Local co-op is somewhat of a dying art form, with most multiplayer games releasing with an online-only focus and no local co-op options at all. However, Friday, March 25 bucks that trend by offering local co-op gamers not one, but two high profile local co-op games to choose from.
March 25 is a big day for co-op fans in general, but what makes today especially exciting for local co-op gamers is that the new releases both have local co-op options. First up is Kirby and the Forgotten Land, a Nintendo Switch exclusive that serves as Kirby's first full-fledged 3D platforming adventure. While this would be enough for many Kirby fans to be excited about Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the inclusion of local co-op takes things to the next level.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land co-op allows players to bring a friend with them to play through Kirby's newest adventure together. The first player controls Kirby and has access to his new abilities, while the second player controls Waddle Dee, who also has some unique tricks up his sleeve. Kirby and the Forgotten Land has earned rave reviews from critics who are impressed with Kirby's latest offering, so it seems like it should be a surefire hit for local co-op fans.
The other local co-op game on offer is Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, which is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. A spin-off of Gearbox Software's Borderlands franchise, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands has earned mostly positive reviews from critics. It offers an expansive action-RPG experience for players to enjoy with up to 4 players online and 2-players in local split-screen co-op.
There were some serious issues with Borderlands 3 split-screen that have thankfully been ironed out with Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. Players no longer have to suffer through lag when playing in split-screen, plus there are now options for both horizontal and vertical split-screen modes. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a huge improvement over Borderlands 3 when it comes to the local co-op experience, so anyone needing a new local co-op game to play should seriously consider giving it a shot.
Looking ahead, there's even more local co-op games to look forward in the near future, including the long-awaited LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which is currently scheduled to release on April 5 across numerous platforms, not to mention the Switch exclusive House of the Dead remake that's dropping on April 7.