Sharing is caring, now split your screen with your buddy and double the fun! If you are looking for the best split screen PC games to play with your friends, you’re in the right place! I have 20 amazing split screen games listed below, just for you.
SHARED SCREEN GAMES < Another local co-op alternative.
There is something unique about splitting a screen with a buddy in gaming. You both have your own shares and can easily see what your friend is doing at the same time. That’s the appeal of split screen gaming. However, some people don’t like the idea of sharing a screen because the view kinda feels unnatural. I hope you’re not one of them.
20 best co-op split screen PC games:
1. It Takes Two
It Takes Two possibly the best split screen game you can ever play. I say this because it’s the winner of Game of The Year 2021 award and user reviews of steam is overwhelmingly positive. I’d be surprised if you’re into split screen game but haven’t heard of this game.
As for the story, it’s about a crazy journey of clashing couple Cody and May, turned into dolls by magic. Together, they must escape from the fantastical world where they’re trapped in.
You can play it co-op couch mode on the same PC or online with distant friends.
2. A Way Out
Here is another co-op split screen game from the creators of It Takes Two. But A Way Out is darker and intended for mature audience.
In A Way Out, you and your co-op partner take on the role of two convicted prisoners escaping from prison.
It’s a game that I’ve played with my best buddy, and we had a blast.
3. Resident Evil 6
Zombie games really fun co-op but most don’t support split screen couch co-op. Except the Resident Evil 6. You can plug an Xbox 360 controller to your PC and play Resident Evil 6 with your friend together.
Resident Evil 6 is using a flawed horizontal split screen. It’s pretty weird, you’ll see it when you play it. However, since it’s the only Zombie co-op game can be played in split screen, you gotta tolerate the camera flaws.
4. Star Wars Battlefront
Star Wars Battlefront takes you to the classic planets from the original Star Wars trilogy.
You can engage in epic battles with your friends in horizontal split screen co-op mode. Horizontal split screen kinda works because you need to be able to see your surroundings and shoot enemies accordingly.
5. Outward
Outward is another game that can be played co-op in horizontal split screen mode.
It’s a fantasy RPG mixed with survival mechanics of modern gaming. I don’t think there is another split screen co-op game with the same genres.
As two adventurers, you guys will explore, fight, use magic, defeat scenarios, and build your base.
6. Human: Fall Flat
Human: Fall Flat is a game of fast-paced fun! It’s a hilarious platformer set in floating dreamscapes. Game can be played solo or with up to 8 players online.
With extra controller, the game can be played locally in vertical split screen.
7. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a super casual game that you can play with loved ones or family. What’s more, you can have your own second family in Stardew Valley. Ha ha.
RPG GAMES WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A FAMILY
You might not be a fan of RPG farming games but playing Stardew Valley co-op, doing quests, farming, and exploring together is so much fun.
Try farmers life once and you’ll never go back!
8. Tetris Effect: Connected
Legendary cult classic game Tetric returned in 2021, fully polished, improved, and now co-op.
You can play Tetris Effect: Connected co-op, competitive online, and local multiplayer. Including split-screen like multiplayer as can be seen in the featured image above.
9. Hot Wheels Unleashed
Well, you must mention the racing games while talking about split screen gaming. First racing game on this page will be the Hot Wheels Unleashed.
Prove your skills by competing awesome races, drift, charge nitro, and launch yourself into loops. It’s fun but that fun can be doubled by playing side by side with a friend.
10. Hypercharge: Unboxed
Hypercharge is a wave-based shooter game that can be played both in first-person and third-person views. It also has co-op option. Either play online co-op or local split screen with a controller.
The game is inspired by the movie Small Soldiers, where action figures become alive and create mayhem.
You’ll become little toy soldiers in casual environments such as house rooms, kitchen, and yard. Overall, it’s a fun game to play with your younger siblings or child.
11. Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
For those who don’t know, Sonic The Hedgehog is a Japanese video game series and media franchise.
In this game Sonic and Sega All-Stars are racing for victory in high-speed racetrack. Choose from 20 characters from the Sonic & Sega and have some fun.
12. Lakeview Cabin 2
Have you ever played a 2d horror game? Lakeview Cabin is a game is a game like non other. What’s more, it does have horizontal split screen co-op.
Murder mystery of Lakeview Valley is waiting to be solved. Since the game is RPG, you can play at least 16 roles as a character. Can you and your buddy survive against the slasher? Hell, you can also be the slasher yourself…
A big warning: Lakeview Cabin video game franchise features murder themes and intended for mature audience.
13. Fight Crab
Fight Crab is a 3D action game where you take control of a crab and fight off other crabs. After all, crabs are natural fighters with their over-sized claws.
The game features 23 types of crab, 48 different weapons, and 11 unique battle stages. All in all, it’s a fast-paced fighting game that is great to blow off some steam.
14. Who’s Your Daddy?
Who’s Your Daddy is a game of shits and giggles. One player becomes the clueless father whereas second player is the infant son.
Son is the most mischievous brat that likes to do all kinds of dangerous activities. Father must prevent his son from certain death in order to win!
You can play with up to 7 of your friends, test your parenting skills, and interact with over 70 potententially omnious household items.
15. Lego The Lord of the Rings
Media licensed lego games are always fun. They may be intended for younger audience, but adults can enjoy Lego games too. Especially if you are fan of the licensed media franchise.
I’m a fan of the Lord of the Rings, therefore I’ll be mentioning Lego The Lord of the Rings today.
The game follows the stories of original trilogy and can be played co-op with family and friends. According to your level and location, co-op camera shifts between split screen and shared screen. Both are equally fun.
16. Darksiders Genesis
Darksiders series was always a third person hack & slash single-player RPG. All that changed with Darksiders Genesis.
Genesis turned the game into an isometric hack & slash with multiplayer co-op modes. Some fans didn’t like the changes, but the game is widely liked and received positive rating from reviews.
In co-op players can play Strife and War, the two members of the four horsemen of apocalypse.
17. Rocket League
I bet almost everyone have already heard about the popular vehicle soccer game Rocket League. But most didn’t know that the game has co-op split screen mode.
Rocket league can be played on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, and Windows. It’s free to play on PC. However, the game is not available on steam. You need to play it via EpicGames client.
18. Stranded Deep
Split screen survival games are rare and Stranded Deep is one of them.
Story is like this: A plane crashed somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. You are a stranded survivor and must come face to face with some of the most life-threatening scenarios. So scavenge, discover, and survive.
Boy, this game reminds me of the old TV series Lost which was about the survivors of a commercial jet airliner’s crash.
19. Viscera Cleanup Detail
Viscera Cleanup Detail is one of the most unique games you can play. It features the story of a space-station janitor tasked with cleaning up after various horrific sci-fi horror events. No weapons in this game, you only got your mop and bucket to clean the mess.
It’s a cleaning game. Therefore, solo play can be boring. But it’s fun like nothing else when played with friends.
20. Aichi Emperors Zero
Time to wrap things up. I’ll be ending this best split screen games list with a free to play battle-racing game.
Aichi Emperors is an indie game made with Unity Engine. In the game you embody two members of an old biker gang and battle to death with the punks who invaded your city.
Full blown action of riding bike through the city of Yumeshima and facing deadly challenges awaits you.