Playing video games together is some of the most fun you can have on a couch, especially when you’re working towards the same goal. Here are some of How-To Geek’s favorite couch co-op titles that will tempt even non-gamers.

1Nintendo Switch Sports

Not so much couch co-op as “standing in your living room flailing wildly,”Wii Sportsbroke new ground when it arrived in 2006.Switch Sportsis its spiritual successor, bringing back favorites like tennis, bowling, and golf.

Though there’s a competitive aspect to many of the games, you can also team up and play sports like badminton and volleyball co-operatively, against real people online. The game works just like the Wii classic using Joy-Con motion controls, giving it that “party game” vibe that makes it so easy to pick up and play.

Play it on:Nintendo Switch

2It Takes Two

EA’s 2021 breakout hitIt Takes Twois a 3D action-adventure game that’s built entirely around the concept of working together as a duo. Working your way through a miniature world, you’ll need to need to co-ordinate to navigate obstacles and complete puzzles.

There are fun mini-games, a simple yet effective narrative, and a strong art style that brings the game to life.It Takes Twowon Game of the Year at the Game Awards in 2021, beating titles likeDeathloop,Resident Evil Village, and Sony’s latestRatchet and Clankouting.

Play it on:Xbox, Playstation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, Windows

3Escape Academy

Do you love escape rooms? Maybe you love theideaof escape rooms but lack the inclination to get off the sofa.Escape Academybrings escape rooms into the digital realm, fusing cooperative puzzle-solving with the kind of situations that would be too dangerous and farfetched to experience in real life.

Escape Academyis a first-person title but one that emphasizes brainpower over reaction time. The game encourages you to keep a pen and paper handy, writing down clues and ciphers as you go. It’s a lot of fun, and there are even some paid expansions available if you want to keep playing after seeing the credits.

Play it on:Xbox, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, Windows

4Overcooked (1 & 2)

2017’sOvercookedtasks you and up to three friends with running a kitchen from a top-down perspective. You’ll need to work together to man the various stations, serve customers, wash dishes, and put out literal fires as the orders stack up and the stress levels rise.

Working together is essential, but the game almost always devolves into chaos and hilarity.Overcookedinspired an entire genre of similar games and received a sequel in 2018. Grab both games in theOvercooked: All You Can Eatbundle.

5Stardew Valley

Beloved farming and life simStardew Valleyis an open-ended game about growing crops, befriending villagers, discovering secrets, and much more. It’s a game where you can spend your time fishing, mining, completing bounties, or just wandering around the soothing game world as life passes you by.

Stardew Valley’s version 1.5 update added true split-screen multiplayer (except on mobile), on top of the standard online multiplayer that was already there. With two farmers you can get so much more done by splitting tasks between one another, and it’s arguably more fun living out your farming fantasies with a friend or partner.

Play it on:Xbox, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mac, Linux

6Spiritfarer

Games rarely handle the topic of death likeSpiritfarerdoes, a management sim in which you’re responsible for ferrying spirits of adorable animals to the afterlife. The game takes place on a boat and gameplay is centered around resource collection and management, building, and story-telling by conversing with your passengers.

In co-op mode, the game functions a lot likeStardew Valley, where you have a spare set of hands to help you take care of the many tasks on board. It’s a poignant yet tranquil experience and its unorthodox handling of a touchy subject shows that there really is a game out there for everyone.

7Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Halowas one of the first titles that not only proved that first-person shooters could work on a console, but that they could work as local co-operative experiences in split screen too.The Master Chief Collectionincludes five separate outings (the main numbered games plusHalo 3: ODSTandHalo: Reach), complete with graphical overhauls and performance upgrades for modern consoles and PCs.

While first-person shooters require some mastery of the controls,Halohas a difficulty level for everyone. On top of the usual running and gunning, the games offer unique opportunities to collaborate in vehicular combat (“you shoot, I’ll drive”), unique and varied weapons, and some of the best soundtracks of all time.

Play it on:Xbox, Windows.

8Diablo IV

Diablois a legendary action RPG that’s all about collecting loot, leveling up, and experimenting with different play styles. 2023’sDiablo IVis the latest installment in the series, and we’d recommend starting there since the game is set to receive support for many years to come. That said,Diablo IIIis still worth a shot and also includes couch co-op.

you may work through the game on your own but it’s a lot more fun with friends, and split-screen is possible in the console versions (the Windows version is limited to online play). Choose from varied classes, pick upgrades, re-spec your character at any time, and explore what the world has to offer. This one is easy to pick up but very hard to put down.

Play it on:Xbox, PlayStation 4/5

9Borderlands

Borderlandsis a looter shooter in the same vein asDiablo, albeit from a first-person perspective. Pick a class, team up in split-screen (or online), and head out blasting everything in sight. The game’s leveling and loot systems keep you engaged, with heaps of upgrades and procedurally generated guns, armor, grenades, and more to continually surprise you.

Though the narrative can be a little grating,Borderlandsis a ton of fun and its cel-shaded art style has aged gracefully.Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis Gearbox Software’s latest spin-off title which sticks to the same formula. We’d recommend picking up a bundle likeThe Handsome Collectionto get started, but avoid theTales from the Borderlandsseries (they’re decent single-player adventure games, but they lack couch co-op).

Play it on:Xbox 360/Xbox, PlayStation 3/4/5, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linux, Mac

10Terraria

Terrariais a 2D sandbox about exploring, crafting, and survival that also happens to have compelling local co-op play. UnlikeMinecraft,Terraria’s 2D perspective makes it feel like a more accessible game to newcomers. It’s easy to pick up, and easy to get other people sucked into the world.

Once you’re in, there’s a startling amount of depth to experience. Much of the game involves mining and exploring the world’s procedurally generated caves and getting to grips with a vast crafting system. There is some combat to round out the experience, and having a friend with you will make these challenges a little easier.