While online multiplayer has taken over the gaming industry, there's something particularly special about playing video games on the couch alongside friends and family. There are still a ton of great split-screen games to check out in 2022. If you're gaming on PS4, you have plenty of stellar options across a vast array of genres. From truly unique cooperative experiences like A Way Out and It Takes Two to zany first-person shooters such as the Borderlands games, you can still find wonderful PlayStation 4 games that embrace local multiplayer. Our list also includes multiplayer PS4 games that aren't technically split-screen, as some local multiplayer games can be played on one screen without a line running down the middle. We've organized this list in alphabetical order and separated dedicated split-screen games from regular local multiplayer titles.
For more local multiplayer games, make sure to take a look at our list of the best couch co-op games for couples and best games to play with people who don't normally play games. We also have a bunch of roundups highlighting the best titles for all major platforms, including the best PS5 games so far, best Xbox One games, best Xbox Series X games so far, and best Nintendo Switch games.
The Borderlands franchise is one of the rare first-person shooters that still offers split-screen co-op. While all of the games in the series have co-op on one screen, we're recommending Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, which contains Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, two awesome games with lengthy campaigns. Both games offer split-screen multiplayer for up to four players. Though the loot-focused shooter can be played solo, Borderlands really hits its stride when you team up with friends, especially as you progress further and the action becomes more chaotic.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the latest entry in the long-running first-person shooter franchise, offers split-screen multiplayer for its Zombies and competitive modes. We're mainly recommending it here for Zombies, which is specifically built with co-op in mind. Black Ops Cold War's Zombies mode currently has three maps, though it will evolve throughout the year as new seasons drop. Teaming up with a friend to go toe-to-toe with waves of flesh-hungry undead enemies is a ton of fun.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the best RPGs you can play on PS4, whether you're running solo or with a friend. It's an old-school role-playing game with a layered turn-based combat system and a captivating open world. Divinity: Original Sin 2 features two-player split-screen co-op, which allows you to explore the massive world and make critical decisions on how to approach combat alongside a friend. It should be noted that Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a lengthy experience that can take well over 50 hours to complete, so it's quite the time investment. We'd recommend it for those who have experience with tactical RPGs; it's not really a game for newcomers to the genre to learn the ropes.
Klei Entertainment's survival game Don't Starve always felt like a game that would be great to play with friends, but it took a few years for that feeling to be confirmed. The standalone multiplayer expansion Don't Starve Together released in 2016, and it remains one of the best survival games to play split-screen with a friend today. It has three game modes, each of which offers a different sort of survival experience. The main Survival mode truly emphasizes working together, while Wilderness and Endless modes let you take in the scenery a bit more and feature more forgiving experiences. Don't Starve Together has a fun and challenging combat system and a gorgeous art style. This is the type of co-op game you can come back to over and over again thanks to its randomly generated environments and dynamic combat encounters that change with each run.
Following in the tradition of A Way Out, Hazelight Studios' sophomore game It Takes Two is also co-op only. When Rose learns that her parents are divorcing, she consults a book about love and winds up transporting her parents' minds into the dolls she made of them. The premise is both humorous and rather sad, and It Takes Two manages to tread this line carefully to deliver a charming tale. It Takes Two is also significantly more involved than its predecessor when it comes to gameplay. Playing as the small dolls, you and your partner work together to traverse the larger-than-life environments around the house. It Takes Two has some truly wonderful platforming sequences that require teamwork and ingenuity to complete. It's one of the best games of 2021 so far and shouldn't be missed by platforming fans. Though checkpoints are forgiving, It Takes Two does necessitate some platforming skills, so it's not as approachable for a newcomer as a game like A Way Out.
Traveller's Tales Lego games have always been great picks for families to play together on the couch, especially those with young kids. The Lego Marvel Collection compiles three fun Lego games in one package: Lego Marvel Superheroes, Lego Marvel's Avengers, and Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2. These lighthearted adventures let you and another player team up to take down supervillains while playing as well-known Marvel heroes such as Hulk, Iron Man, and Captain America. All three of the games have forgiving, easy-to-learn mechanics, which make them great co-op titles to play with your kids or those who don't game much.
Not much needs to be said about Minecraft, which holds the title as the best-selling video game of all time. On PS4, split-screen multiplayer supports up to four users who work together to craft their own Minecraft worlds. If you're looking to find games to play with your kids, Minecraft is a superb pick, as it lets their imaginations run wild.
Rocket League has been one of the most popular online multiplayer games around for years, but you can also play it offline with up to four players on one screen. Rocket League is a ridiculously fun sports game that is essentially soccer with a giant ball that's played in vehicles instead of on foot. Rocket League also happens to be the only free-to-play game on this list, so you should absolutely check it out during your next game night.
Sega celebrated Sonic the Hedgehog's 25th anniversary in style by releasing Sonic Mania, an adventure that fondly nods back to the iconic mascot's heyday. Sonic Mania looks and feels like a Sega Genesis game, and it even remixes some of the best levels in franchise history. Like the early games, you can play two-player split-screen co-op, with one player controlling Sonic and the other playing as Tails. Sonic Mania also has a competition mode reminiscent of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 that lets you race your friends across a variety of levels. For those on the hunt for a nostalgic co-op game, Sonic Mania is an excellent choice.
The Wipeout Omega Collection compiles three great anti-gravity racing experiences in one package: Wipeout HD, Wipeout HD Fury, and Wipeout 2048, which was previously a PlayStation Vita exclusive. All three games run beautifully on PS4, and each brings something different to the table. Wipeout Fury focuses on combat, Wipeout HD offers a solid representation of the series' fast-paced gameplay, and Wipeout 2048 shows off a different side of the series with normal nature environments serving as the tracks. With a wealth of game modes, tracks, and unique ships, Wipeout Omega Collection offers one of the most robust racing experiences on PS4. It's also a complete joy to play with friends thanks to its casual arcade format that oozes with style.
Though Diablo 3 has been available on consoles for many years now, it's still surprising how well it translates to being played with a controller rather than a mouse and keyboard. Diablo 3 is a modern classic with a loop that remains fun even after you've run through the campaign dozens of times (really). Up to four players can join in on the action on one screen. With an emphasis on acquiring better and better gear and a battle system that's approachable for newcomers, Diablo 3 is easily one of the most entertaining action-RPGs that you can play via local co-op.
Nearly every popular fighting game supports local multiplayer, and there are no shortage of great options on PS4. We're going with Dragon Ball FighterZ as our top recommendation thanks to its stylish visuals, fast-paced battle system, and dedication to being both approachable and layered in its combat. Of course, Dragon Ball fans will be far more interested in this one than those who don't care about the anime. That said, it's such a finely crafted fighting game that it wouldn't be surprising if you convinced those who know nothing about the franchise to tag along. It's chaotic and over-the-top and features a wealth of unique playable characters, including a bunch of DLC fighters that are worth paying for.
Helldivers is another game that was specifically designed with a co-op focus. You can play with up to four players on one screen. Helldivers has an arcade vibe to it as a top-down shooter. The story sees you and your teammates explore alien planets and take down baddies to save the Super Earth. Though the combat is fast-paced and can get pretty hectic, Helldivers has a tactical bent to it, as you and your teammates must make critical decisions on how to approach each encounter. You also have to be on the same page as the rest of your squad, since Helldivers doesn't protect you from friendly fire. The world is procedurally generated, so Helldivers remains interesting even after you think you've mastered the loop.
You can't go wrong with any of the Jackbox Party Pack games for your next game night with friends. We're highlighting The Jackbox Party Trilogy here, as it comes with the first three Party Packs, each of which contains five unique games. The Jackbox Party Trilogy includes a wide variety of party games, including Trivia Murder Party, multiple versions of the the witty Quiplash, and Fibbage, a game that compels you to lie to friends and loved ones.
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