The 5 Best PC Games for Couples to Play Together (Couch Co-Op and Split Screen)
Finding a good co-op game to play with a partner is harder than it should be. Most multiplayer games are built around online competition, skill gaps that make one player feel useless, or mechanics so complex that half the session is spent explaining what is going on. The games on this list are different. They are designed specifically around two players sharing a screen, contributing equally, and actually enjoying themselves regardless of experience level.
These are our picks for the five best couch co-op and split screen games on PC right now, covering a range of tones and price points so there is something here for every kind of couple.
1. It Takes Two
Developer: Hazelight Studios Genre: Platformer / Puzzle Price: Around £25 on Steam, cheaper via key resellers Friend's Pass: Yes, one copy covers both players
It Takes Two is the gold standard for couples gaming and it is not particularly close. Hazelight Studios built the entire game around two players, and the result is one of the most creative and varied co-op experiences ever made. You play as Cody and May, a couple on the verge of divorce who have been magically shrunk into toy versions of themselves by their daughter. Getting back to normal requires working through a series of wildly different environments, each with completely unique mechanics.
One level has you using magnets to solve puzzles. The next has you flying through a tree on squirrels. After that you are navigating a snow globe with ice and fire abilities. Nothing overstays its welcome and nothing repeats. Every sequence demands communication and cooperation in a different way, which keeps both players equally involved from start to finish.
The story is warm and genuinely touching in places, though some of the dialogue leans into melodrama. That aside, It Takes Two is the easiest recommendation on this list. One copy of the game includes a Friend's Pass, meaning the second player can download and play for free. There is no reason not to start here.
Best for: Couples looking for a proper shared story experience with lots of variety and no prior gaming experience required.
2. Split Fiction
Developer: Hazelight Studios Genre: Action / Platformer Price: Around £35 on Steam, cheaper via key resellers Friend's Pass: Yes, one copy covers both players
Hazelight's follow-up to It Takes Two arrived in early 2025 and delivered exactly what fans of that game were hoping for: more variety, more ambition, and more moments that neither player will see coming. Split Fiction follows two writers whose stories are accidentally merged inside a publishing company's simulation system, sending them through science fiction and fantasy worlds that shift and transform around them.
Where It Takes Two used gameplay mechanics to mirror its emotional story, Split Fiction leans harder into spectacle. Levels range from dystopian cyberpunk city chases to dragon-riding through fantasy landscapes to side-scrolling platformer sequences that feel like a tribute to classic games. The tonal range is wider, the action more intense, and the set pieces more frequent.
Like It Takes Two, it includes a Friend's Pass so only one person needs to buy it. The cross-play support means if one of you is on PC and the other on PlayStation or Xbox, you can still play together. For couples who loved It Takes Two and want more from the same studio, Split Fiction is the natural next step.
Best for: Couples who have already finished It Takes Two and want something with a faster pace and more action-forward gameplay.
3. Portal 2
Developer: Valve Genre: Puzzle Price: Around £7 on Steam, frequently on sale Friend's Pass: No, both players need a copy
Portal 2 is over a decade old and still one of the best co-op puzzle games ever made. The co-op campaign is entirely separate from the single-player story and was built specifically for two players, featuring puzzles that are physically impossible to solve alone. You play as two robots, Atlas and P-Body, navigating a series of test chambers in the Aperture Science facility using portal guns that let you create linked doorways in surfaces.
What makes Portal 2 special as a couples game is the communication it demands. Solving a puzzle requires both players to understand what the other is doing, which means a lot of talking, a lot of pointing, and occasionally a lot of frustrated laughter when someone falls into a pit for the third time. The difficulty is genuine, the puzzles are clever, and finishing a particularly stubborn chamber together is properly satisfying.
At its current price point it is exceptional value. Both players need their own copy, but at under £10 each during Steam sales that is still less than a single copy of most new releases.
Best for: Couples who enjoy problem-solving and do not mind a real challenge. Particularly good if one partner is more experienced with games, as the puzzle focus levels the playing field.
4. Stardew Valley
Developer: ConcernedApe Genre: Farming / Life Simulation Price: Around £11 on Steam Friend's Pass: No, both players need a copy
Stardew Valley is the most relaxed game on this list by some distance, which is exactly why it earns its place here. You inherit a farm in a small rural town, grow crops, raise animals, explore mines, build relationships with townspeople, and gradually restore your land to something you are proud of. The co-op mode allows up to four players to share a farm together, with each person having their own character, their own house, and their own contribution to make.
It works particularly well for couples because there is no urgency, no competitive element, and no wrong way to play. One person can spend an entire evening tending crops while the other explores the mine. Progress is shared, the pace is yours to set, and the game genuinely rewards regular return visits. Many couples report playing Stardew Valley together for hundreds of hours across months, dipping in and out as a regular shared activity rather than a single playthrough.
Note that the co-op mode requires both players to have their own copy of the game. Both players also need to be online together unless you set up a local network session. At £11 a copy it is still one of the most affordable games on this list relative to what you get out of it.
Best for: Couples who want something low-pressure and relaxing. Particularly good for partners who do not usually play games, as the pace and mechanics are gentle and forgiving.
5. Overcooked 2
Developer: Ghost Town Games Genre: Co-op Cooking / Party Game Price: Around £17 on Steam, cheaper via key resellers Friend's Pass: No, both players need a copy
Overcooked 2 will either bring you closer together or cause a genuine argument. Possibly both. You and your partner run a kitchen together, preparing and serving dishes to order under increasingly chaotic conditions. Kitchens might be split across two moving trucks, floating on hot air balloons, or constantly rearranging themselves mid-service. Communication is not optional. If you are not talking, you are failing.
What makes it genuinely great for couples is that the chaos is shared equally. Unlike skill-based games where one player carries the other, Overcooked 2 will overwhelm both of you simultaneously. The satisfaction of hitting a clean service and finishing a level with three stars is real, and the levels are short enough that you can play as many or as few as you feel like in a session.
It is loud, it is frantic, and it is absolutely not a relaxing evening. But for couples who enjoy playful competition and are happy to laugh at each other and themselves, Overcooked 2 is one of the most purely fun co-op experiences available on PC.
Best for: Couples who want something fast and chaotic that does not require any prior gaming knowledge. Best played in short sessions rather than long ones.
A Note on the Friend's Pass
It Takes Two and Split Fiction both include a Friend's Pass, which means only one person needs to purchase the game. The second player downloads a free version that only works when invited by the person who bought it. This makes them the most cost-effective starting point on this list, particularly if you are new to co-op gaming and not sure how much use you will get out of it.
Where to Buy
All five games are available on Steam. For It Takes Two, Split Fiction, Portal 2, Stardew Valley, and Overcooked 2, you can often find cheaper legitimate keys through reputable UK resellers. Check our price comparison pages for each title to find the best current deal before heading to the Steam store.
Last updated March 2026. Prices are approximate and subject to change. Always check current pricing before purchasing.