The Best Co-op Games to Play With Your Partner
The best co-op games for couples, from split-screen adventures built for two to cozy farming and chaotic kitchens that test your relationship.
There’s playing games, and then there’s playing games together: the same sofa, a controller each, working out a puzzle or yelling “behind you!” at the same time. Co-op games are one of the best things you can do with a partner. They’re also one of the best ways to find out how well you actually communicate.
Some of the games on this list were built from the ground up for two players. Others are big, relaxing worlds you can share. A few are pure chaos designed to test your patience. All of them are better with your person next to you.
Rook has played It Takes Two from start to finish twice with a partner, and the second run went much better than the first. The first nearly ended at the vacuum cleaner boss, after a whole evening of “you were supposed to hold the button”. The house rule since then: whoever loses a co-op argument makes the tea.
Split Fiction
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch 2 · Co-op: Local split-screen or online
From the team that made It Takes Two, and arguably even better. You play two writers, Mio and Zoe, trapped inside their own stories: one sci-fi, one fantasy. Every level throws new ideas at you, from riding dragons to racing hoverbikes, and the game never repeats itself. It’s strictly two-player, and only one of you needs to own it thanks to the free Friend’s Pass. If you only play one game from this list, make it this one.
Where to get it: Steam
It Takes Two
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch · Co-op: Local split-screen or online
A married couple on the brink of divorce are turned into tiny dolls by their daughter’s wish and must work together to get back to their bodies. It sounds like relationship therapy, and in a way it is, but mostly it’s an incredibly inventive adventure where every chapter gives you new powers that only work together. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2021. Like Split Fiction, it has a Friend’s Pass.
Where to get it: Steam
Stardew Valley
Platforms: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, mobile · Co-op: Local split-screen (PC and consoles) or online
Build a farm together. One of you fishes and mines while the other tends the crops, or you just do whatever you feel like on any given evening. It’s relaxed, endlessly rewarding and perfect for couples who want something calm after work. You can even get your characters married in-game, which is either romantic or a lot of pressure.
Where to get it: Steam
Overcooked! 2
Platforms: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox · Co-op: Local or online, 2 to 4 players
Run a restaurant kitchen while it moves, burns and falls apart around you. Chop, cook, plate and serve before the orders time out. Overcooked is hilarious and brilliant, and it will absolutely lead to raised voices about who was supposed to wash the plates. Play it with someone you trust.
Where to get it: Steam
Portal 2
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch · Co-op: Local split-screen or online
The co-op campaign in Portal 2 is one of the smartest puzzle experiences ever made. You play two robots, each with a portal gun, solving test chambers that need both of you to cooperate (and occasionally sabotage each other for fun). It’s old now, but it holds up perfectly, and it’s usually very cheap.
Where to get it: Steam
Unravel Two
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch · Co-op: Local or online
Two little yarn creatures, tied together by a thread, swing and climb through beautiful real-world landscapes. It’s a gentle puzzle platformer where one player can carry the other through tricky sections, so it’s ideal if one of you plays a lot more than the other.
Where to get it: Steam
Mario Kart World
Platforms: Switch 2 · Co-op: Local split-screen or online
Not exactly cooperative, but if you have a Switch 2, it’ll be on every couple’s sofa at some point. Race each other across a huge connected world, or team up in online races. It’s quick, colourful and easy for a non-gamer partner to pick up, especially with steering assist on.
Where to get it: Nintendo
Baldur’s Gate 3
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Mac · Co-op: Local split-screen (consoles and PC) or online
For couples who want something big. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a massive fantasy RPG based on Dungeons & Dragons, and the whole thing can be played in co-op, including split-screen on one TV. You’ll make choices together, argue about which companions to trust, and spend a hundred hours in the same story. It’s a serious commitment, but few games feel this epic shared.
Where to get it: Steam
Sea of Thieves
Platforms: PC, Xbox, PlayStation · Co-op: Online
Become pirates together. Sail your ship, find treasure, fight skeletons and other players, and get into trouble on the open sea. With two people, a small ship is just right, and there’s something special about one of you steering while the other climbs the crow’s nest to spot an island. Online only, so you’ll need two devices.
Where to get it: Steam
Cuphead
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch · Co-op: Local
A run-and-gun shooter that looks like a 1930s cartoon and plays like a nightmare. It’s hard, really hard, which makes beating a boss together incredibly satisfying. Best for couples who both enjoy a challenge (and don’t mind dying a lot).
Where to get it: Steam
How to pick the right co-op game for you
- One of you is new to games? Unravel Two, Stardew Valley or Mario Kart World.
- You want a story to experience together? Split Fiction or It Takes Two.
- You want something relaxing? Stardew Valley.
- You like chaos? Overcooked! 2.
- You both love a challenge? Cuphead or Portal 2.
- You want something to last months? Baldur’s Gate 3 or Sea of Thieves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best co-op game for couples?
Split Fiction and It Takes Two are the best games designed specifically for two players. Both need cooperation at every step, and both have a Friend’s Pass, so only one of you needs to buy the game.
What are good co-op games for a non-gamer partner?
Unravel Two and Stardew Valley are very forgiving. Mario Kart World with assists turned on is also great for beginners.
Are there good couch co-op games on PS5?
Yes. Split Fiction, It Takes Two, Overcooked! 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 all support local co-op on PS5.
Prefer cards and dice? Our The Best Board Games for Two Players has plenty of options for game night without a screen.
