The PS4 became the home of modern couch and online co-op, with a library that mixes big-budget campaigns built for two, loot-driven shooters, chaotic party cooking and a steady stream of indie classics. Whether you share a sofa for two-player couch co-op or team up over the internet, the best coop games on the console reward communication and make teamwork the main attraction rather than an afterthought.
1. It Takes Two#
Hazelight Studios released It Takes Two in March 2021, and it is built entirely around two players, with no single-player option. You play a bickering couple turned into dolls, and nearly every chapter hands you a new pair of complementary abilities, from nails and hammers to time manipulation. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021. The inventiveness almost never lets up, and the Friend's Pass lets a second player join for free. The story is sentimental and the humor is hit and miss. Skip it if you have no regular partner to play with.
2. Monster Hunter: World#
Capcom released Monster Hunter: World in January 2018, arriving on PS4 before PC, and it made the series approachable for a global audience. Up to four hunters take on enormous creatures in a living ecosystem, then craft new gear from the parts they carve off. Hunts scale with the number of players, and coordinating weapon types and traps is deeply satisfying. Its combat has real weight and a steep mastery curve. Menus and systems are dense, and the early hours spend a lot of time teaching. Best for players who want a long-term hobby to share with friends.
3. Overcooked! 2#
Ghost Town Games and Team17 released Overcooked! 2 in August 2018, and it is the definitive couch co-op party game on the system. Up to four players run a kitchen together, chopping, cooking and plating orders while the level itself shifts, splits or catches fire. Online play joined local play, so distance is no excuse. It is easy to teach, and the shouting and laughter are half the fun. It can also turn friendships frosty, since one weak link ruins a score, and a solo player will find it lonely. Bring people, not just a pad.
4. Borderlands 2#
Gearbox released Borderlands 2 in 2012, and it reached PS4 through Borderlands: The Handsome Collection in 2015. It is a loot-driven shooter with cel-shaded art, a villain in Handsome Jack who remains one of gaming's best, and a sprawl of vault hunter classes with different skill trees. Up to four players can team up online, with split-screen on the console. The sheer number of guns keeps every session exciting. Missions can be repetitive, and the writing leans on crude jokes that not everyone enjoys. A great pick for those who love chasing better weapons together.
5. Helldivers#
Arrowhead Game Studios released Helldivers in March 2015 as a top-down twin-stick shooter where you call in stratagems by entering directional codes under fire. Up to four soldiers fight bug and robot hordes across procedurally generated planets, with friendly fire turned on, so a misplaced airstrike can wipe out your team. It is hilarious and tense in equal measure, and the satirical tone gives it character. Weaknesses are a repetitive mission structure and a difficulty that punishes inattentive squads. A perfect choice for a group that enjoys chaos and does not mind laughing at its own mistakes.
6. Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition#
Larian Studios released the Definitive Edition of Divinity: Original Sin II on PS4 in August 2018, and it brought one of the deepest role-playing games around to the console with reworked controls. Up to four players can share a story, and the turn-based combat rewards clever use of environments, from fire and poison clouds to teleportation. Co-op lets friends argue over dialogue choices, sometimes at odds with each other. It is very long and complex, and inventory management can overwhelm newcomers. Choose it if you want an expansive adventure where every decision changes the outcome.
7. A Way Out#
Hazelight Studios released A Way Out in March 2018, a cinematic prison break story that is played in two-player co-op only, whether on a split-screen couch or online. Two inmates plan an escape and then run, with each player controlling one of them. Scenes constantly switch between shared and split views, which keeps the drama fresh. It is short, at roughly six hours, and the plot turns melodramatic near the end. The Friend's Pass lets a partner play for free. A memorable evening for two, but not a long-term commitment.
8. Diablo III#
Blizzard Entertainment brought Diablo III to PS4 in August 2014 as the Ultimate Evil Edition, including the Reaper of Souls expansion. It is a fast, satisfying action role-playing game where up to four players fight demons together, with couch co-op that is rare in the genre. Each class feels distinct, and endgame rifts and seasonal content give it longevity. Loot drops arrive in a steady stream. The story is forgettable compared to earlier entries, and the skill system is simplified. Pick it up if you want easy, loot-driven teamwork on one screen.
9. Deep Rock Galactic#
Ghost Ship Games brought Deep Rock Galactic to PS4 in January 2022, after its earlier PC and Xbox releases. Up to four space dwarves dig through destructible, procedurally generated caves, with classes that include driller, engineer, gunner and scout, each of which contributes in a distinct way. Mining, defending and escaping under pressure form a loop that works because players depend on each other. Its community and its sense of humor add warmth. There is no offline co-op, and missions can feel repetitive after dozens of hours. Excellent for a regular online squad.
10. Streets of Rage 4#
Dotemu, Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games released Streets of Rage 4 in April 2020, reviving the classic beat 'em up with hand-painted art and a pounding soundtrack. Up to four players can team up locally and two online, and partners can rescue each other with well-timed special moves. The combat is crisp and focused on combos and juggling. Old favorites like Axel and Blaze return alongside new fighters. The main campaign is short, finishing in around two hours, although replaying for scores and harder difficulties gives it more life. Ideal for a quick session with a friend.
11. Cuphead#
StudioMDHR released Cuphead in September 2017, and it reached PS4 in 2020. A run and gun platformer and boss rush, it is drawn like a 1930s cartoon, complete with a jazz score. A second player can join on the same couch to share the strain of its famously hard bosses. The visuals are stunning, and the challenge feels fair when you learn the patterns. There is no online co-op, and the difficulty will frustrate anyone who has no patience for repeated attempts. A great pick for two players who like a serious challenge.
12. Terraria#
Re-Logic released Terraria in 2011, and it came to PS4 in 2015. It is a 2D sandbox adventure about digging, building and fighting bosses, with huge amounts of content that has kept growing over the years. Playing with friends makes the world far more manageable, since you can split up tasks, from mining to building bases, and tackle bosses as a team. It offers local and online multiplayer. The game gives little guidance, and new players may feel lost. It is best for people ready to sink in dozens of hours alongside others.
13. Risk of Rain 2#
Hopoo Games and Gearbox Publishing brought Risk of Rain 2 to PS4 in 2020. It turns the 2D original into a 3D roguelike shooter, in which up to four players fight waves of alien creatures while stacking items that combine into ridiculously strong builds. Each run is different, and teamwork amplifies the power fantasy. The difficulty ramps up with time, which forces tough choices. Its mechanics and item synergies take a while to understand. Ideal for friends who love experimenting with builds.
14. Trine Enchanted Edition#
Frozenbyte released Trine Enchanted Edition on PS4 in 2014 as a remastered version of its physics platformer. Three heroes, the wizard, the knight and the thief, each bring unique tricks, and up to three players can share them, which makes puzzles more creative in co-op. The storybook art is still beautiful, and the puzzles encourage many solutions. Combat is basic, and the campaign is short. It is a soothing change of pace from shooters and brawlers, ideal for a relaxed evening with friends who like to think together.
15. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes#
TT Games released LEGO Marvel Super Heroes in October 2013, and it reached PS4 shortly afterward. Players take a huge roster of Marvel characters through missions and across an open-world Manhattan, with drop-in, drop-out split-screen for two. Puzzles rely on character abilities, which suits shared play. It is light, funny and friendly to children, with plenty of collectibles. The formula is familiar, and there is no online co-op. A fine option for families who want an easy, cheerful game to play on the same couch.
16. Earth Defense Force 5#
Sandlot's Earth Defense Force 5 reached PS4 in Japan in December 2017 and in the west in December 2018. You play as a soldier fighting giant insects and alien machines in destructible cities, with up to four players sharing missions online. It is gloriously silly, with hundreds of weapons and classes to unlock, and the scale of the battles is wonderful. Its graphics are rough and the animations are stiff, and the repetition will tire some players. A lovable B-movie shooter for friends who want simple, explosive fun.