is excellent, the attacks feel good, and it feels fair. If you die, you know it’s your fault.

I also really love the boss fights here. If you haven’t played Micro Mages, you really should. I think it’s one of the best co-op games ever made for the NES.

You can beat it in about an hour or two.

The Eternal Castle

The Eternal Castle is definitely interesting.

A lot of modern indie games try to go for an NES or Super Nintendo aesthetic, but this one takes a totally different approach. It’s aiming to replicate home computers of the 80s with CGA animated graphics.

I really like the art style here. It’s simple, with a very limited color palette. The game is supposed to be a sequel to a fictional game from 1987 called Eternal Castle, which is just a really cool idea.

There isn’t much dialogue, and the story is mysterious and kind of unwraps as you play. Co-op is fun, although the second player is basically a clone of the first player, so it’s not always perfectly equal.

But for the most part, it feels good to play with a partner. Some of the animation and boss fights are really well done, and the game has a darker tone with an incredible soundtrack.

You can beat this one in about one or two hours.

Retro Co-op Games

Retro games are easier to play now than ever, whether it’s through compilations, emulation, or Nintendo Switch Online. And the best part about retro games is that a lot of them are perfect for short pick-up-and-play co-op sessions.

On Genesis, you can play Streets of Rage or Streets of Rage 2. These are both excellent beat ’em ups, and they play pretty differently. I still think Streets of Rage 2 might be the best beat ’em up of all time, but the first one is great too. You can beat both in under an hour each.

ToeJam & Earl is another great co-op game with a really fun dynamic split screen and a ton of personality. You should be able to beat that in under an hour too.

Then there’s Gunstar Heroes, one of the best run and gun shooters of all time. You can probably beat it in an hour to 90 minutes. It gets pretty difficult later on, but the gameplay is so good that it’s absolutely worth it.

For NES, there’s Double Dragon II, which is probably my favorite of all the Double Dragon games. It can be difficult, but after a few attempts, you should be able to beat it in under an hour.

River City Ransom is another excellent beat ’em up, but it takes a totally different approach. Instead of just walking in one direction, you explore a map, level up your characters, and buy upgrades. It’s one of my favorite co-op games of all time. If you know where to go, you can beat it in under an hour, but if you don’t, it might take a little longer.

Mendel Palace is another underrated NES game. I’ve actually never beaten it, but it’s really solid. It was made by Game Freak, the same team that made the Pokémon games. It’s a single-screen puzzle-action game where you flip tiles and eliminate enemies. Totally worth checking out.

For N64, the main one I’d recommend is Perfect Dark. If you like GoldenEye, this is basically the spiritual successor, and you can play through the entire story mode in two-player split screen co-op. This one is longer, around 8 hours, so maybe not one sitting, but if you have the whole weekend, you can pull it off.

On Super Nintendo, all three Donkey Kong Country games are around 4 to 6 hours each if you’re just doing the main story. These are tag team modes, so keep that in mind, but they’re still great games to play together.

Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is another great Super Nintendo option. The second player controls Gooey, and like most Kirby games, it’s easy to pick up and great for any skill level. This one takes roughly 4 hours to beat.

And of course, if you have original hardware or use emulation, that opens the door to basically unlimited possibilities.

Goof Troop

Goof Troop is a go-to for me.

It’s one of my favorite games on the Super Nintendo and one of my favorite co-op games of all time. It’s basically a simplified, more linear Zelda-like built around co-op puzzles.

You should be able to beat this in about 45 minutes to an hour. Unless you really suck at the puzzles. Then maybe it’ll take longer. I don’t know.

World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck

World of Illusion on Sega Genesis is a really basic platformer, but I love it.

It’s built for co-op in a way a lot of licensed platformers weren’t. You actually have to work together. There are parts where one player helps the other up ledges, parts where you catapult one player up so they can drop a rope, and even a part where Donald Duck gets his ass stuck crawling through a tunnel and Mickey has to pull him out.

It’s simple, easy, and really charming. You can probably beat it in about 45 minutes.

The Simpsons Arcade Game

Honestly, almost any arcade game is going to be a good option if you want something under an hour.

One of my go-tos is The Simpsons Arcade Game. You can beat it in probably 30 minutes, and it’s four-player co-op.

It’s simple to learn, it gets pretty difficult, and it’s one of those straightforward arcade brawlers that doesn’t have a bunch of bells and whistles. It doesn’t need anything fancy. It’s just fun.

Still one of my favorite beat ’em ups ever made.

Reanimal

Now let’s talk about games you could beat in one long session or maybe two shorter sessions. These are more in the 3 to 4 hour range.

Reanimal is one of the newest games on this list, and it’s built around co-op. It has a dark, mysterious setting, and the story is very vague. The ending leaves things up for interpretation, which I really liked.

For the most part, I think almost anyone could pick up and play it. It’s not super difficult. The co-op elements involve solving puzzles, boosting your partner up to ledges, and even teaming up in a tank where one player controls movement and the other handles shooting and aiming.

This is easily one of my favorite couch co-op games of 2026. It took us a little over 4 hours to beat, so you should be able to finish it in one or two sittings pretty easily.

Morkredd

While we’re talking about creepy dark co-op games, I should mention Morkredd.

If you like Reanimal, you’ll probably like this one too. I’ve covered it a couple times before, and it’s a really great game that doesn’t get talked about as much anymore.

The concept is simple but unique. You have this orb that provides light, and you need to move it through the environment. You have to stay in the light at all times, because if you step into the shadows, you die.

The entire game is built around carrying this orb through obstacles and working together. You have to communicate, and it works really well.

There’s no dialogue, and the game has a very creepy atmosphere. You’ll see strange creatures in the environment, and later on, they kind of become the environment.

You can beat this one in about 3 hours.

Baladins

I also wanted to include an RPG, which usually isn’t the genre you think about when you want a quick playthrough.

But Baladins works really well for that.

You can play with up to four players locally or online. It plays out like a board game, where each player rolls, moves around the map, and lands on spaces that turn into NPC interactions, towns, battles, or little story moments.

It has a choose-your-own-adventure style where the party votes on decisions. I also really like the art style. It kind of reminds me of Paper Mario.

To fully complete it, it’ll take at least around 4 hours, but each session around the map can be done in about an hour, which makes it really nice for quick sessions.

Arise: A Simple Story

Arise: A Simple Story takes a similar approach to Morkredd in that it tells its story through action, but the tone here is way more emotional.

You follow an old man as he relives his life, experiencing the trauma, love, and heartbreak he went through firsthand.

The co-op gameplay is really unique because the second player controls time itself. They can fast-forward and rewind, which changes the environment.

So when the old man needs to reach a platform, the second player might rewind time to bring something into position, or move a bee into sight so he can grab onto it and fly.

It’s a really unique concept, and it’s executed very well. This is another game that doesn’t get enough attention, and I have a real soft spot for it.

You can beat it in about 3 hours.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

Now for some games that are a little longer. These are around 5 to 8 hours each.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime was made for co-op. You can play it with up to four players locally, and the whole concept is fun and chaotic.

You’re trying to control a spacecraft, but each player has to manage different parts of the ship. One player might control movement, another handles weapons, another controls the shield, and everyone is constantly running between stations.

With two players, it’s a lot more difficult because you’re running back and forth constantly. But with four players, this is where the game really shines. Everyone can focus on one part of the ship and work together to survive.

It’s a modern classic, and you can beat it in about 5 or 6 hours.

Left 4 Dead

The original Left 4 Dead blew my mind when I first played it on Xbox 360.

It’s a first-person horror shooter where you and up to three friends shoot down hordes of zombies and other monsters while trying to survive and reach the exit.

You can play it in two-player split screen on console, or with up to four players online. Unfortunately, the Steam version still only has online support, but this is still a top-tier co-op game.

You can beat it in about 7 hours.

Portal 2

Portal 2 is just one of the best co-op experiences you’ll ever have.

It’s very puzzle-heavy, and if you’re watching this channel, I’m sure you probably already know it. But if you somehow haven’t played it and you have a weekend available, now might be the time.

You should be able to finish the co-op campaign in about 5 or 6 hours.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe

The Nintendo Switch version of Pikmin 3 added local co-op gameplay, and it’s a very equal experience.

You can play in split screen, each player gets their own Pikmin, and you work together to solve puzzles and manage tasks around the map.

To me, this is the best of all the Pikmin games because it’s the only one with a full couch co-op story mode. Pikmin 4 just had that assist mode, which was really disappointing.

You can beat Pikmin 3 Deluxe in probably 6 to 8 hours. I think it took us around 7.

Resident Evil Revelations 2

These next games are more in the 8 to 12 hour range. So these are great if you want to spend the whole weekend on something.

Resident Evil Revelations 2 is my favorite of all the co-op Resident Evil games because the concept is more unique.

Instead of just doubling up your firepower, this one takes a more asymmetrical approach.

There are two pairs of characters, and you switch between them throughout the game. Player one controls the characters with weapons, Claire and Barry, who are more focused on combat.

Player two controls the support characters, Moira and Natalia.

Moira uses a flashlight to stun enemies and reveal hidden items, and she can also use a crowbar for melee attacks. Natalia can’t attack directly, but she can sense enemy locations and point out hidden items.

I really like this approach because it forces both players to actually work together instead of just making player two another gun.

You should be able to beat this one in about 9 to 11 hours. Unless you’re taking your time or trying to be a completionist, then it’ll take longer.

Split Fiction

An obvious choice is Split Fiction.

Everyone knows this game, so I won’t get too deep into the details here, but I really enjoyed it. I recently finally finished it, and I’m still not sure if I like it more than It Takes Two, but I had a great time with it.

If you’re trying to 100% complete it, it’s definitely going to take more than 12 hours. But if you just want to experience the main story, you can probably rush through it in about 12 hours.

Gears 5

I’m a big fan of the Gears of War games. I’ve played through pretty much all of them in couch co-op, and I really enjoyed Gears 5.

I like that it added an assist character, which means you can actually play it in three-player local co-op. That was a really nice surprise.

This one focuses heavily on story, and the production value is huge. Outside of Split Fiction, I think this might be one of the biggest production couch co-op games I’ve seen.

I remember when it first came out, visually it was one of the most impressive games I had ever seen.

I just really hope Gears of War: E-Day continues the tradition of split screen. Otherwise, I’m just not going to play it.

Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any Gears of War game, but this one might be my favorite in the series. If you’re just doing the story, you should be able to beat it in about 10 to 12 hours.

Final Thoughts

So there you go. Those are some co-op games you can play through in a weekend.

There are a ton of other games I could talk about, especially when it comes to retro games and indie games, but this should give you a pretty good mix of quick one-session games, longer weekend games, and a few bigger co-op campaigns.

What are some of your favorite co-op memories from games you played through with a friend over a weekend?

It Takes Two on Wheels?!

So, this is Wheelmates. It’s basically It Takes Two with RC cars… but is it actually that good?

Well, after playing through the demo in split screen with my friend Shawn, I came away pretty impressed with it overall. And honestly, the demo itself was way bigger than I expected.

Me and my friend played through the whole thing in about an hour and 45 minutes, which is pretty substantial for a demo. For something that’s basically an early preview, that’s a really good sign for how much content the full game might end up having.

You can play the game online, but I focused entirely on split screen co-op because that’s what I care about most here. And thankfully, the game feels very built around that experience.

There’s definitely a lot of influence from games like It Takes Two and Split Fiction. This is a co-op-only style experience where both players constantly have to work together to progress. That said, it’s definitely lacking the polish and production value of something like It Takes Two. But honestly, that’s kind of expected. This is an indie game, and this is only the demo.

The developers sent me an early code for the demo, but all the opinions here are my own.

Driving Around an Oversized House

There is some story here, although I’ll be honest, I probably missed a few details while we were playing. You’re inside this eccentric professor’s house, driving these little RC cars through oversized environments where everything around you feels huge.

And yeah, it absolutely gives off It Takes Two vibes because of that setup alone.

Most of the game revolves around completing objectives throughout different parts of the house. You’ll be driving through bedrooms, vents, garages, attics, and other areas while moving from one goal point to another.

The game actually does a really good job guiding you, too. There’s no full map, but there’s a waypoint marker showing the direction you need to go, so you’re rarely lost or wandering around aimlessly.

At first, the gameplay is mostly about driving to specific locations and learning how everything works. But pretty quickly, the game starts introducing puzzle mechanics.

A Puzzle-Heavy Co-op Game

This is very much a puzzle-focused co-op game. At least in the demo, there’s no combat whatsoever.

Most of what you’re doing revolves around hitting switches, interacting with objects, navigating the environment, and coordinating with the other player. A lot of the puzzles are built around fairly simple ideas at first, but the co-op implementation is what makes them interesting.

Eventually, you start unlocking new abilities.

You get a hookshot that lets you hit certain switches and swing across gaps. Then later you unlock a magnet ability that’s used for moving covers, revealing switches, and carrying batteries to power machinery.

So there’s definitely some layering happening with the mechanics as the demo progresses.

And one thing the game does really well is asymmetrical co-op design. There are sections where one player is doing something completely different from the other player at the same time.

For example, there’s one part where one player has to stop steam blocking the path while the other moves forward. Then you switch roles and repeat the process.

That kind of stuff works really well here.

One of the coolest sections in the demo involved this giant cylinder tank puzzle that basically played like a claw machine. One player controlled forward and backward movement while the other controlled up and down movement. Each person only had partial control over the mechanism, so you constantly had to communicate to position everything correctly.

And the tricky part was that you couldn’t just hit the buttons normally. You actually had to drive your RC car onto them to activate them, which made things way more chaotic than expected.

It led to a lot of moments where both players were yelling directions at each other trying to line things up correctly.

The Biggest Problem: The Controls

The biggest issue I had with the demo was definitely the controls and camera.

The gameplay design itself actually feels solid. The problem is just how the RC cars feel to control.

Right away, we lowered the sensitivity as much as possible, which definitely helped, but even by the end of the demo I never fully felt comfortable controlling the car.

I kept getting caught on ledges, flipping upside down, backing into corners, and getting stuck in awkward situations.

Honestly, a lot of the challenge in this game didn’t come from the puzzles themselves. It came from just trying to properly control the vehicle.

Thankfully, there are some really good quality-of-life features that help with this.

You can pause the game and hit an “I’m stuck” option that basically explodes your car and resets you back to your last safe position. And if you fall off a ledge, there’s a quick reset option that brings you right back.

Those systems helped a lot.

Also, to be fair, both me and Shawn are kind of terrible at racing games and vehicle controls in general, so maybe other people won’t struggle with it nearly as much as we did.

Still, I did want to mention it because it was definitely noticeable throughout the demo.

Surprisingly Great Visuals

Visually, I actually really liked how this game looked.

It has this stylized art direction that mixes realism with these slightly cartoony CGI-looking elements. At times it reminded me a little bit of the Toy Story movies.

The environments especially looked really good for an indie game. It’s obviously not AAA-level visually, but honestly, it looks better than a lot of indie co-op games I’ve played recently.

And I really appreciate that it’s a fully 3D split screen co-op game.

We just don’t get enough of those anymore.

Is It as Good as It Takes Two?

No. I wouldn’t say it’s on that level.

But to be fair, It Takes Two is one of the best co-op games ever made, so that’s an insanely high bar to compare against.

What I will say is that Wheelmates is doing a lot right already.

If the developers improve the controls and continue expanding on these co-op mechanics, I could absolutely see this becoming one of the better couch co-op games of 2026.

If you like co-op games where communication and teamwork are the main focus, there’s a really good chance you’ll enjoy this.

The demo already has some genuinely creative ideas, and even though the controls are rough right now, there’s clearly a lot of potential here.

And honestly, I’m just happy to see more games like this getting made.

I love pixel art games and retro-inspired co-op stuff, but we’ve definitely gotten a lot of that over the years. So it’s refreshing seeing a fully 3D co-op-focused experience trying to do something different.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Wheelmates ended up being a really cool surprise.

I went into the demo expecting something much smaller and simpler, but there’s actually a decent amount of content here already, along with some genuinely creative co-op puzzle ideas.

Hopefully the full release lands sometime in 2026, because after playing this demo, I definitely want to see where the game goes next.

And whenever the full game does release, I’ll absolutely be playing through the entire thing.

Switch 2 Couch Co-op Games Worth Buying the Console For

The original Switch had amazing couch co-op games, but what about the Switch 2?

This isn’t just a list of Switch 2 exclusives. These are couch co-op games you cannot play on the original Switch at all. Some are full exclusives, while others also launched on PC, PS5, or Xbox but completely skipped Nintendo’s original hardware.

So, if you’re still holding onto a Switch One and wondering whether the upgrade is actually worth it, these are the kinds of games that finally make the Switch 2 feel different.

Split Fiction

This is probably the biggest couch co-op game currently on Switch 2 that the original Switch just never could have handled.

This was made by Hazelight Studios, the same team behind It Takes Two and A Way Out.

I think everyone is already aware of this game. It’s built completely around co-op and there’s no single player mode whatsoever. They throw a bunch of different genres at you. Sometimes you’re platforming, sometimes it’s a third-person shooter, and sometimes you’re just solving puzzles.

The big thing here is scale. The original Switch got a lot of co-op games, but most of them were heavily downgraded ports or simpler indie games.

Split Fiction is running on Unreal Engine 5. It has huge set pieces, advanced lighting, massive environmental transitions, and constantly shifting gameplay styles.

So yeah, this is exactly the kind of game that makes the Switch 2 feel like a modern platform instead of just a weaker alternative.

Donkey Kong Bonanza

Donkey Kong Bonanza is one of the biggest true Switch 2 exclusives so far, and honestly, it’s one of the best examples of Nintendo finally making a game that simply would not work on the original Switch hardware.

The main gimmick here is the fully destructible environments. Donkey Kong can smash through terrain, reshape levels, break apart walls, and carve entirely new paths through the stages all in real time.

It’s basically Nintendo mixing a sandbox platformer with environmental destruction.

What’s really interesting though is the co-op mode. A second player can control Pauline and use vocal-based attacks to help Donkey Kong during exploration and combat.

It’s not exactly an equal experience. It’s more of an assist mode, but when it comes to assist modes, I think this is one of the better versions. Pauline can really help you out.

And visually, this is one of the first Nintendo games that genuinely feels next generation. Just everything. The animation quality, the huge open environments, the frame rate, the resolution. It’s all way beyond what Nintendo was attempting on the original Switch.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is another major Switch 2 exclusive.

Like the other Hyrule Warriors games before it, this is basically Dynasty Warriors with Zelda characters. You fight hundreds of enemies all at once across giant battlefields, but this one specifically ties into the story of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

You can play this game in split screen co-op. And unlike Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, the frame rate here is actually pretty solid.

I remember playing Age of Calamity and even though I really love that game, the slowdown was pretty bad. But with Switch 2 hardware, it doesn’t really have that problem.

The game also supports Nintendo’s GameShare features, which Nintendo seems to be pushing pretty hard on the Switch 2. So if you don’t want to play split screen and you still have an original Switch, you’re able to stream the game to the original Switch and each player gets their own screen in handheld mode.

I think that’s a pretty cool feature, especially since you only need one copy of the game.

Survival Kids

Survival Kids is kind of a weird reboot.

The original Survival Kids games were old survival RPGs on Game Boy Color, but this new version turns the series into a fully co-op focused survival adventure.

This is another one that’s fully exclusive to the Switch 2.

You start out on an island, gather resources together, solve some pretty basic environmental puzzles together, craft tools together, and just explore the environments.

It feels like Nintendo really wanted to have their own family-friendly survival game, and they actually pulled it off here.

Instead of realism and complicated systems, it leans more into quick co-op problem solving and simplified crafting mechanics.

Again, this is another game that skipped the original Switch entirely.

Reanimal

Reanimal came out on basically every modern platform as well as the Switch 2.

So it’s not exclusive to Switch 2, but it did completely skip the original Switch.

The game is fully built around two-player cooperation. It has a really nice creepy vibe and I love the atmosphere.

This was made by the same developers behind Little Nightmares 1 and 2.

I really like the visuals here. There’s a lot of detail in the environments and some really nice lighting effects, but it’s not really trying to push hyper realism. It’s more stylized.

But when it comes to couch co-op horror games, this is honestly at the top of my list already, and one of my favorite couch co-op games of the year.

Rotwood

Rotwood is honestly one of the coolest examples in this whole video because right now Rotwood is mostly associated with PC gaming.

Outside of PC, the Switch 2 is the only console that actually got a port of this game. It’s not on PS5 or Xbox.

This game was made by Klei Entertainment, the same studio behind Don't Starve Together.

It’s an action roguelite with some beat ’em up gameplay mixed in. This is a very combo-heavy game. There’s a lot of juggling enemies and giant boss fights.

It kind of feels like a mix between Hades and Castle Crashers.

Of course, you can play this game single player, but it’s clearly designed around co-op and you can actually play with up to four players locally.

Every class has different abilities, so when you’re playing multiplayer it works really well coordinating attacks and different strengths and weaknesses together.

Again, this is another game where the original Switch got skipped entirely.

Upcoming Couch Co-op Games for Switch 2

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight comes out on most platforms first, but the Switch 2 version is arriving later.

I’ve heard December thrown around, but there’s still no exact date yet.

The LEGO games have always been a really solid source for couch co-op gameplay, and this is another one to add to the list.

What makes this one stand out though is the huge open world. One player controls Batman while the other plays as Robin.

I’ve always liked the LEGO games, so I’m definitely looking forward to this one.

Out of Words

Out of Words is one of the more artistic games in this lineup.

It’s a fully co-op platformer focused on communication, movement, and emotional storytelling. It has this stop-motion style animation that looks really, really cool.

There’s a ton of attention to detail here, and a lot of people are comparing it to It Takes Two and Unravel Two because it seems heavily built around two players constantly interacting and solving puzzles together.

But these are exactly the kinds of games I get excited for. Unique visuals, creative storytelling, and gameplay built around cooperation.

This one is coming to pretty much all modern platforms as well as the Switch 2.

Adventures of Elliot

Adventures of Elliot is an action RPG that’s definitely inspired by the older Zelda-style games.

There’s going to be a lot of exploration like those older games, but with more modern mechanics mixed in.

I really love the visuals here. It’s made by the same team that worked on Octopath Traveler, so visually it definitely has a similar style, but this isn’t turn-based. It’s a real-time action RPG.

There is a co-op element where the second player controls this little fairy character, but it’s more of an assist mode, so I’m not really sure how in depth it actually goes.

Still though, I’m really looking forward to this game.

Orbitals

Orbitals is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, and if you’re into couch co-op gameplay, this might honestly be the main reason to get a Switch 2.

It’s definitely taking notes from Hazelight Studios. It’s a co-op only game, so there’s no single player mode whatsoever.

It has a really nice hand-drawn art style with some ’90s anime vibes. Kind of reminds me of Cowboy Bebop or something.

They recently put out a gameplay trailer and there’s definitely going to be asymmetrical gameplay elements where each character has their own role, weapons, and unique abilities that you have to combine together to solve puzzles.

This is probably my most anticipated game of 2026 on any platform.

Hela: Of Mice and Magic

Hela: Of Mice and Magic is another game coming to basically every modern platform.

This game just looks really nice.

It was made by the same team behind Unravel 2, but this is a fully 3D game. You control these tiny mice exploring giant oversized environments where normal objects become massive obstacles.

I think the game supports up to four-player co-op. I’m not fully sure if all of that is local or online, but it at least has two-player local split screen.

This is another one I’m really looking forward to, and I think this team already proved they know how to make a good co-op game.

Star Fox

And then there’s Star Fox 64.

This was definitely a surprise announcement, and it’s coming pretty soon on June 26th as a full remake of Star Fox 64.

This is obviously another Switch 2 exclusive, and visually it looks really impressive. The water effects especially stood out to me.

I’ve always liked Star Fox games, and I think this is going to be a really fun way to revisit Star Fox 64.

Much like Star Fox Zero, this one includes a co-op mode where one player pilots the ship while the other controls the firepower.

I actually thought that worked really well in Star Fox Zero, and overall I think that game was really underrated when it comes to co-op gameplay.

So far we haven’t seen a ton of first-party Nintendo games on Switch 2 yet, so I was really excited to see this one announced. The co-op mode was a really nice surprise too.

Outro

So if you still have an original Switch and you’re thinking about upgrading to a Switch 2, these are some couch co-op games that actually make the system feel worth owning.

Hopefully we keep seeing more Switch 2 exclusives with couch co-op support because there still aren’t a ton of them yet, but the ones we do have are honestly pretty strong already.

Which game are you most excited for?

Couch Co-op Games Coming in May + Everything That Released in April

These are the couch co-op games that came out in April and May. Since May is already mostly over, I’m going to go through what released, what got updated, and some co-op news I found.

April Couch Co-op Releases

The Spectro: The Fighter Focus

This came out on April 2nd. It’s a 2D sidescrolling beat ’em up that looks actually pretty basic, like it could have been made using the Beats of Rage engine or something, but the Steam reviews are actually positive.

I’m a huge fan of beat ’em ups. I haven’t played this one yet, but I definitely will be.

Living Dead House

This also came out April 2nd on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

This is a single screen platformer where you and a friend walk around, shoot zombies, and try to barricade the windows. This one looks very simple, but it might be a good time if you’re really into retro games. And you can get this game for $5.

Cave Story Co-op Update

The Steam version of Cave Story finally got the two-player local co-op update.

This used to be an exclusive feature only on the Nintendo Switch, so they finally brought it over to PC players. I think this is great. More people should be able to experience this. I loved Cave Story, and I did play it a lot on the Nintendo Switch in co-op.

Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel

This is an older game, but on April 9th, they had a free update that added local co-op.

This is basically an action RPG with some roguelite elements. It’s from a top-down view, so if you’re into games like Diablo and Gauntlet, I think this will probably be similar to that.

Null Point Protocol

This is an action roguelite that can be played with up to four players locally or online. Instead of traditional levels, every stage is a different boss fight.

You want to take your time to learn the patterns and figure out how to defeat the bosses. I think this is a pretty solid game, even though it only has mixed reviews on Steam.

Super Alloy Crush

This game came out into early access on April 8th.

This is pretty much a 2D platformer that’s a clone of Mega Man. I think it’s really solid, and as far as Mega Man-style games go, this is one of the better ones that I’ve played.

Looters

This is a game built for two-player co-op. You play as these two goblins in split screen, and you go around and try to steal items and put them in your backpack.

They also have stealth sections, so you have to sneak by the enemies and try to find the exit.

I had a lot of fun playing this with my daughter.

Dome KeeperMultiplayer Update

Dome Keeper had a multiplayer update.

This was originally a single player game, but on April 13th, they added co-op. And this works really well for me. The best way to describe it is a mix between Dig Dug and a tower defense game.

Together: Moon Escape

This came out on April 21st.

This is a fully 3D split screen game developed by a single developer. I did a full in-depth highlight of this game at its launch, and I really enjoyed it.

If you like games like Portal 2, Escape Academy, or the We Were Here series, I think you’ll like this one too. It’s very puzzle focused, but it’s a co-op only game, so you have to have a second player. You can play this online or in split screen co-op.

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch

This is a sidescrolling beat ’em up that’s been in the works for a really long time. I still haven’t had a chance to play this one. I do like the art style.

It looks like a pretty basic beat ’em up and it’s getting mixed reviews on Steam.

Bug Scraper Demo

The demo for Bug Scraper came out in April.

This is a 2D shooter you can play with up to four players. This is another one that has some roguelite elements.

May Couch Co-op Releases

The Awakener: Battle Tendency

This came out May 5th.

This is a hack-and-slash action game that’s clearly inspired by the Dynasty Warriors games.

And for what this is visually, it looks really impressive, and I’ve always been a fan of Dynasty Warriors games.

WheelMates Demo

The WheelMates demo came out May 6th.

This is described as “It Takes Two, but with RC cars.” It’s another game built around co-op. It looks like there’s a lot of exploration and teamwork-based puzzles.

This is one that I was really excited for, and the demo is available now.

Alien Strike: Blasting the Intruders

This came out May 7th.

This is a sidescrolling run-and-gun platformer you can play with up to three players co-op. It’s definitely heavily influenced by games like Metal Slug and the Contra series.

The graphics are very basic and do look on the cheaper side at times, but there are elements that I think look really good as well.

Directive 8020

This came out May 12th.

This was made by Supermassive Games, the same team behind Until Dawn and the Dark Pictures Anthology games.

This is basically like an interactive movie, but this is the first one where they really focused on the couch co-op element. To me, I personally really appreciate the extra focus on couch co-op.

The game is made to be played with up to five players locally, but it sounds like you’re supposed to use one controller and pass it between players, each controlling a different character.

I enjoyed the Dark Pictures games, so this is one I was looking forward to.

Underling Uprising

This came out on May 14th.

This is a beat ’em up with a really nice Saturday morning cartoon art style. It looks like it’s implementing some supernatural elements, and that seems like a nice change of pace when it comes to the typical street brawling beat ’em up genre.

This one’s been on my radar for a really long time, so I’m glad that it finally got released.

Mad King Redemption

Mad King Redemption came into early access on May 14th.

This is one that I was really excited for. This is another action RPG with some roguelike elements, but the art style is what really sets this game apart. It kind of has that HD-2D art style that I really like.

Lost Twins 2

Lost Twins 2 came to Nintendo Switch in May.

This is a puzzle platformer that you can play in two-player co-op. It originally came out on Steam, PS5, and Xbox last year, but now it’s also on Switch, so I wanted to mention that.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was also announced.

This is another LEGO game with two-player co-op. The LEGO series has been pretty reliable for including local co-op, so I’m really glad that they’re doing it again here. These games are great to play with your family. Pretty much anyone can jump in and try them out.

Retro Co-op News

Now let’s talk about some retro news that has to do with co-op gaming.

Nintendo Switch Online Additions

The Nintendo Switch Online service added a few more games in April.

Only one of them had co-op though, and that’s Mendel Palace on the NES. This is a really great game that often gets overlooked. It’s made by Game Freak, the same people that made the Pokémon games.

It’s a two-player co-op puzzle action game where you basically flip over tiles to eliminate enemies. Once they’re all eliminated, you move on to the next screen. I love this game.

Bio Creeps

There’s a new NES game that’s currently on Kickstarter called Bio Creeps.

It has a planned release for 2027. This is a single screen platformer with the main gimmick being you shoot down in order to jump up.

This game’s been on my radar for a while, and I played the demo a year or two ago and I really liked it.

Clash of Courts

I don’t have a lot of information about this game. I just found it on itch.io, but it’s a new NES game that can actually be played with six players.

It’s a single screen platformer inspired by games like Joust, Bubble Bobble, and Killer Queen. And yeah, you can actually play this on original NES hardware, but you do teams either two-on-two or three-on-three.

This seems very inventive for the NES.

Hidden GBA Co-op Modes

A couple of months ago, there were some Game Boy Advance games where someone looked inside and found that they had co-op code hidden away that was never included in the official releases.

So they hacked these games and put the co-op back in, and they made it so you can actually play couch co-op. If you do it on an emulator, you can just boot it up and you don’t have to have two Game Boy Advances.

The games include Sword of Mana, Double Dragon Advance, River City Ransom EX, and Mario Tennis: Power Tour.

I love seeing this kind of stuff happen in the retro community. Hopefully they do this with more games.

Triple Impact

A couple months ago, there was a new Super Nintendo game announced called Triple Impact.

This is a 2D beat ’em up that can be played co-op.

Arcade Archives: Street Smart

Arcade Archives continues to release new ports of arcade games and put them out on modern platforms.

The most recent one with co-op is Street Smart. This is basically like a fighting game, but you can do two-on-two matches.

Neo Geo AES Plus

Another big piece of retro news was the Neo Geo AES Plus.

When this comes out, it’ll be $200. It comes with wireless controllers, HDMI out, and can play the original cartridges. They’re also doing reproductions of AES games, ten of them.

There’s only two of them though that have co-op, and that’s Metal Slug and Shock Troopers.

I’m definitely interested to see what they do with this, but I already have an original AES console, so I probably won’t buy this.

Modern Couch Co-op News

He-Man Delay

First of all, the He-Man game was supposed to come out April 28th, but it was delayed.

There’s no official release date yet, but it’s expected sometime this summer.

After BEat

After Beat was announced to be coming out of early access sometime soon.

This is like a bullet hell shooter that implements rhythm mechanics as well. I don’t know too much about this game, but it looks really cool.

Goodboy Galaxy

Goodboy Galaxy is coming to the Nintendo Switch.

This is actually a game that originally came out on the Game Boy Advance as a homebrew, and then they ported it to Steam, which is when I played it. They added co-op to that version.

This new Switch version is also going to have the co-op gameplay on October 30th.

Catgirl Survivor 2: Beyond the Veil

This is another retro-style pixel art beat ’em up and you can play this one in two-player co-op.

Lost Castle 2

Lost Castle 2 is coming out of early access on June 11th.

I have never played the first Lost Castle, and I haven’t played this version either, so it’s something that I definitely need to try.

Friendly Steps

The announcement trailer for Friendly Steps came out, and this game definitely reminds me of Chained Together, but a little bit more light-hearted.

Prolly Nothin

Another announcement trailer came out for a game called Prolly Nothin’.

This is a two-player horror type of game. I really like the art style and it actually kind of reminds me of ToeJam & Earl.

Coffee Raccoon

Coffee Raccoon also had an announcement trailer.

This looks like a really cute, cozy game. You can play it in split screen co-op and it looks like it implements a lot of different styles.

From the trailer, it looks like they have parts where you’re making coffee and it’s like Overcooked or something. You can upgrade your tech and explore and gather resources.

I really like the art style here, and any game that is fully 3D that includes split screen is always cool to see.

ID@Xbox Showcase

The ID@Xbox showcase happened in April and they announced a bunch of new games.

There were only two games though that actually included couch co-op.

Escape Academy 2

Escape Academy 2 is coming to Steam and all Xbox platforms. It’ll also be a day one game on Game Pass.

SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed

SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed is a four-player 2D platformer where you basically run and platform as fast as you can.

Orbitals

Orbitals got a brand new gameplay trailer.

If you haven’t heard of Orbitals yet, it’s an upcoming couch co-op game that’s coming out exclusively for the Switch 2. This is another one of those games that is two-player only, so there’s no single player mode whatsoever.

In this new trailer, we got some new information, and the developers talked about how the gameplay is built around asymmetrical co-op. Basically, each character has their own unique abilities, weapons, and tools, and you have to use them together in order to solve puzzles.

In the trailer, one player has a beam cannon and the other player has a hookshot-type tool. The player with the beam cannon is constantly shooting this droid to keep him charged. They said that if you don’t, then he explodes.

This helps the other player navigate the environment and get through the obstacles. While moving on this hovering platform, the player with the hookshot has to shoot these numbered gates to open them up.

The other player is on the other side of the gate and has to follow along and shoot through the gate as it opens to continue charging the droid.

Then they go on to show other examples of asymmetrical co-op gameplay as well. This looks really creative and it’s definitely showing some unique co-op gameplay.

Anyways, this got me excited, and Orbitals definitely continues to be one of my most anticipated titles of the year.

Don’t Starve Elsewhere

We also got a reveal trailer for Don’t Starve Elsewhere.

This is a sequel to Don’t Starve Together. Co-op has been confirmed, but they haven’t said whether that’s online only or local co-op.

But I did want to mention this because Don’t Starve Together obviously had local co-op, so hopefully this one does as well.

Outro

That’s all of the co-op news and releases that I could find for April and May.

What games are you most excited for?

If you want more couch co-op stuff, check out the rest of the videos on the channel and be sure to subscribe. If you want to support the channel, there’s memberships and affiliate links down below. No pressure, but it does help.

We also go live every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. and just play random couch co-op arcade games, so come hang out if you want.

All right, that’s all I got.

Together: Moon Escape Might Be One of the Best Co-op Games of 2026

This is Together: Moon Escape.

If you're into co-op only games, games like It Takes Two, Lego Voyagers, or Split Fiction, there's a new one that you should know about. It's called Together: Moon Escape, and it officially released on April 21st.

This is a fully co-op game with no real solo mode. You need another player to progress. You can play it online, and you can play it in local co-op in split screen. I tested both, but I'm going to be focusing mostly on the split screen because that is what I do here.

And just a quick heads up, I was given a review code for this game, but all the opinions shared here are my own.

A Simple Premise That Works

The premise is you're dropped into a spaceship on the moon with almost no context. The goal is simple: escape.

That's it.

It's really vague, but it works. The game immediately pushes you into solving puzzles together, and honestly, my first impression was that this game is way more polished than I ever expected.

It was made by a single developer, Carlos GameDev, and while playing this, I didn't really run into any issues. No major glitches, solid performance, and it just feels really good to play.

The Puzzle Design Is Genuinely Clever

The game starts simple. The first puzzle is basically just pressing a button at the same time. It's not really a puzzle, more of a tutorial, but it ramps up quickly.

One of the earlier puzzles had us stuck for a minute. You're trying to unlock a door using a code, but the solution is hidden in the environment. There are framed pictures with shapes and numbers, then the keypad shows colors. So you have to match the color to a shape, then match that shape to a number, then input the correct sequence.

It's one of those moments where it clicks and you kind of just feel like a genius for figuring it out together.

A lot of the puzzles are built around coordination. There's one where electricity runs through a system and you have to pull levers in sequence to keep it going. Usually about four levers, so you're basically leapfrogging. One player hits a lever, the other hits the next, then you swap and keep it going.

It's simple, but it really forces coordination and timing between players.

SplitScreen Actually Matters Here

Later on, the game introduces asymmetrical mechanics.

You pick up these weapons where basically one player can see invisible slime creatures and the other uses a gun but can't see them. So now one player is guiding while the other player is shooting blind.

And this is where split screen really helps.

You can just glance at each other's screen instead of trying to explain everything. This might be cheating, but honestly it made some of these sections way easier to navigate.

There's another part where you have to calibrate your suit. One player pushes buttons while the other player watches a monitor to see where the levels are. You have to communicate and get everything within certain parameters.

Again, in split screen you can kind of just cheat and see for yourself, but I actually think that makes the experience more fun.

Using that same gun, one player can also locate invisible pathways and platforms. So you're constantly communicating and guiding each other through areas where only one player can actually see what is happening.

I thought this was a really fun and creative concept. It forces you to work together in a way that feels natural instead of gimmicky.

The Moon Sections Are the Best Part

My favorite parts of the game are when you finally get outside onto the moon.

The game really opens up there. It feels a lot less claustrophobic. You can jump higher, there's more platforming, and the areas feel way less restricted.

There's a section where one player controls buttons below while the other player is platforming above. Then there's this ridiculous moment where you flush a toilet and use it to launch a player upward.

That whole section honestly took us the longest to figure out, but it ended up being one of the best parts of the game.

Everything here just feels intentional.

Sometimes you're solving complex puzzles. Sometimes you're just figuring out where to go. But nothing really feels random.

A Rare Kind of Co-op Game

This looks really good for a solo-developed 3D game.

You don't see a lot of indie co-op games at this level, especially fully 3D split screen games. Most indie co-op titles tend to be 2D, so this immediately stood out to me.

The audio is mostly atmospheric, but when the music hits, it actually works really well.

More importantly, this feels like a game built entirely around cooperation. It's not just a mode or an add-on. The whole game depends on teamwork.

The Only Real Downside

The only real downside is that some of the puzzles are frustrating.

There were definitely moments where we were stuck longer than I would have liked. But honestly, that's kind of the point. These puzzles are clearly meant to challenge your teamwork abilities.

If you're playing with someone who gets impatient easily, you might run into a few rough moments.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I was really impressed by Together: Moon Escape. So far, this is one of my favorite couch co-op games of 2026.

If you like games like Portal, It Takes Two, or Split Fiction, anything that requires real teamwork, you should absolutely check this out.

This feels like one of those games that could easily slip under the radar, and it really shouldn't.

I never really do reviews of single games. Usually I make list videos or deep dives on entire genres. I get review codes all the time, but not many games catch my attention enough that I want to make a whole dedicated video about them.

So this is less of a review and more of a highlight.

I really liked it, and I want more people to play it.

Top 30 Couch Co-op RPGs Of All Time

Intro

Couch co-op RPGs are one of my favorite things to dig into because they are so much rarer than other co-op genres. Beat 'em ups, run and guns, and platformers have always had plenty of options. RPGs are different. They are usually bigger, more complicated, and much harder to design around multiple local players.

That is also why the best ones stand out so much.

This list pulls from all over the place. There are old games, modern games, obscure imports, arcade hybrids, and a few titles that barely fit the genre but absolutely deserve to be here. These are the couch co-op RPGs that I think are the best of the best.

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Elemental Gearbolt

This is probably the weirdest game on the list, and I mean that in a good way. Elemental Gearbolt is a two-player light gun game on the PlayStation, but it also has RPG elements. That alone makes it stand out.

I love the visuals here, and the soundtrack is really strong too. It is one of those rare games that feels genuinely unique. I have never really seen another game do this exact blend of genres the same way.

If you are a physical collector, this one is also pretty rare and expensive. But unlike a lot of expensive retro games, this one is actually worth playing.

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Ultima: Runes of Virtue II

This is an action RPG on the original Game Boy. To play it the original way, you need two copies of the game, two Game Boys, and a link cable. Thankfully, that is a lot easier to deal with now through emulation or the two-player Game Boy MiSTer core.

This sequel is much better than the first game. The original is more bare bones and clunkier. This one feels more complete.

Visually, it is primitive, but the idea of a full-fledged co-op RPG on Game Boy is such a novelty, and it actually works much better than you would expect.

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For the King

For the King blends turn-based RPG combat with roguelite mechanics and a tabletop feel. You travel across a procedurally generated world, take on quests, explore dungeons, and manage resources like gold and health.

This game really shines in co-op. Each player controls a different hero in the same party, and because of the survival systems and random events, every run unfolds differently.

What makes it such a good co-op RPG is the shared decision-making. Every move matters, and the whole group has to think things through together.

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Haven

Haven is one of the few games here that really feels built from the ground up as a co-op RPG. The whole thing is relationship-focused, so it works especially well for couples.

The turn-based combat is simple enough that almost anyone can pick it up. I love the visuals, and I like the idea of the game more than some of the story and voice acting. When I played it, I skipped a decent amount of that stuff.

Still, I think it is really cool to see a story-driven RPG that is fully designed around co-op.

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Ganbare Goemon 3

I love the Goemon games. Legend of the Mystical Ninja on the Super Nintendo is great. Goemon's Great Adventure on the N64 is my favorite N64 game. Ganbare Goemon 3 is another excellent one, and it leans more into RPG mechanics than most other entries in the series.

It still has the 2D platforming sections, but it also has an overworld with towns, NPCs, exploration, permanent gear upgrades, magic abilities, and health upgrades.

This is one of the best games in the series, and thanks to fan translations, it is much more accessible now for English-speaking players.

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Little Ninja Brothers

This is one of those NES games that still feels unique. It is a hybrid of RPG and beat 'em up.

You move around an overworld map like a traditional RPG, with towns, quests, and random battles. But when combat starts, it turns into a beat 'em up instead of a turn-based battle system.

You gain experience, level up, and progress like a normal RPG, but the gameplay has a totally different rhythm. It is one of the coolest genre blends on the NES.

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Dungeon Explorer

Dungeon Explorer is a fairly straightforward dungeon crawler, but what made it stand out was five-player co-op on the TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine.

For a home console game from that era, that was kind of insane. Even now, you do not see that many local co-op RPGs supporting more than four players.

That alone makes it important, and it is also just a solid dungeon crawler in general.

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Full Metal Furies

Full Metal Furies is a top-down action RPG built around teamwork. You pick from four heroes, and each one has different weapons, abilities, and roles in combat.

The game mixes fast action with light RPG progression, gear upgrades, and more puzzles than you might expect. The biggest thing that makes it stand out is that co-op is not just optional. It is really built into the design.

A lot of enemies have colored shields that can only be broken by specific characters, so you actually have to coordinate. This is one of the best modern indie co-op RPGs that still does not get enough attention.

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Pit People

Pit People is a weird turn-based tactical RPG from the creators of Castle Crashers. Instead of real-time combat, you move characters around a battlefield grid, recruit creatures, and build out your team.

I am always a little skeptical of co-op in turn-based RPGs because it sounds like it would drag, but this one handles it really well. Both players can move their cursors around at the same time, so there is very little sitting around waiting.

It also has that same goofy humor and visual style that made Castle Crashers stand out. I do not think Pit People ever got the same kind of attention, but I think it is just as strong within its genre.

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Cassette Beasts

Cassette Beasts is basically the co-op Pokémon game a lot of people always wanted. You can play through the whole game together, explore the world together, and battle side by side in two-on-two fights.

The pixel art is great, but the soundtrack might be my favorite part. It has a really cool low-fi feel and a lot of style.

It is one of the better modern examples of a co-op RPG that feels like it was designed to be shared.

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Tales series

The Tales games are interesting because co-op is in a lot of them, but it almost always feels hidden. Exploration is single-player, but when you enter battle, other players can jump in and control party members in real time.

Not every game in the series has co-op, but several of the best ones do. Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Vesperia, Tales of the Abyss, Tales of Graces f, and Tales of Berseria are all good places to start.

You really cannot go wrong with any of those, but Symphonia is still my personal favorite.

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Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

Dark Alliance is a top-down dungeon crawler that came out on the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. It is very similar to Gauntlet and obviously heavily inspired by Dungeons & Dragons.

This game felt really important when it came out. It helped define what console dungeon crawlers would look like for a while after that. You can see its influence in games like X-Men Legends, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, and Dungeons & Dragons Heroes.

It still holds up as one of the best dungeon crawlers ever made.

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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

This is one of the strangest and most memorable co-op setups ever. To play it in four-player co-op on GameCube, you needed four Game Boy Advances and four link cables.

That barrier to entry meant a lot of people never got to experience it the way it was intended, which is a shame because it is a really smart co-op game. One player carries the chalice while the others protect them, so it constantly forces communication and teamwork.

It is also action-based, which made it stand out within the Final Fantasy series at the time.

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Ys X: Nordics

Ys X is a fast-paced action RPG with a lot of exploration and story. The main downside is that co-op does not unlock right away. You have to wait about an hour or two to get the second character.

That can be annoying, especially because there is a lot of dialogue at the beginning. Once co-op opens up, though, it actually feels pretty balanced between both players. There are even co-op moves that you can pull off together.

There are not many fully 3D action RPGs with local co-op, so this one feels especially rare.

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Outward

Outward is a survival RPG with Soulslike elements, which means it is pretty brutal. Luckily, you can play the whole thing in split-screen co-op.

This is one of those games that I have never been very good at, but I still really enjoy it. It is harsh, slow, and demanding, but playing with another person makes it much more rewarding.

I am really looking forward to the sequel too.

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Shining Soul II

This came out on the Game Boy Advance and supports up to four players, though you need multiple systems, copies, and link cables.

That is a lot, but if you can actually set it up, it is a really fun action RPG. You choose your class, go on quests, level up, and grind for progress.

I like the art style a lot, and if you enjoy games like Secret of Mana, this is an easy one to recommend.

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Trinity Trigger

Trinity Trigger is very clearly inspired by the Seiken Densetsu games. You can play through the whole story in three-player local co-op, but like Secret of Mana, you do not get full co-op from the beginning.

You have to reach a certain point before the other characters unlock. Once you do, though, the rest of the game can be played together.

This kind of simple action RPG has not been explored enough in modern games, and Trinity Trigger helps fill that gap.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara

This is technically an arcade beat 'em up, but it has enough RPG mechanics that I absolutely count it. You can play with up to four players, and it includes branching paths, shops, stat upgrades, and lots of magic.

It still plays like a beat 'em up, but it has a lot more depth than most games in that genre, especially for its time.

There is a reason this is still considered one of the best arcade co-op games ever.

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Champions: Return to Arms

This is another PS2 dungeon crawler, and it feels like a natural next step after the earlier Diablo-style console RPGs.

There is a lot of content here, and the gameplay is very easy to pick up. It might feel a little rough around the edges now, but I still think it is an important game in the evolution of co-op dungeon crawlers.

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Children of Morta

Children of Morta is a modern roguelite RPG with a very strong narrative focus. It is difficult, and I have never been especially good at it, but it nails the thing that makes roguelites work.

Even when you fail, you want to jump right back in.

The dungeons stay fun, the progression feels good, and the art style is some of the best pixel art I have seen. It is one of those games that gets more addictive the more you play it.

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River City Ransom

River City Ransom was way ahead of its time. At first glance, it is just a beat 'em up. But it is nonlinear, has RPG progression, towns, shops, stat upgrades, and a more open structure than most action games from that era.

Once you understand how it works, it becomes a lot more enjoyable. You start figuring out which moves to prioritize, where to go next, and how to build your character more effectively.

This is one of the most important co-op games ever made, not just one of the best co-op RPGs.

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Gauntlet Legends

Gauntlet Legends is still my favorite Gauntlet game. The older ones never fully clicked for me, but this one absolutely did.

Maybe it just came along at the perfect time, but I have a lot of memories of staying up late with friends and playing it in four-player co-op. It is one of those games that felt made for sleepovers.

It improved on the older Gauntlet formula in a lot of ways, and it is still one of the best local dungeon crawlers ever.

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Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II

I am talking specifically about the GameCube version here. The Dreamcast version was online only, but the GameCube release added four-player split-screen local play.

That alone makes it special. It is a fully 3D action RPG that you can play locally with multiple people on one screen setup, and there are still not many games that offer that kind of thing.

I cannot really speak to the online side much, but the local co-op mode alone makes this one stand out.

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Borderlands 2

Every Borderlands game is known for co-op RPG shooter gameplay, but Borderlands 2 is still my favorite of the series.

You can play the full campaign in split-screen, and later versions even support four-player split-screen. It is a huge game, and it helped popularize the mix of first-person shooting with RPG progression systems.

Even now, it is still one of the best examples of that hybrid done well.

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Diablo IV

You really cannot go wrong with most of the Diablo games. I know some people prefer III, and some still prefer II, but Diablo IV is the one I would recommend most at this point.

It has the most production value of the series, and it still gives you that same satisfying dungeon-crawling action RPG loop.

I still have a soft spot for the original PlayStation version of Diablo because it had local co-op, but Diablo IV feels like the most complete modern recommendation.

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Secret of Mana

Secret of Mana is one of the most important co-op RPGs ever made. Being able to play it with three people on the Super Nintendo was a huge deal.

It has a big world, real-time action combat, and a really memorable atmosphere. I cannot say enough good things about it. It is one of my favorite games of all time, and one of the best action RPGs ever made.

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Sea of Stars

I was really excited when Sea of Stars added co-op. You can now play the entire story in three-player co-op, which is still pretty rare for a turn-based RPG.

It also uses active real-time inputs, so you are not just sitting there picking commands. You have to block at the right time and engage with the combat.

The pixel art is incredible, and it is one of the best-looking RPGs in years. I would love to see more games follow this lead.

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Divinity: Original Sin 2

The first Divinity is great too, but I think Original Sin 2 improves on it in just about every way.

This is a game that really feels built for co-op. The world is huge, the turn-based combat is deep, and the amount of shared decision-making constantly reinforces the idea that this is meant to be played with another person.

It is one of the best modern co-op RPGs ever made.

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Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 is probably the best couch co-op RPG ever made, or at the very least it belongs in that conversation. It has full split-screen co-op for the campaign, and it is also one of the most important games the genre has had in a long time.

Not only is it a massive big-budget RPG, but it also committed to local co-op in a way most modern AAA games do not. That alone matters.

It feels like it was built for co-op, and I really hope its success opens the door for more big budget local co-op RPGs.

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Seiken Densetsu 3

To me, this is the greatest couch co-op RPG of all time.

It is the sequel to Secret of Mana, and for a long time it was stuck in Japan. Thankfully, newer collections gave it an official English version, so it is much easier to access now.

I think it improves on Secret of Mana in almost every way. The only downside is that it drops from three players to two. Even with that, the visuals are some of the best in the entire 16-bit era, the class system is excellent, and the branching paths make it feel bigger and more replayable.

When I think of classic co-op action RPGs, this is still the peak.

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Closing Thoughts

That is my list of the top 30 couch co-op RPGs of all time.

I tried to make it a pretty diverse mix of old and new games, along with some obscure picks that deserve more attention. I am sure there are some I missed, but these are the ones that stand out most to me.

If you are looking for more couch co-op recommendations, especially on older systems, that is what this site is all about.

10 Couch Co-op Roguelikes You Should Try

Today we’re talking about 10 couch co-op roguelike games. Some newer releases, some that flew under the radar, and a few that are just worth highlighting.

Risk of Rain Returns

Risk of Rain Returns is more than just a remaster. It’s a full reimagining of the original 2013 roguelike. It has updated visuals, enhanced mechanics, and new content.

Right off the bat, it looks and feels like a significant upgrade. The pixel art has been refined, animations are smoother, and the color palette is more vibrant. It still keeps that gritty atmospheric look from the original.

The core gameplay loop remains the same. You choose a survivor, land on a mysterious planet, and fight for survival.

Co-op is where Risk of Rain always shines, and this version makes it even easier to play together locally or online. If you liked the original, this is more of that but better. Honestly, I think this version is even better than the original.

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Crypt of the NecroDancer

This is one of those rare indie games that fuses two completely different genres. Rhythm gameplay and roguelike dungeon crawling.

You have to move with the beat. Attacking and dodging are tied directly to the music. If you stay on beat, everything flows smoothly. If you mess up, enemies can overwhelm you really quickly.

This is a game that I’m not very good at, but I understand why people love it. It’s tough, but it’s always fair.

There is a co-op mode, and both players move to the same beat and progress through the dungeon together.

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Ammo and Oxygen

Ammo and Oxygen finally came out of early access.

This is a roguelike twin stick shooter that supports up to four players in local co-op. It has a really dark atmosphere and looks great visually.

When I played this with two friends, we found it to be very difficult. You’re not just fighting enemies, you also have to manage your oxygen levels. If it runs out, you die quickly.

If a teammate dies, another player can revive them. One thing I really liked is that you can find cassette tapes that trigger synthwave music. Up until that point it’s mostly ambient sound, so it really changes the feel of the game.

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TMNT: Splintered Fate

This originally came out on iOS, but it was brought to Switch and Steam with local co-op added.

Unlike most TMNT games, this is a dungeon crawler roguelike instead of a beat ’em up. You can play with up to four players.

It might look a bit like a budget game, which makes sense since it started as a mobile title, but there’s actually a lot of depth here.

Each character has their own abilities, and you build them up over each run. Rooms are procedurally generated, and upgrades are temporary. If you die, you lose everything.

You progress through rooms, pick upgrades, and fight bosses like Bebop, Rocksteady, Leatherhead, and Shredder.

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Cult of the Lamb

This is a hack and slash roguelike mixed with base building.

The dungeon sections are procedurally generated, and you collect resources and recruit followers. Then you return to your base and manage your cult.

You build structures, cook food, and perform rituals to improve your stats. The two parts of the game feed into each other.

It’s a really unique structure, and I think it works really well in co-op.

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AK-xolotl

This is another game that started as single player and later added co-op.

It’s a top-down twin stick shooter with procedurally generated levels and random upgrades. It plays a lot like Enter the Gungeon.

I enjoyed it, but it can get repetitive if you’re not unlocking new upgrades consistently. The pixel art looks great and the characters are really unique.

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Ants Took My Eyeball

This is one of the more unique games on the list.

It’s a 2D platformer with roguelike elements, including procedural levels and upgrades. The visuals really stand out. It has hand-drawn cutscenes and slightly grotesque pixel art during gameplay.

The combat feels good, with both melee and ranged attacks, and the platforming is solid.

I found it to be pretty difficult, but it’s definitely worth checking out.

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Asterogues

Another roguelike with a top-down perspective and twin stick controls.

This one feels similar to Enter the Gungeon or NeuroVoider. I liked it a lot, but I definitely need to spend more time with it.

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Vampire Survivors

This one started as a single-player game, but now supports four-player couch co-op.

You don’t really attack manually. You just move around, avoid enemies, and collect upgrades. Your character attacks automatically.

It looks very low budget at first, but it becomes really addictive, especially with friends.

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Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons

This blends roguelike elements with a tag-team beat ’em up system.

The combat is simple but satisfying, and the tag system lets you swap between characters and combine abilities. The structure lets you choose which boss to fight next.

The roguelike elements don’t always work perfectly, but the core gameplay is strong.

Visually, it’s a big departure from older Double Dragon games, but it works. The pixel art is detailed and colorful.

For me, this is the best Double Dragon since Double Dragon Advance.

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Outro

So there you go. 10 couch co-op roguelike games that are worth checking out. What are some of your favorite couch co-op roguelites? And check out the video version if want!