Highlights

• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War offers an excellent split-screen experience with its famous zombie mode, providing satisfying gameplay against hordes of undead.
• Star Wars Battlefront 2 allows players to engage in action-packed battles against enemy soldiers, offering both first and third-person perspectives for versatile gameplay.
• Fortnite, one of the most famous games worldwide, offers split-screen multiplayer in its main modes, such as Duos and Squads, allowing players to team up and compete in the battle royale arena.

It is becoming rarer and rarer to find a game that allows you and a buddy or two to play side by side on the couch. However, while split-screen multiplayer may be becoming a thing of the past, for the time being, you can still find a game here or there that features it, even on the newest consoles like the Xbox Series X|S.

There are a ton of great co-op games on the Xbox, with many of them offering satisfying storylines to beat with a friend. However, if you’re looking to share a bevy with a friend while shooting aliens or rekindle a failing relationship with your partner - in the game, of course - then these split-screen multiplayer titles are for you.

Updated March 22, 2024 By Ben Jessey: The Xbox Series X|S offers many split-screen co-op experiences. We created this list to narrow the collection down to just the best ones. And in this update, we've added a few more to the pack.

31 Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 was originally released on the Xbox 360 many years before the Xbox Series X|S hit the shelves. However, the game was later released on the Xbox One and is playable on the Xbox Series X|S. Despite its age, the title holds up very well.

Unlike other RE games, it's light on scares, but it's a very enjoyable two-player action game. You must share ammo and health while you battle groups of infected beasts and bosses. So, good aim and resource management is key to success in this title.

30 Baldur's Gate 3

Local co-op is only available on the Xbox Series X, not the Series S.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the biggest and most highly regarded RPGs in recent history. In fact, in his review, Ryan Bamsey showered the game with praise by saying that "everything [about the game] is fine-tuned to provide a gripping experience that provokes wonder and joy." And it just so happens that you can experience the entire adventure in local co-op.

Together, you will be meeting interesting characters, making important choices, and taking part in clever turn-based battles that reward strategy and clever thinking. This is all in service of your customizable protagonist attempting to remove the parasite embedded within them. Or at least that’s the setup of the story. Things quickly go much deeper in both the main quests and side adventures.

29 Goat Simulator 3

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a goat? If so, that’s a surprise, as most people have never considered it. Yet, Coffee Stain Studios has made multiple games around the concept, and they happen to be plenty of fun.

In Goat Simulator 3, you and your friends each control a goat, as you’re set free in a large open-world environment. While there, you’re encouraged to create as much havoc as possible. But you should also do some exploring because as reviewer Meg Pelliccio puts it, "discovering little secrets, stumbling on objectives to puzzle out, or finding new items for your wardrobe is all part of the fun." You can play minigames against your friends, too. So, there is plenty to do in this unusual game.

28 Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake

Technically, the Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons remake doesn't offer split-screen play, but it does revolve around local co-op, as two of you control a pair of brothers. Don't expect many happy family times, though. After all, the brothers have recently lost their mother, and their father has fallen victim to a deadly illness.

So, you have to journey across the land to find a cure for what ails their dad. Along the way, you get to explore some beautiful places and solve plenty of puzzles. In their review of the remake, Andrew King says, "the remake's improved presentation of the original's unique gameplay make it well worth experiencing."

27 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War isn't a complete split-screen game, as several modes don't include the feature. Yet, the FPS title does allow you to split your screen and invite a buddy onto the couch for its famous zombie mode.

Zombies has been a part of the series for many years now. Yet, Black Ops Cold War offers one of the best-ever versions of the mode. The core concept is the same as you're tasked with surviving hordes of undead. Yet, as reviewer Kirk McKeand says, "there’s something really satisfying about the squishiness of the undead hordes this time around."

26 Star Wars: Battlefront 2

Star Wars Battlefront 2 is a shooter set in the Star Wars universe. It focuses more on the warfare aspects of the series as you participate in action-packed battles against enemy soldiers.

Interestingly, the title offers both first and third-person shooting, so it caters to everyone. That is when you've got a gun, however, as there are also heroes and villains who use lightsabers instead that you sometimes control. The arcade mode allows two of you on the same screen to play and battle alongside one another in various game types.

25 Quake 2

Originally, Quake 2 came out in the late '90s and went on to become one of the classic FPS titles. Well, now it is back, and it has been enhanced. The enhancements don't provide a significant change to the title, though. So, it's still the game that people fell in love with. And you're able to play it in split-screen.

With the screen split, you can play PvP multiplayer-like matches with bots. Alternatively, you can go through the entire campaign with multiple teammates. Whichever mode you play, the combat is fast-paced and exciting.

24 Fortnite

Fortnite doesn't need much introduction since it's one of the most famous games on the planet. It has been a free-to-play marvel and has really helped popularize the battle royale genre. And you can experience it with someone next to you, as the game offers split-screen.

When adding another player on the same console, you have to stick to the main modes, such as Duos and Squads. But there aren't many other limitations, as you and a friend can enter the arena together and try to be the last crew standing.

23 F1 23

Racing games have always been great for local multiplayer fun. If you're looking for a simulation racing experience, then F1 23 might be the game for you. As the title suggests, the game is all about Formula One, meaning those are the cars you will be racing with.

In spilt-screen, you can race against one another or actually team up. While teaming up, you both get separate cars, but you're technically on the same team, like in real-life F1.

22 Stardew Valley

In Stardew Valley, you inherit your grandfather's old rundown farm. Your goal is to build it back and make it prosperous again. Yet, you don't have to work hard on your farm every day as you're given plenty of freedom in regard to gameplay. You can also fish, mine, talk to locals or do anything else you desire in the town of Stardew Valley.

The game also allows you to invite friends along for the ride. They serve as farmhands that share the plot of land with you. Together you can make the best farm possible.

21 Dirt 5

Split-screen multiplayer isn't anything new for the racing genre. So, it isn't surprising to see the feature in Dirt 5, which is among the best racing games you will find on the Xbox Series X|S. In fact, Sam Watanuki says, "there really aren’t many downsides to Dirt 5" in their review.

It's more of an arcade racer than its predecessors in terms of racing mechanics. That being said, the game looks as realistic as the average simulation title. So, it's a bit of a blend of those sub-genres. Another way it's different from many big racing games on the market is that it primarily focuses on off-road racing. Therefore, the vehicle list is filled primarily with buggies, muscle cars, and trucks.

20 Terraria

Terraria is a 2D creative sandbox game where you can build, mine, explore, and fight dangerous creatures. There is no real goal or objective to the game. You just live the life you want to live in this adorable-looking world. And you can live that life with others since the game offers split-screen play.

While with a friend, you can explore and build together. Alternatively, if you're not a cooperative player, you can take a PVP approach and battle your split-screen buddy. No screen cheating, though.

19 Ark: Survival Evolved

Like most survival games, Ark: Survival Evolved tasks you with managing things like your thirst and hunger. Yet, the situation is a bit more dire in this title, as the world you're roaming around is filled with dinosaurs. So, along with keeping up with your general needs, you also need to make sure you're not taken out by a giant creature.

Surviving what is clearly a perilous situation is made a bit easier if you have a friend by your side, as the two of you can take on the dangers together. The inclusion of co-op makes this enjoyable and unique survival game even better.

18 Gears 5

Some of the best Xbox co-op experiences ever have come from the Gears Of War series. Gears 5, in particular, is a wonderful co-op third-person cover shooter. It supports three-player split-screen play, with two playing as soldiers while one controls a supporting robot.

The campaign revolves around the protagonist Kait Diaz, who attempts to figure out her mysterious past. Meanwhile, humanity is amid a war with the dangerous Swarm creatures. It's "a story that is impressively well-written," according to reviewer Brandon McIntyre. Yet, equally enjoyable are some of the other modes, such as Horde, which tasks you with surviving waves of enemies. This mode can also be played in co-op.

17 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 And 2

The remaster of the first two Tony Hawk's Pro Skaters came out on all the latest platforms. Back when they were originally around in the late '90s to early 2000s, they were seen as some of the greatest skating games ever.

This remaster has brought them back in pretty much all their glory as the collection is "every bit as fun as it is nostalgic," so says Sam Watanuki in their review. They still contain excellent soundtracks, eye-catching tricks, and satisfying skating. They're even more fun when playing in split-screen. There are several local multiplayer modes for you to enjoy, from H-O-R-S-E to tag. Alternatively, you can just have a chill time roaming around in the free skate mode.

16 Borderlands 3

There isn't a litany of great co-op RPGs, especially those that include split-screen play. That is what is so special about Borderlands 3, as it offers up to four-player split-screen action. Your group makes up a team of Vault Hunters who are tasked with stopping a pair of evil twins and their wild followers.

Each playable character is a different class, meaning they have specific powers. Using those abilities and the many guns you find, you must participate in plenty of first-person battles against a host of different enemies, from wild creatures to fanatics armed with rifles. So, it's a lot like the previous instalments in the series, but Eric Switzer calls it "the best version of Borderlands to date" in their review.

15 Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed

Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed is a remake of the second Destroy All Humans title. In it, you control an alien called Crypto, who travels around the Earth, causing chaos for the people living there.

He does so with his advanced weaponry, inhuman abilities, and impressive spaceship. As the name of the game suggests, destruction is very much the goal in this action-adventure title. And what is the best way to cause as much demolition as possible? Invite a friend to help you, which you can do in two-player split-screen.

14 Human: Fall Flat

Human: Fall Flat pre-dates the Xbox Series X|S by several years, but it has since been ported to the console and remains as enjoyable as ever. The game puts all players in control of strange wobbly people who don't move like traditional humans. And at the start of each level, you're dropped into a unique world.

The game doesn't give you an objective marker or map. All you really know is that you need to use your puzzle and platforming skills to make it to the exit.

13 Rocket League

Rocket League blends racing games and football (aka soccer) games together. To put it simply, the title allows you to play football with cars. You use these rocket-powered vehicles to knock a large ball around a pitch and attempt to smash it into your opponent's net.

Like in real football, you generally play on a team. And one of your teammates can be a person sitting next to you, as Rocket League allows split-screen. The two of you - and perhaps a couple of others - can face off against another crew online.

12 Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

For many years, the Borderlands games have provided some of the best cooperative shooter experiences in gaming. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a spin-off to that series. It is similar to Borderlands from a gameplay perspective, as it is an FPS with RPG elements.

However, Wonderlands differs from the others due to its world. Instead of being set on Pandora or other similar planets, the adventure is primarily set within a fantasy tabletop game. As such, you fight plenty of goblins and other D&D-like creatures. Plus, there are many jokes poking fun at certain tabletop tropes. In fact, it's an overall funny title because the famous cast understands the silliness of the game and leans into it, as Stacey Henley points out in her review.