The Best Local Co-Op Games to Play Right Now

As the colder months roll in, there is an undeniable charm to staying indoors and diving into the finest local co-op experiences available. Although couch co-op and split-screen gaming often take a back seat to online matchmaking today, a wealth of modern titles still embrace the joy of sitting side-by-side with a friend. Surprisingly, many of these shared-screen adventures rank among the very best the industry has to offer.

To keep things fresh, we have deliberately omitted omnipresent favorites like It Takes Two, Overcooked 2, and Stardew Valley. While undeniably brilliant, they appear on virtually every recommendation roundup imaginable. Instead, this curated selection focuses on slightly more under-the-radar choices designed to help you uncover a few hidden treasures. Presented in no particular order, here are the finest local co-op titles you can experience across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X in 2026.

Gears of War: E-Day

• Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox Series X
• Local players: One to two

As the newest addition to this lineup, Gears of War: E-Day marks the sixth main entry in Xbox’s venerable franchise and the first installment in seven years—and it easily stands among the very best. Set during the harrowing Emergence Day when the Locust Horde first breached the surface, the game delivers quintessential Gears action characterized by tight, precise cover shooting and intense, visceral boss encounters.

Beyond the action, E-Day weaves an emotionally resonant narrative that hits longtime fans particularly hard, providing a fresh perspective on franchise icons like Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. The entire campaign can be experienced in local split-screen with a partner, while online play expands the squad to four by bringing in franchise newcomers Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes.

Moving Out 2

• Where to play: PS4, PS5, Switch, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
• Local players: One to four

If you share my view that the Overcooked series is brilliantly entertaining yet profoundly anxiety-inducing, Moving Out 2 offers a welcome alternative. Utilizing a remarkably similar chaotic energy, it trades frenetic restaurant kitchens and constantly shifting recipes for the trials of professional moving. Armed with unpredictable ragdoll physics and plenty of environmental surprises, you and your crew must haul an absurd array of furniture out of complex buildings and securely pack it into a moving truck.

That is not to suggest Moving Out 2 is entirely devoid of stress—especially if you are hunting down tricky optional objectives—but because many items can be maneuvered by a single player, you are rarely forced into a state of total codependency or aggressive micromanagement. My partner and I generally find success by clearing out all the solo-friendly items first, saving the heavy lifting for a coordinated team effort once the rooms are mostly empty.

Split Fiction

• Where to play: PS5, Switch 2, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
• Local players: Two

Hazelight Studios cemented its reputation as a powerhouse with It Takes Two, which swept Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2021 and remains widely regarded as a pinnacle of local co-op design. Its 2025 follow-up, Split Fiction, delivered a worthy encore, though it somehow managed to fly slightly under the radar despite widespread critical acclaim.

The core philosophy remains true to Hazelight’s roots, but with a clever narrative twist: instead of a couple navigating marital strife, you step into the shoes of two authors trapped inside the contrasting universes of their own writing—one specializing in hard science fiction, the other in high fantasy. Brimming with inventive puzzles, clever platforming, and imaginative mechanics, the adventure ultimately delivers an experience we hailed in our review as a thrilling leap forward for the genre.

Lego Voyagers

• Where to play: PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
• Local players: Two

Annapurna Interactive is renowned for publishing artful, distinctive titles, and Lego Voyagers fits that mold completely. You will want to set aside everything you expect from blockbuster licensed Lego games like Star Wars or Harry Potter, as this interpretation trades frantic action for a serene, deeply satisfying atmosphere.

Controlling a pair of simple 1×1 bricks—one crimson, one azure—you roll, leap, and connect with surrounding pieces to solve environmental puzzles and traverse a breathtaking, handcrafted diorama world. The journey is brief yet profoundly sweet. Because the difficulty remains remarkably forgiving, it serves as an ideal gateway for introducing a less experienced gamer to the hobby. As our review aptly notes, it provides “easygoing and guilt-free co-op gaming in an immaculately cool wrapper.”

Divinity: Original Sin 2

• Where to play: PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
• Local players: One to four

While most gamers recognize Baldur’s Gate 3 as a peerless role-playing masterpiece that translates brilliantly to shared-screen sessions, Larian Studios’ preceding triumph, Divinity: Original Sin 2, is equally phenomenal within the same genre. Expect the same intricate, turn-based tactical combat, a sprawling fantasy realm brimming with colorful personalities, and total narrative freedom to shape the unfolding story to your liking.

Granted, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a massive undertaking, easily requiring 70 or more hours for a standard playthrough, making it a genuine commitment. However, the investment pays off tenfold if you are seeking a sprawling epic to lose yourselves in for weeks. It stands as a pinnacle of fantasy world-building, perfectly encapsulated by our review description as “rich with possibilities, where almost anything can happen.”

Haven

• Where to play: PS4, PS5, Switch, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
• Local players: One to two

While The Game Bakers’ more recent title, Cairn, delivers a mesmerizing single-player mountaineering test (which my partner and I thoroughly enjoy by passing the controller back and forth upon every fall), their 2020 release Haven offers a dedicated local co-op experience. Players control Yu and Kay, a pair of lovers who have fled an authoritarian interstellar society.

The premise operates as a sci-fi spin on desert-island survival, substituting tropical beaches for an alien world named Source. Outfitted with anti-gravity boots, both players can seamlessly glide across terrain threaded with energy streams. Interspersed with straightforward real-time combat and light puzzle-solving, the journey focuses heavily on character development and romance. Complete with multiple endings, Haven is a tender, accessible story that non-gaming partners can easily appreciate.

Cult of the Lamb

• Where to play: PS4, PS5, Switch, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
• Local players: 1-2

Cult of the Lamb takes the classic indie comedic formula of juxtaposing dark themes with adorable aesthetics and executes it flawlessly. Two years after its initial 2022 launch, this roguelike introduced local co-op, allowing one player to step into the role of the titular lamb while a second player joins as a goat. You can conquer the entire campaign side-by-side, benefiting from perks like boosted damage when fighting back-to-back.

For the uninitiated, the gameplay loop involves venturing into hostile regions to vanquish heretics, appease “The One Who Waits,” and rescue followers to expand your burgeoning commune. Out on runs, the combat is fast and demanding, while base-building requires managing resources, constructing infrastructure, and keeping your devoted flock happy. As our review summarizes, it functions as “equal parts dungeon-crawler and religious management sim.”

Vampire Survivors

• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Switch, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
• Local players: One to four

Vampire Survivors remains a titan among roguelikes. While watching the action can look delightfully chaotic on the surface, beneath the relentless barrage of visual effects lies a brilliantly streamlined auto-firing engine. The formula has even inspired spin-offs like the deck-builder Vampire Crawlers, which is equally entertaining.

In local co-op, up to four players can unite to brave increasingly swarming stages and towering bosses. Because experience points are shared collectively, no single player falls behind in power scaling. Should someone fall in battle, surviving teammates can resurrect them simply by standing near their coffin. It is wholesome, arcade-style fun, and thanks to the immense amount of content packed into the game, it serves as a wonderful palate cleanser between heavy, narrative-driven titles.

Unravel Two

• Platforms: PS4, Switch, Windows PC, Xbox One
• Local players: One to two

Unravel Two shares plenty of DNA with Lego Voyagers: both emphasize exploration and partnership-driven puzzle solving, sport wonderfully relaxed atmospheres, and even let you choose between red and blue character threads. However, this outing introduces a slightly higher degree of challenge because both characters remain physically tethered together by a strand of yarn, requiring constant coordination to clear obstacles.

Our review describes Unravel Two as “a perfect game to connect with loved ones.” The reviewer shared how playing it alongside their three children fostered a deeper bond: “I felt that we connected nicely through the game, learning and acknowledging each other’s strengths and weaknesses, evening out frustrations with one another. That’s the essence of co-op.”

Reanimal

• Where to play: PS5, Switch 2, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
• Local players: One to two

Developed by Tarsier Studios—the creative minds behind the Little Nightmares series—Reanimal is a chilling horror title and the most recent release on this list. It functions as much as a cinematic masterpiece as it does a harrowing survival experience. Our review praises it as “the most beautiful horror game in years.” Whether you choose co-op to have someone to physically hide behind or simply wish to share its striking atmosphere with a companion, you are in for a turbulent, unforgettable journey.

Following a brother and sister trying to escape their home and rescue missing friends, the game maintains high tension through elaborate puzzles and terrifying monsters. It also works wonderfully if one participant is less experienced with games, as the younger sister acts more as a supportive sidekick rather than bearing equal mechanical burdens.

Cat Quest 3

• Where to play: PS4, PS5, Switch, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
• Local players: One to two

Also known as Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean, Cat Quest 3 is an adorable action-RPG starring—you guessed it—feline adventurers. Beneath its charming, colorful exterior lies a surprisingly robust and streamlined design. Packed with main quests, optional side stories, and thoughtful quality-of-life additions like instantaneous fast travel between islands, the game wastes zero time on unnecessary friction.

There is no isolated co-op lobby system here; a second player can seamlessly jump right into the active campaign as a fellow feline warrior. Together, you can sail the high seas searching for the “North Star,” fend off rival scallywags, raid dungeons, and ultimately depose the Pi-Rat King. Naturally, Cat Quest 3 refuses to take itself too seriously.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

• Where to play: Switch (and, soon, Switch 2)
• Local players: One to four

As the first traditional side-scrolling Mario entry since 2012, Super Mario Bros. Wonder demonstrates just how far the genre has evolved over the past decade. Our review aptly describes it as “stuffed with decades of ideas.” While the framework feels comforting and familiar at first glance, virtually every stage introduces fresh, inventive mechanics, enemies, and power-ups.

Local co-op allows up to four participants to drop in effortlessly, selecting icons from a diverse roster of Mushroom Kingdom characters (though four of the twelve available choices are simply alternate Yoshi color swaps, alongside two Toad variants). Nintendo rarely misses the mark with platforming, and Wonder maintains that immaculate streak, proving to be an absolute delight from start to finish.

Absolum

• Where to play: PS4, PS5, Switch, Windows PC
• Local players: One to two

As this roundup proves, roguelikes are a natural fit for couch co-op, and Absolum stands proudly among them. Blending side-scrolling beat-’em-up sensibilities with modern gameplay loops, it fuses old-school arcade brawler energy with progressive upgrades, modifier shops, side quests, and branching, non-linear pathways.

Absolum is undeniably challenging, making it best suited for battle-hardened duos, though thoughtful accessibility toggles allow players to scale incoming damage and offensive output to their preference. It is a wildly entertaining experience and easily one of the most underappreciated gems, leading our review to label it “near-perfect.”

Tetris Effect: Connected

• Where to play: PS4, PS5, Switch, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
• Local players: One to three

Tetris Effect: Connected arguably stands as the greatest iteration of Tetris ever created—a sentiment echoed by our praise of the original release. Originally born as a VR-exclusive audiovisual masterpiece, it transforms block-stacking into a sensory odyssey across time and space, where the gameplay serves as both the core challenge and an accompaniment to a breathtaking world. While solo play is enchanting, the co-op suite is equally wondrous.

Regarded as the definitive edition, Connected introduced local and online cooperative modes enabling up to three players (or a mix of players and CPU allies) to team up against increasingly brutal bosses. A signature mechanic links your three individual play matrices into one massive shared board, adding layers of tactical depth. At its heart, it remains fundamental Tetris that anyone can instantly grasp, yet elevated to heights never seen before.

Source: Polygon