25 Local Multiplayer Games That Still Slap

Great couch games never go out of style, and the best ones make it easy for anyone to grab a controller and start laughing or yelling within minutes. This list gathers local multiplayer picks that are easy to set up, run smoothly on modern hardware, and still draw a crowd today. You will find co op chaos, competitive showdowns, and party staples that keep the good times rolling. Each entry includes who developed it so you can spot the studios behind the magic.

‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’

Nintendo EPD keeps this racer fresh with a huge character roster, dozens of tracks, and a smooth local split screen. The Battle modes offer team and free for all options for quick sessions. Support for up to four players locally is simple with Joy Con or Pro Controllers. The Booster Course content means lots of variety for regular game nights.

‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’

Sora Ltd. and Bandai Namco Studios crafted an enormous crossover with fast local versus play. The Rules presets let you lock in stock or time matches for repeat sessions. Stage selection and items can be tweaked to suit any group. Eight player support keeps bigger parties involved without extra setup.

‘Overcooked! All You Can Eat’

Ghost Town Games and Team17 bundle the first two games and all DLC into one package with local co op for up to four. Accessibility options include scalable difficulty and assist features that reduce timers. Cross progression and quick level retry keep the pace brisk. It is perfect for short chaotic rounds that rotate players in and out.

‘It Takes Two’

Hazelight Studios built this adventure specifically for two players with split screen from start to finish. Every chapter introduces fresh mechanics that require teamwork. The Friend Pass lets a second player join locally without extra purchases on some platforms. Puzzle clarity and generous checkpoints keep the story moving for casual pairs.

‘Rocket League’

Psyonix supports local split screen car soccer with two to four players. The training packs and custom matches make onboarding new players easy. Offline seasons and mutators keep variety high without going online. Quick match setup means you can run best of series on the couch in minutes.

‘TowerFall Ascension’

Matt Makes Games tuned this archery arena for instant local play with up to four players. Catching arrows, limited ammo, and map hazards create tight rounds that end fast. Variants let you toggle wings, shields, and powerups for custom rules. The co op Quest mode adds enemy waves for teams that prefer PvE.

‘Gang Beasts’

Boneloaf delivers floppy brawler chaos with simple controls and physics based grappling. Local matches support four players with quick rematches. Stages like trucks and grinders create environmental wins that keep spectators engaged. Costume choices and color swaps help keep characters easy to track.

‘Nidhogg 2’

Messhof expands the fencing duel formula with new weapons and parry options while keeping one screen showdowns. Local matches run as quick tug of war sprints to the final screen. Single button throws and slides are easy to learn, yet spacing still matters. Tournament mode lets a crowd rotate through a bracket without downtime.

‘Streets of Rage 4’

Dotemu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games revived this belt scroller with crisp local co op. Two to four players can run story or arcade modes with character unlocks that reward repeat play. Enemy patterns scale well for teams and remain readable. The training room helps new players test combos safely.

‘Cuphead’

Studio MDHR supports two player local co op across all bosses and run and gun stages. The second player joins as Mugman with shared lives and parry mechanics. Visual clarity remains strong in split attention moments thanks to telegraphed attacks. Short level length makes swapping partners straightforward.

‘Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime’

Asteroid Base designed a one to four player co op starship where stations must be manned in real time. Roles switch between shields, weapons, engines, and map, which keeps everyone active. Difficulty options scale well for mixed skill groups. The campaign is broken into bite sized levels that fit a party schedule.

‘Moving Out 2’

SMG Studio and DevM Games, published by Team17, built a co op mover where up to four players haul furniture under time pressure. Assist options like reduced object weights help with new players. Portal styled stages and hazards add light puzzle elements without slowing play. Couch co op drop in and drop out support makes it party friendly.

‘Spelunky 2’

Mossmouth and BlitWorks include local co op for the adventure and a separate arena mode. Shared screens keep everyone visible, and ropes and bombs remain team resources to coordinate. Seeded runs allow fair rematches and learning over time. Quick restarts reduce downtime after tough rooms.

‘Diablo III’

Blizzard Entertainment offers four player couch co op with shared screen and streamlined menus. Loot instancing by player name reduces disputes and speeds up gear changes. Adventure Mode opens bounties and rifts for short or long sessions. Controller friendly skill wheels make builds easy to tweak on the fly.

‘Borderlands 3’

Gearbox Software supports local split screen with flexible difficulty and loot rules. Players can choose instanced or shared loot to fit the group. Skill trees and action skills let duos complement each other. Short objectives and save everywhere design fit a couch session well.

‘Halo The Master Chief Collection’

343 Industries provides split screen for several campaigns and local multiplayer across classic maps. Custom game browsers and mode editors let you define match rules. Aim assist and control presets help first time players settle in. The package runs stable with clear visuals for sofa play.

‘Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled’

Beenox rebuilt the classic kart racer with modern handling and local split screen. Adventure and arcade modes work well for head to head sets. Power slide timing rewards practice while item balance keeps races close. Track variety and mirrored options keep repeat plays fresh.

‘Rayman Legends’

Ubisoft Montpellier delivers up to four player local co op with precise platforming. Invasion levels and music stages create short high energy sessions. Drop in co op lets a friend join a run without restarting. The Challenge mode provides daily goals that work offline for local bragging rights.

‘New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe’

Nintendo EPD supports up to four local players with simple controls and readable levels. Character options like Nabbit and Toadette help beginners keep up. The Boost Rush and Challenge modes add score chasing for quick sessions. Level design keeps the camera steady so no one gets lost off screen.

‘Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes’

Steel Crate Games built a unique local setup where one player defuses while others read the manual. No second screen is required since the manual can be on a phone or printout. Timers and module variety make each round brisk. Communication becomes the main skill, which levels the field for mixed gamers.

‘Puyo Puyo Tetris 2’

Sega blends two puzzle systems with local versus and co op Boss Raid. Swap modes keep rounds dynamic without complex rules. Accessibility options include color blind settings and tutorials. Local leagues and best of sets are easy to configure for tournaments.

‘The Jackbox Party Pack 10’

Jackbox Games continues the phone controller formula that fits any group size. Players join by code and answer or draw on their devices, which simplifies setup. Family friendly filters and audience roles keep everyone included. Each game runs in short episodes that cycle players naturally.

‘Worms W.M.D’

Team17 keeps hot seat tactics alive with local pass and play or shared screen. Custom teams, weapon crates, and crafting let you tailor match flow. Destructible maps and vehicles open creative approaches. Turn timers and sudden death ensure rounds finish quickly.

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder’s Revenge’

Tribute Games and Dotemu deliver up to six player local co op with simple beat em up combos. Assist jumps and revive mechanics keep teams moving through levels. Arcade and Story modes fit either short sessions or full playthroughs. Character perks encourage switching heroes between stages.

‘Heave Ho’

Le Cartel Studio created a physics based swinger where two to four players link hands to cross gaps. Local co op shines as players coordinate throws and catches. Short levels and instant retries make it perfect for rotating turns. Assist toggles and color customization keep things readable on busy screens.

Share your favorite couch picks in the comments and tell us which local games still get your group shouting at the TV.