The best 2 player ps5 games turn an ordinary evening into a shared adventure, a friendly rivalry, or a loud kitchen disaster. For a ranked shortlist, see our Best 2 player ps5 games guide, and for wider online play, see PS5 Multiplayer Games.
Whether you play with a partner, a friend, a sibling, or your child, this guide to 2 player ps5 games will help you pick well.
Table of Contents
- What Counts as a 2 Player PS5 Game?
- How Split Screen and Couch Co-op Work on PS5
- Your Setup Checklist Before You Play Together
- Best Story Co-op Games for Two Players
- Best Party and Chaotic Games for a Games Night
- Best Competitive and Sports Games for Two Players
- Best Family-Friendly Games to Play Together
- Best Long Games and RPGs for Two Players
- What to Check Before You Buy, and How to Fix Common Problems
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Counts as a 2 Player PS5 Game?
SUMMARY: This section defines the kinds of two-player play on PS5, so you can tell whether a game suits couch play, online play, or both.
Some 2 player ps5 games put both players on one console and one television. Others let two people play online from separate homes and consoles. A few offer both, while others offer only one. The store listing is the reliable source, because a trailer does not always make the difference clear.
Local co-op, often called couch co-op, means two people play on the same PS5. That is one of the best things about 2 player ps5 games: the simplest setup is often the cheapest.
Online co-op is different. Online play on PS5 usually needs PlayStation Plus and a stable connection. A game can be excellent online and still be useless for a couch evening if it has no local mode. Think about whether you want teamwork, competition, or a mix of both before you choose, because the best 2 player ps5 games for one mood may not suit the other.
How Split Screen and Couch Co-op Work on PS5
SUMMARY: This section explains how split screen divides the display, how shared-screen play differs, and why some games feel different in two-player mode.
Split screen is the most familiar form of couch play. The television is divided, usually into two halves, and each player sees their own character and surroundings. The best 2 player ps5 games make the split feel natural, so you soon stop noticing it.
Shared-screen play works differently. This suits platform games and family adventures, where players stay close together. The trade-off is that players cannot wander far apart, and the camera has to keep both in frame.
Not every game that says “two players” uses split screen, so look for “local co-op” or “split screen” on the store page before you buy. In a few story games, the screen stays split even online. That is a design choice, not a fault, and it helps each player follow their own character in 2 player ps5 games built around two perspectives.
Your Setup Checklist Before You Play Together
SUMMARY: This section gives you a short checklist covering controllers, accounts, seating, and settings, so your first session starts smoothly.
Good 2 player ps5 games deserve a good setup, and most problems are easy to prevent. Start with the hardware. You need one PS5 console, one copy of the game, and a second DualSense controller. Charge both controllers before you sit down, or keep a charging cable within reach. That covers the hardware for 2 player ps5 games.
Next, check the accounts. Local play does not need a second PlayStation Network account in most games, and it does not need PlayStation Plus.
Finally, update the game and the console before your session. Updates can take a while, and a download starting as your games night begins is a poor start. A five-minute check in advance saves a long wait later, and it is the easiest step in this whole guide to 2 player ps5 games.
Best Story Co-op Games for Two Players
SUMMARY: This section picks the strongest story-driven co-op adventures, led by Hazelight’s two-player games, and explains what makes each one work for a pair.
Hazelight has built its reputation on games made for two people, and its three best-known titles all belong on any shortlist of 2 player ps5 games. Split Fiction is the newest. It follows two writers, Mio and Zoe, who become trapped inside their own stories and must work together to escape. It is built for two players only, with local split screen and a Friend’s Pass for online play, including crossplay.
It Takes Two follows Cody and May, a couple turned into dolls, who must work through a miniature world full of inventive challenges. It uses split screen from start to finish, and a Friend’s Pass lets a second player join online without buying a second copy. A Way Out is shorter, which makes it a good choice for a weekend of 2 player ps5 games.
| Game | Players | Local or Online | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split Fiction | 2 | Local and online | Action adventure |
| It Takes Two | 2 | Local and online | Platform adventure |
| A Way Out | 2 | Local and online | Action adventure |
| Unravel Two | 2 | Local only | Puzzle platform |
| LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga | 2 | Local | Action adventure |
When you choose a story game, agree on a schedule. These games are best when both players are present for every session, because the story assumes two people. The shared experience is the point, and that is what makes these 2 player ps5 games special.
Best Party and Chaotic Games for a Games Night
SUMMARY: This section covers loud, chaotic party games that suit a games night, including kitchen chaos, fast driving, and building fun.
Some evenings call for a story, and others call for chaos. The best 2 player ps5 games for a party are easy to learn, hard to master, and fun even when you lose.
In Overcooked! All You Can Eat, two to four players run a kitchen together, chopping, cooking, serving, and washing up while the kitchen moves, burns, or splits apart. Few 2 player ps5 games test a partnership quite like a burning kitchen.
Rocket League is a very different kind of party game. It is football played with rocket-powered cars, and it is free to play.
Best Competitive and Sports Games for Two Players
SUMMARY: This section covers head-to-head competition on PS5, from football and racing to fighting games, and how to keep it friendly.
Some of the most popular 2 player ps5 games are competitive, and they suit pairs who enjoy a friendly rivalry. EA Sports FC 26 supports two to four players locally, and a head-to-head match is quick to set up.
Gran Turismo 7 has a two-player split-screen mode, which is rare in modern racing games. Fighting games are another strong choice for two players. They need only one console and two controllers, and a match lasts a few minutes. Many 2 player ps5 games in this category are at their best in short bursts.
Competitive play works best with a few ground rules. Agree on a number of matches, and take turns choosing the game or the teams. The goal is a good evening together, and the best 2 player ps5 games for competition keep both players believing they can win.
Best Family-Friendly Games to Play Together
SUMMARY: This section picks welcoming games for families and mixed-age players, with simple controls and content that suits younger players.
Family play needs games that are welcoming, forgiving, and easy to understand. The best family 2 player ps5 games have clear goals, simple controls, and content that suits younger players.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a strong family pick, because it is funny, colourful, and forgiving. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is another family favourite. It is bright and musical, and its levels are short enough for younger players.
Minecraft is a family staple. It lets two players build together and learn at their own pace. Keep sessions short, too. An hour of focused play is better than a long session that ends in tiredness, even in the gentlest 2 player ps5 games.
Best Long Games and RPGs for Two Players
SUMMARY: This section covers longer role-playing games that reward regular sessions, including Baldur’s Gate 3, Diablo IV, and the Borderlands games.
Some pairs want a game that lasts for weeks, not an evening. The best long 2 player ps5 games give both players meaningful choices, useful abilities, and a reason to return.
Baldur’s Gate 3 supports two players locally and up to four online, and it is a rich role-playing game based on Dungeons and Dragons. Diablo IV is faster and more action-focused. It supports split-screen co-op on console, so two players can fight through dungeons together on one screen. These are the kind of 2 player ps5 games that reward a steady routine.
Borderlands 3 and Borderlands 4 are loud, funny shooters with a huge range of weapons. These games work best with a regular schedule and a shared save. Decide who hosts the save, and do not play ahead without the other person. Agree on loot rules early. That planning is what turns good 2 player ps5 games into great long-term habits.
What to Check Before You Buy, and How to Fix Common Problems
SUMMARY: This section explains the pre-purchase checks that prevent disappointment, then walks through the most common second-controller problems and their fixes.
PlayStation’s own guide to local multiplayer games on PS5 is a useful starting point, and it is one of the most reliable lists of 2 player ps5 games with local modes. You can read it here: PlayStation’s local multiplayer games for PS5. For Hazelight’s games, the official store pages confirm the two-player design and Friend’s Pass details, including the Split Fiction page on PlayStation Store and the Hazelight store page for Split Fiction on PS5.
The most common problem is that the second controller does not join. First, check that it is charged and turned on. Press the PlayStation button and see whether the light bar responds.
If it works in the PS5 menus but not in the game, check the game’s co-op menu, or restart the game. Finally, if a game that should support local play does not, update it and check the listing again. These checks save more evenings than any other tip in this guide to 2 player ps5 games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need PlayStation Plus to play 2 player ps5 games locally?
No. Local split-screen and couch co-op on one PS5 do not need PlayStation Plus, and they do not need an internet connection once the game is installed.
What do I need for two-player split screen on PS5?
You need one PS5 console, one copy of the game, and a second DualSense controller.
Which 2 player ps5 games are best for beginners?
It Takes Two, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga are good starting points. They have simple controls, forgiving checkpoints, and clear goals. Unravel Two is also a gentle choice for a calm introduction to co-op.
Can I play 2 player ps5 games online with a friend?
Yes, many of them support online co-op as well as local play. Split Fiction, It Takes Two, A Way Out, Baldur’s Gate 3, Diablo IV, and the Borderlands games all offer online options. Hazelight’s Friend’s Pass lets a second player join online without buying a second copy.
Are there any free 2 player ps5 games?
Yes. Rocket League and Fortnite are both free to play, and both support two-player split screen on console in selected modes. Fortnite needs two accounts, and not every mode supports split screen, so check the mode before you start.
Why does my second controller not join the game?
The most common causes are a flat battery, a controller that is not paired, or a game that needs the second player to join from a specific screen. Charge the controller, connect it with a USB cable if needed, and press the PlayStation button.
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