Finding the best 2 player ps5 games should be simple, but the PlayStation Store does not make it easy. Many games say “multiplayer” yet offer no way for two people to play on one console.
The best 2 player ps5 games are not all the same kind of fun, and the best 2 player ps5 games for one pair can be a poor pick for another. A couple looking for a story wants something very different from two friends who want a fight.
Local split-screen play on PS5 needs one console, one copy and a second DualSense controller. Local play does not need PlayStation Plus, while online play usually does.
Table of Contents
- How We Ranked the Best Picks
- Top 10 Ranked at a Glance
- Best for Couples and Story Lovers
- Best for Families and Kids
- Best for Competitive Pairs
- Best for Long Sessions and Deep RPGs
- Best Horror for Two Players
- Best Free Picks for Two Players
- What to Avoid and How to Pick in 2 Minutes
- Frequently Asked Questions
How We Ranked the Best 2 Player PS5 Games
SUMMARY: This section explains the ranking criteria and how this list relates to our full two-player guide.
A game only made this list if two people can play it together on PS5, on one screen or online. We also checked whether two-player play is the main experience or a small extra.
The ranking weighs five things: two-player quality, ease of starting, variety and replay value, fairness so both players feel useful, and value. That includes whether a Friend’s Pass lets the second player join without buying a second copy, which matters for the best 2 player ps5 games.
This ranked list builds on our full 2 Player PS5 Games guide, which explains setups, controllers and accounts. This article is different: it ranks the picks and names a winner for each kind of pair. Read the 2 Player PS5 Games guide first if you want the background, and see our PS5 Multiplayer Games page for larger groups.
Top 10 Ranked at a Glance
SUMMARY: This section gives the full top 10 in one table, with each best-for label.
The table below ranks the best 2 player ps5 games from first to tenth, with the pair each game suits best.
| Rank | Game | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Split Fiction | Couples and story-loving pairs |
| 2 | It Takes Two | Best value two-player game |
| 3 | Baldur’s Gate 3 | Long sessions and deep RPG fans |
| 4 | LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga | Families and Star Wars fans |
| 5 | Overcooked! All You Can Eat | Chaotic party nights for 2-4 players |
| 6 | Diablo IV | Action RPG pairs who like loot |
| 7 | Borderlands 4 | Looter-shooter pairs |
| 8 | Street Fighter 6 | Competitive head-to-head pairs |
| 9 | Minecraft | Safest family sandbox |
| 10 | Reanimal | Horror fans playing as a pair |
Families should start at number 4 or 9.
Best for Couples and Story Lovers
SUMMARY: This section covers the three Hazelight story games and which suits a couple best.
Split Fiction is number one among the best 2 player ps5 games. It is built for exactly two players, with local split screen that works offline, a Friend’s Pass for online play and crossplay.
It Takes Two is one of the best 2 player ps5 games for value, and the earlier Hazelight hit that made this style famous. It follows a couple, Cody and May, turned into dolls and forced to work together to fix their relationship.
A Way Out is the earlier Hazelight prison-break story, and a good choice among the best 2 player ps5 games if you want something shorter and more grounded. Two prisoners, Leo and Vincent, plan an escape and then deal with what happens after it.
Best for Families and Kids
SUMMARY: This section picks the safest family games and how each handles different ages.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the family pick among the best 2 player ps5 games. It covers all nine main Star Wars films, with drop-in and drop-out two-player play, light humor and puzzles that rarely punish a mistake.
Minecraft is the safest family sandbox pick among the best 2 player ps5 games. Two players can build, explore and survive together in a shared world, at their own pace and with no pressure to finish a story.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure supports up to four local players and works well, among the best 2 player ps5 games, for a pair who want a bright, friendly platform game. The levels are colorful, and a struggling player can be carried through a section rather than stuck on it.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat is the chaotic party pick for 2-4 players, and one of the best 2 player ps5 games for families with older children who enjoy shouting instructions at each other.
Best for Competitive Pairs
SUMMARY: This section ranks the head-to-head picks and which competitive style each suits.
Street Fighter 6 is the best head-to-head fighting pick among the best 2 player ps5 games. Two players can sit down, pick a fighter each and start a match in minutes, with no story to finish first.
Rocket League is a free-to-play split-screen pick, and one of the best 2 player ps5 games, that mixes football with driving. Two players can team up against computer opponents or play against each other, and a match lasts about five minutes.
EA Sports FC 26 handles local football for 2-4 players and is the natural choice for a pair who already follow football. Two players can play together or against each other, pick real clubs, and play a full match or a quick kick-off.
Gran Turismo 7 has 2-player split screen and, among the best 2 player ps5 games, suits a pair who prefer racing to fighting. The split-screen mode is straightforward: pick a car, pick a track and race.
Best for Long Sessions and Deep RPGs
SUMMARY: This section covers the longest games and how much time each needs.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the deepest couch RPG among the best 2 player ps5 games, with 2-player local play and up to 4 players online. It is a story-driven role-playing game where your choices change the story, your characters grow over dozens of hours, and combat rewards planning rather than fast reactions.
Diablo IV has console split-screen co-op and, among the best 2 player ps5 games, suits a pair who want action without the slow pace of a turn-based RPG. You pick a class, fight through dungeons, collect loot and level up together, and the game keeps the pace moving.
Borderlands 4 has 2-player local split screen and up to 4 players online, and it is, among the best 2 player ps5 games, the loudest, most cheerful long game here. It is a looter-shooter: you shoot, you collect better guns, you level up, and you repeat the loop in a new area.
Best Horror for Two Players
SUMMARY: This section explains why Reanimal is the horror pick and who should skip it.
Reanimal is the horror pick for two players, and a tense entry among the best 2 player ps5 games. It was developed by Tarsier Studios, the team behind Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares II, and published by THQ Nordic.
You play as a brother and sister who must rescue their missing friends and escape home. The game uses a shared, directed camera designed to maximize claustrophobia and tension, so both players stay in the same frame. A Friend’s Pass lets a second player join online without buying a second copy. See PlayStation’s official page: Reanimal on PlayStation.
Reanimal is rated for adults, with disturbing images, tense chases and a bleak mood. It is not a jump-scare party game, and it is not suitable for children.
Best Free Picks for Two Players
SUMMARY: This section covers Rocket League and Fortnite and their split-screen limits.
Rocket League and Fortnite are the free-to-play split-screen picks, and the easiest way to test the best 2 player ps5 games without spending anything. Rocket League is the simpler of the two: download it, add a second controller, and play together on one screen.
Fortnite is free too, and one of the best 2 player ps5 games for free play, but it has stricter limits. Split screen only works in selected modes, and two accounts are needed, so both players need their own Epic and PlayStation accounts set up before you start.
Free games still need a second controller, storage space and an internet connection. They are live games, so modes can change, so check the mode list inside the game first. For a wider view, see this round-up: Best split-screen games. If you only want one free game, pick Rocket League.
What to Avoid and How to Pick in 2 Minutes
SUMMARY: This section lists common mistakes and a two-minute decision guide.
The most common mistake when choosing the best 2 player ps5 games is buying a game that says “multiplayer” but has no local two-player mode. Some games only offer online multiplayer, which needs two consoles, two copies and PlayStation Plus.
Another mistake when choosing the best 2 player ps5 games is picking a game that suits only one player. A long RPG can bore a partner who wants a quick match, and a fighting game can frustrate a partner who wants a story.
Do not buy two copies of the best 2 player ps5 games when one will do. Hazelight games and Reanimal offer a Friend’s Pass for online play, and local play only ever needs one copy.
Use this two-minute guide:
- Couples who want a story: Split Fiction or It Takes Two.
- Children: LEGO Star Wars or Minecraft.
- A fight: Street Fighter 6.
- A long weekly game: Baldur’s Gate 3 or Diablo IV.
- Horror: Reanimal.
- Spending nothing: Rocket League.
Match the game to the pair, not to the chart position. For more ideas, visit the GameCresta homepage. The best 2 player ps5 games are the ones you actually finish together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the best 2 player ps5 games need PlayStation Plus for local play?
No. Local split-screen and shared-screen play on one PS5 does not need PlayStation Plus. You need one console, one copy of the game and a second DualSense controller. PlayStation Plus is usually needed for online play.
What is the best 2 player PS5 game for couples?
Split Fiction is the strongest choice for most couples, because it is built for exactly two players, changes genre often, and works in local split screen or online with a Friend’s Pass and crossplay. It Takes Two is the best value alternative, while A Way Out suits a shorter, more serious story.
Can two players play Baldur’s Gate 3 on one PS5?
Yes, and it is one of the best 2 player ps5 games for this: Baldur’s Gate 3 supports 2-player local play on one console and up to 4 players online. It is long, so agree on a regular session time and keep the same characters.
Which free PS5 games support split screen for two players?
Rocket League and Fortnite are the main free-to-play split-screen picks, and the cheapest way to try the best 2 player ps5 games. Rocket League is the easiest to start, with split screen for two players on one console. Fortnite only supports split screen in selected modes and needs two accounts, so set both accounts up before you start.
Is Reanimal suitable for children?
No. Reanimal is a horror game rated for adults, with disturbing images, tense chases and a bleak atmosphere. It follows a brother and sister rescuing their missing friends, and its shared camera is designed to increase tension. It suits two adults who enjoy horror.
How do I pick a two-player PS5 game in two minutes?
Match the game to the pair, not to the chart, when choosing the best 2 player ps5 games: couples should pick Split Fiction or It Takes Two, families LEGO Star Wars or Minecraft, competitive pairs Street Fighter 6, long-session players Baldur’s Gate 3 or Diablo IV, horror fans Reanimal, and anyone spending nothing Rocket League.
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