The classic for two in front of one television — and one of the few racers where beginners cannot fall off the track at all.
local2–4online2–12Co-op scopeFull campaignSuitable fromCasualReleased28 Apr 2017
Find. Play. Connect.
Games that
actually work for two
A co-op tag does not make a good evening together. We sort by what matters to a duo: does one copy do it, can you play the whole campaign together, and does it still work when one of you is far better?
Editor’s pick
Super Mario Odyssey
100
- Copies – local
- One copy (local)
- Co-op scope
- Full campaign
In the second seat here sits Cappy, the hat — and it is the friendliest invitation Nintendo has ever built. Cappy flies, throws himself at enemies and picks up coins, but cannot die and cannot get in anyone's way. Someone who has never held a controller has something to do after two minutes. The rest is a game that has been the benchmark since 2017, in which Mario turns into a dinosaur, a bolt of lightning and a coffin because he feels like it. One small thing counts for a couple: half a Joy-Con pair is enough per person, so you do not need to buy a second controller.
One copy (local)
Best for two
The highest PairScores in our database.
A two-dimensional Mario in which a flower rewrites the rules of the level mid-jump.
local2–4online2–4Co-op scopeFull campaignSuitable fromCasualReleased20 Oct 2023
Donkey Kong digs his way through a world of destructible rock, with Pauline sitting on his shoulder, singing.
local2online2Co-op scopeFull campaignSuitable fromCasualReleased17 Jul 2025
Two writers are trapped inside their own stories and can only get out together.
local2online2Co-op scopeTwo-player onlySuitable fromCasual–HobbyReleased6 Mar 2025
A hand-painted platformer where missing a jump costs nothing but a second.
local2–4Co-op scopeFull campaignSuitable fromCasual–HobbyReleased29 Aug 2013
What we sort by
Is one copy enough?
Whether you buy once or twice often matters more than any review score. We separate couch co-op, friend passes, Remote Play and "everyone needs their own".
How much is actually co-op?
Plenty of games carry a co-op tag but mean a side mode, not the campaign. That is where most shared evenings fall apart.
Does it survive a skill gap?
If one of you has played for twenty years and the other last touched Wii Sports, half of all co-op games are out. We tell you which ones.
How much friction do you want?
Some couples want the Overcooked stress, others want to potter about side by side. Both are valid — we label it rather than judge it.