Single Computer, Two Player Games

August 29, 2007 9:53 AM

Looking for two player computer games using the same computer.

I recently put together a high end HTPC. I would love to play video games with the wife on it. I know I should get some sort of game console, but that's way down the road. A long time a go we used to play "You Don't Know Jack" which was pretty fun.

Looking for other game suggestions AND/OR other ways of playing LAN games using the same computer.

Thanks!!

posted by bleucube to computers & internet (28 comments total)

2 player Star Control/ Star Control 2!
posted by mrthotep at 10:00 AM on August 29, 2007

Check out emulators if you're into that sort of thing. Since they are all console or arcade games, they were designed for multiplayer action on a single screen.

As for real pc games...
I have played a bunch of sports games like this, and it's the only way I enjoy them. Two ps2 controllers, one ps2 to usb adapter, a friend, a case of beer and a copy of madden or NHL = a good evening.
posted by utsutsu at 10:07 AM on August 29, 2007

Heroes of Might and Magic, up to version 4 does it. (5 might, but I don't have it).

Masters of Orion 3.

Mind you, neither of those require high end anything except time to kill.
posted by jaded at 10:22 AM on August 29, 2007

There was a question on AskMe like... 1 week ago where someone asked about games that could be played (on an airplane) by two people on the same computer. Maybe someone can locate that thread.
posted by rxrfrx at 10:29 AM on August 29, 2007

The kind of gameplay where you take turns on the same computer is usually referred to as "Hotseat".

You should look at the Worms series of games. The ones I played several years ago had that feature, the new ones probably do too.
posted by demiurge at 10:32 AM on August 29, 2007

Thank you for the suggestions so far. Emulators and Worms! Great suggestions.

Found the thread regarding the airplane:
http://ask.metafilter.com/70062/Computer-games-for-two-on-a-long-flight
posted by bleucube at 10:37 AM on August 29, 2007

The you don't know jack series is incredibly fun and the CDs can be found very cheaply in the bargain bins at Best Buy, etc. It's a great spouse / significant other game because it's humorous and easy enough for anyone to play. They've also got (in beta) a web based version of the game.
posted by twiggy at 10:42 AM on August 29, 2007

Crap I responded so quickly I didn't even noticed you already mentioned YDNJ, sorry.
posted by twiggy at 10:42 AM on August 29, 2007

Masters of Orion 3 is so godawful, though. Seriously. It is like cancer of the fun.

Scorched Earth.
posted by boo_radley at 10:49 AM on August 29, 2007

Worms is the ultimate hotseat game.
posted by TheSlate at 10:54 AM on August 29, 2007

You can play Civilization 4 in hotseat mode.
posted by damn dirty ape at 11:02 AM on August 29, 2007

I'd recommend Master of Orion 2
posted by PowerCat at 11:07 AM on August 29, 2007

Dani Burton's M.U.L.E. is legendary and might be worth checkout out.
posted by chairface at 11:16 AM on August 29, 2007

Tunneler is really addicting. If your computer can handle 16 colors.
posted by starman at 11:30 AM on August 29, 2007

I think Battle for Wesnoth has a hotseat mode.
posted by Iridic at 11:42 AM on August 29, 2007

Seconding You Don't Know Jack, also Peggle has proven to be extremely competition-inducing.
posted by Durhey at 11:45 AM on August 29, 2007

Two players on one computer demands Liero, the real-time version of Worms (there are a few modernized versions as well, including LieroX and NiL)
posted by j.edwards at 11:48 AM on August 29, 2007

rxrfrx: Here's the thread about playing games on an airplane. (I still want to know how to overcome the battery dying problem.)
posted by GaelFC at 12:25 PM on August 29, 2007

GLTron. Ignore the 1998 website design; the game is well developed and maintained, free, and built from pure awesome. As the name suggests, the game is designed after the movie Tron, specifically the lightcycle games. You can play against each other using one keyboard, against each other or in co-op against the computer. It operates on Mac. Windows amd Linux.
posted by lekvar at 12:31 PM on August 29, 2007

Worms World Party was hilarious fun. I used to play it for hours (on the same computer) with my roommate.
posted by puddleglum at 12:51 PM on August 29, 2007

Found this one too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Multiplayer_hotseat_games
posted by bleucube at 1:14 PM on August 29, 2007

Pocket Tanks
posted by djb at 2:02 PM on August 29, 2007

Aye, Master of Orion 3 is as much fun as playing spreadsheet. MoA2 is tons better.

Also echoing Scorched Earth and Worms-type of games.
posted by Tacodog at 2:32 PM on August 29, 2007

Galaga on mame ... although you take turns.
posted by jannw at 2:45 PM on August 29, 2007

Seconding Civ4 on Hotseat mode. It can be a ton of fun (although it can take a while).

If you like figuring things out, any of the Incredible Machine type games can be fun to try to solve together. The one we played most recently was Armadillo Run.
posted by gemmy at 4:44 PM on August 29, 2007

You can play Civilization 4 in hotseat mode.
posted by damn dirty ape at 11:02 AM on August 29

Keep in mind this takes a million years, especially as the game really gets going. Multiplayer LAN Civ IV instead of hotseat is way more fun, but then, that wasn't the question.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 4:58 PM on August 29, 2007

Before I got my own PC my fiance and I used to enjoy sitting together in front of his computer playing Riven, part of the Myst series.

Because the navigation is secondary to the puzzle solving it lends itself nicely to one person navigating and lots of 'What if we go here and do this? How about pushing the big button?'.

We used to come home from work and say 'I think I know how to get past the water puzzle, lets go try it!'

We also played Little Big Adventure together quite successfully. I'm sure there plenty of other adventure style games that could be played as a pair.

I have very fond memories of the time spent playing these games together, hope you can find something that you both enjoy.
posted by Ness at 3:12 AM on August 30, 2007

Whoops - I meant Little Big Adventure 2. I'm sure the first one is equally sociable to play tho.
posted by Ness at 3:16 AM on August 30, 2007