Top 10 best games for two players on PS5

The ninth-generation console has introduced many new, memorable projects and upgraded old ones — now games "fly" and please the eye with smooth graphics. Thanks to backward compatibility with PS4 games, the younger version is also generous with beloved co-op games. After all, what could be better than arranging wild races with friends or defeating a comrade with an epic fatality? In this article, we have included several games for two or more players.

It Takes Two

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Fire-breathing dragons, princesses in towers, and their brave knights — the eternal canon of fairy tales. The studio, known for developing A Way Out, decided to share its colorful and atypical story. It Takes Two is a mesmerizing combination of platformer, action, and puzzle, where gameplay is entirely focused on co-op play.

At the center of the story are young parents — Cody and May, whose relationship is on the brink of breaking up. A magical book named Dr. Hakim, also an expert in love, transfers the consciousness of the main characters into tiny dolls to help the couple save their marriage. Now, to regain their true forms, they have to forget their differences and act together.

In this humor-filled and crazy adventure, you will meet an enraged vacuum cleaner, a gang of squirrels with RPGs made of matches, a monkey on a flying saucer, and many other whimsical inhabitants.

It Takes Two features both local and online play modes. For the latter, a guest pass is provided —  one buys the game, the other connects to it.

A Way Out

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Prison-themed games are increasingly resonating with players. We've already made a selection of them. A Way Out is a bright example of this, created by the same Hazelight Studios and also intended only for co-op play.

The events revolve around Vincent and Leo, two prisoners who, oddly enough, are brought together by their hatred for the same person. The characters decide to join forces to escape from prison to deal with their common enemy.

The atmosphere of the game is skillfully varied with contrasts: much tragedy, scenes of cruelty, their transformations into comedy, and vice versa. With a large number of cut-scenes, one might think it's an interactive movie, but it's not specified as such in the genres.

Unlike It Takes Two, the game is not filled with puzzles —  all gameplay is focused on exploration, shooting, and chases. Here, too, there is a guest pass, and the game is played in split-screen mode.

Mortal Kombat 11

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An immortal classic that has captivated since its inception, as evidenced by the number of parts released. In brief, the entire MK series is about bloody fights with eviscerated innards and flying heads. Every new part takes the best from its predecessors and enriches the gameplay with its unique features.

In Mortal Kombat 11, the main antagonist is the goddess Kronika, who commands time. Her goal is to erase all "Mortal Kombats" from history, which have created harmony between Earthrealm and the Outer World. To counteract the villainess, heroes from different time periods come to the rescue.

Mortal Kombat 11 is a multiplayer game, playable both locally and online. All that's left is to grab a gamepad and engage in an exceedingly brutal brawl.

ARK: Survival Evolved

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Seeing dinosaurs in real life is impossible, but this gap is filled by games where large reptiles can not only be observed but also used as combat pets. Among such projects, ARK: Survival Evolved stands out — a survival simulator, much like Minecraft and Rust. The main task here is the player's transition through different stages of development and the sequential mastery of technologies.

At the start, you find yourself naked on the shore of a mysterious island. To survive in the harsh world of primitive predators, you must engage in hunting, crafting, and building. Soon you will learn to fly on pterodactyls and use firearms, and then you're off to conquer new horizons, fully armed.

Local co-op play is designed for two players and works without dedicated servers, only locally. This becomes a disadvantage if one player has logged many hours and significantly advanced. Now, to play together, you have to start from the same ill-fated shore.

Although this game is supported on PS5, some features available on PS4 may be missing.

Borderlands 3

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If bone-crushing clashes give you a thrill, this game series should interest you. Borderlands has always been recognizable for its comic-book-like art style and frenetic combat dynamics. It remains the same adventure first-person shooter where you take up arms and engage in a bloody fray.

As in previous parts, you start by playing as new characters, accompanied by the robot Claptrap, who introduces you to the story with jokes in between. During the game, you will visit new planets and meet previously unknown characters — both allies and enemies.

The Borderlands series has always prided itself on its split-screen feature, and the third part is no exception. The game offers all variations of split-screen - both horizontal and vertical. You can wreak havoc on enemy bases in a group of up to four people.

Gran Turismo 7

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Haven't heard Dominic Toretto's voice in your head for a while? Then consider this realistic driving simulator. Gran Turismo 7 supports VR, features control close to reality, and offers good immersion.

Identifying key differences from competitors is always challenging when it comes to racing games. However, this one stands out with a truly vast selection of real-life car analogs combined with decent graphics. You can compete, collect cars, and simply race around the track.

However, it has its downsides: in other games, multiplayer is initially open, but in Gran Turismo 7, it requires unlocking by completing the 9th book in the menu, usually taking over two and a half hours. Also, its aggressive monetization strategy is a bit off-putting. In these respects, the game falls short compared to Dirt 5 and WRC 9, but otherwise, there are no significant complaints.

Fortnite

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Perhaps one of the most popular Battle Royale shooters to date. Its main features, jokes aside, are the ability to build structures for combat, dynamic fights, and collaborations with various movie and gaming universes. Today you're Spider-Man Peter Parker, and tomorrow a grim John Wick in a tuxedo.

The rest of the gameplay is typical for a battle royale: players fly on a random route, parachute onto an island on gliders, and battle until the last team survives. The match starts with empty hands; weapons and other resources must be looted in the process.

In December 2019, Fortnite introduced horizontal split-screen for two players on couch. Now you can invite a friend and participate in crazy shootouts from the same TV. If one player leaves the game mid-match, the other can continue without harming their progress.

EA SPORTS FIFA 23

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When discussing mass ball-kicking on a huge field, FIFA comes to mind first - a popular football simulator. The new part added women's clubs, initially consisting of two leagues from England and France, later joined by the USA.

Otherwise, the concept of FIFA 23 doesn't differ much from previous series entries, as it's quite challenging to offer something new in such simulators. Obvious changes include improved visuals and enhancements in game mechanics.

In FIFA 23, the number of players is limited: offline, up to four can play, but online is only available for two people when connected to the PSN service. You can also invite a second player using a guest pass, and no additional profile is needed.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

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In Call of Duty, it has always been enjoyable to follow the storyline and relish the single-player campaign, but it's unlikely to be more captivating than shooting it out with friends in multiplayer mode. 

The game's action unfolds three years after the finale of the previous part of the franchise. The focus is on the battle of Task Force 141 against a Mexican drug cartel and the terrorist organization Al-Qatala. In the story missions, you will travel to Mexico, the USA, and countries in Eurasia.

Like in Black Ops Cold War or Vanguard, the new Call of Duty features split-screen, though it's limited in mode selection. Nevertheless, you can still enjoy playing with a friend on the same screen, making it a decent option for an evening's entertainment.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

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Let’s diversify our selection with the cozy Sackboy: A Big Adventure, a great addition to family leisure. In this isometric platformer, you'll meet Sackboy - a cute toy-like character whose friends are kidnapped by a villain named Vex. Your task is to defeat the villain and save the knitted folk from slavery.

Throughout the game, you'll face challenges on snowy peaks, in impenetrable jungles, space, and the underwater world. The puzzle is best played co-op, not just because it's more fun, but because co-op play unlocks unique interactions that are not available in single-player mode.

There are incredibly many good games for co-op play on couch: from the fiercest fighting games to heartwarming platformers. Special attention deserves the Diablo series, Cuphead, DIRT 5, and many other co-op projects. Thanks to this genre variety, everyone can find a game to their liking. What else would you add to our top list? Tell us about your favorite games in the comments.

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