Some of the best PS1 games, or other games from that era, let you play with one or more friends in split-screen. This form of multiplayer has gotten less and less common as the generations have gone on but it isn’t fully abandoned yet.
Most of the best PS5 games are single-player experiences or feature cross-platform online multiplayer, with only a handful still allowing you to hand a second controller to a friend and play together on the same console. These are mainly co-op games, but there are a few options for competitive gaming here as well. If you want to relive the old days of spending hours on end gaming with a friend or family member on a single screen, we’ll give you the best options currently available on PS5.
After checking out this list, you can also look at the list of upcoming PS5 games to see if more split-screen games are on the way.
It Takes Two
It is almost a law at this point that you have to put It Takes Two on any split-screen games list. Besides being one of the few games released that can only be played in split-screen, it is also just a fantastic game on its own. When a married couple is on the verge of divorce, they are magically transformed into their daughter’s toys and need to work together to find a way to break the spell.
The journey is incredibly varied, with each character picking up new abilities that only work when combined with the others. This forces teamwork at every step in a way that is fun and rewarding. There are a few parts of the story that rub people the wrong way, but the gameplay and visual style are exceptional.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Arcade cabinets were the originators of local co-op games. Beat-’em-ups especially were a blast to stand around with your friends and waste all your quarters playing, but now you can save your laundry money and get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge on your console. This is the spiritual successor to the old Turtles in Time arcade game in visuals and mechanics but expanded into a modern experience.
You pick from all the iconic Turtles, Casey Jones, April, and more characters to fight through dozens of detailed stages filled with classic enemies and bosses. You can play in Arcade mode, which simulates that old arcade experience with limited lives, or Story mode which is more forgiving and a light RPG progression system. You can team up with up to four friends on a single console, just like in the old days.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Many of the best FPS games on PS5 have decided to move away from split-screen multiplayer in favor of online, but not Gearbox. While we’re waiting for Borderlands 4, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is the latest looter-shooter game that still lets you and a friend go on a full FPS RPG adventure together. Set in the Borderlands universe, this spin-off is a fictional game of D&D hosted by the chaotic Tiny Tina. Swapping out Mad Max-style locations and enemies for fantasy monsters and abilities, this entry has a lot more charm and freedom to be creative with its world.
What hasn’t changed is the additive gameplay loop of blasting tons of enemies, leveling up and upgrading your character, and finding tons of new and better weapons. Bringing a friend along only makes the adventure more enjoyable as you laugh and shoot your way through together.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Legos are meant to be played with together, and so are all the best Lego games. While the series has covered some of the biggest IPs around, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the best in terms of quality and quantity. This one game lets you and a partner go through the entire 9 movie saga, reliving all the best moments and battles recreated in Lego bricks. In total, there are 45 levels but just finishing the game is only the start.
There are hundreds of collectibles to find, characters to unlock, and challenges to complete that can keep you busy for weeks of fun. For a pair of Star Wars fans, this is the ultimate celebration of a galaxy far, far away.
Stardew Valley
Not every game needs to be full of action or stress. Stardew Valley is the ultimate cozy game that lets you run and design your own farm while hanging out with a cast of endearing NPC villagers. As great of company as they can be, nothing beats bringing a friend into the game to work with you on managing all your daily tasks. You can team up to clear away the debris, gather materials, work the land, and create the ultimate pixelated paradise together.
There are tons of ways to progress so you will never be short on goals, but just kicking back and enjoying the simple life is always a great way to unwind with a partner.
Diablo IV
On the opposite end of the spectrum from our last pick, Diablo 4 is a hardcore ARPG that is good alone, but amazing in co-op. In fact, all the best content in the game is designed for multiple people working together so having a partner at your side is essential if you want to take on the most difficult dungeons and bosses. Each class has a ton of build options, but only when you combine their talents and synergize with other players can you hope to get the best loot.
Even if you’re not interested in doing any of those brutal challenges, just playing the campaign and slaughtering hundreds of demons together is the ultimate power fantasy and a great way to bond and kill a few hours.
Rocket League
Sports games are always a blast in split-screen, so why not play one that lets you literally blast a car around the soccer field with rockets? Rocket League is an easy pick for being a novel take on the classic sport that is exactly as fun as it sounds. You and a friend can partner up to chase down the ball and attempt to ram it at just the right angle to score goals (and hopefully not score on yourself).
Getting really good at Rocket League takes a ton of effort, but that doesn’t matter much since the chaos of normal play is just as much fun. This is also a free-to-play game so it’s easy to pick up on a whim.
Baldur’s Gate 3
No one plays D&D alone, so why play Baldur’s Gate 3 without a companion? The party members you meet are all amazing, but it is just you when combat starts. With a friend, you can not only fight together but also manipulate the story. The game will allow both of you to influence conversations and decisions based on your respective stats. Or, you can split up and go on your own adventures.
Like anything else with Baldur’s Gate 3, the amount of freedom is stunning. What makes it even better is that you can start playing right away without having to find a DM.
