Recommended Free Tools
For a two-player story adventure, start with It Takes Two. For frantic kitchen coordination, try Overcooked! 2; for active space-shooter teamwork, choose Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. Each offers local play, but they suit very different moods—and you should confirm the specific version supports the mode you want on your platform before buying.
Choose by the kind of evening you want
| Game | Best fit | Local play listed | Platforms and editions |
|---|---|---|---|
| It Takes Two | A story-led adventure built around cooperation between two players. | Two-player co-op with couch split-screen, according to Electronic Arts. | Check your system’s store page for the mode and features of the specific version. |
| Overcooked! 2 | Fast, chaotic cooking tasks that reward constant communication. | Classic couch co-op; Steam lists local and online play for up to four players. See the Steam listing. | Check your system’s store page for the mode and features of the specific version. |
| Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime | Active teamwork and quick decisions during space-shooter action. | Nintendo lists one to four players, with local co-op for two to four players; one person can also play with an AI space-pet. See the Nintendo listing. | Check your system’s store page for the mode and features of the specific version. |
The player counts and modes above come from the linked product pages; they do not establish that every platform version has identical features. Confirm local multiplayer support for your exact system and edition before purchasing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Windswept - PlayStation 5 | $35.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Gang Beasts - Nintendo Switch | $24.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Cat Quest III Nintendo Switch | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Couch Co-op: A Video Game Podcast | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
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Console Video Games of the 1980s: The Games and Systems That Defined a Decade. (Retro Game Vault) | $2.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Three picks, three different kinds of co-op
It Takes Two: a shared campaign for two
If you want a game that gives the session a story and a clear two-player focus, It Takes Two is the most direct fit on this list. Electronic Arts describes it as created purely for co-op and says players can choose couch or online co-op with split-screen play: “Choose from couch or online co-op with split-screen play, and face ever-changing challenges where working together is the only way forward.” That is the publisher’s description, not an independent assessment.
For a couch session, look specifically for the local co-op option. Electronic Arts’ Friend’s Pass material concerns online access conditions, which are separate from playing together on one couch; check the relevant terms if you are considering online play.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Overcooked! 2: communicate under pressure
In Overcooked! 2, the cooking premise turns coordination into the main event: players juggle tasks and timing in a busy kitchen. Its frantic pace can make it a lively choice for a pair that enjoys calling out plans and adapting on the fly. If you would rather have a calm, unhurried session, this is the least natural fit of the three.
Steam describes classic couch co-op and lists local and online play for up to four players. That makes it an option for a couple who may want to bring other people into a session, too; verify the local mode on the store page for your platform.
Rank #2
- Gang Beasts is a silly multiplayer party game set in the mean streets of Beef City with surly gelatinous characters, brutal slapstick fight sequences, and absurd hazardous environments
- Customize your characters with hundreds of colorful costumes
- Experience hilarious and gelatinous ragdoll physics
- Play locally or online with up to 8 players
- Experience Local Wireless Multiplayer, exclusively on Nintendo Switch
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime: divide the work aboard ship
This space shooter asks players to coordinate across stations on a ship, making teamwork active rather than story-focused. Nintendo lists local co-op for two to four players, as well as a single-player option with an AI space-pet. Choose it if you want quick cooperative action and enjoy deciding together who handles which task.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
- Retail Edition includes The Cat’s Meow’ of Navigation Maps and a Pawsitively Purr-fect Sticker Sheet
- The cat is back, this time fighting pi-rats in a new Action-RPG adventure
- Explore an incredible pirate world filled with treasures - the Purribean; Sail your very own ship and engage in sea battles
- Play with a matey in 2-player local co-op
- Investigate clues and uncover secrets to find the mythical Northen Star
Check your couch setup before you buy
- Confirm local multiplayer for your exact version. Store listings can differ by platform or edition; a feature listed for one system is not proof that it is present in every version.
- Check how many people can play locally. The listed local counts vary: It Takes Two is designed for two-player co-op, Overcooked! 2 supports up to four players according to Steam, and Nintendo lists two to four players for local co-op in Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime.
- Make sure you have compatible controls. A second controller is often relevant for local multiplayer, but compatibility depends on your system and the game edition. Check your console or PC’s requirements rather than assuming a particular controller will work everywhere.
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.
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