Split screen games on consoles, is that still a thing?

March 13, 2020 11:14 AM

I remember playing a lot of split screen shooters in the early aughts with my friends. Now my son is 10, and I wanna game with him. We have a Switch, but Nintendo games are too family friendly. We do play fortnite together (him: switch, me: PC). Xbox One or PS4? What games?
posted by aeighty to Technology (13 answers total)

Best answer: The general term these days for "multiple players on a single tv/system" is "couch co-op." Here's a solid recent roundup that includes both family friendly and... less so options.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:16 AM on March 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

(Apologies, I misread the question and thought it was specifically for switch, when it's the exact opposite.)
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:17 AM on March 13, 2020

for ps4, rocket league is pretty great as a co-op game, and fun. for switch, pokken dx and super smash brothers are pretty awesome, if that's not too family friendly for you both. resident evil is split screen co-op.
posted by koroshiya at 11:36 AM on March 13, 2020 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Borderlands 3 is a couch co-op! I haven't played the earlier Borderlands installments, but catastropher and I are playing it and it's pretty fun. We're on a PS4 but it's available on the Xbox One as well.
posted by zoetrope at 11:48 AM on March 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I play the following with my 8yo on the PS4: Lego City Undercover, Rocket League, Minecraft, Nom Nom Galaxy, Overcooked (might look too family friendly but it gets to be an incredibly tough co-op game in the later levels).
Heave Ho is a hilarious co-op game on the Switch.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 11:54 AM on March 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

The Halo Master Chief Collection has all the old games and they have split screen coop. Borderlands 3 did. Rocket League. A Way Out does it whether or not you're online or in person for fun.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:03 PM on March 13, 2020

Don't Starve Together, any of the Lego games, Diablo 3, and PixelJunk Monsters are all games I've played only as couch co-op on the PS4, and I'd recommended any of them.
posted by warble at 12:31 PM on March 13, 2020

You should give Duck Game a try. Super fast paced and whimsical split-screen shooter. I'm in my thirties and it's a great throwback when I get four friends battling it out on the TV.
posted by thebigdeadwaltz at 12:40 PM on March 13, 2020

Gang Beasts, while not split screen, is a multi-player brawling game that is absolutely hilarious.
posted by pipeski at 12:43 PM on March 13, 2020

Star Wars Battlefront 1 and 2 are split screen multi player.
posted by LoveHam at 12:52 PM on March 13, 2020

For the PS4, Earth Defense Force 4.1 and EDF 5 have 2 player split-screen co-op.
posted by Bangaioh at 12:53 PM on March 13, 2020 [1 favorite]

Terraria is a lot of fun co-op. You can each be off doing your individual mining and such, but race to help the other or work on a common obstacle when needed. I'm not sure if it is cross-platform enough for your needs.
posted by Glomar response at 12:54 PM on March 13, 2020

Broforce and Streets of Rogue are both quite entertaining in co-op, for Switch (also both are on PC).

Also River City Ransom in the NES emulator, if you have Nintendo Switch Online.
posted by neckro23 at 1:13 PM on March 13, 2020