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.