Best Xbox Couch Co-Op & Local Multiplayer Games

With the rise of online gaming, couch co-op seems to be falling by the wayside in recent years. Fortunately, there are still some really great games to play on the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. They allow you to pull up with a buddy on your comfy couch and dive right in. To help you out, I’ve gone ahead and pulled out the very best Xbox couch co-op games you can play with your pals.

I haven’t focused on games only on Game Pass. Nor have I focused on only a few genres. Every player has different tastes, so I’ve aimed to cater to them all. And while Xbox Game Pass offers great value and its library includes some of the games on this list, others can be bought for just a few dollars thanks to them being a little older. That doesn’t make those games any less enjoyable to play with friends, though.

Why Trust Twinfinite?

I’ve been working in the video games industry for over 10 years and have been playing games for 25 years. All of that experience means I know what makes a great couch co-op experience. Having spent hours playing couch co-op and local multiplayer games with my older sibling and friends for so long, I understand why some games are so difficult to put down and what makes them so engaging for multiple players all in the same room.

We’ve played every game on this list extensively in local multiplayer, so you can rest assured we’ve put the time into curating this list from own our, personal experiences, rather than some hodge-podge compilation of others’ thoughts from around the internet. We’re also updating this regularly to ensure our content remains relevant whenever you’re looking for the next best couch co-op experience to play on your Xbox. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.

Split Fiction

• Release Date: March 6, 2025
• How many players?: 2
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

The latest release from Hazelight Studios—the team behind It Takes Two and A Way Out— is back with another genre-blending adventure that takes you through fantasy and sci-fi worlds. Much like It Takes Two, every stage in Split Fiction gives each player a new gameplay mechanic to master. From escaping a sun going supernova to catapulting one another through the air as pigs, the gameplay remains fresh and fun as you take on different challenges. The story didn’t do much for me, but playing through this with my partner was one of the most enjoyable couch co-op experiences I’ve had since It Takes Two back in 2021.

Like previous Hazelight Studios titles, Split Fiction also has a Friends Pass feature. This enables you to invite a friend to join you for free for cross-platform online multiplayer. While this is a couch co-op list, I think it’s worth mentioning. If you start playing in local multiplayer, you can always pick things back up in online multiplayer if you don’t finish it in one sitting (and don’t live together).

Baldur’s Gate 3

• Release Date: December 6, 2023
• How many players?: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

The game that swept up hundreds of Game of the Year awards in 2023 is also, unsurprisingly, one of the best co-op experiences you can play on Xbox Series X|S. While Baldur’s Gate 3‘s split-screen co-op is available now on Series X, it’s also set to release on Series S in the upcoming Patch 8. Xbox Insiders can stress-test the patch ahead of its full release, too.

Baldur’s Gate 3 sees you assume the role of a character desperately trying to remove a rather nasty Illithid parasite that’s set up camp inside them. In their quest to be ridden of this freeloader, you’ll meet a cast of deep, interesting characters, make tough world-changing decisions, and take on combat with the level of freedom and creativity that’s typically associated with a DnD experience. The story twists and turns, with your ultimate objective being to take down The Absolute in order to save the world.

The whole experience will take you, most likely, close to 100 hours to complete. It can be a lot to take in initially, but once it gets its hooks in you, you won’t be able to put Baldur’s Gate 3 down. A true masterpiece of modern-day gaming, and made all the better with a friend by your side.

EA Sports College Football 25

• Release Date: July 19, 2024
• How many players?: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

College Football 25 was a dream come true for many football fans. Extensive licenses, satisfying gameplay, and an accurate representation of college football culture make it a perfect return for the series last seen in 2013.

The game supports 2v2 matches where you and a friend can play against another two of your friends in local multiplayer, or against another pair online. It’ll put your football and communication skills to the test as you assign roles and use team plays to outsmart your opponents and get into the paint.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake

• Release Date: February 28, 2024
• How many players?: 2 
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

11 years after its initial release, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons returns with overhauled visuals, improved controls, and a re-recorded soundtrack. Telling the story of two brothers who have to find the ‘Water of Life’ to save their father suffering from a deadly illness, players will work together to overcome obstacles on their adventure. You’ll traverse dangerous terrain, solve puzzles, and take on bosses, all wrapped up in a beautiful, heart-filled story. 

You and your co-op partner will have to work together to make it to the end of the adventure. The whole game can be played solo, but it’s far more enjoyable when playing with a loved one by your side. Don’t miss out on this chance to relive a true co-op classic.

Totally Reliable Delivery Service

• Release Date: June 24, 2019
• How many players?: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Another title that takes some inspiration from Overcooked, Totally Reliable Delivery Service is a ragdoll physics simulation game where you and your friends assume the role of couriers. You’ll need to deliver 100 packages to various locations across a sandbox open world while wrestling against your flailing limbs and increasingly complex environments.

Take advantage of strange machinery and gadgets to deliver packages as quickly and as safely as possible. Yes, it’s as much of a recipe for chaos-induced hysterics, shouting, and clippable moments of physics-gone-wrong antics as it sounds. The more players you have, the better it gets.

As Dusk Falls

• Release Date: July 19, 2022
• How many players?: Up to 8 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Another one for fans of interactive, narrative-driven experiences. As Dusk Falls follows the story of two families over three decades in small-town Arizona. It all starts with a robbery gone wrong, and things only escalate from there.

Yes, you guessed it, your choices will play a large part in determining how the story unfolds and the ending you’ll get. While it might not have lived up to expectations as one of Xbox’s biggest exclusives of 2022, this is still an engaging experience that covers complex subject matter and will have you debating what decisions to make with friends and family.

Escape Academy

• Release Date: July 14, 2022
• How many players?: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Escape Academy is a video game compilation of escape rooms. You’ll need to complete all manner of different actions and tasks to solve a series of puzzles. While there are going to be times when you’re left scratching your head, the sense of satisfaction you get from completing one is somewhat unmatched.

This puzzle-based gameplay is what makes it such a joy to play through in co-op: the onus of trying to figure it out isn’t entirely on you. You can split up and try and find clues and figure out puzzles separately, or work through everything together bit by bit. Escape Academy is a great Xbox couch co-op experience I highly recommend for those looking for a slower-paced experience.

Cassette Beasts

• Release Date: May 25, 2023
• How many players?: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Do you like Pokemon but want something that… isn’t Pokemon? Well, good news, because Cassette Beasts is a take on the turn-based battle monsters RPG affair with a bit of a twist. You can combine any two monster forms using the Fusion System to create unique and powerful new ones. 

What’s more, Cassette Beasts features a sprawling open world in its charming retro visual style. The whole thing can be experienced in both local and online co-op (thanks to a post-launch update) and will take you upwards of 20 hours if you’re diving into some of the side content, too.

PlateUp!

• Release Date: November 2, 2023
• How many players?: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

PlateUp! takes what made Overcooked such a chaotic co-op affair and builds upon it further. Here, up to four friends will work together to not only cook and serve dishes, but design and decorate restaurants. You’ll unlock new abilities, dishes, and appliances to take your culinary capers to the next level.

The procedurally-generated levels and roguelite elements help to ensure that every time you and your friends boot the game up, things will be as fresh as those tomatoes you’re slicing up for that salad. If you’ve worked your way through Overcooked already, or just want something with a little more depth to the gameplay, PlateUp! is the next logical step.

The Quarry

• Release Date: June 10, 2022
• How many players?: Up to 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

A personal favorite and one I’d highly recommend if you and your co-op partner are fans of horror games. The Quarry comes from developer Supermassive Games, who were responsible for the 2015 smash hit, Until Dawn on PS4. Echoing the same gameplay, star-studded cast, and high production values, The Quarry focuses on a group of Summer Camp counselors as they uncover some strange goings on in the forest surrounding the camp.

Quick-time events, tough choices, and a likable cast all combine to provide a highly enjoyable, narrative-driven adventure where your actions and decisions determine the fate of the cast. In co-op, you’ll choose characters for each player to control and pass the controller as the story flits between their perspectives. You’ll know what to expect if you’ve played any Dark Anthology games.

Stardew Valley

• Release Date: December 14, 2016
• How many players?: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Ever pondered the idea of quitting your 9-5 and setting up a farm in some remote town, mining minerals and artifacts, romancing a local, and single-handedly restoring the town to its former glory as an agricultural powerhouse? Same! And Stardew Valley has been letting players live out that dream since 2016.

While there’s only one farm that everyone will contribute towards, there’s no better to unwind after a long day at work by talking with friends while you tend to your livestock and till your fields. Plus, you can marry your co-op partner, and make a lovely little virtual life together.

Vampire Survivors

• Release Date: August 10, 2022
• How many players?: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Don’t be fooled by Vampire Survivors’ basic visuals and gameplay loop. This is one incredibly compelling game that you’ll sink hours into without even realizing. Despite releasing as a single-player experience, a 2023 update means you and up to three friends can slay the overwhelming hordes of enemies that fill your screen together.

Adding allies comes with some caveats, though. Co-op mode limits how many weapons you can carry, forcing to you change how you approach the game. Playing in two-player co-op reduces your weapon slots to four each, and every additional player takes away another weapon slot. Level-up upgrades are also rotated through all players, meaning your characters will get stronger more slowly than they do when playing solo.

This all makes for a very fun twist on Vampire Survivors’ fantastic core gameplay without altering it beyond recognition. Plus, it’s available at an absolute bargain price.

Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled

• Release Date: July 19, 2022
• How many players?: Up to 8
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

While not strictly a ‘co-op’ experience, you can enjoy some local multiplayer karting chaos with friends in Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled. A remaster of the beloved 1999 PS1 kart racer, Nitro-Fueled brings the same character, tracks, and weaponry to the table with a fresh lick of paint to bring them up to modern-day standards.

We’re not just talking visually, either. Nitro-Fueled makes improvements to kart handlings and controls, and multiplayer offerings with online multiplayer as well as local multiplayer in the standard racing action and Battle Mode. You won’t be able to play online races with a second player in split-screen, but get a friend or two and enjoy cackling as you drop a potion bottle right in their path.

Sonic Superstars

• Release Date: October 17, 2023
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

The most recent mainline entry in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, you sadly can’t play the full story mode of Sonic Superstars in split-screen. Fortunately, the cream of this game’s crop is its boss fights, which are some of the series’ hardest. You can head into couch co-op for the Battle Mode, where you design your own mech and battle in arenas. It’s not like normal Sonic gameplay, but it sure is refreshing for the series.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

• Release Date: June 16, 2022
• How many players: Up to 6 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Beat-em-ups often make for some of the best co-op games, with each player able to perform a different role without the screen splitting up. The latest (and arguably greatest) in the genre is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

A throwback to the series’ arcade classics like Turtles in Time, you can control any of the four heroes in half-shell, alongside the best of their supporting cast. Battle through levels packed with Shredder’s masked goons, and dive into boss fights against all of the franchise’s iconic villains. With a wave-based mode added in the months after launch, plus its presence on Game Pass, Shredder’s Revenge is a no-brainer.

Party Animals

Release Date: September 20, 2023
How many players: Up to 4 players
Is it on Game Pass?: No

A spiritual successor to the YouTube hit Gang Beasts, Party Animals launched in late 2023 as an Xbox console exclusive. The concept is simple: dress up as a wacky range of animals, and do battle against your friends in physics-based fights across precarious arenas. The controls are purposefully janky and the physics busted enough to produce plenty of laughs when something goes awry.

The game is available for up to four players in local co-op, and even more if you head online.

Diablo 4

• Release Date: June 6, 2023
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Diablo 4 is easily one of the best couch co-op games you can play on Xbox consoles right now. An epic action RPG that sees you fighting against the forces of Hell and the nightmarish demon Lilith, Diablo 4’s loot-centric gameplay will keep you and a friend occupied for hours at a time.

With each new Season forcing you to start over with a new character to check out the new content and drop-in-drop-out couch co-op for up to two players, Diablo 4 is the couch co-op game that keeps on giving, without forcing you to play with a friend if you want to grind out some levels solo.

F1 24

• Release Date: July 1, 2024
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

There are a ton of different racing games out on the Xbox One and Series X|S that offer up a multiplayer experience, but none of those offer quite the same level of high-octane, co-op experiences you can get in F1 24.

Focused on the pinnacle of open-wheel single-seater formula racing, F1 24 provides those looking for couch co-op options with both Career and solo race variants. Want to take Haas from zero to hero with your pal? You can do exactly that. Fancy yourself the next Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen, slot yourselves into the cockpits of the Red Bull Racing cars.

You can get all competitive with your friend in your Constructors team for the #1 spot, and if things really boil over, go head-to-head in split-screen multiplayer. Up the realism with some walkie-talkies so you can pretend you are shouting at each other on team radio, too. What’s not to love?!

Disney Speedstorm

• Release Date: April 18, 2023
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

I love Disney, you love Disney, we all love Disney! You know what else everyone loves? A good ol’ game of Mario Kart. For decades now, having the mustachioed plumber and his Mushroom Kingdom pals grace the Xbox with the iconic kart racer has been a pipe dream. That’s why Gameloft and Disney saw an opportunity to bring another cartoony kart racer to Xbox consoles, and the good news is Disney Speedstorm is a really fun time.

With the game having now left early access, it’s jam-packed with tracks and characters plucked right out of some of Disney’s many iconic franchises. The best part of all of this? You can enjoy the high-octane karting action with a friend in couch co-op or competitive multiplayer, which always makes for some epic grudge matches. It might be early days, but we’ve got high hopes Disney Speedstorm could quickly become one of the best Xbox couch co-op and local multiplayer games for years to come.

PGA Tour 2K25

• Release Date: Feb. 21, 2025
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

If you’re looking to hit the fairways with your friends, then PGA Tour 2K25 is the latest golf game you can enjoy in couch co-op and local multiplayer. With its EvoSwing mechanics ramping up the realism of each swing you make, there’s a lot to dig into here. Posture, torque, and arc size are all things you’ll need to take into account. Fortunately, the game does a good job of giving you detailed feedback so you know how to improve, and whether you’re a pitching pro or a nine-hole novice, there are three-click swing and classic swing stick controller options to suit your skill level.

But we’re here to talk about the couch co-op and local multiplayer modes here. PGA Tour 2K25 offers multiple multiplayer options like Stroke Play, Scramble, Four Ball, Alternate Shot, Match Play, and Divot Derby. Whether you’re in the mood for something more casual, or you want the classic golfing experience, there’s a mode to scratch your itch. You can play with two to four players in local multiplayer, too, making it perfect for a chill Sunday session with friends when the weather’s not good enough to actually visit your local course.

Halo Infinite

• Release Date: December 8, 2021
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

If you’re looking for a more modern-feeling Halo experience than what’s offered in the Master Chief Collection, then the absolutely free-to-play Halo Infinite should be right at the top of your download queue.

Boasting a plethora of multiplayer maps and game modes, a Battle Pass system to help track your progression, and the same great-feeling arena shooter gameplay, Halo Infinite is an absolute must-play if you’ve got an Xbox console. It works in split-screen, too, so you and a friend can rack up kills together.

The only downside is Halo Infinite’s long-awaited co-op campaign cannot be played in couch co-op. Instead, you and your pals will need to be playing on your own consoles online.

Minecraft Dungeons

• Release Date: May 26, 2020
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Minecraft Dungeons is the dungeon-crawling RPG spin-off that fans of the franchise should have on their radars. And even if you haven’t dabbled in Minecraft before, this is an enjoyable and accessible co-op hack-and-slash that anybody can hop into. Even better, the entire campaign is playable with up to four players.

Streets of Rage 4

• Release Date: April 30, 2020
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

This modern take on a classic series is a couch co-op experience not to be missed. Streets of Rage’s old-school brawling action was once a mainstay of arcades and university halls of the 90s, and now it’s back again with a fresh coat of paint, enhanced controls, and a suitably rockin’ soundtrack. You can play the entire campaign with up to four players.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

• Release Date: March 12, 2021
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

After far too long, Crash Bandicoot has returned in an all-new adventure on the Xbox One and Series X|S. The single-player brings back the classic platforming action with a modern twist, allowing Crash to utilize several time-bending abilities to help him overcome the obstacles in his path.

The entire thing can be played in a Pass ‘N Play mode, where you’ll pass the controller between you and your friend each time you die, providing a way to help calm you during particularly tricky levels as you laugh at your friend failing… and vice-versa.

Now the Activision merger has been approved, there’s every chance we’ll see Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on Game Pass in the near future.

Sonic Mania Plus

• Release Date: July 17, 2018
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Sonic Mania Plus for the Xbox One, and Series X|S via backwards compatibility, is essentially the definitive edition of the game that saw Sonic’s return to form.

With a return to speedy 2D side-scrolling, two players can join forces as Sonic and Tails in order to collect rings and complete each stage. It’s classic Sonic fun, so what more could you really ask for?

Wizard of Legend

• Release Date: May 15, 2018
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Wizard of Legend’s local co-op focuses on the Chaos Trials in the game. You’ll both have to dive straight into the action as you take on waves of enemies, strategically change your loadout, and compliment the playstyle of your partner.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced dungeon crawler to check out with your friends, you could do a lot worse than this.

Unravel 2

• Release Date: June 9, 2018
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes (via EA Play on Game Pass Ultimate)

The original Unravel was a game filled with love and driven by a desire to release a heartwarming story of a family and their relationships with one another.

Unravel 2 follows a similar premise once more, as players watch the relationship between two children grow and evolve over time.

This time around, Yarny’s got another woolen friend to help him achieve his goals. You’ll need to work together to overcome the obstacles and reach the end. It’s a charming game with delightful visuals and some enjoyable platforming action to boot.

Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure

• Release Date: April 1, 2016
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Stikbold is another one of those awesome party games that can double up as both a versus and co-op title. Stikbold is a dodgeball game, and you’ve simply got to knock your opponents out with the ball before they do the same to you.

There are a ton of different arenas to choose from, and the various hazards of each one can really shake up a game. Stikbold is absolutely a game you need to get for when your friends are over.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

• Release Date: October 5, 2015
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

With one person tasked with defusing the bomb, and all of the other players using the Bomb Defusal Manual to find the solutions to the various puzzles that need to be solved on the bomb, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes tests your teamwork skills. It’ll also test your communication skills and probably the strength of your relationships, too.

A Way Out

• Release Date: March 23, 2018
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

A Way Out is a narrative-driven game with mandatory co-op. You and another friend can play either locally or online to plan a prison break and solve puzzles together in split-screen.

The gameplay is simple enough for players of all skill levels to get to grips with, while also giving you enough input to interact with and remain engaged in the story of the two brothers. If you’re looking for what can only be described as a game built from the ground up for co-op, then look no further.

Resident Evil Revelations 2

• Release Date: March 18, 2015
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Set between Resident Evil 5 and 6, players are treated to one of the best entries in the franchise in some time with Resident Evil Revelations 2. It takes the series back to the days of stealth, vulnerability, and the need to preserve resources and is a must-play for fans of the horror genre.

Quake (2021)

• Release Date: August 19, 2021
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Quake (2021) brought an enhanced version of the grand-daddy of shooters to the current and last generation of consoles. That means whether you’re playing on Xbox One or Series X|S, you’ll get to enjoy this new and improved experience.

Quake features both online and local co-op multiplayer for up to four players throughout its dark fantasy campaign and the expansions that followed. If you’re looking for some plain old shooting fun with friends, it doesn’t get much better than Quake. Even better, the sequel was remastered in summer 2023, and is also available on modern Xbox consoles.

Rock Band 4

• Release Date: October 6, 2015
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Being in a rock band is fun. You get to be with your friends, shred on a guitar, and have crowds of fans cheering you on (if you’re good). Rock Band 4 lets you and some buddies live the dream without any of the pesky training or raw talent. While the series has fallen by the wayside in recent years, you can’t beat the classics.

Human Fall Flat

• Release Date: May 26, 2017
• How many players: Up to 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

The title may be weird, but so is the game. Human Fall Flat has players solving physics-based puzzles to escape dream worlds, and a lot of it has to do with getting thrown around and falling. The best part is that it’s open-ended, so you can grab a friend for some couch co-op and have fun just messing around with everything you can do.

Terraria

• Release Date: November 14, 2014
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Not available

Terraria is like Minecraft, in the sense that you build you harvest resources in order to build just about anything you can imagine. However, this 2D experience houses even more threats and bigger monsters to contend with as you fight to make a home and not get killed in the process. When it comes to survival games on console, it doesn’t get more hardcore than Terraria.

Portal Knights

• Release Date: May 2, 2017
• How many players: Up to 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Portal Knights mixes elements of a few different games to provide a fun experience for either solo players or groups of friends. You can explore and build your world like in Minecraft, but at the core is a solid RPG that will keep you and your friends fighting for hours to get stronger.

Trine 4

• Release Date: October 8, 2019
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Marking a return to the series’ side-scrolling roots, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is a magical experience for up to four players to take on together.

Combining enchanted levels, charming characters and stories, and a healthy dose of puzzle mechanics to round things off, Trine 4 is a great 2.5D experience you can enjoy with up to three friends.

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions

• Release Date: November 25, 2014
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

While the competitive aspect of Geometry Wars 3 is hard to resist, you can stop trying to dwarf your friends’ scores from time to time to engage in some fun couch co-op.

Plus, you both get to enjoy the visual spectacle as you rack up some huge scores. Look at all the pretty colors!

Portal 2

• Release Date: April 19, 2011
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Portal 2 is a hilarious physics-based puzzle game that’ll see you using a portal gun to navigate complex puzzle rooms. Your ultimate goal is to get to the way out of the room. With a friend, Portal 2 becomes even more chaotic, and is a great way to spend an afternoon with a friend.

Portal 2 may have started out as a PC puzzler, but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on one of the best Xbox couch co-op games now that it has hit Microsoft’s home console.

Hyper Light Drifter

• Release Date: July 26, 2018
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Hyper Light Drifter is a challenging game that tests your reflexes and ability to fight under pressure.

With death coming easy but combat being so fun, it’s easy to not want to put the controller down, even when you have company. Thankfully, there’s local co-op to let any guests dive in and share in the fun encounters.

Just Dance 2025

• Release Date: October 24, 2024
• How many players: Local multiplayer for up to 6 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Just Dance may not offer groundbreaking visuals or any real advancement in the series’ gameplay, but we’ll be damned if dancing around with your friends, swinging your arms around in your living room isn’t a right old hoot. Plus, it’s great fun for younger players, with plenty of chart-topping hits to keep them grooving away for hours.

Resident Evil 5 and 6

• Release Date: March 13, 2009 & October 2, 2012
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

There are a few Resident Evil games that let you team up with a friend locally to face the infected masses, such as RE5 and RE6. Communicating with someone nearby and giving your once-useless partner a bit of purpose definitely makes for a far better experience than playing either of those two titles alone.

Kalimba

• Release Date: December 17, 2014
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Kalimba is not for the faint of heart. It’s a tough puzzle platformer that has you simultaneously controlling two totems as you navigate tricky stages. One slip up, and you’re done. Throw in another player and it becomes even more challenging, which happens to be part of its charm. Communication, and a high level of skill are required, so if you and a friend feel you got both in spades, put it to the test and see if your totems (and your friendship) survive.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

• Release Date: September 9, 2015
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

While many cooperative games give each player their very own vessel to pilot or their own mini-screen, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime forces players to work together aboard one ship as they manage its systems and man the guns around the vehicle in order to fight off enemies in a cool, neon-colored world. It’s pretty, fun, and challenging, which is perfect for a game to play while hanging out.

Tumblestone

Release Date: July 16, 2016
How many players: Up to 4 players
Is it on Game Pass?: No

Tumblestone is a very fast-paced game that plays like a cross between Tetris and your favorite match-three puzzle game. While it looks like a simple puzzle game, it actually has a story full of challenges (including boss battles) that you can tackle with a friend.

Battletoads

• Release Date: August 20, 2020
• How many players: Up to 3 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Battletoads released in 2020, remaking the classic beat ’em up title that had players raging with that motorbike level. You and up to three friends can take on the campaign of this iconic classic in couch co-op, and the good news is that motorbike level isn’t quite as rage-inducing as it once was.

Each of the Battletoads has its own unique attack style, and you can combine their moves together for devastating combos. It’s a fun, light-hearted cartoony beat ’em up that’s great to pass the time on a lazy Sunday.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

• Release Date: November 11, 2014
• How many players: 2-4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

While Halo 5: Guardians may have skipped over the feature, the previous Halo games offered some couch multiplayer to let local players experience the epic story. Thankfully, the full series was remastered and released on the Xbox One as the Master Chief collection, so you have all the games in one neat package.

In our opinion, the Master Chief Collection still stands as one of the most iconic Xbox couch co-op experiences you can share with a friend or loved one. The Halo series has so many epic campaign moments that are just that much more enjoyable when you’re playing through it with a friend or three.

Gears of War Ultimate Edition, Gears 4 & Gears 5

• Release Date: August 25, 2015 | October 11, 2016 | September 10, 2019
• How many players: 2 players (3 players for Gears 5)
• Are they on Game Pass?: Yes

You actually have several options when it comes to Gears of War and couch co-op on the Xbox One.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition offers up the original game for you to dive into. Gears of War 4 allows you to take on the Swarm threat alongside a friend, while Gears 5 also offers a three-player co-op campaign, Horde modes, and a new Escape mode to boot.

The Dark Pictures Anthology Games

• Release Date: 2019-2022
• How many players: Up to 5 players
• Are they on Game Pass?: No

Man of Medan was the first of the Dark Pictures Anthology of narrative-driven titles from Supermassive Games. Players control and make decisions for a group of young adults as they find themselves on a spooky ghost ship and must try and find a way to escape.

With multiple endings, a Curator’s Cut mode that gives you a glimpse at other ‘scenes’ in the story, and a mode where each person you’re with controls a separate character in the group, there’s plenty of fun to be had in couch co-op with this one.

And once you’ve wrapped up Man of Medan, the next entry, Little Hope ups the ante even more with the same enjoyable gameplay and couch co-op mode, but with a far more enjoyable story (in our opinion). If you just can’t get enough of the spooky couch co-op action, then you’re in luck. There’s also House of Ashes and The Devil in Me out now, too!

Madden NFL 25

• Release Date: August 16, 2024
• How many players?: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

If soccer isn’t your thing and you’re more into good ol’ American football, then the Madden NFL series is likely already on your radar.

Each entry continues to offer up the ability to play against a friend in local multiplayer or to team up and take on the AI or other players with couch co-op on Xbox One or Series X|S. With updated rosters, pass protection menus, and BOOM Tech which overhauls the tackling system, there’s a lot of heavy-hitting fun to be had with a buddy on the gridiron.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

• Release Date: July 23, 2015
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a good enough game on its own thanks to the rogue-like mechanics, twisted imagery, and brutal challenge it presents to players. You don’t have to live through the nightmare alone though. You can bring a friend and both suffer at the horrors of hell and Isaac’s vivid imagination as you escape the clutches of dear ‘ol mom.

Star Wars: Battlefront II

• Release Date: November 17, 2017
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes (EA Play via Game Pass Ultimate)

Star Wars Battlefront II brings that galaxy far, far away right into your living room. Its visuals and sound effects are impeccable and feel like they’ve been ripped right out of the movies.

While it’s not possible to play through the campaign with a friend, you can work together with a friend to take on a variety of co-op challenges and multiplayer matches. They make for a great challenge and will be sure to keep you and your Star Wars-loving friends content for a good few hours at the very least.

Minecraft

• Release Date: September 5, 2014 (Xbox One), November 10, 2020 (Xbox Series X/S)
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

There’s a reason Minecraft is so huge. It’s a really fun game no matter how you decide to play it. Whether you search for the end or just try to build seemingly impossible structures, it’s all a great experience especially when you bring in a second creative mind. You can even do couch co-op while playing with players from other platforms soon including the Switch, PC, and Mobile alongside the Xbox One.

Enter the Gungeon

• Release Date: April 5, 2017
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Twin-stick shooters, bullet hell, and rogue-likes combine for one seriously extreme indie experience in Enter the Gungeon. You can unlock the ability to play couch co-op which ups the ante for an endless stream of bullets and powerful enemies filling your screen.

Divinity: Original Sin 1 & 2

Release Date: October 27, 2015 & August 31, 2018
How many players: 2 players
Are they on Game Pass?: Yes (Divinity Original Sin 2)

Isometric RPGs are always great for couch multiplayer because they allow a clear view of the action for all players. Divinity: Original Sin takes things a step further with its dynamic hybrid camera that splits up when you and your partner want to go to different areas. Of course, we wouldn’t recommend it solely for the camera. The gameplay is full of healthy challenges, tons of customization, and a true RPG experience for you and your friends.

If you’ve played Baldur’s Gate 3 and want even more from its developer, you can’t go wrong with the Divinity duology.

Licensed LEGO Games (Pick Your Favorite)

• Release Date: Various
• How many players: 2 players
• Are they on Game Pass?: Yes (LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga)

There’s a long list of LEGO games that you really can’t go wrong on. Covering things like Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Jurassic Park, and many other properties that take you through your favorite movies, cartoon series, or even original stories. The most recent entry, which also happens to be on Xbox Game Pass, is LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. It offers a ton of content spanning all nine Skywalker films with over 300 playable characters, 100 vehicles, and 23 planets to explore.

They offer tons of content that is always family-friendly, and the fact that you can play couch co-op makes them great for a night with the kids or with just about anyone. It’s not punishing since you can instantly revive after accidents, so it’s all the fun without any frustration.

Cuphead

• Release Date: September 29, 2017
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Cuphead is one of the most refreshing games to be released on the Xbox One pretty much ever, and it also features local co-op, where you can team up with a friend to take down the game’s toughest bosses. It’ll take away a bit of the challenge, sure, but it’ll still be a fun time.

You’ve likely seen plenty of clips of people smashing controllers and generally rage-quitting Cuphead online, and that’s what makes it such a great Xbox couch co-op game. Take a friend and share the pain together.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

• Release Date: October 25, 2024
• How many players?: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

A quick note on this one: you can only play split-screen multiplayer on Xbox Series X|S. Each player will also need to create additional accounts on your Xbox for it to work.

Once you’ve got all the initial setup out of the way, you’ll be able to dive into either the fast-paced, frenetic FPS action of online multiplayer on the same screen, or duke it out against hordes of the undead in Zombies. 

Which you choose is up to you, but Zombies is a personal favorite of mine when playing with friends. There’s nothing more enjoyable than hunting down easter eggs, pack-a-punching weapons, and training zombies while your friend runs off to try and get a decent pull on the mystery box.

The Ascent

• Release Date: July 29, 2021
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

The Ascent is a cyberpunk twin-stick shooter that sees you ascending through the various layers of Veles as you work your way to becoming a free man. The gunplay is incredibly satisfying, the world immensely detailed, and the enemies varied enough to ensure things remain challenging and interesting.

While The Ascent can feel like a bit of a slog in single-player, it really comes into its own when playing with friends or other players. It makes the grind feel less punishing and you can fill the sluggish periods of traversal with banter with your mates, what more could you ask for?

Borderlands: The Handsome Collection & Borderlands 3

• Release Date: March 24, 2015 & September 13, 2019
• How many players: Up to 4 players (Handsome Collection), 2 players (Borderlands 3)
• Are they on Game Pass?: No

Borderlands is a first-person shooter RPG that’s full of endless enemies, gigantic bosses, and tons of loot.

While it’s plenty of fun on its own, bringing along a friend for some crazy adventures that include shooting psychos and other dangerous denizens is a real treat. Borderlands 3 is always another option, but keep in mind that the split-screen performance in the game isn’t great right now.

Rayman Legends

• Release Date: February 18, 2014
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Top-tier platforming? Check. Beautiful visuals? Check. Fun characters racing along to some seriously good music? Double Check. Rayman Legends is a must-have on any platform, and the couch co-op just makes it all the more better. Have fun collecting Lums, beating enemies, and just bouncing around in this stellar platformer from Ubisoft.

Castle Crashers

• Release Date: September 17, 2010
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Don’t let the cutesy art style of Castle Crashers fool you. This is one seriously challenging beat ’em up that will have you looking for help at every turn. The best way to find said help is to have a buddy grab a controller and pull up on the couch right next to you. Time to go save some princesses… and collect tons of gold.

Trials Rising

Release Date: February 26, 2019
How many players: Up to 4 players
Is it on Game Pass?: No

Trials Rising is the latest entry in Ubisoft’s popular biking series, and it features a cool mode where two players have to work together to balance on a single bike, and move forward at the same time. Like Octodad, except with bikes. We think.

Wargroove

• Release Date: February 1, 2019
• How many players: Local and online co-op and versus modes for up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

Developed by Chucklefish, Wargroove is a fantastic tactical turn-based strategy game that can be played with and against friends.

You and three other friends can either match off against each other in a free-for-all, or split into teams and see who has the biggest strategic brain among you.

Moving Out

• Release Date: April 28, 2020
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

Moving house is never actually all that fun in real life, but if you’re looking for a different kind of co-op experience, then Moving Out is actually pretty darn enjoyable.

Tasking you and up to three friends with moving furniture out of various houses and loading it up as quickly as possible, you’ll need to work together to navigate obstacles, move heavy items, and complete bonus objectives to get the best ratings. It’s chaotic, silly, and incredibly good fun with friends.

Moving Out is one of the best Xbox couch co-op games you can play, if only for the fact it encapsulates that chaotic multiplayer action we just can’t get enough of when you’ve got a few friends together.

EA Sports FC 25

• Release Date: October 3, 2024
• How many players?: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

If you’re a soccer fan, the definitive video game emulation of the beautiful game is certainly EA Sports FC 25, the second entry in the series previously known as FIFA.

The annualized series continues to bring updated rosters, smooth gameplay on the pitch, and more features and modes to keep players entertained and is one of the best games for sports fans.

You can play couch co-op in either the online Rivals mode, against the AI, or with one of your Ultimate Teams. Who’ll get the wins and coins on their FUT account will be down to the pair of you.

EA Sports FC 25 continues to evolve the series with refinements to the game engine, and further improvements to the balancing of attacking and defending gameplay. Top that off with some minor improvements to goalkeeper AI and this is by far the best the series has been for quite some time.

Rocket League

• Release Date: February 17, 2016
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: No

If you haven’t played Rocket League, you definitely need to rectify that. Once you get a hang of the responsive controls and the sick, flipping, rocket-powered vehicles, it’s time to dive into some couch co-op multiplayer to take on the world with a buddy. The amount of skill and precision needed really lends itself well to the feeling of accomplishment when you and your friends pull off some insane stunts out on the pitch.

Rocket League easily stands as one of the very best Xbox couch co-op games you can get your hands on. Just wait until you or your mate scores a last-minute winner and let the epic celebratory scenes commence.

Overcooked & Overcooked 2

• Release Date: August 3, 2016
• How many players: Up to 4 players
• Are they on Game Pass?: No

Overcooked is one seriously intense cooking game. Think Cooking Mama, only with a much higher difficulty, partners yelling expletives at one another, and mad dashes to get dishes complete. It’s a definite good time that’s sure to fill the room, with laughter, yelling, a bit of cursing, then more laughter. The sequel offers up more recipes to make, dynamic stages that change up as you’re cooking, and the ability to throw items to your fellow chefs. Plus, it’s got online Xbox One multiplayer, so the fun doesn’t have to end when your friends leave.

Finished the first game? Well, Overcooked 2 is there to fill the void with even more excellent levels and culinary challenges to keep you shouting and screaming with laughter with your friends.

It Takes Two

• Release Date: March 26, 2021
• How many players: 2 players
• Is it on Game Pass?: Yes

It Takes Two follows the story of couple Cody and May who find themselves magically transformed into puppet versions of themselves. The two (that’s you and your pal!) must work together to help return Cody and May to their regular lives.

There are plenty of laughs in here, and the gameplay has a satisfying means of introducing new mechanics as you progress through the game.

A bunch of hidden minigames along the way and stunning presentation make this a quality co-op title that’s a blast to play with friends and family alike.

---

That’s all there is to it! Those are the best couch co-op games on Xbox to play with friends. Which ones are your favorites? Let us know down below.

And if you’re looking for more co-op Xbox games, be on the lookout for these.

---