Looking for the best split-screen games? From classic couch co-op to the fun of playing with friends around the same computer, there’s something about sitting in the same room and playing a game together on the same screen.
What’s more, the nostalgia is strong for many players who grew up with these games on PC or console – from the best PC games of the early 2000s and beyond – and miss the days when split-screen was more prevalent. So, we’ve put together a list of the best games to play with a partner or family member in the room.
Borderlands
There are few games that hold a special place in the hearts of gamers quite like Borderlands. The looter shooter with a pinch of RPG may have evolved over the years, but Borderlands remains an OG favourite among fans. Some even consider the series an all-time favourite, and there are plenty of people who will tell you that Borderlands 2 is one of the best PC games of all time.
For those who have fond memories of blowing up bandits with friends, siblings, or partners, the recent announcement of Borderlands VR was a bit of a disappointment. For a lot of players, the problem was not with the idea of a VR Borderlands game, but rather the concept’s execution. A hard idea to execute, some would say, and a lazy port at best.
Now, they all want Borderlands VR to be great, but, even if it is, how many of them will actually play it? Let’s be honest, the online structure of the series is what makes it so fun, and removing that aspect seems like a mistake. The lack of effort put into mapping the character models’ hands in Borderlands VR is seen as a lazy decision. They suggested a potential multiplayer solution based on the concept of only having hands in the game. Regardless of that, there are still many fond memories of playing Borderlands with friends and family.
Borderlands 1 will always have a special place in their hearts. It was the first game they played on PC or console, the first RPG game they fell in love with, and the first game they played through with their siblings. The nostalgia is strong and they have a lot of love for it. The darker tones of Borderlands 1 are preferred by some over the later games in the series, but they are sure there are fans on both sides.
Borderlands VR might be a let-down for some, but they are still counting on Gearbox to deliver an incredibly fun co-op experience. After all, it is the studio that gave them one of the best FPS co-op games, so they know they can do it.
Goldeneye
Goldeneye holds a special place in many players’ hearts, particularly those who grew up with it in the 1990s. For many, it was their first multiplayer shooter and one of the most fun split-screen experiences. The fun of playing split-screen with friends and siblings is something gamers miss. Many were disappointed when it was discovered that the character Oddjob was banned in the multiplayer game. That decision was universally followed by players, which says a lot about the seriousness with which Goldeneye was taken.
Before online multiplayer, creating barriers to prevent screen peeping was a common practice among friends. If they ever played Halo with their brother, they probably remember the phrase “Stop looking at my screen!” all too well. In Goldeneye, the first-person shooter with a focus on local multiplayer, this was taken to the extreme. There was no lobby, and there was no way to see where their friends were, so they had to coordinate with them.
If they were playing on the same screen, they could see their partner’s controller, so they had to make sure they did not end up in the same area. The map was only shown when they died, and the respawn points were placed strategically so that they would not know where their partner was. This is what made Goldeneye so special, the intense coordination that made it fun.
Couch co-op is not just a fun choice for many gamers; it is a popular choice that allows players to connect and have fun together, face to face. Games like Diablo 4,
