What are the best PS4 local multiplayer games? Which couch multiplayer games should you play on PS4? While many titles offer great online experiences, nothing quite beats local multiplayer together with friends and family in the same room. Finding the right game can quickly turn four best mates into mortal enemies, or transform the group into a hysterical mess of laughter, screams, and joy. Luckily, the PS4 has enjoyed a bountiful resurgence of such titles. From stone-cold classics to utterly unique hidden gems, here's a list of titles to play with others that'll get everyone leaping out of their seats with excitement.
In this guide, we're looking at both competitive and cooperative offline multiplayer experiences, but if you're specifically looking for the Best PS4 Co-Op Games, you can find that list through the link. Also pay attention to our Best PS4 Family Games guide if you're looking for something to play specifically with your siblings and parents. For a more general guide to the Best PS4 Games, check it out through the link. Finally, a list of the Best PS5 Local Multiplayer Games is now up and running, but it's worth bearing in mind that all the games shown here are also playable on the new console.
Best PS4 Local Multiplayer Games
Below is a full list of the best PS4 local multiplayer games. Presented in no particular order, these are our favourites, and have sparked many a heated discussion in Push Square Towers.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS4)
Max number of local players: 4
You know what? Sackboy: A Big Adventure is just a joy. It's great fun to play this platformer on your own, but with a few pals along for the ride, it's even better. Jostling for prize bubbles, slapping each other around, and customising your Sackpeople is a great laugh with buddies. There are even levels only accessible with at least two people, so you're highly encouraged to spread the love. A cracking 3D platformer for the whole family.
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Laser League (PS4)
Max number of local players: 4
Laser League might not be the most populated game online, but there's no denying it's a brilliant multiplayer title. Four-player local matches let you duke it out in two teams of two, and the game quickly gets everyone frantic with its rapid pace, neon aesthetic, and simple controls. This is a unique title that's deserving of your attention during multiplayer gaming sessions.
Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure (PS4)
Max number of local players: 4
This crazy, chaotic dodgeball game came out of absolutely nowhere in 2016, offering up a fast-paced, grin-inducing spin on the sport. Up to four players can duke it out in teams or in free-for-all as they aim to smack each other out of a selection of unusual arenas. The controls are very simple but there's just enough nuance to keep things competitive, and the whimsical presentation will keep the laughs rolling.
Ultimate Chicken Horse (PS4)
Max number of local players: 4
With a name like Ultimate Chicken Horse, how can you go wrong? This is a 2D platformer with an ingenious twist — you build the level as you play it. Laying down traps and obstacles may slow your opponents down, but you'll have to navigate them too if you're to win. There's a great sense of strategy to this title that balances perfectly between careful planning and royally screwing everyone over.
It Takes Two (PS4)
Max number of local players: 2
It Takes Two is from Hazelight, a game studio that specialises in co-op experiences, and this game is its best effort to date. It's a two-player game built with co-op in mind, meaning you must work together with a buddy to get through the story. Playing as estranged parents shrunk down into toys, the pair have to settle their differences to return to normal. Absolutely packed with imagination, memorable stages, and standout moments, this is a brilliant local multiplayer title that entertains all the way through.
Comments (52)
I stopped reading after Towerfall. That's the best local mp game on the system, everyone knows it.
Good, varied list of games.
@Kidfried agreed, me and my sons always have a couple of rounds of towerfall every weekend.
We also like the spulunky deathmatches but we hope spulunky 2 expands on the 1st.
For my son and I its all about Borderlands 2. Kinda surprised Mutant Football League didn't make the list.
Missing a fighting game, either injustice 2, tekken 7 or sfv. Playing tekken 2 wasted with my flat mates in my uni days was some of the best fun ever!!
Guacameele doesn’t even make the top 20? That’s just not right.
Just what I needed! Defs missing A Way Out, it's one the best co-op experiences out there!
There are a few my son and I like to play together aside from some mentioned above:
Black and White Bushido is a decent little budget game, Plants v Zombies GW2, Lego Worlds, Marooners, Frantics, Disney Infinity, Minecraft, Speed Runners is great. There's loads out there.
Fat Princess is a good coop game. Its a simple and fun ARPG.
I was wondering where Towerfall would land. The best in my book!
Why no Lovers in Space? Great local co-op that was once a free PS+ game. Had awesome fun with the whole family with that one.
I find COD WW2 to be a lot of fun splitscreen with my partner. We either play 1v1 local or we play splitscreen online. My partner who isn't a big gamer enjoys it so much she requests to play it nearly every day.
Stikbold! only gets #19? That game is easily top 3. Author needs a slap!
The couple in the picture - does anyone actually smile this much when playing local co-op? Usually my other half looks angry/disappointed after I've just got us both killed
A really cool list. Especially Rayman Legends!
It's funny as often it's easy to forget about some of the local multiplayer games there are on PS4. Good work putting the list together!
I haven’t saw the full list but I’m going to look at it. I’m not the biggest fan of online games anymore, I want to play in the same room.
Sad to see lego worlds or lego marvel superheros not mentioned. I've played those most with my daughter. I'd also give portal nights and honorable mention.
@Gremio108 That 1 is really a coöp game in singleplayer its gers boring fast.
Updated
Weak list imo. Too much shovelware instead of better games.
A Way Out... Where is A Way Out? Some of the best local co-op you could wish for, and it's not even on the list? But seriously, I've never even heard of, let alone played, at least a dozen games in this list
It is a good list; my other half isn’t a gamer, but I’ve had “couples night” with some friends and we all really enjoyed That’s You, which as I got as part of PS+, was well worth it even just for that evening.
@Gremio108 I think it's more grimacing from the pain of over-extending their arms. Someone should tell them thrusting out the controller doesn't make them go faster.
VICTOR VRAN is sorely missing from this list. A 9.5/10 couch co-op title. Diablo meets platformer with great character customization based on cards and their costumes. AWESOME!
Surprised that Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons did not make it - a beautifully made game, great story and unique. Looks like you prefer action.
@daldrum Brothers is a single player game.
Diablo 3 sucks for couch coop local play. No simultaneous menus for inventory management aside from the quick swap was a terrible design choice that Blizzard never patched.
If you've ever tried playing this with 3 other people, be prepared to wait 30+ minutes each time you return to town.
It's a fun game, but dang is it frustrating.
I’m curious how the new Team 17 game, Moving Out stacks up on this list. If it’s anywhere near as fun as Overcooked it should be a great time with friends.
Couch co-op, a relic of the past. Great article, but in 2020 I have to wonder what gaming couple/family doesn't have 2 consoles and buys digital copies to gameshare? Every single game that has any type of co-op/multi component then becomes a couch co-op game. Instead of rummaging through a large library hoping to find the one game that doesn't suck enough to pass on just because you can split screen, make the games work for you. After all, that's what gamesharing was created for, not for two friends halfway across the world, not for brothers down the block from each other, not for a bf/gf who can't wait until they can see each other next weekend, no it was made for gaming families. How have the gaming families not realized this yet? Too many people are abusing this feature and hardly none of the people it's meant for are taking advantage of it.
@GoblinKing86 Buying multiple consoles for multiplayer is a big ask, especially for a non-portable system that also requires a screen. I'm sure not going to buy 1 console and TV per person in my house so we can play multiplayer together.
I don't think couch co-op or local multiplayer is a thing of the past, I think that perception stems from a lack of support for it by developers. And I think that lack of support isn't due to lack of demand, it's because local multiplayer is resource intense and harder to develop. This list is weak with only a few real gems on it compared to how many great multiplayer games are on PS4, and worse if you don't want competitive multiplayer games and are looking for just local co-op.
I'm surprised God of War wasn't #1😉
Other good couch co-op games:
BroForce
Trine 2, 4
Magicka 2
Sports with Friends
Poor old forgotten Earth Defense Force 😔 Also Remnant from the Ashes is a fantastic game, especially when playing co-op.
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a favorite in my group. It deserves a higher rank in my opinion, because the replayability is endless and there are regular updates even now.
@aesz13
I love Ultimate Chicken Horse. Been too long since I've played it.
These are cool. But only play local co-op when my Niece comes to visit.
Even before Covid - I was not taking a train out to Brooklyn after work to play on my cousins couch with him. Even when I finally could see him, we did not spend the time playing videogames.
Most "co-op" happens online after 9PM. When dinner is over and kids are in bed.
I love Everybody's Golf and Overcooked!
@R1spam Ultimate Marvel vs. CAPCOM 3 is my pick.
Bring back Crash Bash. That's my favourite multitap game of all time.
Me and a mate recently played through Sackboy A Big Adventure, and we had a helluva fun time, especially during the finish screen, we would literally beat the stuffing out of one another for the trophy while laughing our butts off to the point we were in tears.
"Give me that trophy or I'll undo your bloody stitching mate!"
A few additions to make:
I made a special guide for local couch-games on PS4: https://scarbir.medium.com/best-local-4-player-games-ps4-3904dc150cc3
1. CoD: Cold War
☆ Zombies Outbreak is one of the best zombies game modes ever. Huge open world map with a lot of different bosses. You can use cars/jeeps, snowmobiles and parachutes
☆ Dead Ops Arcade entirely playable in 3D
2. Borderlands 2/3
3. Alienation/Dead Nation
4. Earth Defense Force 5/Iron Rain
5. CoD: Ghosts
☆ Extinction
6. Risk of Rain 2
7. Crash Team Racing
8. Helldivers
9. PES 2021
10. CoD: Black Ops 3
☆ Nightmares campaign zombies are the main enemies
Nice to see Swords of Dito in the list! Brilliant game filled with puzzles & fun things to explore. Also me and the misses have spent HOURS playing Towerfall. Decent list tbf
@Killionaire a lot of shooters in this list!
@Ajazbo indeed hahaha. Its my fav genre
Vikings: Wolves of Misgard and Warhammer Chaosbane are nice couch co-op games as well but im not a fan of hack n slash games. Im a co-op shooters enthusiast
You need to put Helldiver on this list!!!
The wife and I absolutely adored It Takes Two what a phenomenal game! Overcooked 2 we enjoyed too, up to mid way through the DLC when it became stupidly hard to get full stars.
Unfortunately Sackboy doesn’t give as much to casual gamers who get bored easily, not enough variety for my partner. She completely bounced off it, but I can’t play it without her in case she wants to give it another go, so it just sits there.
Ultimate chicken horse is #1 in my books. Hilarious fun, and the soundtrack is crackin!
I'm surprised no mention of Soul Calibur or Tekken.
Gonna keep this bookmarked so me and my GF can explore new titles.
My wife and I love Towerfall and Overcooked, but there's 2 other games we really enjoyed that aren't on this list: Haven, and Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime.
Was Unravel Two on the list? If not, it should've been on it.
Team Sonic Racing???
Instead Nickelodeon Brawl?
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