10 Best Couch Co-op Games Of 2025 (So Far)

There’s something so nostalgic about crowding onto the couch with your friends, passing around the controllers, and losing track of time in a split-screen gaming experience. Couch co-op games have always been a staple of gaming, and in 2025, the gaming community continues to prove that the local co-op genre is still alive and thriving.

Whether you’re into teamwork or competitive battle royales, the local co-op gaming scene has something for everyone. This year alone has already given us a strong lineup of co-op titles worth playing, and it’s not even over yet!

Whether you’re strategizing, betraying, or laughing so hard you can’t breathe, couch co-op games have ways of bringing people together, no matter the title. From brand-new releases to unique twists on familiar series, these games are some of the best ways to spend an afternoon with friends or family. Here are the best couch co-op games of 2025 (so far).

10

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate

Chibi Beat-‘Em-Up

If you’re a fan of adorable, chibi graphics slapped on top of brutal fighting games, then you’re going to love Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate. In this game, you and up to three other friends take control of Mikoto, Waka, Itsuki, and Yuzuha, an unlikely team of “cute but deadly” chibi heroes on a quest through time and space to rescue your friend.

You’ll face eight action-packed stages overflowing with obstacles and monsters; they won’t take it easy on you, so you’ll all need to work together if you want to make it out alive. That being said, the controls and mechanics are very reminiscent of old-school fighters, so don’t be afraid to channel your inner child as you shoot and jump around the screen.

The game was built with co-op in mind, which makes it that much easier for you and your friends to chain your combos, level up, unlock new abilities, and even experiment with different character pairings in battle. Whether you’re button-mashing your way to victory (we’ve all been there) or carefully strategizing your every move, every encounter feels as chaotic as it does intensely rewarding.

If you’re looking for a co-op game that focuses more on teamwork than competition, then you’ve found it in Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate.

9

Noobs Are Coming

Bullet Hell Final Boss Simulator

Who wants to waste time running around as a puny hero when you can be the final boss himself? Noobs Are Coming is an action roguelite that flips the script and puts you in the shoes of a terrifying final boss, one who must stop all noobs from defeating you at any cost.

Inspired by games like The Binding of Isaac, Noobs Are Coming focuses on intense, quick runs that offer waves of combat varying in levels of difficulty. You’ll have to face numerous heroes on their quests to defeat you, many of whom are your friends that just want to prove they’re better than you at everything.

You’ll have to keep them on their toes by cobbling together absurd builds by mixing and matching everything from cannonballs and turrets to magical spells and merciless minions. The more ridiculous your loadout, the better; if there’s one thing this game does right, it’s putting its players in full control of just how messy the combat gets.

And with a 4-player local co-op feature, you’ll be able to hand over the reigns to a friend at any point, and see what kinds of chaos they can conjure as a final boss instead. Overall, it’s a hilarious blend of madness, mayhem, and the tiniest touch of strategy; it’ll easily entertain a group of friends for hours without ever getting old.

8

Paddle Paddle Paddle

If “Ragebaiting” Were a Game

The whole point of co-op games is to bring people closer together, but it seems like Paddle Paddle Paddle’s mission is to do the exact opposite. I don’t know who hurt the developer of this game, but it’s clear they put all the pain and suffering they’ve ever felt into it so we can all share. It’s not the nicest thing, but it does make for a pretty entertaining (and frustrating) experience.

This physics-based boat adventure drops you and a partner into a lava-surrounded obstacle course straight out of your worst nightmares, where each player controls a single paddle. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Within minutes, you’ll be screaming at each other about timing, direction, and why your boat keeps spinning in circles instead of moving forward; and you won’t have even left the starting area yet.

The game is meant to be played by two players, but if you’re feeling extra masochistic, it does offer a solo version as well. Despite what you might believe, the gameplay isn’t any easier in single-player; you’ll just be controlling both paddles yourself, which feels like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach while auditioning for Fear Factor all at once.

With obstacle-course level parkour, jumps that would cripple an Olympic skier, and plenty of settings to either ease your pain or increase it, Paddle Paddle Paddle is both a nightmare and a must-play for couch co-op fans. Just remember: you might lose a friend in the process, but at least you’ll both look ridiculous failing spectacularly together.

7

That One Otter Game

Mischievous Otter Sim

Sometimes, the best co-op games aren’t about saving the world, solving complex puzzles, or even beating each other up; sometimes, it’s just about creating as much mischievous chaos as you possibly can. That One Otter Game gives you that freedom and then some, letting you wreak adorable havoc on a seaside town as two young otters. If you liked Untitled Goose Game, then you’ll definitely enjoy this co-op experience.

You and a friend are put into the sea-faring paws of two young otters on a rite of passage to adulthood, which can only be achieved through completing a series of cartoonish shenanigans that inconvenience everyone around you. Each task is more ridiculous than the last, ranging from stealing radios to terrorizing the local penguin population.

Every challenge you’ll face together will be the goofiest mix of inaccurate physics, bumbling teamwork, and pure, slapstick comedy. You’ll stumble through every task laughing ’til you cry, and if that isn’t the best example of what a couch co-op game is supposed to be, then I don’t know what is.

6

Primal Planet

Dinosaurs vs. Aliens

Dinosaurs, aliens, and sci-fi-loaded secret conspiracies might not seem like elements that would go together, but Primal Planet incorporates all of them surprisingly effectively. This game takes the classic Metroidvania formula and gives it a prehistoric twist, dropping up to two players into an ancient world filled with enemies of every variety.

You’ll start out as a humble caveman just trying to protect your little cave-family, but a brutal attack from nature’s most unforgiving reptile will throw everything you’ve ever known out of balance. Soon, it’ll take everything you have just to stay alive, though your friend can hop in at any time as Sino, the sinosauropteryx, to help out. Even with the help, though, the enemies of this prehistoric world won’t pull any of their punches, especially when extraterrestrial forces come knocking.

As fun as it is to play, this game is challenging, and you’ll definitely be needing that local co-op feature if you want any chance of beating it. The combination of gritty survival, witty crafting, and intense, Metroidvania action keeps you constantly on your toes, while the unique prehistoric-meets-sci-fi storyline gives it just enough of a twist to be worth paying attention to.

Primal Planet isn’t just another average, prehistoric adventure—it’s a couch co-op test of skill, patience, and teamwork that rewards those brave, or stupid, enough to stick it out.

5

Revenge of the Savage Planet

Late Stage Capitalism Meets Sci-Fi Adventure

Consistent greed of the rich and powerful rarely ends well, and in Revenge of the Savage Planet, it’s actually what doomed Earth for good. Endless corporate greed and stupidity may have damned your home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get your revenge.

Revenge of the Savage Planet drops you in the far reaches of space with little more than your wits, some questionable gear, and a massive grudge against your former employer. Your goal? Explore every single planet you come across and scavenge everything you can, all while strategizing your revenge plan against the corporations currently holding Earth hostage. It may all just be for the payback, but no one said you couldn’t have a little fun with your interstellar spelunking along the way.

The worlds, creatures, and alien lifeforms you’ll see along the way will leave you breathless, and the best part? You’re allowed to take pretty much everything that’s not nailed down! In fact, the more plants you scan, creatures you capture, and rocks you investigate, the better your playthrough will turn out. If you and your friend are willing to take on the best vengeful sci-fi adventure of 2025, then Revenge of the Savage Planet should be at the top of your wishlist.

4

POPUCOM

Colorful Co-Op Platformer

POPUCOM has easily been one of 2025’s biggest co-op hits, and after seeing its colorful and downright addictive gameplay, I can hardly blame its fans for being obsessed with it.

The game drops you and your friends onto a mysterious exoplanet and wastes no time throwing the chaos your way. From battling extraterrestrial enemies to solving complex, environmental puzzles, every challenge demands real teamwork, making it one of those co-op games where communication is just as important as skill. If you and your friends don’t talk much during games, then this one might not be the pick for you.

Teamwork is an essential part of POPUCOM’s gameplay, so it’s the perfect choice for close-knit friend groups or family game night.

What really helps set POPUCOM apart from the rest is just how effortlessly it blends its ingenious, multiplayer-based platforming with cooperative problem-solving—you’re never just button-mashing your way to victory, you’re being forced to actually strategize together, usually while laughing (or shouting) in the process. It’s colorful, it’s fun, it’s low-stress, and it’s the perfect choice for anyone just looking for some casual fun between friends.

3

Sunderfolk

Tabletop Simplified

If you love tabletop gaming, but your friends don’t, then this is the perfect game to help you meet in the middle. Sunderfolk is a D&D-style RPG that can be played on a larger screen, like a computer monitor or TV, that allows each player to join the game using their phones. Each player designs and controls their own characters, which are reflected on the big screen as the game progresses.

This clever set-up ensures everyone has exactly what they need to play. No breaking out dusty old rulebooks, frantically looking for missing dice, or keeping score on cheap notebook paper; everything the players need is included in the free mobile app they all download prior to playing. This arrangement makes it one of the most accessible co-op games of 2025, since no one has to worry about crowding around a single screen or bringing their own device to play.

Sunderfolk is single-handedly bringing back board game nights. It captures the nostalgic feel of gathering around a table for a strategy-heavy board game, with none of the fuss; just a fully streamlined process with plenty of room for strategy, teamwork, and laughter.

Whether you’re a fan of tactical combat or just love the idea of passing your phones around and laughing your way through shared victories (and inevitable, crushing defeats), Sunderfolk is proof that even in 2025, co-op gaming can still surprise us with something fresh.

2

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

A New Twist on an Old Classic

Donkey Kong is one of those franchises that never gets old. No matter who you’re playing with, everyone can agree on a classic, and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has enough modern polish that there won’t be any arguments when it comes to game night.

This remastered version brings the original DK Country Returns Wii platformer to modern consoles with sharper visuals and the same chaotic, high-energy gameplay that made it a fan favorite in the first place. You and a friend can team up as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong (yeah, that name didn’t age too well) to stomp, roll, and swing your way across DK Island, tackling everything from lush jungles to fiery volcanoes.

Though it can technically be played solo, the co-op dynamic is really what makes the whole thing shine. Diddy Kong’s Peanut Popgun and Barrel Jet give him unique advantages that complement DK’s raw power, making them a powerful force to be reckoned with once they’re paired up. Whoever gets stuck playing Diddy is up to you, though I’m sure you can both agree to switch it up every once in a while (or, maybe not).

1

Split Fiction

A Split-Screen Dream Come True

From the same developers that gave us It Takes Two, Split Fiction doubles down on the chaotic beauty of split-screen storytelling. You and a partner play as Mio and Zoe, two professional writers trapped inside their own genres; one in a wild fantasy world, and the other in a sleek, sci-fi future.

Thanks to a sneaky device originally meant to steal your ideas, both of you get zapped into each other’s respective worlds, though you’re able to maintain a link between the two of you that allows you to help each other out. Mio and Zoe aren’t each other’s biggest fans at first, but as they cooperate more and more, their bond as friends begins to strengthen, making teamwork a much easier project for both of them.

It’s more than just a mashup of fantastical dragons and laser beams, though. Split Fiction is all about learning to trust your partner’s strengths and finding creative ways to combine your abilities to survive. Every encounter feels like a fresh puzzle that only true teamwork can solve, rewarding players who think outside the box instead of simply charging in headfirst.

Whether you’re facing down trolls, robots, or even your own narrative mistakes, this is the kind of game that makes every victory feel like it was earned together.