The game is sometimes best enjoyed with a friend or two. There are a number of great video game titles that have been released that feature cooperative gameplay. If you're looking for a new title to enjoy with a friend, take a look at our favorite picks below.
Be sure to check back often as we'll continue to update this list with new titles that we believe offer great offline co-op gameplay on PlayStation 4. Also note that these games are listed in no particular order. You'll find something here for all types of gamers, young and old. If you're looking to find a game to play locally with family and friends, check out some of these game picks below. These are not listed in any particular order, as we try to represent several different genres. Hope you find something interesting to play with a friend locally.
# 45 Star Wars Battlefront 2
The Star Wars Battlefront series has been around for a while, but it was on the latest generation video game console platforms that the series was picked up in a mild reboot. Currently, the latest installment in this series is Star Wars Battlefront 2 and that is what you would expect from these types of games. Outside of the campaign, there are plenty of battles to take part in, as you usually play as a soldier on the ground trying to fight the opposing side. Did you know that you can also play split-screen with this game? Unfortunately, it's limited to offline, which might be a little disappointing for those who want more of an action-packed competitive gaming experience, but those who still want to jump into a two-player game can do so in Arcade mode. Here you can take part in different iconic scenarios from the Star Wars movies or just create your custom battle to your liking.
# 44 Resident Evil 5
Resident Evil is an iconic survival horror franchise and over the years it was mostly a single-player experience. However, the latest games have started to open up co-op as an option in which case we recommend checking out Resident Evil 5. Now this game had poor packaging when it first launched in the market, but over the years , things started to currency. It more fondly resembles a multiplayer action horror game. Here, players take on the role of Chris Redfield or a new series protagonist, Sheva Alomar. Located in Africa, the duo begins an investigation into a new viral mutation. As you might expect, there are plenty of enemies to face with a host of puzzles. It might not be as challenging as some of the franchise's previous survival-horror installments, but you should have plenty of fun as a third-person shooter.
# 43 Ascension de Towerfall
Towerfall Ascension is a competitive game that you can play locally. In this game, players start in a corner of a map with an arrow that they can shoot at their enemy. When the game starts, players try to hit each other with their arrows or avoid a hit by jumping around the different platforms. During this time, players can pick up arrows to use as ammo or pick up a bonus found on the map. Similar to a type of battle royale game, when players take too long, the map shrinks. This eventually forces players to close in for an attack. It's a simple game, yet an incredibly addictive party title to enjoy with friends locally.
# 42 Crash Team Racing
Nintendo may have dominated the kart racing genre with Mario Kart over the years, but that doesn't mean there isn't an alternative. One of the first alternatives to release Crash Team Racing on the original PlayStation, however, years later we received a remastered edition of this game. It's exactly what you'd expect from a go-kart. Here we have a collection of characters and card designs which are featured from the Crash Bandicoot IP. While racing through the course, you can grab many different buffs along the way. These will give players some speed or offer a weapon to use against other racers in the course.
# 41 Mortal Kombat 11
We don't need to go into detail about Mortal Kombat's intellectual property. It's a classic fighting franchise that started in the arcades but continues to find exciting new installments for modern platforms today. One of the latest installments is Mortal Kombat 11, which is a story-driven game. As a result, you get a brutal fighting title with these iconic characters. Whether you like button mashing or more technical move combinations, Mortal Kombat 11 caters to a wide audience of gamers.
#40 Injustice Series
From the NetherRealm Studios development team, we have the Injustice series. These are the folks behind Mortal Kombat games for the past few years, but in this series of games we're dealing with DC Comics characters. It's not as violent and bloody as Mortal Kombat, but the gameplay, in general, is very similar. There is a smooth flow of combat as players choose one of many iconic DC Comics heroes or villains to do battle with. Not only will the characters have different level designs to showcase each character's comic setting, but some characters will also have unique interactions with each other. Gamers will find that there are two video game releases readily available today, with fans expecting a third installment to be unveiled in the future.
# 39 Spelunky 2
Spelunky was a successful indie platformer and it wasn't much of a surprise to see a sequel hit the market to further enhance the gaming experience. In Spelunky 2 players once again go through 2D platforming as you explore deadly caves that take players to the dark depths below. This is a procedurally generated video game, so not only will the level change to provide new challenges or paths for players to take with many hostile enemies that will appear to face. Players can work together in local co-op as they attempt to collect treasure, watch out for traps, and defeat monsters.
#38 Brawlhalla
Currently, Nintendo offers the biggest seller when it comes to platform fighters. The Super Smash Bros. franchise is beloved by players taking control of an iconic video game character as they head into battle. Several different level designs force players to jump to avoid opponents while using the level design to deliver powerful blows. During this time, several unique items will drop on the map, which provide some sort of buff, whether it's reducing the damage you've already taken or a weapon that can be used against your opponents. Luckily, there is a free alternative that you can choose on the PlayStation 4 which is Brawlhalla. It's a game that mimics the Super Smash Bros formula but with a different character roster. While there are unique characters for this game, players will find that there are also crossovers that have resulted in more iconic characters for players to use. In the past we have seen franchises such as Rayman, WWE, Adventure Time, The Walking Dead, to Tomb Raider featured at Brawlhalla.
# 37 Trackmania Turbo
The Trackmania games have been incredibly fun. These are action-packed racing arcade games. Players basically run at intense speeds as they navigate various out-of-this-world courses. They could have big jumps or spirals. Trackmania Turbo, which offers split-screen support, is one of the most popular versions worth checking out. Players can join and attempt to compete with up to four players. You can even create your tracks to race in the level editor so there is always a new track available for racing.
# 36 Castle Crashers Remasterisé
Castle Crashers is a fairly iconic beat 'em up, a title released as an XBLA game for the Xbox 360 platform. However, there is a Castle Crashers Remastered edition available for players who wish to replay this game on PlayStation 4 or in enjoy for the first time. In the game, players take on the role of knights as they seek to rescue the princess of the kingdom after she has been kidnapped by an evil wizard. Throughout the game, players fight against all kinds of giant monsters. It's a solid title that up to four local players can join together.
#35 Lovers in a Dangerous Space
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is another indie title that makes it into this list. Players work together to operate a spaceship. In this ship there are four different stations in which players will have to run around the ship to reach a specific station. For example, if you needed to run the engines, you would run to the bay that corresponds to the engines, but the same can be said for shields and weapons. There are more berries than players, so it's a constant battle to work with your team of players as you try to fight off hostile enemies.
#34 It Takes Two
From the same developer behind A Way Out, Hazelight Studios comes It Takes Two. The game is like A Way Out in the sense that you need two players to walk through the game. While the game's narrative is about rekindling the relationship between two seemingly fallen in love characters, the gameplay is where this game shines . It is full of creativity and constantly changes the gameplay to never feel boring. Whether it's platformers, improvisational fighting games or puzzle solving, the entire game is always centered around the two players working together to achieve a goal.
#33 Sports Friends
Sportsfriends is a slightly wacky title to play that is made for at least two players. It's a collection of mini-games that are great when you have friends together. For example, players can participate in a game where you pole vault in the air to hit a ball tied to the line. The goal here is to kick the ball into the opponent's goal. However, due to the weird physics, it's hard to reach the ball and hit it properly. You even have a game where players use motion controllers to keep a steady hand while listening to classical music. With each player representing an instrument in the band, the goal is to attempt to clap the player's hands while holding the controller in hopes that the movement is too fast, causing the instrument to break in-game.
# 32 Nidhogg
Those of you who want to play a simpler game will want to dive into Nidhogg. It's a 2D fighting game where the objective is to reach the end of the level, depending on how your character faces at the start of the game. When you reach the end of the level, you are sacrificed to a giant monster. However, along the way, you are constantly fighting against your opponent. Players fight with swords, so it's a constant battle to parry and drive the sword into your opponent's body. When you successfully kill the opponent, you move to the next screen where the player will have respawned and be ready to fight again. This process repeats until a player manages to reach the final screen where the monster is waiting. If you like the game, there is a sequel that is also worth trying.
# 31 Speedrunners
Speedrunners is a competitive racing game where players take on the role of characters with grappling hooks. It's all about staying one step ahead by using your grappling hook to swing forward and jump over obstacles. Since the camera focuses on whoever is in the lead, characters who end up getting out of frame are killed. However, it is very easy to catch up and get ahead, because the person in the lead has much less view of what lies ahead. This means that those at the back have an idea of the obstacles they will need to avoid moving forward.
# 30 Hellpoint
If you like Souls-like video games and want a local co-op split-screen experience, give Hellpoint a shot. This is a game that doesn't give you a bunch of story information, but rather lets you find out what's going on on your own as you progress through the game. It's a brutal and tense battle as you go through this sci-fi game you have a ton of hellish monsters to fight. When you die, the game gives you a version of yourself to fight with, so the best gear you have will make the fight harder.
# 29 Street Fighter V
Street Fighter V. The Street Fighter franchise, in general, has been around for ages and has brought many memorable characters to fight. We are waiting for the announcement of Street Fighter 6, but for now Street Fighter V is the last release of the main franchise that you can buy and enjoy today. In this game we have the V Trigger system in place which changes some of the gameplay. Each character has some sort of ability to use when the meter is filled. It can be a more powerful attack or a buff that gives a character more opportunities to rank up a combo set. If you remember enjoying the Street Fighter franchise over the past few decades, this is a game worth picking up, especially for the PlayStation 4 platform, as it never made its way to other consoles since its release.
#28 Rock Band 4
Rock Band is quite the iconic video game that doesn't get talked about much these days. It was a rhythm-based video game where players played makeshift instruments in a band. This included a microphone, guitar, bass, and drums. You can still enjoy this game on PlayStation 4 with Rock Band 4, which was the last major release from Harmonix developers. It's a bit older now with the game releasing in 2022, but overall the gameplay itself has remained the same. You had a wide selection of tracks to play with and it's overall a fun and solid game to play with friends. We may never see the massive rhythm game hype like we did in the mid 2000s, but you're sure to have a blast if you play this game the next time you host a party.
#27 Keep talking and no one explodes.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a party game that's played with the PSVR, though you can get by now without a VR headset. That said, it's a bit more fun with the VR component. In the game, the player with the VR headset is locked in a room with a time bomb. All around the bomb are puzzles with buttons, switches, lights, symbols and wires. It is your job to tell people outside of VR what you are seeing so they can consult the manual. With limited time, players with the manual cannot see the bomb and must rely on the VR player to explain what they see. By looking at the manual, you can tell the player in VR how to disarm the bomb. If you take too long or make a mistake, the bomb will explode.
#26 Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
Puyo games never really made their way to Western markets as much as the original titles released in Japan. However, in 2022 we received Puyo Puyo Tetris. If you're not familiar with these games, they correspond to four types of titles where you have to collect four of these colored orbs when they've come down the board, much like Tetris. Meanwhile, Tetris has acted the same way it has for decades. In Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 we get a new installment that offers more of the crossover type of competitive puzzle game challenge. Players can face each other and try to fill their board with blocks in order to win the game.
#25 Move
If you like board games like Overcooked, Moving Out is a title you won't want to miss. It's a game released in 2022, so it's relatively new, and best of all, the game can support up to four players. Similar to Overcooked, the game is all about strategy and working against the clock. Instead of tending to a kitchen and preparing particular dishes, Moving Out forces players to turn to a moving business. Your job as a unit is to clear a house of all boxes, breakables, and appliances.
Sounds simple enough, but you're running out of time to earn certain rewards by cleaning the house in a designated time slot. Plus, the challenge comes with the uniquely shaped pieces of furniture that make it hard to do alone but also incredibly challenging to work alongside a friend. Finding the best ways to take on uniquely shaped furniture is to work with a friend and map out. You can even play a little risky by throwing objects at other players to circumvent certain dangers.
#24 Streets of Rage 4
If you owned a Sega Genesis back then, you had the Streets of Rage series, or at the very least Streets of Rage 2. The video game franchise is a classic beat 'em up series that only had three installments. available in the gameplay remained the same. In this game, players face off against a character who is forced to fight all sorts of thugs and criminals as they restore society. While the franchise was quite popular, it would be decades before a new installment was released. Now we have Streets of Rage 4 available to enjoy which takes place ten years after the events of Streets of Rage 3.
Along with a few familiar faces and a few newcomers, players will have to battle a new crime syndicate that had brainwashed the town. Although the visuals have been tweaked slightly, the gameplay remains pretty much the same and if you're familiar with previous versions, you know it's a great co-op gaming experience. In Streets of Rage 4, the game can support up to four offline players.
# 23 Borderlands 3
The Borderlands franchise is one that many gamers have easily succumbed to when they want to enjoy a co-op gaming experience. Fortunately, Borderlands 3 is everything we've come to love from the franchise with several significant improvements to keep players impressed. If you haven't played a Borderlands game, this is a loot shooter. It's all about taking down enemies while grabbing new gear and there's a huge range of gear to pick up. Unlike before, players won't be stuck just on Pandora, but will traverse a variety of unique planets, full of colorful landscapes and wacky characters as you search for safes.
We're not going to spoil the narrative for you, but what's most important in this list is the cooperative gameplay. Just like before, you'll still find that the Borderlands franchise will support local co-op play and split-screen play. If you are playing the game on PlayStation 4, you will have the option to jump into the game with some friends.
#22 Knights and Bikes
Knights and Bikes is an original game inspired by adventure tales such as the cinematic hit The Goonies. In the game, players take on the role of two young girls who strive to explore the island and uncover the secrets it holds. Most of the game is based on puzzle solving and with the girls having unique abilities, you will need to use a combination of their unique attributes in order to complete the tasks ahead of you. Speaking of abilities, the game also uses their various attacks to take on an assortment of enemies, with a certain character proving more useful in certain situations.
# 21 Team Sonic Racing
As mentioned, kart racers have been mostly dominated by Mario Kart, but if there's another competitor that can provide the same thrill and fun, then it has to go to Sega's All-Stars Racing Series. There have been a few tracks in the mix that focus on Sega properties and characters, but this latest installment only features the Sonic IP. In 2022 we have Team Sonic Racing which only features characters and locations found in the various Sonic the Hedgehog titles, so you might be out of luck if you were hoping for other Sega IPs to make an appearance. in this episode. Players will find that the characters featured are divided into classes that will emphasize areas such as speed or power. Likewise, there are more than twenty different tracks which are again designed by the different levels of the main Sonic titles.
One area you might be interested in with this game is that the developers have included a cooperative game mode that places players in teams. From there, they'll race side by side trying to win races that take into account how the team actually works together. Instead of players simply crossing the finish line first, players will need to work together throughout the race, such as providing each other with power-ups when needed.
#20 Gang Beasts
If you're not looking for a narrative experience and want a little more wacky gameplay, we suggest you check out Gang Beasts. It is a brawler-style beat 'em up title where players take on the role of a humanoid blob. Your objective is to be the last man standing as you punch, punch and attempt to throw your opponents into dangerous areas scattered across the map. The gameplay is addictive and it's a good time with light gameplay.
#19 Detangle Two
In Unravel Two, players will take on the role of a wireframe figure as you attempt to maneuver around the world and solve puzzles. However, due to the fact that it is made of wire and there is a restriction on where and how far you can go, the game will be a bit difficult. If you enjoyed the first title, you might want to pick up the sequel as it also supports multiplayer which is the main caveat of the sequel. Players must work together and solve puzzles and overcome obstacles.
# 18 Broforce
Broforce is an explosive four-player co-op platformer that follows a group of badasses inspired by action movie heroes like Bro Hard, Rambro, and Indiana Brones. Players will eliminate all freedom hating terrorists as they free innocent civilians. It's a title worth playing with a group of friends because it's simple, addictive and with the map creator, new levels are constantly being added to download.
# 17 Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
The sequel to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris features a new action-adventure for a group of friends. This title plays out similarly to its predecessor which is a non-linear arcade style action-adventure where Lara Croft, Carter, Isis and Horus set out to defeat an evil deity known as Set. Played in an isometric camera view, up to four players can participate in the narrative campaign that involves combat and puzzle solving.
# 16 Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle
Capcom has been around for years. In fact, some of their original released games are probably older than you are right now. But don't write off those video game titles just yet. Capcom recently released a new bundle compilation release known as the Capcom Beat'Em Up Bundle, a collection of seven arcade video game classics. The compilation includes Captain Commando, The King of Dragonss, Knights of the Round, Warriors of Fate, Armored Warriors, Battle Circuit and Final Fight.
#15 An exit
A Way Out is an action-adventure journey from Hazelight Studios. This is the second video game directed by Josef Fares who you may know from his previous title, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
Overall, this is quite a unique action-adventure video game as it will require two players at all times. Players will take on the role of inmates who must escape their imprisonment. Most would say that the game is sometimes a carbon copy of the movie Shawshank Redemption. Either way, the entire game takes place in split-screen where you'll work with a friend to try and maneuver through levels, solve puzzles, and progress through the story.
# 14 Zombies de Call of Duty
A number of Call of Duty installments offer a fantastic co-op multiplayer game mode, often referred to as zombies. Players are often tasked with surviving a wave of zombies and must work together to complete tasks or unlock new areas of the map. These game modes are always fun to play mindlessly or just to see how well you and some friends can get through waves of zombies.
# 13 Sonic Mania
Sonic the Hedgehog is a must-have video game character. Decades have passed and to this day new Sonic games are still being pumped out. Sonic Mania is a side-scrolling platformer that fans of the original Sonic the Hedgehog video game will be familiar with. This latest installment occasionally reboots past levels of the iconic franchise and expands them considerably. Most of the iconic power-ups are available with a few new ones added to the mix. There is also a wide assortment of boss fights. Overall, it's one of the best installments in the entire franchise, and just like the franchise, there's multiplayer here. Players can traverse levels together as the secondary character helps Sonic by collecting rings and participating in boss battles. Likewise, there are competitive modes where players can compete to see who reaches the end of the level first.
#12 Not starving together
Don't Starve Together is an open-world survival video game in which players must help keep their protagonist alive in a dark and harsh world. The game features a day and night cycle in which the day portion challenges players to collect resources such as food and firewood while at night the game throws monsters to avoid. It can also be a difficult game for players, simply due to the fact that your world will be randomly generated and the permadeath implementation included.
#11 Overcooked
Overcooked is a cooking simulator video game. Developed by Ghost Town Games, players take on the role of a chef who must prepare a variety of meals within the time limit. However, the game is filled with obstacles and dangers forcing players to work together quickly in order to send the desired meal recipes that come their way.
# 10 LittleBigPlanet 3
Currently the latest installment in the main LittleBigPlanet series, LittleBigPlanet 3 offers players a new puzzle-platformer to play with a friend. Overall, the game follows the same gameplay mechanics as the last two mainline entries in the series. The third installment in the series brings three additional characters who offer their own unique abilities and who will come to play to solve certain puzzles throughout the campaign. Luckily, if you complete the game, the development team has allowed user-created levels to be downloaded. Likewise, players can create their own levels and upload them for other players to enjoy.
# 9 Helldivers
Helldivers is set in the future, a specialized combat unit known as the Helldivers is a team sent to recover technology, battle enemy alien species, as well as conduct any other activities the government deems important to the freedom of the humanity. Although the game features a single-player campaign, the development team focused on creating a more enjoyable multiplayer-like feature. Combat is chaotic as friendly fire plays a part which means players will have to carefully plan their every move and combat strategy.
#8 Enter the dungeon
Enter the Gungeon can be a harrowing adventure to embark on. Players will go through a series of procedurally generated levels as they hunt down loot and battle an array of enemies. While you may find yourself getting quite a few kills along the way, the game's ability to reward players with powerful weapons will keep you coming back for more. Even better, the game features a co-op mode to help you on the shooter journey.
#7 Ultimate Chicken Horse
Those looking for competitive gameplay can't go wrong with Ultimate Chick Horse. It's a fun little platformer where players take on the role of an animal and go through a series of challenging levels in hopes of racking up points. Each level is filled with obstacles and dangers, making it difficult to maneuver in a race to reach the finish line first. It's also a very fast-paced game with only one-minute rounds, which means not only are you racing to reach the end first, but you'll also have to face a timer. It is a simple business game that you will probably enjoy with your family and friends.
#6 Devil III
The third installment in the Diablo series from developers Blizzard Entertainment has made its way to PC, but also to consoles. Playing much like its predecessors, players choose one of six possible character classes and begin their journey by undertaking quests and collecting valuable loot. Of course, the game works best when you gather a group of friends to go through this action RPG hack-and-slash title.
#5 Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight is a side-scrolling 2D hit that looks like it belongs on a classic hit from the original Nintendo Entertainment System. It's clear that the developers created this game after the love and joy of those early 2D side-scrolling platformers as well as beat 'em up video game titles. Even if you didn't enjoy the early years of the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or Sega Genesis, this is still a must-have video game. We're excited for the upcoming Shovel Knight: King of Cards expansion, but we can't help but wonder if the development team will give this game an official sequel in the near future.
#4 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 takes place after the first installment. During a time of wars and religious persecution, Bishop Alexandar the Innocent declares that all wizards are criminals. Now a group of four wizards embark on a journey to defeat the Bishop. Players can also join in a party, making travel cooperative.
The game was originally released on the PC platform in 2022, where it was a huge hit with critics and fans alike. Interestingly, this is a turn-based combat RPG which may be a turn-off for some players. However, if you like the game, the development team has included support for mods that will allow players to create new content for others to enjoy. Those of you looking for an exciting co-op RPG where players can join and control one member of a party shouldn't pass up this title.
# 3 Minecraft
Minecraft continues to bring many players to enjoy endless crafting and exploration of a randomly generated world. The video game has been around since 2022, where players are set to survive in a pixelated blocky world. In order to do so, the game will have players seek out various resources while building a shelter that would protect the player from the hostile enemies that spawn in the world. This is not only a fun game to enjoy at any age but one that's also great to enjoy with young gamers as well.
#2 Rocket League
It doesn’t take very much to describe Rocket League. The game quickly exploded in popularity when it launched back in 2022. The following year, 2022, developers Psyonix launched the game for the Xbox One where its popularity still holds strong to this day. Essentially, Rocket League is a soccer title though played with fast vehicles that can launch into the air to either block or knock the ball into a goal post. Now the game is available for several platforms and is free-to-play so you can give it a shot and play with or against some friends.
#1 Rayman Legends
Rayman is back with Rayman Legends. This time around Rayman and his friends discover mysterious paintings that have transported them into a new mythical world. This installment features local multiplayer with up to four-player co-op. At any point within the game, three other friends can jump into the campaign seamlessly or there’s even a series of different challenge-based modes. To top it off there are plenty of featured Rayman Origins levels with improved visuals.
