For many people around the world, life has come to a standstill thanks to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of people are currently practicing self-isolation, quarantining themselves at home to keep from contracting the coronavirus or potentially spreading it to others. People stuck at home need something to do to keep entertained, and while there are plenty of online co-op options for those looking to play with people who live elsewhere, there's also a lot of local co-op games to play with people at home, too.
The big budget local co-op games like Borderlands 3 and Gears 5 are obvious recommendations that will pop up as some of the first choices whenever someone Googles "best local co-op games," but there are plenty of other great titles that may be flying under the radar for some. These games are a great deal of fun, and better yet, many of them are easily accessible and available through subscription services like Xbox Game Pass.
Here are 10 local co-op games that players may not have already known about.
A Way Out
From the developer of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, A Way Out is a game that can only be played in co-op. The game follows convicted felons Leo and Vincent, with players having to work together to escape prison and evade capture. As one of the few games built explicitly with local co-op in mind, A Way Out features a lot of unique and clever gameplay mechanics that simply aren't found in other titles. The game didn't exactly earn rave reviews back when it launched in 2018, but it did earn some rewards and it's definitely worth checking out. Those with EA Access can play through A Way Out in its entirety at no additional cost.
A Way Out is available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
BattleBlock Theater
The Behemoth's Castle Crashers is largely considered one of the best local co-op games of the last couple decades, but BattleBlock Theater deserves just as much recognition. The game is a hilarious platformer that combines The Behemoth's unique brand of humor with some truly brilliant level design, challenging players to survive in levels that are filled to the brim with all sorts of deadly hazards. Once players have had their fill of BattleBlock Theater's addicting Adventure Mode, they can check out the Arena for some versus multiplayer action as well. The game originally launched for the Xbox 360, but it is playable on Xbox One thanks to the Xbox One backward compatibility program.
BattleBlock Theater is available for PC and Xbox 360.
Biped
One of the more recent games on this list, Biped is an indie game that recently launched for the PS4. In Biped, each player takes control of a robot, with the left stick controlling the robot's left leg and the right stick controlling the robot's right leg. While the controls are a little unwieldy, they do lead to some hilarious moments, as players accidentally sabotage one another while trying to complete a variety of puzzles and platforming challenges. The only disappointing aspect about Biped is that it's very short, but it's a great deal of fun while it lasts.
Biped is available for PC and PS4.
Children of Morta
Dead Mage's Children of Morta combines the addicting gameplay loop of other roguelikes with co-op hack and slash gameplay. Just like all the other great roguelikes, players constantly feel like they're making some kind of progress in Children of Morta, even in failure. Completing special events in the game will allow players to grow their roster of playable characters, all of which can be leveled up to earn abilities that benefit the entire Bergson family. Filling the Bergson family home with new items and characters is immensely satisfying, and to top it all off, the game has great combat and challenging boss fights, too, making it a no-brainer for those looking for a good local co-op game to play while stuck at home. At the time of this writing, Children of Morta is even available on Xbox Game Pass, making it much easier for Xbox players to check out if they're so inclined.
Children of Morta is available for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Full Metal Furies
Cellar Door Games knocked it out of the park with Rogue Legacy, and while Full Metal Furies wasn't met with quite the same kind of enthusiasm, the game is still great for co-op. A huge emphasis is placed on co-op play and how character abilities complement each other, and while it's possible to play solo or online, it's the kind of game that thrives in local co-op.
Full Metal Furies is out now for PC, Switch, and Xbox One.
Guacamelee 2
As we pointed out in our Guacamelee 2 review, this Metroidvania sequel is an absolute blast to play in local co-op, giving fans the engrossing exploration of other games in the genre along with an exciting combat system. Guacamelee 2 is a deceptively large game to boot, with plenty of secrets to uncover, new abilities to earn, and much more. Playing through Guacamelee 2 in co-op is even more entertaining than going through solo, and it will make anyone excited to see what DrinkBox Studios will come up with for its next game. Guacamelee 2 is currently available as a free download through the Xbox Game Pass program.
Guacamelee! 2 is out now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Overcooked 2
The Overcooked games have developed a well-earned reputation as being some of the finest local co-op games on the market, and Overcooked 2 is the cream of the crop. Also available through Xbox Game Pass, Overcooked 2 is a hilarious and challenging game that will either bring people together or tear them apart. Completing the game is simple enough, but mastering it is another story, and those that go for the highest scores possible will find a serious challenge. Much of the Overcooked 2 DLC has been great as well, so those looking to expand the experience further with new levels, chefs, and gameplay features can do so.
Overcooked 2 is available for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Stacks On Stacks (On Stacks)
Google Stadia hasn't exactly set the world on fire like Google may have predicted, but the service does have its fair share of high quality games. One of these is currently available for Stadia Pro subscribers to try for free, and with Stadia Pro free for two months, now is the perfect time to try Google's cloud gaming service. Stacks On Stacks (On Stacks) is the name of the game, and it plays like a reverse Jenga, with players taking turns stacking blocks to build towers as high as possible. Some twists are thrown into the mix to shake things up as players progress through the stages, and the game also has a great sense of humor.
Stacks On Stacks (On Stacks) is available now for Google Stadia and PC.
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan
Supermassive Games' Until Dawn was a horror hit, but it seems the followup has failed to generate the same amount of interest. That's a shame, as The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan is just as good as Until Dawn, and it even features a great co-op mode to boot. The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan's co-op mode assigns each playable character in the game to a human player, letting them control their dialogue and action choices. All the characters can wind up dead, adding a great deal of tension and stakes to the experience, and there are some genuinely effective scares as well.
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
TowerFall Ascension
One of the first PS4 games that was made available for free through the PS Plus Instant Game Collection, TowerFall Ascension is a modern gaming classic when it comes to local co-op play. TowerFall challenges players to take out screens full of deadly enemies with limited arrows to work with, all the while trying to avoid hitting or sabotaging their partners. There's also something to be said for Towerfall Ascension's versus multiplayer, which lends the game even more value than it would have otherwise.
TowerFall Ascension is out now for mobile devices, PS4, PS Vita, Switch, and Xbox One.