23 best couch / local co-op games for PC to play in 2023

There’s a certain charm about gathering with your friends at home, leaving behind your responsibilities, and having fun, just like in the good old days. In the era of online co-op battle royals and single players with complex stories, it is nice to return to the roots. Whether your friends, relatives, or love interest are total noobs or share your passion and dedication for games, the GG.deals team has prepared the top 23 best local co-op games on PC to fit any difficulty level and any occasion.  

For beginners – simple gameplay which rarely goes beyond ‘move, jump, attack, special attack’. Perfect for parties full of normies or a fun date night with a person who can’t game to save his/her life. Nonetheless, these games can be enjoyed by a more experienced crowd as long as you switch the difficulty level.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime – for 2 to 4 players

This ‘born to be a co-op PC game’ looks like nothing you’ve ever seen. You and your team find yourself in the cutest, most colorful cosmos operating the spaceship, maneuvering it to the end of the level, and avoiding obstacles and enemies while you do so. The gameplay is intuitive and easy to get a handle on but requires superb coordination as numerous ship tools located at different locations still need to be managed at once. If you don’t mind an overload of different shades of pink, try this game. It’s also one of the best games that are perfect for couples. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)

Overcooked & Overcooked 2 – for 2 to 4 players (included with PC Game Pass)

This game is Hell’s Kitchen experienced in the comfort of your room. Tasks appear to be basic (take out veggies, chop them, fry them, serve the correct orders), but as the countdown starts, you realize that superb coordination between team players is required. You start developing strategies and allocating tasks with your fellow chefs, turning the gaming sesh into a proper team-building exercise. GG.deals recommends Overcooked for complete rookies and Overcooked 2 for slightly more experienced players, as even the first levels of the sequel are noticeably harder.

The subscribers of PC Game Pass are in luck, as they can play the second installment without additional cost. Wanna become one? The first month costs only $1 for new users, so it’s a pretty good deal.

(Literally, any of) LEGO Games – for 2 to 4 players

Those who don’t like LEGO games are most likely never tried playing LEGO games in co-op. It allows you to relive your favorite adventures in action games with the adorable signature design of LEGO. The colorful design and intuitive gameplay can be found appealing by different demographics, making LEGO games a great option for gaming sessions with your friends, siblings, even children, or your parents. All you need to do is pick a game from the list because it has everything your soul may desire. Not sure where to start? Have a look at our compilation of the 12 best LEGO games to play on PC & Steam.

TowerFall Ascension – for 2 to 4 players

Any skill level can figure out the gameplay while still keeping it challenging for everyone. The pixel graphics suits this arcade platformer well and would put off only the raging haters of such style. There are numerous strategic tricks that are fun to discover throughout the game and use on your opponents (e.g., shooting the arrow through a candle and the ability to catch the arrow). TowerFall Ascension offers you different multiplayer modes, whether you’re up for a co-op quest or battle royal. Overall, this game has excellent replayability due to intense PvP action.

Unravel Two – for 2 players (included with PC Game Pass)

The sequel managed to transfer all perks that made us fall in love with the first Unravel: the graphics that are pleasant to the eyes, charming music, and the adorable main character Yarnie. And now you can enjoy the heart-warming atmosphere of the game with your player two, solve the puzzles by winging across gaps, rappelling down walls, ascending cliff faces, and lassoing distant objects. The riddled levels manage to challenge an inexperienced gamer, but not to the extent that it discourages them from continuing, making Unravel Two truly noob-friendly. This beautiful, stress-free game is perfect for a laid-back gaming session with your significant other.

SpeedRunners – for 2 to 4 players

If you’re tired of cooperating with your friends and up for nerve-wracking competition instead, this one deserves your attention. As all of the contestants choose their character, you start racing each other, running and swinging on the hook across the map in order to cut each other out of the map and therefore eliminate out of the round. Each race gets harder to win because the game mechanics and tricks are easy to grasp. SpeedRunners is one of the most competitive games we’ve ever played, and most certainly gonna do well at parties and get-togethers.

Rayman Legends – for 2 to 4 players

This game combines all the best qualities of the classic platformers and the industry advancement in game design. Numerous thought-through maps offer varied challenges unique to their specific themes. Rayman Legends gives you a nostalgic feeling, just like when you played Super Mario, but the nostalgia is presented in charming, beautifully hand-drawn graphics. The installment has great potential for getting you hooked for hours, trying to complete all levels with a perfect score. This is arguably the best platformer you will ever find.

Castle Crashers for 2 to 4 players

Hack, slash, and smash your way to victory with your fellow knights. Castle Crashers is an adventure arcade that draws you in for a long time and makes you laugh even during the crudest battles. The RPG elements (different weapons, character stats) are so simplified that a total rookie will get a handle on what needs to be done. We think that production is another marvelous option for numerous occasions and different crowds.

Team Sonic Racing – for 2 to 4 players

If you and your friends love kart racing, but refuse to convert to a Nintendo console for Mario Kart, then this is the best option. With 21 tracks, customizable vehicles, 15 racers to choose from, and a wide selection of wisps that help your team and disadvantage your enemies, Team Sonic Racing offers you anything you’d want in a kart racing game. Team Adventure, Grand Prix, and Exhibition modes that require teamwork are refreshing but can be found challenging. Without all players performing well and actively helping each other by sharing wisps, you are not gonna score high. After all, it’s called Team Sonic Racing, not every man for himself Sonic Racing. 

ULTIMATE MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3 – for 2 players

We strongly recommend this one over Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Street Fighter, or any other fighting franchise. The feature that elevates ULTIMATE MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3 above everything else is the character selection, which, thanks to superheroes hype, are found familiar and more eager to play with. This allows you to set up the battles of the century every five minutes. Who’d wanna miss Wolverine Vs. Dante, Deadpool Vs. Spiderman, or a bizarre Rocket Racoon Vs. Phoenix Wright? However, if you want a more serious mood for your party, check out our article about the best fighting games on PC.

Broforce – for 2 to 4 players

Are you and your bros and gals into action-packed side scrollers? Big guns, crazy enemies, and choppers? Do your lives desperately need “bro” puns and 80s action movie reference thrown in your face? Speak no more because this game has it all. It oozes with testosterone and pixelated brutality. ୧༼ಠ益ಠ༽︻╦╤─  And so. Many. Explosions. It’s hard to speak of Broforce with a straight face and grammatically correct sentences as it erupts such a strong sense of joy. You feel like a little hyperactive kid on a sugar rush. Better check Broforce out rather than read articles about it.

It Takes Two – for 2 players (included with PC Game Pass)

The best game of 2021 (well, at least according to TGA) is a co-op platformer delight. Puzzles can be tough to crack at times, but it doesn’t feel too difficult for a beginner. At times of struggle, you can distract yourself with numerous minigames and exploration. Apart from all the fun you’ll get from the gameplay itself, It Takes Two tells a mature, interesting story packed in a seemingly childish shell. It also can be played via Remote Play Together, so only one person needs to own the game, and the other can just join! Pretty neat, isn’t it?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – for 2 to 6 players (included with PC Game Pass)

The 90s was a prime time for local co-ops. Alas, the game mechanics and graphics have been advancing so much that the vast majority of titles are unplayable. However, if the nostalgia is something you and your guests are after, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is right up your alley. It has everything a typical blast from the past does: straightforward controls, pixel graphics, familiar characters, and locations that you remember from the VHS era. Only this time, the animation looks even more colorful and smooth.

For pros – pretty self-explanatory. More advanced gameplay will confuse and scare the rookies. The less experienced players should be accompanied by a knowledgeable player who will explain all of the game mechanics. 

Cuphead – for 2 players

It’s impossible to say anything new about the adventures of Cuphead and his sidekick Mugman, as all the praise has been said before us. This game has it all that makes a great game: stylish, authentic graphics, a memorable soundtrack that matches the graphics ideally, and thought-through gameplay. Speaking of the gameplay… As it may appear adorable and easy at first glance, Cuphead is the source of pure frustration and rage, which can be shared with your pal through local multiplayer. “The Dark Souls of 2D platformers” is a well-deserved title . Test your friendship better than anything the real-life challenge.

Trine 4 – for 2 to 3 players

If you’re into 2.5D adventure platformers with puzzle elements but tired of childish colorful graphics, this is the go-to local co-op game. This one is a delight to play with the party of 3 as you dive into the dazzling, beautifully designed fantasy world with the Warrior, Mage, and Thief. The puzzles seem challenging enough most of the time, and those that seem easy to solve require good cooperation and creativity in using your special powers. We also recommend trying all of the games, apart from Trine 3.

Human: Fall Flat – For 2 players (included with PC Game Pass)

This bloody hilarious, silly puzzle platformer will make you laugh and grind your teeth in frustration. With the colorful minimalist art style, the main feature of Human: Fall Flat is its gameplay with its signature wonky physics. The process of finding the solution while figuring your way out around the deliberately difficult controls is going to be one of the best co-op game experiences. The production shines the brightest when playing with friends, especially when you throw them off the cliff instead of helping.

Rocket League – For 2 to 4 players

“Car Football!” – is the description of the game in a nutshell. This crazy but brilliant idea has been masterfully executed and turned into this bundle of pure joy. After GG.deals tested this game on different types of P2, it was found to be fun for anyone, regardless of whether they enjoy football and/or cars. Despite online multiplayer working perfectly, something is pleasing about actually seeing your pal’s raging face as the ball flies into the net of their goal. This is a highly addictive and competitive game that is a great addition to your library. The best part is that you can play it for free on Epic Games Store!

Portal 2 – For 2 players

A timeless classic that still looks beautiful and most certainly deserves the attention of any puzzle games lover. The two-player co-op mode features two bots whose AI abilities are being tested by placing them in the riddled rooms. Just like in the first Portal, you escape rooms by creating the portals in strategic places, with a bit of help from objects and physics. Only this time, you analyze to come up with the solutions together, as well as get frustrated when you run out of ideas with each try.

Death Squared – for 2 or 4 players

Finished Portal 2? This game is slightly different but will please the fans, whether they’ve played it ages ago or recently. The concept of Death Squared is simple, but the puzzles are far from that as soon as you beat the first ten levels. You control cubical robots and move each of them to their goal marker without letting any of them fall off the surface, get crashed, or be destroyed with deadly lasers. GG.deals confirms that Death Squared gives you the same sense of joy and challenge as Valve’s puzzles, only with more simplistic and colorful graphics.

A way out – for 2 players (included with PC Game Pass)

This title provides an experience that is rare to find: a story-driven game for two players only, meaning that cooperation is mandatory for development. Just like the main characters, inmates Vincent and Leo, who are striving to escape prison, only together you’ll manage to fool the guards, gather the necessary tools for the tasks and stay alive in car pursuit while being shot at. A good balance between the action and cutscenes makes A way Out enjoyable for different types of gamers, even if they’re two complete opposites. This one, no doubt, is for true partners in crime that enjoy top split screen PC games. 

Divinity: Original Sin II – for 2 players

Hands down, this is the best RPG couch co-op experience the gaming industry currently has to offer. Due to the nature of Divinity: Original Sin II, a quick gaming sesh is a mission impossible, which scares off some people, but not the true RPG fans and those who’re willing to try this genre. If you are the one, we strongly recommend you dive into the magical world of Rivellon. The powerful and rewarding turn-based combats do not limit your creativity and freedom as those who want to share their passion with their bestie or partner for life.

Gears 5 (For 2 to 3 players)

The main campaign is also available for local co-ops. But if you’re looking for co-op goodness in the world of Gears, there are several multiplayer modes. Escape mode is a new entry in the series that will see you infiltrating an enemy territory with up to two players and plant a bomb before trying to scarper out of there. Horde mode is also making a comeback with some new features that will change things up a bit. In Horde, you take on waves of enemies with up to four other players.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes – for 2 to 4 players

It’s a party co-op game that takes a bit of preparation and shows you how distracting the pressure can be during life-and-death situations. The goal is simple: your job is to solve various logical puzzles so that the bomb doesn’t explode… and you don’t have much time to do that. Will you be able to withstand the pressure and benefit from co-operation with your partner(s)?

We hope you enjoyed reading the article and managed to discover new titles to try out. (づ ￣ ³￣)づ Who are you gonna play these local co-ops with? 

Didn’t find anything new? Discover even more local co-ops on GG.deals. You can find the best PC game deals from both official stores and keyshops on our website.