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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The best co-op platformer depends on who is playing and where: It Takes Two and Split Fiction are built around two-player teamwork, while Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Sackboy: A Big Adventure are stronger fits for local groups. This guide focuses on games the available official or editorial sources substantiate rather than stretching a top-ten list with unverified picks.
How to choose a co-op platformer
Start with your setup, not a universal ranking. Check the number of players, whether you want couch or online play, which platforms your group owns, and whether cooperation is central to the design or simply an option. The available information supports four recommendations particularly well; it does not establish ten games with comparable detail.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Super Retro Platformer Collection - For Nintendo Switch | $48.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - US Version | $52.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Windswept - Nintendo Switch | $38.80 | Buy on Amazon |
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- For two players who want teamwork to drive the game: consider It Takes Two or Split Fiction.
- For a local group: Super Mario Bros. Wonder supports up to four on a course, while PlayStation describes local multiplayer and dedicated co-op levels in Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
- Before buying: confirm your exact platform, current store listing, and any platform-specific online requirements. Those details are not consistently established here.
Best-supported co-op platformer picks
It Takes Two: best for co-op-first two-player play
Electronic Arts describes It Takes Two as a platform adventure created purely for co-op. It supports couch play and online split-screen. For online play through Friend’s Pass, one player must own the full game for the other to join. That makes it a particularly clear choice when both players want a shared adventure designed around cooperation rather than a solo platformer with multiplayer added on. EA’s features page and official game page describe its setup.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesSplit Fiction: best for two players on different platforms
Split Fiction is another two-player co-op option. EA advertises online play across platforms with one copy, and PlayStation confirms cross-play. PlayStation lists its release date as March 6, 2025. If your co-op partner plays on a different platform, this is the clearest fit among the games covered here; check the current store listing for the editions and platforms available to your group. See EA’s game page and PlayStation’s listing.
#1 Best Overall
- Game 1: Commander Keen in Keen Dreams: Definitive Edition
- Game 2: Macbat 64: Journey of a Nice Chap
- Game 3: Regina & Mac
- Game 4: Toree 3D
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: best for a larger local group
Nintendo says up to four players can play on one course. Its online Co-Op Rooms support up to 12 friends, a distinct mode from sharing a course locally. That flexibility makes Super Mario Bros. Wonder the strongest supported choice here for a group that wants to play together on one screen or connect with more friends online. The player counts are Nintendo’s product-feature claims on the official game site.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure: best for local multiplayer levels
PlayStation’s couch-multiplayer guide describes Sackboy: A Big Adventure as a 3D platform adventure with local multiplayer and dedicated co-op levels. Those purpose-built levels make it worth considering when the group wants more than a shared-play option attached to the main game. The cited guide establishes local multiplayer, but this source does not provide a player count or a complete current platform list. See PlayStation’s couch-multiplayer guide.
Rank #2
- A variety of playable characters are available, some with unique attributes that affect gameplay and platforming physics.
- Younger and less-experienced players will love playing as Toadette, who is brand new to both games, and Nabbit, who was formerly only playable in New Super Luigi U. Both characters offer extra assistance during play.
- Multiplayer sessions are even more fun, frantic, and exciting thanks to entertaining character interactions. Need a boost? Try jumping off a teammate’s head or getting a teammate to throw you.
- Features a wealth of help features, like a Hints gallery, reference videos, and a Super Guide in New Super Mario Bros. U that can complete levels for you if they’re giving you trouble.
- Three additional modes—Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle—mix up gameplay and add replayability, while also upping the difficulty for players who want to try something harder. Players can use their Mii characters in these modes.
Other games to investigate, with details to verify
Rayman Legends: a family-friendly 2D candidate
PC Gamer’s January 2026 platformer guide recommends Rayman Legends in a family-friendly context and notes its varied levels and musical stages. The available information here does not verify its current supported platforms or multiplayer setup, so check the store page for the version you plan to play before choosing it specifically for co-op. See PC Gamer’s platformer guide.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Unravel Two: local co-op candidate
Unravel Two appears in Microsoft Store search results for local co-op platformers. That supports considering it, but does not by itself establish a current platform list or exact player count across versions. Confirm both in the relevant store listing before purchase. See the Microsoft Store’s local co-op platformer results.
Rank #3
- Over 40 handcrafted stages filled with hidden collectibles, bonus challenges, and quirky obstacles to overcome… or fall victim to. Leader swapping gameplay - change who leads the adventure to unlock entirely new actions and strategies.
- Experiment and discover - there’s no single right way to play. Combine abilities, techniques, and movement to suit your own style. Unique character abilities - Marbles and Checkers each bring something different to the table, and mastering both is key to conquering specialized challenges.
- Couch co-op support - jump in solo or grab a friend and tackle the wilds together in local co-op play.
- Whether you’re riding the wind solo or sharing the breeze with a friend, Windswept invites players to slow down, explore, and enjoy the journey as much as the destination. How far will you go? Where will your journey end? Let's get swept away - together!
- English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (LATAM), Spanish (Spain), and Traditional Chinese in-game text.
Why this is not a ranked top ten
The strongest available evidence supports a short list, not ten equally verified recommendations. Naming additional games, player counts, or play modes without checking official platform or publisher listings would risk giving you a misleading shortlist. One upcoming title is especially date-sensitive: Ubisoft lists Rayman Legends Retold for December 3, 2026, so it is scheduled rather than an available pick as of October 7, 2026. Check Ubisoft’s official page for its current release status.
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.
