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VPNs for ad-blocking So whether you’re packing a PC, entertaining with an Xbox One, switching on a Switch, or playing on a PlayStation 4, there’s something for every platform and every age in our list of best local co-op games. And if you’re planning on upgrading to the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, the good news is that most (if not all) of the local co-op games below will be playable on your shiny new next-gen console. Developer Psyonix was astute enough to realise how much fun groups of friends could have behind the wheel together, so Rocket League doubles down on couch co-op, accommodating up to four people playing together on the same team using the same screen. In the mess of tyres screeching and airborne cars doing backflips to connect with the oversized ball, coordinating strategy with teammates is no easy task. If it goes wrong, the entire team will end up haplessly chasing the ball around like an under 10s footy team. But when it all goes according to plan, it’s a thing of beauty: few gaming moments are more satisfying than nailing a perfectly weighted cross into the back of the net. Psyonix has kept Rocket League fresh with constant updates, adding new modes and iconic screen vehicles like K.I.T.T. from Night Rider, various Batmobiles, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, and even the Jeep from Jurassic Park. Rocket League even achieved world peace. Well, kinda. It’s one of the only games that’s completely cross-platform friendly, meaning PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC players can all battle against each other, ensuring the community will thrive in the long-term. Fortunately, the console version of the game added couch co-op to the experience (still not available on PC, sorry). The result is just as enthralling as you’d expect. Set a generation after the original Gears of War trilogy, players take control of JD Fenix, son of original protagonist Marcus Fenix, and his squad of Outsiders. No longer sanctioned by COG, JD and his crew need to battle new robotic foes the DeeBees without the help of Sera’s mighty military-industrial complex. Fortunately, JD’s dad is a pretty useful guy to call on in a pinch… The campaign is a whirlwind of pretty sights, intense firefights, and a fun but schlocky sci-fi B-movie story. Levels feature more branching paths and open combat bowls than ever before, giving co-op partners more tactical options than you can point a chainsaw-machinegun at. From the standalone breakneck vehicle sections, the crunchy cover shooting, or the defend-the-fort Horde Mode, everything feels right in Gears of War 4. And it feels even… righter… in co-op. The tough-as-nails boss battles don’t really get any easier in co-op because they get buffed with more health, but hey, at least you have someone to share the pain with! Cuphead is available digitally via the Microsoft Store. Clear communication is essential as you work together to chop, cook, and serve up the onslaught of incoming food orders from increasingly irate customers. This is made more complicated by the random oven fires and platforming hazards that naturally occur when your kitchen just so happens to be situated on a white-water raft or a hot air balloon. (Ok, maybe the HR violations can’t be avoided?) Overcooked 2 adds the ability to throw food to your co-op partner or even straight into the pot from a distance. This means if you’re accurate enough you can minimise walking time and maximise food production efficiency. It’s a nice touch that gives skilled players more options while also adding to the overall hectic vibe – nothing says “everything is under control” quite like a steak being hurled across a burning kitchen. Few co-op games are as hilarious as Overcooked 2, which is always a hit among small gatherings. Fortunately, the Star Wars purist’s loss is the co-op fan’s gain. Lego games have always worked well with a couch buddy, especially for younger players, and this is no exception. Loosely following the events of the film, and detouring into some bonus previously unseen canonical backstory (no, seriously), you’ll smash every brick on screen and encounter blocky renditions of all your Star Wars favourites. Although you can’t play the main story mode with friends, there are five extra campaigns that can be blasted through in couch co-op. Action plays out a lot like in single player, except instead of controlling the entire squad, each player takes charge of two characters. The turn-based nature of combat means you’ll be waiting around to take control for a little while, but with games like this discussing the finer points of strategy is part of the charm. Many abilities become exponentially more powerful when they interact with others, so successfully teeing up match-winning chain reactions with a friend never stops being hilarious fun. Few co-op games are as hilarious as Overcooked 2, which is always a hit among small gatherings. Keeping track of exactly which character is yours is sometimes tough, but what do a few accidental deaths matter when the payoff is this much silly fun? Unlike most co-op games, where breezy arcade fun is the primary goal, A Way Out is a narrative-driven experience. Players take control of either Vincent or Leo, two inmates that meet in jail and begin plotting their escape. After gathering the necessary materials for their plan they eventually break out, at which point the story switches to a good ol’ fashioned on the lam tale. And, as you know, these always have happy, not-at-all tragic endings… Action largely takes the form of a series of cinematic minigames. None excel in and of themselves, but taken as a whole it’s a great way to make sure both players feel invested in the narrative outcomes. A Way Out is a reminder that even in the worst circumstances, trust, either earned or misplaced, is a powerful tool. A Way Out is available digitally for PC via Origin. The three playable characters – a knight, a wizard, and a thief – each have unique abilities that are used in tandem to progress past foes and puzzles. Trine 2 is available digitally for PC via Steam. Category pick and runner-up co-oped by Nathan Lawrence. Heave Ho is available for PC and Mac via Steam and Nintendo Switch via the eShop. Category pick and runner-up co-oped by Nathan Lawrence. As the name suggests, you play as a removalist, with local co-op allowing for up to four players to lug furniture at a time. If that reads like a gamified version of one of life’s least-fun activities, fret not. Toss items through windows. Sprint between moving traffic Frogger style. And slap ghosts that try to slow you down in a haunted mansion. Moving Out is easy to pick up and play, plus it gets bonus points for being fun for the whole family. Also, if you’ve got Xbox Game Pass, you’ve already got access to Moving Out. Minecraft Dungeons is also available digitally on PlayStation 4,Nintendo Switch, and on the Windows Store for PC. Category pick and runner-up co-oped by Nathan Lawrence. The gorgeous hand-drawn art style is a great complement to the rose-tinted glasses of older gamers who have fond memories of an iconic look that really doesn’t look too flash these days. What’s even better is the killer soundtrack, or purists can jump back to the original soundtrack. It’s worth grabbing four controllers and three buddies to get the most out of Streets of Rage 4 because it’s tough but oh so rewarding to put the hurt on the seemingly never-ending waves of punching bags ready to throw down. Nab it on Xbox One or PC with Xbox Game Pass. Battletoads is digitally nabbable on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One and PC, plus you can also grab it on Steam. Category pick and runner-up co-oped by Nathan Lawrence. Play locally with up to three players in a shared-screen 2.5D experience that’s as enchanting as it is entertaining. You’ll quickly discover your favourite character of the returning trio. Built-for-battle Pontius the Knight. Nimble-archer Zoya the Thief. Or magical-platformer Amadeus the Wizard. You can play this solo, switching between the characters, but there’s more satisfaction to be found in dragging another player or two along for the puzzle-packed ride. The combat is also best-in-series and the skill trees offer compelling aspirational unlocks. Pick up Death Square digitally for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, or even Android (for two players instead of four on the other platforms). Category pick and runner-up co-oped by Nathan Lawrence.
