Online multiplayer is great. The fact that you can talk trash to your friends from halfway around the world without them being able to do anything is always hilarious. Similarly, a world without MMORPG culture would be significantly different and practically impossible to imagine these days.
Before online gaming kicked off on consoles, almost every game came equipped with a split-screen mode. Whether this horizontal divide on the television meant you would be battling against each other or aiding one another cooperatively, the almost obligatory inclusion of a split-screen mode quickly died out when multiplayer went online. Thankfully, this social method of playing with friends is getting a much-deserved revival, with innovative projects utilizing split screen on the PS5.
Updated on October 17, 2024, by Jason Wojnar: It is great to have such a wealth of split-screen options available for modern consoles. After all, siblings or close relatives under one roof don't necessarily have access to two PS5s and can still play games together.
There are always technological concessions to consider, so we thank the developers below for making split-screen an option in the newer titles that aren't remasters. To further show our love for local multiplayer, we decided to revisit this list and add a few more entries so you know what to play the next time your friends come over.
The memetic idea of running Doom on every device under the sun is a joke, but it's also a godsend that such a classic is still available on PS5. The labyrinthine levels and intense difficulty make the game perfect for cooperative gameplay sessions. If teaming up is not your speed, then you can face off against each other in Deathmatch.
The modern re-release still has an active online community, but even if it didn't the local multiplayer offerings would be more than enough to warrant playing this classic more than thirty years after its initial release.
For those interested in a modern take on classic Sonic action, Sonic Superstars has you covered. The game features 3D graphics but the gameplay is more reminiscent of what fans of the series would have played on the Sega Genesis in the 1990s.
Three friends can join in and play the story campaign with you. Given the series' focus on speed, it is best if those with you are more experienced with Sonic games so they don't fall behind. If the co-op is too unwieldy with one player going too fast, then you can always jump into the competitive modes.
Have you ever wanted to play Dungeons & Dragons but were never able to set up a group for it? Well, Baldur's Gate 3 is pretty much the next best thing, especially because it's set within the same world. You get to create your own character and give them a race and class from the Dungeons and Dragons universe. Many story, dialogue, and battle-based decisions have you roll checks, just like in the actual game.
Now, imagine having a friend or three to play alongside you online during your campaign. Whether you all team up or do your own thing is up to you, and you can mess with each other by, for example, grabbing loot you didn't earn for yourself. It's all good fun!
First-person shooters are all well and good, but a lot of them take themselves a little too seriously. If you're craving the gameplay but want something more on the zany side, Borderlands 3 will suit you perfectly. You play as one of four Vault Hunters, and which one you choose gives you different specialties. You've got your standard weapons, but a lot of the weapons you'll find are anything but normal. Ever seen a gun that shoots guns? You will in this game.
Multiplayer in Borderlands 3 is great because you don't have to expect everyone to be on the same skill level. The enemies' levels scale per player, so no one will be fighting opponents that are too high or low level for them. The same goes for loot. So, you can play with your friends regardless of everyone's experience with the game.
There's something about the PS2 era of games that most current-gen games can't replicate. Luckily, Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed, the remake of the 2006 original, has that PS2 charm while still modernizing many aspects of the game. You play as an alien invader named Crypto who's got some beef to settle with the Soviet Union on Earth.
You can play the game's story alone or in local co-op with a friend. The game's bizarre humor and creative gameplay lend themselves well to experiencing it with someone else. You can mind-control humans to dance, explode their heads, literally disintegrate them, and more. That experience should be shared with someone, whether to laugh at or stare in horror.
With the launch of a new console, an update to Sony's flagship racing series was an inevitability. Gran Turismo 7 looks incredible on the PS5, and with hundreds of cars on offer and plenty of iconic tracks, you're sure to have a good time. Not to mention it's perhaps one of the most beautiful games out there.
Racing games make for some of the best when it comes to split-screen play, and GT7 doesn't disappoint. It's not as arcadey as other racers, but you can hop behind the wheel of your favorite supercars and burn some very expensive rubber.
What do you get when you mix legendary gameplay, a banging soundtrack, and a next-gen console? Quite possibly the most fun you'll have in local split-screen multiplayer, ever.
THPS 1+2 is the perfect game if you want to chill with friends. There's no pressure to actually do anything — you don't need to compete or fight. It's great for just hanging out in one of the many different skate parks, eating some snacks, and trying to pull off the holy grail of skateboarding tricks, the 1080. You can also put your minds together in the Create-A-Park mode, too, and then see who can dominate.
Many players have reported issues with the game's servers when attempting to play online. This doesn't affect local co-op or single-player campaigns.Rocket League is available on pretty much every system going, but it deserves inclusion here because it's just that good. With gameplay that's easy to learn but hard to master, it's a great title for teaming up with a good friend and trying to bring home those wins.
The great thing about split-screen multiplayer is that you can also choose to go toe-to-toe with other players and teams online, provided your co-op partner has an active PlayStation Plus account they can sign into on your console. As with any online competitive game, communication is key — and having your teammate sitting right next to you is going to be much more effective than chatting over the Internet.
This one is for when you don't want to have to deal with anything serious, or for when you and your friends are feeling particularly mischievous. Goat Simulator is pure chaos in game form, and that's great for couch multiplayer.
The third installment in the series ramps everything up to 11, adding a whole bunch of features that mean you could play it for hours and never get bored. Throw in four-player split-screen co-op, and you're going to have a whole lot of explosions and NPCs being thrown about like ragdolls.
Hot Wheels Unleashed is quite the opposite of Gran Turismo 7, being a toy-based racer that evokes Micro Machines vibes from back in the day. It's great fun to play, and you'll have a good time of it trying to bump, scrape, and slide your way past your opponents.
Split-screen multiplayer means you've got some great party racing on your hands with a friend or the kids taking turns. There are plenty of tracks and cars to choose from, too. It's one of those racing games that try to tap into the hilarious gameplay of Mario Kart sessions, and it looks great on the PS5, too.
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