Online multiplayer may be all the rage these days, but there are still plenty of great 2-player PS5 games that can be enjoyed on the couch with a friend or loved one. These popular titles range from high-octane first-person shooters to colorful cozy games, ensuring that there's something for just about everyone on the platform.

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Borderlands 3, It Takes Two and Dirt 5
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The best 2-player games on the PS5 are enjoyed by millions of people all over the world, with their split or shared-screen functionality helping to bring friends and families closer together. Some of them are relatively new titles, while others have been around since the previous console generation, yet remain popular to this day.

12 Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake

Metacritic Rating: 79 (PS5)

Although the original release did technically support co-op, it wasn't until the game's 2024 remake that Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons received proper two-player support. Some will perhaps argue that the narrative doesn't hit quite as hard when experienced this way, but most would probably be in agreement that the actual gameplay becomes a lot more enjoyable with two people.

Players will need to work together in order to progress through this charming indie title and will experience plenty of heartfelt and exciting moments along the way. It may lack the same level of polish that some bigger budget titles are able to offer, but it more than makes up for this in charm and interesting ideas; both of which it delivers in spades.

11 Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Metacritic Rating: 79 (PS5)

There were only a couple of console exclusives among the PS5's launch titles, one of which was Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Aiming to capitalize on the success of the LittleBigPlanet series, this charming 3D puzzle platformer proved to be very popular with younger gamers and those looking for something that they could play together with their kids.

The new powerups that can be found throughout the game help to keep the experience feeling fresh, while the puzzles are challenging enough to get player's brains working a little without ever leaving them truly stumped. Finding all of the Dreamer Orbs is fairly manageable as well, so players should never find themselves getting frustrated as they explore.

10 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Metacritic Rating: 56 (PS5)

When it comes to first-person shooters, the Call of Duty franchise still leads the way, even if standards have dropped off a little in recent years. Like pretty much all of its predecessors, Modern Warfare III supports split-screen co-op, allowing two buddies to hunker down on the couch and take on a team of bots or other players elsewhere in the world.

Sadly, the game's campaign can only be experienced solo, which may come as a disappointment to some players. The same is true of certain game modes like Zombies, Free-for-All, and Ground War, but just about everything else that the game has to offer can be enjoyed locally with a friend. It's one of the best 2-player PS5 games when it comes to gunplay and a must-play for fans of the genre.

9 Diablo 4

Metacritic Rating: 86 (PS5)

Diablo Immortal left an indelible stain on the Diablo franchise, with some long-term fans turning their back on the series for good due to the game's manipulative monetization. Thankfully, Diablo 4 shares very little in common with the 2022 mobile title, instead offering players a timely reminder of why so many people fell in love with the franchise in the first place.

Diablo 4 is everything that a modern dungeon crawler should be, offering exciting action and near-infinite replayability in equal measures. Grinding for better gear and upgrades never really feels too tedious, particularly when the load is lightened by the presence of a friend, and each new season provides players with plenty of new content to consume.

8 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2

Metacritic Rating: 90 (PS5)

The nineties was a great time to be alive, especially for those who enjoyed gaming. Some of the very best video games of all time were released throughout the decade, including the first of what would prove to be many Tony Hawk's games. Several decades later, both it and its sequel were remade for modern consoles; much to the the delight of many.

The team behind the remakes did a fantastic job of recapturing the essence of the original games while also adding a few major quality-of-life updates. It certainly helps that the games' fantastic soundtracks remain largely unchanged, with only a handful of songs missing across the two titles. The multiplayer mode is fantastic too, with split-screen support available in several game modes.

7 Human: Fall Flat

Metacritic Rating: 67 (PS4)

It may surprise some people to learn that Human: Fall Flat is one of the best-selling video games of all time. For those who've actually played the 2016 title, though, it's easy to see how this popular physics-based puzzle platformer could achieve such an impressive feat, such is the addictive nature of its chaotic yet fun-filled multiplayer gameplay.

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Each level features a vast selection of unique puzzles, many of which can be solved in a number of different ways. No matter how much time players spend attempting to master Bob's movement and mechanics, things will never quite go according to plan, though rather than being frustrating, this unpredictability is arguably one of the game's biggest appeals.

6 Borderlands 3

Metacritic Rating: 91 (PS5)

The humor may not be to everybody's taste, but the gameplay that's on offer in Borderlands 3 is really quite impressive. It builds expertly off of the strong foundations laid by previous series installments, with new vault hunters and weapons helping to keep things feeling fresh. The resulting game is one of the best looter shooters ever made and an excellent option for those on the lookout for a fantastic 2-player PS5 game.

Much like all of the other Borderlands games that came before it, Borderlands 3 is at its best when played with friends; whether that be locally through split-screen co-op or online with PSN. There's a ridiculous amount of end-game content and DLC available too, so players should definitely come away from the experience feeling satisfied; assuming, that is, that they can drag themselves away at all.

5 Tekken 8

Metacritic Rating: 90 (PS5)

There are some fantastic fighting games on the PS5, but Tekken 8 is arguably the most well-rounded. Granted, its post-launch monetization may have angered some players, but the fighting experience that's on offer here is second to none and should appeal to those looking for a more grounded and beginner-friendly fighting game with fewer projectiles.

In terms of game modes, players are limited to classic 1v1 showdowns or the returning Tekken Ball mode. The latter can appear quite shallow to begin with but boasts a surprising amount of depth for those who take the time to truly master it. The fighting remains the main attraction, though, and helps to make this one of the best PS5 2-player games.

4 Gran Turismo 7

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)

Following a somewhat bumpy launch that was marred by the game's aggressive monetization, Gran Turismo 7 has really come into its own. A series of regular updates has ensured that players keep coming back, while the addition of VR support helped to introduce both the game and the genre to a whole new audience. Sadly, VR can't be used in multiplayer, but the experience remains highly enjoyable nonetheless.

After unlocking multiplayer in Gran Turismo 7, players will be treated to one of the best 2-player racing games of all time. The mechanics have been meticulously tweaked and dialed in for realism, with each of the game's 300+ cars behaving almost identically to its real-world counterpart. Online multiplayer probably won't suit casuals and beginners, but local 2-player split-screen can be fun regardless of one's skill level.

3 Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Metacritic Rating: 87 (PS5)

Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a family-friendly adventure game with a story that unfolds across the pages of a coloring book. Using their magical paintbrush, players will need to add color to the world around them, which will in turn help them to solve puzzles, beat bosses, and uncover secrets. It can be experienced solo, but is much more enjoyable with two players.

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Best PS5 Games for Kids-1
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Although it started life as a PlayStation exclusive, Chicory has since been ported to Switch and Xbox, which has helped to bring this magical adventure to a much wider audience. It remains one of the best 2-player PS5 games, though, and, thanks to its skippable boss fights, is the perfect title for those looking for something that can be enjoyed with kids.

2 Baldur's Gate 3

Metacritic Rating: 96 (PS5)

Although not exactly common when compared to their single-player counterparts, there's actually a fairly decent selection of co-op multiplayer RPGs on the market. Baldur's Gate 3 is probably the pick of the bunch though, with the 2023 title offering a ridiculous amount of depth when compared to some of its peers; both past and contemporary.

Baldur's Gate 3 excels in multiple areas, but most would probably agree that it's the fantastic writing and the lack of filler that help it to stand out so vividly from the rest of the crowd. The characters feel incredibly genuine and their development is equally believable, which can make experiencing this epic adventure truly magical; more so when done with a friend or loved one.

1 It Takes Two

For a co-op-focused game to win Game of the Year is an incredibly impressive achievement, and one that It Takes Two absolutely deserved. By building upon some of the ideas from his previous title A Way Out and introducing a whole host of new ones, director Josef Fares was able to deliver what many people consider to be the best co-op game of all time.

The game tells the story of Cody and May, a married couple whose relationship is on the rocks. After being transported into two hand-made dolls by the tears of their distraught daughter, they must work together in order to fix their broken relationship. Unlike a lot of great 2-player PS5 games, it manages to nail both the story and the gameplay, making it a must-play for co-op game enthusiasts.