Remember the days when gaming meant sitting on the floor, elbows locked with your best friend, screaming at the same television screen? We do. In an era dominated by high-speed internet connections and anonymous online lobbies, the ancient, sacred art of the “couch co-op” session has become a rare treasure.
Fortunately, the PlayStation 5 hasn’t totally forgotten its roots. Developers are slowly realizing that sometimes, the most exciting gaming moments are the ones you share with someone sitting right next to you.
If you are looking to reclaim that magic, you have come to the right place. We have dug through the library to find the definitive best split screen PS5 games you need to play right now. We aren’t talking about shallow minigames; we are highlighting full, rich experiences designed to be shared.
Grab a second controller, find a comfortable spot on the sofa, and maybe hide the expensive snacks. It’s time for some old-school shared adventures.
What Makes the Best Split Screen PS5 Games Special?
The shift toward online-only multiplayer has been undeniable over the last two console generations. It’s efficient, but it lacks that tangible, immediate shared energy. You cannot high-five a gamertag; you cannot friendly-elbow an avatar.
The best split screen PS5 games succeed by building camaraderie (or intense rivalry) that digital lobbies cannot match. You are solving puzzles in real-time communication, coordinating your attacks against bosses, or perhaps sabotage-cooking your partner’s soup just for the laugh.
When developers prioritize local play, they design mechanics that depend on proximity. The physical presence of your gaming partner makes successes sweeter and failures much, much funnier.
Furthermore, the PS5 hardware itself enhances these experiences. Modern local multiplayer doesn’t mean sacrificing performance anymore. Thanks to the internal SSD, load times are negligible. Many of these titles utilize the unique DualSense haptic feedback features to immerse both players differently. For instance, in a racing game, each player can feel the different texture of the road through their own controller.
Our Criteria for Ranking These couch co-op Gems
So, how do we define “best”? We aren’t just listing popular games that happen to have a local mode. Our rankings focus on:
- Cohesion: Does the split-screen mechanic enhance the gameplay, or is it just a tacked-on feature?
- Fun Factor: Does the game produce genuine laughter, screams, and high-fives?
- Beginner Accessibility: Can a non-gamer pick up the second controller and still contribute to the fun?
- PS5 Polish: Does the game utilize the console’s power to deliver smooth framerates at a high resolution?
Top-Tier Couch Co-Op Masters: TheHazelights
It Takes Two
Hazelight Studios is the undisputed king of the modern couch co-op experience. It Takes Two did not just receive Game of the Year awards at launch; it received them specifically because it refused to allow solo play. Two players are strictly mandatory.
The official plot involves a battling married couple shrunk down into their daughter’s dolls by a magical book. They must navigate their own home—now transformed into a massive, dangerous fantasy realm—to find a way to return to normal.
Mechanically, the game is a masterpiece of asymmetrical design. One player might get a magic hammer while the other gets guided nails. To progress through a level, both players must simultaneously utilize their unique tools to solve puzzles.
Hazelight consistently reinvents the gameplay loops. Every chapter introduces completely new mechanics, from third-person shooting sections to flying adventures and even a fully realized isometric dungeon crawler segment. If you want to check out the It Takes Two official gameplay features, you can see how deeply the narrative intersects with the asymmetrical mechanics. It is essential playing.
A Way Out
Before Hazelight perfected their formula with It Takes Two, they created A Way Out. This game takes a much more cinematic, narrative-driven approach to co-op, resembling a tense prison-break movie.
You and your partner play as Leo and Vincent, two inmates who must work together to escape from prison and survive life on the run. The entire experience is played in a forced split screen, even during cutscenes. This allows you to see what your partner is doing while you are focused on your own task.
One player might need to distract a guard while the other sneaks into an administrative office to steal a tool. The communication required here is tense and immediately rewarding. A Way Out is shorter than It Takes Two, but its story is incredibly engaging and features some truly surprising moments designed to leave both players stunned.
Chaotic Party Fun & Frenetic Shooters
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
If you want a game that will test the absolute limits of your relationship, Overcooked! All You Can Eat is the definitive answer. It bundles both Overcooked! games and all their DLC into one chaotic, beautiful native PS5 package, running at a buttery-smooth 4K/60FPS.
Players form a culinary team that must prepare meals in increasingly surreal and disastrous kitchens. You might be cooking on a floating ice floe, inside a pedestrian-filled crosswalk, or within a haunted mansion where the counters keep moving.
Communication quickly devolves into frantic screams of “I need soup!” or “The kitchen is on fire!” Coordination is mandatory; you must assign roles, manage the pass, and ensure dirty dishes get washed. Overcooked! is a masterclass in manageable chaos and provides immediate party game entertainment for up to four local players.
Borderlands 3 / Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
The Borderlands series has long been a champion of the local looter-shooter genre. Both Borderlands 3 and the fantasy spin-off Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands offer phenomenal split screen action on PS5.
The PS5 version of Borderlands 3 supports two-player split screen at up to 4K resolution at 60FPS. This performance boost is massive compared to previous console generations, making the high-octane combat feel seamless on a shared screen.
You can team up, select your unique character classes, and delve into countless dungeons in search of procedurally generated loot. Whether you are blasting psychos in a futuristic wasteland or casting spells in a Dungeons & Dragons-themed fantasy world, the chaos of managing your party’s skills and gear while tackling giant bosses provides hundreds of hours of value for duos.
Deep RPGs & Cooperative Adventures
Baldur’s Gate 3
Wait, one of the deepest, most complex RPGs ever created supports split screen on console? Yes, it does, and it works surprisingly well. Larian Studios did not just port the PC experience; they spent immense effort designing a dedicated gamepad UI that makes managing your complex inventory and turn-based combat intuitive on the sofa. If you are curious, Larian has provided extensive Baldur’s Gate 3 PS5 multiplayer details on their official site detailing how party management is shared.
You and a partner can explore the entire massive world of Sanctuary together. Baldur’s Gate 3 in split screen offers complete freedom; you could be focused on a tense political dialogue with an NPC in town while your partner is busy robbing the local smithy several screens away.
Managing a full four-member party between two players (each managing two characters) requires strategic planning, especially during the challenging tactician difficulty. The scale here is unprecedented in the local co-op space.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
If you need something more approachable for beginners or younger gamers, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a magnificent 3D platforming delight. Ditching the complicated level-creation tools of LittleBigPlanet, Sackboy focuses purely on ingenious, approached level design.
Up to four players can tackle the story levels, which are packed with imaginative mechanics and charming visuals. Every character class has access to unique cooperative emotes and interaction abilities—you can literally slap your friends or pick them up and throw them over a chasm.
The game features several dedicated co-op levels that force players to synchronize their movements or utilize special tools to progress. It’s lighthearted, beautiful, and a phenomenal entry point for introducing someone to the world of platformers on PS5.
Classic Beat ‘Em Ups & Roguelikes
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
For those seeking that classic, quarter-munching arcade energy, nothing beats Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. It is a flawless love letter to the 90s era of side-scrolling beat ’em ups.
You and up to five other local friends can pick a turtle, Splinter, April, or Casey Jones, and fight your way across iconic New York City locations to stop Shredder. The arcade combat is fast, responsive, and incredibly approachable.
It’s loud, it’s chaotic, and it produces instant smiles. The cooperative moves allow you to synchronize attacks or revive fallen teammates easily. Shredder’s Revenge is short enough to beat in a single, adrenaline-filled evening, making it perfect for game night.
Cult of the Lamb (Local Co-op Update)
Cult of the Lamb was already a successful roguelike/management sim hybrid, but its recent “Unholy Alliance” update added a feature fans had been begging for: local co-op.
One player plays as the titular Lamb, managing their increasing cult and venturing into procedural dungeons. The second player takes on the role of the Goat. The two must cooperate during the dungeoneering combat, where new cooperative tarot cards and synchronized attacks enhance the tactical layer.
Back at the base, both players can work together to manage the cult’s resources, preach to their followers, and keep the settlement running efficiently. It’s a wonderfully weird blend of mechanics that feels incredibly rewarding to share.
Beginner Tips for Optimizing Your PS5 Split Screen Experience
If you are new to playing locally on PS5, a few optimizations can make your couch sessions much smoother.
- HDMI 2.1 is Key: While most split-screen games run well on older standard displays, the absolute best split screen PS5 games really shine when using a modern HDMI 2.1 cable and compatible TV. Why? HDMI 2.1 enables 4K gaming at 120Hz. For a shared screen, having that extra motion clarity is essential during intense action.
- Audio Separation: In games where each player has different dialogue or sounds, it can get overwhelming. Some games offer “Per-Player Audio” settings. Otherwise, the second player can use a wired headset connected directly to their DualSense controller.
- Use Guest Accounts: For temporary party fun, guests can play without a PSN profile. However, for games like Borderlands or Sackboy, ensure the second player creates a local profile so they can save their character’s progress, inventory, and trophy data.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Best Split Screen PS5 Games
Does the PS5 sacrifice resolution to play in split screen? Thanks to the powerful architecture of the PS5, modern titles generally do not sacrifice resolution when playing split screen. While older consoles might have dropped down to 1080p, most native PS5 local co-op games run comfortably at 4K at 60FPS, even on a shared screen.
Can two PSN accounts earn trophies simultaneously in split screen? Yes, most modern PS5 games allow both logged-in PSN profiles to earn trophies simultaneously while playing in split screen. Both players will see the trophy notification pop up in their respective corner of the shared display. Note that the second player must log into their own account, not use a guest profile.
Is Elden Ring split screen on PS5? No, Elden Ring does not support native split screen on PS5. While it features robust online cooperative multiplayer, couch co-op is not an official feature. If you are struggling in the single-player experience, we recommend checking out our best beginner tips for Elden Ring on PS5 instead of hoping for a patch.
How do you activate split screen in Fortnite on PS5?Fortnite supports two-player split screen on PS5 for its main Battle Royale and Zero Build modes. Both players must have their own controllers and separate PSN accounts (guest profiles are not allowed). Start the lobby, connect the second controller, and press the designated button (e.g., Hold Triangle) when prompted on the screen to have the second player join.
Conclusion
Finding the right game to share with a partner on the sofa is a rewarding investment in shared fun. Whether you are meticulously planning a magical heist in Baldur’s Gate 3, screaming “soup!” in Overcooked!, or celebrating a hard-fought victory in It Takes Two, these moments of physical, local communication are what make gaming memorable.
The best split screen PS5 games prove that sometimes, the absolute best multiplayer technology isn’t high-speed fiber internet; it’s a second controller and a friend sitting right next to you. Embrace the revival of couch co-op, hide the snacks from your partner, and start building some exciting new core gaming memories today.
