The best PS2 living-room nights were not all the same kind of multiplayer. Some games let friends work through a campaign together; others turned the couch into a rivalry arena, with quick races or rounds that begged for a rematch. This list separates the two, so you can pick the kind of gathering you want rather than mistake competitive local play for co-op.
Campaigns and adventures to play together
These picks make cooperation the point: players share a campaign or adventure rather than simply taking turns competing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Pac Man World 2 - PlayStation 2 (Renewed) | $16.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas | $31.86 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Capcom Classics Collection | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Medal of Honor Frontline - PlayStation 2 (Renewed) | $13.46 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Mortal Kombat Armageddon - PlayStation 2 | $42.99 | Buy on Amazon |
1. TimeSplitters 2 — split-screen co-op campaign
A strong choice for a group that wants a shooter campaign rather than only versus matches. A specialist co-op retrospective describes the campaign as playable in split-screen co-op. A PS2 library reference lists the game as supporting one to four players overall, but that does not establish that its co-op campaign supports four; treat the four-player figure as a general listing, not a confirmed campaign count. Classic Co-op’s retrospective; Joypad Games Bible’s PS2 library reference.
2. Ratchet: Deadlocked — two-player split-screen campaign
For a more action-forward campaign, the current co-op roundup describes Ratchet: Deadlocked as offering a two-player split-screen campaign. That makes it a straightforward pick when the plan is to tackle missions together, rather than trade wins in a competitive mode. Just Like Games’ co-op roundup.
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#1 Best Overall
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
3. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance — two-player action-RPG co-op
This is the smaller-scale action-RPG option in the lineup: a retrospective and a co-op roundup describe local cooperative play, making it a useful contrast to the four-player Champions games. Its appeal is shared progression through an adventure, not a short competitive match. Classic Co-op’s retrospective; Just Like Games’ co-op roundup.
4. Champions of Norrath — four-player action-RPG adventure
A retrospective describes Champions of Norrath as a four-player co-op action RPG with character creation and customization. It suits a longer gathering where friends want to build characters and progress through an adventure together. The player-count and mode description comes from secondary coverage, rather than a first-party source in the available documentation. Classic Co-op’s retrospective.
Rank #2
- Drive through the largest GTA environment ever -- The game has three cities players can explore, for a gaming area 5 times larger than Vice City
- Recruit new characters into a street gang and take over by leading drive-by shootings against rivals Steal all-new vehicles, including bicycles
- Improved fighting elements -- smoother hand-to-hand combat, plus the ability to hold a weapon in each hand
- New graphics elements as cars get dirty and even rust, the longer you drive them
- Advanced role-playing elements -- Unlike previous GTA characters, Carl can swim and he needs to eat to survive
5. Champions: Return to Arms — up to four adventurers, with a Multitap
This is the clearest documented choice here for a four-person adventure on one console. Sony Online Entertainment’s May 4, 2004 announcement says up to four players could play together on one PS2 using a Multitap, sold separately. That is a specific hardware requirement for this four-player setup; it should not be generalized to every multiplayer game on the system. The same announcement discussed online play at the time, but does not establish that online services are currently available. Sony Online Entertainment’s announcement.
6. Gauntlet: Dark Legacy — four-player arcade dungeon crawling
For a party that wants an arcade-style dungeon crawl, a co-op roundup describes Gauntlet: Dark Legacy as four-player play. Its appeal is the group format and pick-up-and-play shape, rather than the longer character-progression framing of Champions. The available description does not establish exact hardware compatibility or setup details, so check the game’s own packaging or manual before planning a four-controller session. Just Like Games’ co-op roundup.
Rank #3
- Capcom Classics Collection includes the following features -
- Experience more than 20 groundbreaking and revolutionary games of their time on one disk
- Hundreds of hours of nostalgic gameplay
- Enjoy a wealth of added features including original artwork, remixed music and playing tips
7. Obscure — a co-op survival-horror change of pace
Not every shared campaign needs to feel like an action game. A co-op retrospective singles out Obscure as a survival-horror option with cooperative play, making it the moodier outlier in this selection. The available description does not establish player count or detailed mechanics, so those should not be assumed when choosing it for a specific group. Classic Co-op’s retrospective.
8. We Love Katamari — an unusual cooperative story mode
A retrospective describes We Love Katamari’s story mode as two-player co-op. Its inclusion offers a tonal break from shooters, RPGs, and horror: the cooperative appeal is unusual enough to make it a conversation piece for a group that has already played the obvious choices. That mode description is retrospective commentary, not an official specification. Classic Co-op’s retrospective.
Rank #4
- Jimmy has been sent back behind enemy lines to steal the HO-IX flying wing, an experimental Nazi weapon
- To get it, you'll have to survive six major missions and 20 unique levels of gameplay
- There's all-new non-player character animations, with superior 3D details -- even full facial expressions and lip synchs
- Use 20 authentic WWII weapons, from a Colt. 45 pistol to a German Panzerschrenk rocket launcher
- You can even drive vehicles like the motorized rail car, train, and mine cart
Competitive couch games for rematches
These games belong on a couch-multiplayer list, but they are not cooperative campaigns. Pick them when the event is about head-to-head rounds, spectators, and settling scores.
9. Burnout 3: Takedown — split-screen racing and crashes
Just Like Games describes Burnout 3: Takedown as offering split-screen racing, with crash-focused action adding to its appeal as a competitive group pick. It belongs in the evening’s versus rotation, not the co-op campaign list. Just Like Games’ co-op roundup.
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- Mortal Kombat: Armageddon PS2
10. SSX Tricky — two-player snowboarding competition
For a different kind of head-to-head session, the co-op roundup identifies two-player snowboarding, while the PS2 library reference lists SSX Tricky as a one- to two-player sports title. Both descriptions support it as a small-group competitive pick, not a cooperative campaign. Just Like Games’ co-op roundup; Joypad Games Bible’s PS2 library reference.
Choose by the kind of gathering
- Want a shared shooter campaign? Start with TimeSplitters 2; the cited retrospective specifically identifies its split-screen campaign co-op.
- Want an adventure for a larger group? Champions: Return to Arms has the clearest first-party documentation for up to four local players, provided you have its separately sold Multitap.
- Want a different mood or format? Consider Obscure for survival horror or We Love Katamari for its unusual cooperative story mode, keeping in mind that those mode descriptions come from retrospective coverage.
- Want rivalry instead of teamwork? Burnout 3: Takedown and SSX Tricky are competitive local choices, not co-op campaigns.
Player counts and mode details are not equally well documented for every title here. In particular, a general player-count listing does not prove that every mode supports that many people; check the specific game’s packaging or manual if your setup depends on an exact count.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
