Gaming is one of the most prominent hobbies in 2024, with almost 2.58 billion gamers worldwide. That means 1 out of 4 people nowadays play at least a single video game, and that could include your friends or family.
Planning a family day or a night out with friends can sometimes be difficult, but having video games as one of the options is a surefire way to make things fun.
If you plan to have a gaming evening with your friends or have a chill session during the day with your family, these couch co-op games will either make or break your relationships. So, ready your snacks, grab your controllers, and we'll bring you the ten best couch co-op games for you and your family!
It Takes Two
It Takes Two, from EA and Hazelight Studios, was named 2021's Game of the Year by The Game Awards. It is an awesome couch co-op game for couples or friends that requires teamwork and collaboration. Players control Cody and May, who are on a quest to return to their original bodies after their daughter Rose has turned them into toys. On the brink of a divorce, they must work together to break the curse and mend their relationship.
It Takes Two adds emotional themes to wonderfully crafted couch co-op mechanics. Featuring different bosses from Rose's toys, the game requires players to work together using different abilities while at the same time learning about relationships along the way. Firing up It Takes Two during a cold Wednesday night is best with some hot cocoa and some marshmallows; just be sure not to get too pissed off if your partner ends up dooming your playthrough during one of the game's awesome boss fights.
Overcooked: All You Can Eat
Aside from folding laundry and doing the grocery shopping, the Overcooked games are some of the ultimate tests for relationships. Depending on how you toss that ingredient over the moving platform counter, these games can ruin or strengthen relationships. Players are in a Hell's Kitchen type of setting where almost every aspect of cooking involves movements, a bit of shouting, and panic. Customers will flood the restaurant and players will have to work against the clock to slice, cook, wash plates, and serve their way to victory.
The All You Can Eat version of Overcooked includes both Overcooked 1 and Overcooked 2. Each game has different mechanics and storylines, but the same hilarity and chaotic fun are as present in both. Up to four players can play as chefs in Overcooked, and if you are the 5th member in your group, you'll still have a great time watching your friends hurl insults and ingredients across the kitchen battlefield as they try to cook a burrito.
Moving Out 1 and 2
Overcooked's publisher Team17 also published Moving Out albeit being made by a different development team. As with other Team17 games, Moving Out capitalizes on fun and chaos as players try to move furniture from one place to another, with hilarious obstacles in between.
click to enlarge
+ 3Moving Out has a mechanic called "Assist Mode," making everything a bit easier. This mode is helpful, especially when playing with younger kids who have just started playing video games. Moving Out has the same fun frenzy as Overcooked, except players haul chairs and fridges instead of cucumbers and tuna.
Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers is one of the best couch co-op games if you prefer some hack-and-slash action with your friends. With up to four players playing split screen, everyone can join in the fun as you slash your way against hordes of enemies in a quirky 2D medieval universe.
Players can choose from one of the colored Knights each with different abilities. Utilizing each of your abilities well is key to winning against the hordes of enemies in Castle Crashers. Knights will also level up and can equip different weapons. Planning your loadout with your friends is part of the excitement when playing Castle Crashers.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
If Overcooked or It Takes Two made you mad at a friend or a family member by not working together, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will do the opposite. It will still make you mad though, especially when one of your friends hurls one of those coveted Spiny Shells towards you when you are just about to cross the finish line. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also captures the reactions from racers, with some characters glaring at others when overtaken or some wincing after being hit by a shell. These make for more hilarious co-op moments. Luigi glaring at you as he throws a shell to stop your victory is possibly one of gaming's most iconic moments.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe adds new battle mode courses and has won several awards including the Best Racing Game Award during the 21st Annual D.I.C.E. Awards 2018. A few laps of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe during a family gathering is a fun way to get the party started.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Another Super Mario title from Nintendo, Super Mario Wonder is a great family game for kids who are just practicing their hand-eye coordination. It is a fantastic side-scrolling game that introduces younger gamers to the world of Mario.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is so child-friendly that it even won the Central Park Children's Zoo Award for Best Kids Game during the 13th New York Game Awards this year. It has characters that take no damage, perfect for youngsters who just want to participate in a family gaming session. It also encourages discussions for kids and can be a fantastic topic during mealtime.
Stardew Valley
For couples and friends who just want to relax instead of going out, Stardew Valley is a great cozy game to spend your rainy weekends gaming with your friends or partner. It has multiplayer co-op that lets you tend to your farm together. Players can even get married to each other instead of marrying one of the eligible characters in-game.
click to enlarge + 3Aside from its simple yet pleasing visuals, Stardew Valley has a nice soundtrack to complement the hundreds of hours you'll play, especially now that the game's massive 1.6 update is now live on mobile and consoles. From dungeon crawling in caves to mindlessly fishing around the town's lake and ocean, Stardew Valley is the perfect relaxation game for you and your friends.
Unravel 2
Unlike the first game, Unravel 2 features local multiplayer which lets friends and family play together to solve puzzles and stop a storm. A nicely paced co-op video game, Unravel 2 is also perfect for those quiet gaming sessions in which you can just simply take your time adventuring with your friend or family member.
Games like Overcooked and Moving Out tend to be on the more chaotic side, but Unravel 2 takes the same kind of teamwork in a much more tender approach. It also has its loud moments where everyone tends to become a little bit annoyed with each other, but Unravel 2 is also a rewarding experience. Unreavel 2 is available on PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Baldur's Gate 3
2023's Game of The Year offers a fantastic Dungeon and Dragons experience in Baldur's Gate 3. This role-playing game is best suited for older friends and family members as it has themes that may be challenging to explain to a little kid. While it isn't as family-friendly as the other titles before it, Baldur's Gate 3 offers tons of freedom on how players approach certain in-game circumstances.
click to enlarge + 3Players control different party members but will work together in a co-op session. Working together and figuring out the best tactics during combat or even character encounters makes Baldur's Gate 3 a great game for friends and family who love to have longer gaming sessions over a few boxes of pizza and beer.
Minecraft
Minecraft offers split-screen multiplayer on consoles and is perfect for friends and older kids who love to craft and create buildings and worlds. Minecraft also has a complex crafting mechanic which is a great conversation starter for kids and friends. Creating a massive castle together by simply stacking blocks on top of each other is both simple and mesmerizing at the same time, perfect for parents and kids who love to work on projects together.
Minecraft isn't limited to family members. Friends can adventure and roleplay together as they craft stronger armor and weapons. As Minecraft is a sandbox game, it allows creative juices to flow without restrictive game mechanics.
Whether you prefer the loud gaming sessions of Overcooked and Mario Kart or the relaxing gaming moments of Stardew Valley and Minecraft, this list will help you decide which games to play next on your upcoming family day or party. Stay updated with the latest gaming news and stories by following Gfinity Esports.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features page.