Best split-screen PC games with controller support

alehel@beehaw.org to Gaming@beehaw.org – 21 points –

I'm looking for some fun PC games I can play with my wife/nephews. I'm therefore looking for PC games that support split screen with controller support. Any genre, but preferably games that can be played by someone no older than 12. Will be playing them on a ROG Ally connected to a TV with xbox controllers. Interested in any genre.

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  • People have mentioned it yet, but I want to second It Takes Two, such a fantastic game! Story might not not appeal to everyone, because of relationship drama and a particular scene, but younger kids tend to ignore it and gameplay is a blast anyways! (Platinum'ed it with my then 8yo son.)
  • Death Squared is a great cooperative puzzle game for 1, 2 or 4 players.
  • The Overcooked! games are really nice coop games, albeit more and more chaotic the further you move on.
  • Moving out is similar to Overcooked, but haven't played it myself.
  • ibb & obb is such a cool lo-fi coop platformer.
  • Shift Happens is another cool coop platformer, and costs almost nothing.
  • Unravel 2 is another gem in coop platformers, with quite a moving story.
  • Pikuniku is very cool for younger kids, and a very funny game, too!
  • Minecraft Dungeons is a nice Diablo clone, but not that dark and suitable for younger players.
  • You can't go wrong with Tetris. I personally like the Puyo Puyo Tetris variants and Tetris Effect.

It Takes Two was an absolute blast with my wife

Anyone have any idea how well the game works on a Steam Deck? Would love to play it docked to my TV but I've heard EA's launcher causes some problems on the SD.

We played it on Nintendo Switch, a far weaker device, at stable 30fps (slightly worse resolution than screen size but not too bad after you get used to it). Barring weird EA stuff should work great on steam deck

Yeah I figured that would be fine, just worried about the EA stuff.

That game is great fun. Also their other game, A Way Out, but that could be a bit mature at points for young children.

Lmao, I came to mention both of these games and you both, out of only 26 comments, addressed them exactly as I was going to. RIP, snoo; I'm home :)

I really like PlateUp. It's like a better overcooked where you get to design and upgrade your kitchen/restaurant as you go.

Not split screen but fun, I would recommend lovers in a dangerous spacetime. It a coop game you have to control a spaceship, collect things and survive.

The new Lego Star Wars is really really good and has fantastic drop in/drop out multiplayer. Also a fan of TMNT Shredder’s Revenge for co-op

My wife and son loved Wobbly Life. I’ve seen it described as GTA for people who aren’t old enough to play GTA. The couch co-op is solid and they only ever played with controllers.

Towerfall, ultimate chicken horse, gangbeasts, stick fight, overcooked are some of my personal favorites. All easy couch coop or competition 2-4 player games. Also keep talking and nobody explodes is a figurative blast, but I don't know how well a 12 year old would do with the communication needed there... might be able to handle it.

Children of Morta is great for coop, it's a hack and slash game so anyone can play it really.

My partner and I are huge fans of Boomerang Fu, and have enjoyed it with a couple of friends too - it's not same-screen local co-op so hope that still works. Very easy to pick up, and lots of fun!

https://www.boomerangfu.com/

Screencheat if you want a game to "pick up and play". It's a shooter with different modes where everyone is invisible and you must look at the other players split screen to deduce where they are and shoot them. It's really fun to play!

That sounds like it would drive my wife crazy 🤣

I think Guacamelee hasn't been mentioned yet.

There are also a lot of amazing Lego games that are fun for all ages. I really enjoyed Lego Lord of the Rings myself

Ultimate Chicken Horse needs to be on this list. It’s a competitive platformer where before each round, everyone adds a piece to the level. You need to make it hard enough that someone doesn’t finish, but easy enough that you finish. If everyone finishes, no one gets points.

Very fun, possibly my favorite couch game.

Seconded, I love UCH so much. One of my favorite multiplayer games, I've never had anything but a great time with it.

Rayman Legends is tons of fun and very good platformer anyone can play.

Overcooked 2 is one of the best couch co-op games ever, but note that it can be very hectic and kinds difficult.

Sonic & All-Stars: Racing Transformed might be the best Karting game out there. Despite being kinda old at this point, it holds up wonderfully.

You can't really go wrong with any of these choices!

I'd second Sonic and All Stars. Definitely a solid racing game if you are looking for something akin to the Mario Kart games.

Boomerangfu isn’t splitscreen, it’s one screen, but it’s still local multiplayer with controller support