Let’s talk about some of the best local co-op games on the PS5. This is a list of games that feel like next gen consoles… mostly. But you can play all of them in local co-op on the PlayStation 5, so let’s just get into it.
BROTHERS: A TALE OF TWO SONS REMAKE
This one’s interesting because the original game was intended to be singleplayer. you were supposed to control both brothers with one controller, each assigned to a separate analog stick. There’s an argument that adding co-op kind of changes that original intent, but as a couch co-op game, the remake gives you an entirely new way to experience it. I’m a huge fan of Hazelight Studios, and I feel like Brothers is the one game of theirs that gets overlooked these days. It’s a really emotional story that you can play through pretty quickly. I’ve probably played through it four times now. and I personally think the co-op gameplay actually improves on the original. If you like their later games like It Takes Two or Split Fiction, I highly recommend trying this one, especially this remake.
TOWERBORNE
Towerborne came to PlayStation this year along with a couch co-op update, and it’s essentially an action RPG with a beat ‘em up structure that you can play with up to four players locally. There are different classes, and the gear and build progression give it more depth than a traditional beat ‘em up. We’re still seeing a lot of new beat ‘em ups come out these days, and Towerborne seems to be one that not as many people are talking about. I still think it’s definitely worth trying.
SACKBOY: A BIG ADVENTURE
This is a 3D platformer that is built for co-op. It definitely feels like Mario 3D World, but with the LittleBigPlanet characters. However, when it comes to co-op gameplay, this might actually do it better than Mario 3D World. They even have levels specifically designed for co-op gameplay where you have to work together and solve puzzles in order to move forward.
This is the first time that the Sackboy characters were thrown into a 3D environment, and it works really well. When it comes to co-op 3D platformers, this is definitely one of the best ever made.
REANIMAL
One of my favorite games to come out this year is Reanimal. This is another one that was built to be a couch co-op experience. After the disappointment of Little Nightmares 3, which only had online co-op, it was really refreshing to play Reanimal. This game was made by the original developers of Little Nightmares, and it does have local co-op.
Sometimes co-op can make horror games feel less scary, but I think they solved that here because you have that shared cinematic camera. It is constantly controlling what both players see. This game has some really creepy and unique creatures and environments. When it comes to horror-themed co-op games, this is one of my favorites to ever come out. It is one of my favorite couch co-op games of the year as well.
LEGO BATMAN: LEGACY OF THE DARK KNIGHT
This is another game built to be a couch co-op experience. There is actually no online co-op whatsoever, which I was kind of surprised to learn. The LEGO games have consistently been really great sources for local co-op gameplay, but they are not always my favorite. So when I played LEGO Batman, I was pleasantly surprised.
First of all, it is an open-world game, and we do not see a lot of open-world games with split-screen co-op. This game covers Batman’s entire history rather than adapting one specific movie, but it does get inspiration from comics, movies, TV and previous games as well. I found it really fun to just explore the environment. You can split up and take on different enemies and tasks, get in vehicles and drive around. I just love that in 2026, we got a $70 AAA LEGO game where the only multiplayer option is sitting next to somebody. I do not know if it is worth that price, but I am just glad that it exists.
BORDERLANDS 4
The Borderlands series has always been a consistent place to find local co-op gameplay. You can play through this entire campaign in split-screen co-op. I think this is a really great game in the series. I love how they updated the movement. You can double jump, climb, use hook shots, and get a glider and glide. It just makes moving around in this environment really satisfying.
All of the characters have very different builds and abilities. And for those who care, it does have vertical and horizontal split-screen options. Borderlands has always been one of the few AAA franchises that still carry the torch for split-screen shooters. I am just glad that the latest entry continues to do that.
BALDUR’S GATE 3
This is just a massive RPG, and it is another rare AAA experience that you can play entirely in split-screen co-op. This game is based heavily on Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition rules. At the beginning of the game, you each can spend as long as you want creating your character. You can pick their gender, looks and class. Because you get that much customization, it makes the co-op experience feel even more fleshed out. Player two is not just a companion that follows you around. It is very equal.
The combat is turn-based, so if that is not your thing, maybe you are not going to be into this one, but I think they handled it really well here. This is definitely the biggest game on this list. You are basically getting an entire D&D campaign that two people can play from the couch.
GEARS OF WAR: RELOADED
You can play through this entire campaign in split-screen co-op, just like the original. This one is not a full remake. It is a remaster, with better performance, higher resolution, some remastered textures, lighting and shadows, and HDR. This was a game that was only on Xbox consoles, so seeing it on PlayStation still does not quite feel right. Even though they are giving us even less of a reason to own an Xbox, I am still glad that they did this.
I have a lot of memories playing the original Gears of War with my friend back in high school, and I think I have played through every single entry in the series in split-screen co-op. When the original came out, it really felt like the next evolution of the shooter genre. Because you have Marcus and Dom in the story, it feels natural to play it as a two-player game. If you missed the Gears of War series, or maybe you only have a PlayStation 5, this is a great way to try it out now.
HALO: CAMPAIGN EVOLVED
Much like Gears of War, we also got Halo now on the PlayStation. However, Halo: Campaign Evolved is not just a remaster. This is a full remake from the ground up of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, which came out on the original Xbox. I think they did a great job here. This is the first Halo game to ever be released on PlayStation. Again, it just feels kind of weird. The original Halo was one of the games that helped define console first-person shooters. This version also adds three completely new missions and a bunch of the weapons from the later entries in the series.
I have a lot of memories with Halo. We did a lot of LAN parties with my friends in high school, and I still have groups of friends that get together every once in a while for Halo 1, 2 and even 3. Some of my favorite memories were actually playing through these campaigns in split-screen co-op. I think they did a great job with this remake, but Halo being one of the best couch co-op games on PlayStation still feels wrong to say out loud.
SPLIT FICTION
Split Fiction is Hazelight’s follow-up to It Takes Two, and it’s built entirely around two player co-op again, with each player experiencing the story from a different genre perspective at the same time. It’s constantly throwing new mechanics at you, which is kind of the studio’s whole thing at this point, and it’s one of the most purely inventive co-op games to come out on PS5. If you liked It Takes Two, this is an easy recommendation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Those are ten couch co-op games that you can play on the PS5. Those are just some of my favorites. Of course, we could dig deeper into some indie games. There are tons of those, but I wanted to mostly focus on games that felt like next generation. Of course, Towerborne does not exactly fit that, but disregard that, I guess. What are your favorite couch co-op games on the PS5?
MORE COUCH CO-OP GAMES
Playing with the family? Try these family-friendly couch co-op games. For another console, see the Switch 2 co-op guide.