Summary
Split-screen gaming, whether it be competitive multiplayer or couch co-op, has been on a downward trend since the seventh generation of home consoles was introduced and popularized online gaming. In the years that have followed, the rise in online multiplayer has continued to step on the split-screen gaming scene, to the point where many multiplayer games now ignore local gaming entirely.
Thankfully, theXbox Series Xhas a generous offering in terms of backward compatibility, which, in turn, allows players to revisit some of the classicsplit-screen gamesfrom the original Xbox and Xbox 360 days. Furthermore, a few modern releases managed to recapture the magic ofold-school local multiplayer.
Updated July 29, 2025, by Mark Sammut:While support for this multiplayer feature is far from guaranteed nowadays, even for local co-op games, there are enoughXbox Series X split-screen gamesto keep a few friends busy for a long time.
Racing games are generally solid picks for split-screen, particularly ones that fall under the kart racer subgenre.Hot Wheels Unleashed 2builds nicely on its predecessor’s foundation, offering tight and accessible gameplay along with gorgeous visuals that compare favorably to most other projects on the market.
Along with a decent single-player campaign, the game (naturally) has its multiplayer options covered, supporting both online and local. Split-screen allows two players to engage in competitive races against each other and AI opponents (depending on what types of tracks players race on), and the feature plays pretty well for the most part. Thissplit-screen Xbox Series gameis mostly just for casual fun rather than anything more extensive, but it is a decent option to throw on when two people have an hour to kill.
Playerslooking for a split-screen titlethat will make them laugh out loud every step of the way should definitely check outHuman: Fall Flat. This physics-based puzzle game puts players in the role of a wobbly, bumbling character who must navigate through a series of surreal and challenging levels. Its gameplay mechanics are simple yet engaging, with its visuals being detailed enough to convey what players need to do if they wish to get through the numerous levels in the game.
The game is a delight to play in split-screen mode, and players will love working together with friends to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. Suffice it to say, co-op is a great way to experience the unique and hilarious gameplay ofHuman: Fall Flat, making it an unmissable experience for fans of this style of game.
It Takes Twois perhaps one of the greatest cooperativeexperiences of recent times. The micro-sized toy-like adventure sees two players (or one) take on the role of two parents-turned-playthings in an epic quest through a home that looks and feels like a fantasy world thanks to theHoney, I Shrunk The Kids!-style influences. At its core,It Takes Twois a beautiful adventure that features some incredible visuals. Past that, it’s a fantastic cooperative experience in which players must actually work together if they want to proceed through the game.
Regardless of whether they’re playing locally, or online, players will always maintain a split-screen view, so that they can keep an eye on one another more easily throughout their quest.It Takes Twois an innovative release that tells a fantastic character-driven story that revolves entirely around co-op.
For those who are looking for a more exciting experience,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsoffers up some great couch-coop. Although it’s not aBorderlandstitle by name, it players very much like the Looter-Shooter that everyone has come to know and love over the years.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandstakes theBorderlandsformulaand upgrades it by turning it into a fantasy-styled adventure, complete with quests,D&Dreferences, and a ton of interesting guns, magical spells, and abilities for players to find, unlock, and use. Those who are craving a first-person shooter but also want to enjoy some couch cooperation can snagTiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Following the success ofCrash Bandicoot N.Sane TrilogyandSpyro Reignited Trilogy, Activision decided to bring back another PlayStation 1 classic with a remake ofCrash Team Racing.The game provided PlayStation gamers with the perfect replacement forMario Kart 64back in 1999, and it accomplishes the same task today.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueledoffers PlayStation and Xbox gamers a viable and equally enjoyable alternative toMario Kart 8 Deluxe.It has everything that makes a kart racer great, from the wide selection of characters to game-changing power-ups and well-designed maps.
Most of theCall of Dutygames playable on the Xbox Series X/S support co-op in some form or another; however, their implementation has not always been great.VanguardandWW2are fine enough options in this area, butCold WarandModern Warfare 2’s split-screen are quite divisive and restrictive. That’s not to say a group of friends cannot get some mileage out of these titles, but they might find themselves disappointed with the offerings.
Despite being fairly old by this point,Black Ops 3still provides one of the franchise’s better split-screen co-op experiences, particularly if someone plans to primarily focus onthe zombies mode. The latter allows up to four players to join locally, and the game has a solid selection of maps that can easily keep a party entertained for hours on end. The main campaign can also be played in two-player couch co-op, although that number increases to four when played online.
The concept ofRocket Leagueseemed like it would be the type of thing that sounds amazing on paper but is impossible to execute in a way that’s enjoyable. However, Psyonix was able to create a well-balanced, deceivingly complex game that has become a leading force in the multiplayer market and world of Esports.
TheLEGOgames have been a shining light in a dark time for couch co-op. Moreover, the games have likely been fundamental in the slow but steady return of the pursuit, withUnravel Two, Overcooked 2andIt Takes Twoall being examples of excellent recently released couch co-op games.
LEGOgames have found a winning formula in grabbing the attention of gamers by incorporating hugely successful franchises such asStar Wars, Lord of the Rings,andHarry Potterwhile ensuring that players stay engrossed with the simple yet thoroughly enjoyable collectathon and puzzle gameplay.
The RPG genre has always been a significant part of gaming’s multiplayer market, so it would be unfair not to include one of the genre’s many great games in conversations about split-screen gaming. There is a lot to choose from, butDivinity: Original Sin 2manages to stand out from the crowd for a number of reasons.
Larian Studios' fantastic role-playing gamewas first released on PC in 2017 before coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 the following year. Garnering universal praise for its modernization of CRPG staples and its ambitious storytelling,Divinity: Original Sin 2is a dense, challenging, and addictive game that supports co-op play.
One of the best games of 2023,Baldur’s Gate 3notoriously took a long time to make its way to the Xbox Series, reportedly due to the split-screen option not working well on the S version. While Larian eventually released the RPG on Microsoft’s platforms, local co-op had to be disabled on the Xbox Series S, and that is still the case months after its debut. At this point, an update that changes that seems unlikely, so players craving split-screen should only pickBG3up if they have an Xbox Series X.
Moving past that issue, Larian crafted a deep, engrossing, and challenging RPG that makes great use ofDungeons & Dragons' ruleset. Deep customization, tactical and deep combat, great storytelling, and player choice are just a few thingsBG3does extremely well. At launch, the split-screen function was a bit more limited thanDivinity: Original Sin 2due to keeping screens 100% divided at all times; however,Patch 7 should be adding dynamic merging, which will cancel splits when characters are close to each other.
