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Best Local 2-Player Games on PS5 (2026)
By Hisan Kidwai
February 22, 2026
There’s a lot to love about the PS5—the performance, the visuals, the controller that actually makes you feel the game. But if there’s one thing that still feels overlooked, it’s local multiplayer.
It’s ironic, really. The PS5 is built for the living room, but finding great games that let you actually sit next to someone and play together? That’s become harder than it should be. Online play has its place, but it can’t replace the experience of sharing a couch, a screen, and a moment with someone you actually care about.
If you’ve been searching for those kinds of games, you’re in the right place. Here are five of the best local 2-player games on PS5 worth playing right now.
1. It Takes Two
Genre: Puzzle Platformer / Adventure
If you play only one game from this list, make it this one.
It Takes Two follows a couple on the edge of divorce who are magically turned into dolls by their daughter’s wish. To return to their human forms, they have to work together through a series of increasingly wild challenges—and along the way, they (and you) get pulled into one of the most inventive co-op experiences ever made.
Every level brings something new: platforming, puzzles, action sequences, even unexpected mini-games. It’s challenging enough to stay interesting, but forgiving with respawns, so it’s just as enjoyable for newcomers as it is for seasoned players.
2. Split Fiction
Genre: Action-Adventure
From Hazelight Studios—the same team behind It Takes Two—comes Split Fiction, a co-op adventure built around two writers who get trapped inside a simulation of their own stories.
One moment you’re solving puzzles, the next you’re riding a dragon or fighting your way through a sci-fi showdown. The game constantly shifts gears, keeping you and your partner on your toes. There are also optional “Side Stories” that let you explore unfinished tales from each character’s past, adding even more depth and variety. It’s creative, chaotic, and genuinely fun to play with a friend.
3. Diablo IV
Genre: Action RPG
If your idea of co-op leans darker and more intense, Diablo IV delivers.
Set in the grim world of Sanctuary, the story revolves around the return of Lilith, daughter of Mephisto, who rises to fill a power void left by Heaven and Hell. You step in as “the wanderer,” fighting through hordes of demons across dungeons, quests, and open-world zones.
The combat is fast, fluid, and satisfying, and the game fully supports local co-op. Whether you’re grinding for loot or progressing through the campaign, having a second player by your side makes the journey feel even more epic.
4. Baldur’s Gate 3
Genre: Tactical RPG / Narrative Adventure
Few games offer the depth and freedom of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe of Faerûn, the story begins with your party infected by a mind flayer parasite—a curse that grants strange abilities but threatens to transform you from within. What follows is a sprawling, choice-driven journey filled with complex characters, moral dilemmas, and a world that reacts to nearly everything you do.
Character customization is deep, letting you shape your hero’s class, appearance, and personality. And in local co-op, you and a friend can navigate the story together, making decisions that shape your shared adventure.
5. A Way Out
Genre: Action-Adventure
Another standout from Hazelight, A Way Out is a co-op game built entirely around two players.
You and a partner play as Leo and Vincent—two prisoners who join forces to escape and take revenge on the man who destroyed both their lives. What sets the game apart is its split-screen format, which stays on even when you’re playing online. One player might be in the middle of a cutscene while the other is sneaking through a hallway or solving a puzzle nearby.
It’s a unique, story-driven experience that constantly switches perspectives and keeps both players engaged. And just when you think you know where it’s going, the game delivers a twist you won’t see coming.
So, Grab a Seat and a Controller
Local multiplayer used to be a given. Now, it feels like something we have to search for. But when you find the right game, it’s still one of the best ways to play.
These five titles prove that couch co-op is far from dead. Whether you’re looking for a heartfelt adventure, fast-paced action, or a story you’ll talk about long after the credits roll, there’s something here for you and whoever’s sitting next to you.
So go ahead—clear your schedule, grab a second controller, and make some time to play together. It’s worth it.
