The Best Couch Co-op Games For Single Screen (Updated for 2023)

The growing importance of online aspect of the computer games has brought tremendous changes – from replacement of physical releases by digital distribution, through the renaissance of independent games, to the spread of paid additional content. These changes have also greatly affected the way we play with our friends.

Today, the concept of "multiplayer" is associated almost exclusively remote gameplay, without meeting other people per se. Until a decade ago, however, a "couch" multiplayer mode, in which participants huddled in front of a single screen, fought battles against the AI or faced off against each other.

This article focuses on joint expeditions against forces controlled by AI (or other players). Couch co–op, while it remains in the shadow of its online cousin, is not dead yet – in recent years there have been several games that have made excellent use of this gameplay mode, perfect for playing with a girlfriend or close friends. When selecting the games for this text, we were guided by two factors – the co-operation in the individual games had to be as enjoyable as possible, and the productions themselves available on any of the current generation devices or modern operating systems.

The Borderlands Series

You can dislike Gearbox Software for many things, not least the tendency of its longtime Chief Executive, Randy Pitchford, to blame everyone but his own studio for the failures of his games. But there is one thing you have to give this team credit for – the Borderlands series.

Unusual hybrids of role-playing games and shooter games can be easily played solo, but the game is most fun when shared with friends. During such playthroughs, the unique characters' skills become even more important as they complement each other on the battlefield. Thus, players can explore further locations, take on tasks from twisted NPCs, murder hundreds of enemies (mostly mutated animals and Mad bandits), and collect weapons that are available everywhere in bulk, varying in terms of random parameters.

In contrast to other games, the series has cartoonish visuals, giving the Mad Max films a unique style and atmosphere. In addition, the wide variety of characters and their interesting skills and perks to develop on the next levels allows you to enjoy Borderlands even during the third and fourth playthrough. Finally – the shooting itself is fun and deeply satisfying.

1. More about Borderlands series

Don't Starve Together: Console Edition

Don't Starve is not only one of the best survival games on the market, but also a representative of that genre (one of the first) that has actually been completed rather than being available as form of early access. Don't Starve Together was originally the same only with the online multiplayer variant. Subsequent updates expanded the game, however, with content from the first official single-player supplement, Reign of Giants, and brand new attractions. Console editions of DST also allow two players to play together on a split screen.

We wake up in a strange world and, as the title suggests, try not to starve. And not to die in general, because after a fairly peaceful beginning, when we mainly stockpile food and firewood, we quickly find that almost anything can kill us here. Giant spiders, werepigs, living trees, hellhounds, and even bees and penguins – there are many dangers waiting for the protagonists of Don't Starve.

Plus, you need to keep an eye on your mental health, eat regularly, prepare supplies for winter, avoid staying in total darkness at night, and protect yourself from moisture and heat. It's not easy! But the satisfaction of each survived Winter is incredible. It's so incredible that I've already spent three hundred hours in different versions of Don't Starve. And I still want more!

1. Don't Starve Together in our encyclopedia