If you and your colleagues (or your partner) are looking couch and screen sharing games on Windows and XboxYou're in the right place. Whether you want to laugh your head off with a chaotic co-op game, or lose yourself for hours in a four-player RPG, there are more options available today than you might think, even if they're sometimes hard to find.
Below you will see a very complete compilation of split-screen gamesCooperative and competitive games that you can enjoy on Xbox (One and Series) and on Windows PC, including titles with crossplay, building-focused experiences and others focused on exploration, plus some tricks to play as if it were local even though you are each in your own home.
Cooperative narrative games for two: adventures designed to be played together
If you are looking for two-player experiences on the same screenWith carefully crafted stories and many original situations, there are several studios that have specialized precisely in that.
It Takes Two
Hazelight's work has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the Best modern co-op games to play as a couple or with a friendYou control Cody and May, a couple in crisis who have been turned into toys and must work together to save their relationship. Each stage changes genre: platforming, puzzles, shooting sections, competitive minigames… always forcing you to Each player has different skills and coordinates well.It can be played in split-screen on Xbox and PC, and also allows online play with a Friend Pass.
A Way Out
Before It Takes Two, Hazelight had already demonstrated its talent with A Way Out, an adventure for two players required cooperativeEach player controls a different prisoner who must collaborate to plan and execute a prison break, and the interesting thing is how the screen fragments and changes size depending on what each player is doing: sometimes One distracts a guard while the other acts behind his back.Others experience parallel scenes in different places. It works both in local split screen on Xbox and PC as well as online.
Split Fiction
Split Fiction repeats the formula of “pure co-op for two”, but with a creative twist: you are Two writers of different genres, fantasy and science fictiontrapped in a machine capable of bringing their texts to life. The result is a journey through worlds that blend dragons, spaceships, and increasingly surreal situations, where each player contributes their perspective. The game is full of highly varied levels, ingenious puzzles, and constant changes in tone, which makes it one of the freshest co-op games of recent years, playable on console and PC with split screen.
RPG and deep split-screen action
If you enjoy long campaigns, making decisions together, and fighting over the loot, there are several options. RPGs and shooters with local co-op on Windows and Xbox that last for months.
Baldur's Gate 3
Considered by many as one of the best Western RPGs in historyBaldur's Gate 3 allows you to play the entire campaign with up to four people, both online and offline. split screen on consoles and PC (with platform-specific limitations). You can create your own characters, discuss every dialogue choice, strategize in turn-based combat based on Dungeons & Dragons, and create all sorts of chaotic situations when someone decides to do something unexpected. It's ideal if you want a very long-term couch role-playing game.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition
Before Baldur's Gate 3, Larian had already mastered cooperative role-playing with Divinity: Original Sin 2. You can share here too. Full campaign in split-screen on Xbox and PC...conversing with NPCs, solving environmental puzzles, and facing very demanding tactical combat. The skill, element, and physics system allows creative four-handed combos: soaking the floor in oil, setting it on fire, electrifying puddles, etc. It's perfect for those who enjoy planning strategies and exploring every corner together.
Outward
Outward is a fantasy RPG with a strong survival component that can be played entirely in split screenYou are not all-powerful heroes, but rather quite vulnerable adventurers who must cook, monitor the weather, cure illnesses, and manage your equipment wisely. The fun lies in... explore the harsh world of Aurai, one-on-one.Set up your camp, discover spells, and face enemies that don't forgive mistakes. It's demanding, but very satisfying if you're looking for something different from typical action games.
Gears 5
If you prefer more direct action, Gears 5 offers one of the more robust split-screen third-person shooters For Xbox and PC. The campaign can be played entirely in local co-op, and there are also modes like Escape and Horde for quick sessions. Combine expansive environments, intense shootouts, cover mechanics, and spectacular bossesAll of this comes with a highly polished local multiplayer mode for couch co-op gaming.
Cooperative indie games and party games to cause chaos in the living room
When what you want is to laugh, shout, and playfully tease each other"Couch gaming" with screen sharing is unbeatable, and here Windows and Xbox have a very juicy catalog.
Overcooked! and Overcooked! 2 / All You Can Eat
Overcooked! and its sequel are practically mandatory at any get-together. Up to four players share a kitchen in shared screen And they have to coordinate against the clock to get the dishes out without burning everything. Chopping, frying, washing up, serving… all while the stage moves, splits in two, or changes its layout. The All You Can Eat version combines both installments with DLC and online options, so on Xbox and PC you have Hundreds of frantic levels perfect for playing with friends or family.
Moving Out and Moving Out 2
If moving in real life is stressful, here it becomes a cooperative comedy for up to four playersIn Moving Out, you have to move furniture and all sorts of objects, dodging obstacles, throwing sofas out of windows, and using physics to your advantage. The sequel adds New types of levels, more craziness, and more possibilitiesMaintaining screen sharing on both console and PC so that no one misses out on the action.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
This title proposes that between 2 and 4 players control the different positions on a spaceship: One pilots, others handle shields, weapons, and enginesThe action unfolds on a single screen, and the key is communication to divide tasks as you battle robots, rescue creatures, and upgrade your ship. It's easy to understand, very colorful, and perfect for short sessions or playing with people unfamiliar with video games.
PHOGS!
In PHOGS! you control a duo of puppies joined at the belly, one red and one blue, ideal for play doubles with one controller eachYou'll need to stretch, bite, jump, and work together to solve puzzles in themed worlds of food, naps, and games. It's accessible for all ages, very charming, and works great on both Xbox and PC with split-screen.
Cuphead
If you like challenges, Cuphead offers a run and gun with classic cartoon aesthetic which can be enjoyed in local co-op on the same screen. One player controls Cuphead and the other Mugman, facing off against incredibly tough bosses that require learning attack patterns and staying calm. Visually, it's stunning, but you have to be prepared: The difficulty is high, but friendly discussions are guaranteed..
sprout
Brotato is a wave-based roguelite where a heavily armed potato faces hordes of enemies, and its local co-op version allows you to Up to four players can share a screenThe matches are short, with tons of weapons, items and possible builds, so it's addictive both for quick sessions and for marathons looking for the perfect combination.
Castle Crashers and other beat 'em ups
Castle Crashers remains a classic of the "beat 'em up" genre: up to four players battle it out in Shared screen against armies of enemies, bosses, minigames and lots of humorIf you like the genre, on PC and Xbox you can also enjoy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge or Streets of Rage 4, all with local multiplayer mode, simple controls and huge replayability.
Building, farming, and exploration together
If there are those in your group who prefer Build, manage, and explore calmly Before shooting, there are couch co-op games that fit like a glove, both on Windows and Xbox.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley started as a purely single-player experience, but with its updates it added an excellent Split-screen multiplayer mode for up to four playersYou can share a farm, go fishing, explore the mine, interact with the villagers, and divide up tasks as you see fit. In games already in progress, each player must build one cabin, and if you start a new game you can configure from the beginning how many cabins there will beThe interface is designed to be easily visible to everyone, making it a perfect title for couples or groups looking for something relaxing.
Minecraft
Minecraft in its console and Bedrock versions allows split screen on Xbox If you're playing on the same machine, and although local co-op on PC is usually handled via LAN or online, it remains a great way to build and explore as a group. Among the survival mode, which combines resource management, light combat, and explorationAnd the creative mode, which is almost like an infinite LEGO, becomes a perfect time sink for those who enjoy building foundations and trying out crazy ideas.
Terraria
Although at first glance it may seem like a simple retro game, Terraria is a huge 2D sandbox with procedural generation where you can dig, build, explore caves, defeat bosses, and create truly monstrous bases. On Xbox, it has split-screen modes, and on PC, it's easy to share the world in online co-op. Progress is very rewarding, and the feeling of discovering new things with a friend is part of its charm.
Sports games, driving, and competitive action all on the same screen
It's not all about cooperation: sometimes you just want a good [something - context needed]. face to face on the sofawhether through impossible goals or spectacular fights.
Rocket League
Rocket League mixes cars and soccer in thrilling matches that can be enjoyed on Split screen on Xbox and PCIt's easy to understand (push a giant ball into the opposing goal) but difficult to master, with jumps, volleys, turbo boosts, and team tactics. Being free-to-play and allowing local and online co-op, it's one of those ideal games to always have installed and play "a couple of matches" that end up turning into hours.
EA Sports FC and other sports
If you're a football fan, EA Sports FC is still the one. The most complete simulator for playing local matches On Xbox and PC, with cooperative and competitive modes from the same couch: cooperative seasons, quick matches, tournaments, or shared Ultimate Team. In addition, there are more specific sports offerings such as PGA TOUR 2K23 For golf lovers, or NBA and other sports titles that allow split screen to set up home leagues.
Tekken 8, Street Fighter V and other fighting games
Fighting games remain among the best candidates for have quick races on the same screenOn PC and Xbox, you can enjoy Tekken 8, spectacular and accessible thanks to its simplified control schemes, as well as classics like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter V (the latter more closely associated with PC and PlayStation, but very present in the competitive scene). They're perfect for sharing the controller among several players and setting up mini home tournaments.
After-dinner conversation, horror, and online experiences that also shine in a group.
While not all games in this section have strict split-screen, many are best enjoyed with friends, whether in local mode by passing the controller or connected online between Windows and Xbox.
Horror and adventure games "pass the controller"
Titles like The Quarries The more recent Resident Evil games (including Revelations 2, which does offer local co-op) work great in groups: one person controls the game and the rest decide what to do, or they divide up the characters and decisions. In The Quarry, for example, you can assign each teenager to a player and see how your choices affect the fate of the group, with scares, laughter, and arguments included.
Dead by Daylight, Fortnite, Apex Legends and other online multiplayer games
If instead of sharing a sofa you prefer that each of you play from your own home, the list of online multiplayer games for PC and Xbox It's huge: Dead by Daylight (one player is the killer, four try to escape), Fortnite with its squad modes and LEGO Fortnite, more focused on survival and building, Apex Legends for tactical team battles, Call of Duty: Warzone, Destiny 2, Sea of Thieves for your pirate fantasies, and a very long etcetera that includes MOBAs like League of Legends or DOTA 2 on PC. All of them are ideal if you want coordinate by voice and play for many hours without needing a split screen.
Tools and services to get the most out of cooperative gaming
In addition to the games themselves, there are services that greatly facilitate play with friends on PC and Xboxeven when a title only supports local multiplayer.
Steam Remote Play Together on PC
If you play on Windows via Steam, Remote Play Together allows you to turn almost any local game into an online experienceBasically, your PC acts as a server, transmitting the image and sound to your friends, who then send their controls as if they were in your living room. You can share keyboards, mice, or controllers, use voice chat, and play from PCs, Macs, Linux systems, iOS or Android mobile devices. It's a very convenient way to enjoy gaming. sofa cooperatives even though each one is in their own home.
Xbox Game Pass and split screen
On Microsoft consoles, Xbox Game Pass is a goldmine if you like the games with local co-op and split screenWith a single subscription, you get access to titles like Gears 5, It Takes Two, A Way Out, Halo: The Master Chief Collection (with local multiplayer in many of its campaign and PvP games), Tetris Effect Connected, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, Terraria, Minecraft, and many more. It's a great way to try out many different co-op games without having to buy each one separately.
As you can see, both Windows and Xbox offer a huge range of games to share screen with friendsFrom narrative adventures designed for two players to mammoth RPGs, hilarious indie games, and pure adrenaline shooters, there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking to build farms, explore dungeons, score impossible goals, or simply have a laugh organizing orders in a hellish kitchen, there are plenty of options to make your couch afternoons into stories worth remembering.