It is becoming rarer and rarer to find a game that allows you and a buddy or two to play side by side on the couch. However, while split-screen multiplayer may be becoming a thing of the past, for the time being, you can still find a game here or there that features it.

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There are already a ton of great co-op games on the Xbox, with many of them offering satisfying storylines to beat with a friend. However, if you’re looking to share a bevy with a friend while shooting aliens or rekindle a failing relationship with your partner - in the game of course - then these split-screen multiplayer titles are for you.

Updated May 22, 2023 By Ben Jessey: There are many wonderful games on the Xbox Series X|S, particularly if you're a fan of online multiplayer titles. Yet, the console is a bit lacking when it comes to its local offerings, as there isn't an abundance of Xbox Series X|S split-screen games.

However, that doesn't mean there aren't any of them. In fact, there are several great ones. We put the best on this list. And now we've increased our collection by adding a few more fantastic examples.

16 Borderlands 3

Zane, Amara and Fl4k fighting together in Borderlands 3

There isn't a litany of great co-op RPGs, especially those that include split-screen play. That is what is so special about Borderlands 3, as it offers up to four-player split-screen action. Your group makes up a team of Vault Hunters who are tasked with stopping a pair of evil twins and their wild followers.

Each playable character is a different class, meaning they have specific powers. Using those abilities and the many guns you find, you must participate in plenty of first-person battles against a host of different enemies, from wild creatures to fanatics armed with rifles.

15 Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed

Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed -- Best Weapons. The Burrow Beast feasts on a human.

Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed is a remake of the second Destroy All Humans title. In it, you control an alien called Crypto, who travels around the Earth, causing chaos for the people living there.

He does so with his advanced weaponry, inhuman abilities, and impressive spaceship. As the name of the game suggests, destruction is very much the goal in this action-adventure title. And what is the best way to cause as much demolition as possible? Invite a friend to help you, which you can do in two-player split-screen.

14 Human: Fall Flat

Human Fall Flat Aztec

Human: Fall Flat pre-dates the Xbox Series X/S by several years, but it has since been ported to the console and remains as enjoyable as ever. The game puts all players in control of strange wobbly people who don't move like traditional humans. And at the start of each level, you're dropped into a unique world.

The game doesn't give you an objective marker or map. All you really know is that you need to use your puzzle and platforming skills to make it to the exit.

13 Rocket League

A screenshot showing gameplay in Rocket League

Rocket League blends racing games and football (aka soccer) games together. To put it simply, the title allows you to play football with cars. You use these rocket-powered vehicles to knock a large ball around a pitch and attempt to smash it into your opponent's net.

Like in real football, you generally play on a team. And one of your teammates can be a person sitting next to you, as Rocket League allows split-screen. The two of you - and perhaps a couple of others - can face off against another crew online.

12 Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: One Of The Bosses From The Game

For many years, the Borderlands games have provided some of the best cooperative shooter experiences in gaming. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a spin-off to that series. It is similar to Borderlands from a gameplay perspective, as it is an FPS with RPG elements.

However, Wonderlands differs from the others due to its world. Instead of being set on Pandora or other similar planets, the adventure is primarily set within a fantasy tabletop game. As such, you fight plenty of goblins and other D&D-like creatures. Plus, there a many jokes poking fun at certain tabletop tropes. It makes for an exciting and humorous experience.

11 Overcooked! All You Can Eat!

Chefs preparing food in Overcooked

Technically, Overcooked! All You Can Eat! isn't a split-screen game, but it offers local co-op. Plus, it's actually two games in one, as the package contains both Overcooked titles.

In the main mode of both games, you work together to run a kitchen where you have to fulfill the customers' orders by preparing and cooking their meals. It's not as casual as it sounds, as the orders often come thick and fast. So, it can get pretty hectic, especially if you want to achieve three stars on each level. There is also a competitive mode where you work against each other. Both modes are chaotic and fun.

10 Escape Academy

Escape Academy Escape Artist Stone Door

In Escape Academy, you enroll in the titular school, which is all about training you to become an escape room master. As such, the game sees you enter different locked rooms and complete the puzzles required to get out.

The rooms are very varied, so this means you must solve all sorts of different puzzles. And you can do it all with a friend by your side and test the classic theory of two heads being better than one. It isn't just all about puzzles, though, as they're several characters around campus to interact with, too.

9 Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

A screenshot showing Obi-Wan fighting Anakin in Mustafar in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

The Lego series of games have always been commended for including engaging split-screen co-op. Many of you likely have fond childhood memories of whacking one another with lightsabers in the cantina. So, it comes as no surprise that TT Games included split-screen multiplayer in their magnum opus, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

The ability to play this truly enormous game with a friend is a genuine delight. With 380 characters for you and a friend to choose from and a range of explorable planets, there’s a ton to see and do here. Regardless of whether or not you enjoy Star Wars, this hilarious game is sure to keep you entertained for a very long time.

8 Minecraft

Mac Games Minecraft promo art

It goes without saying that Minecraft should be a staple game for any split-screen fanatic. The sheer amount of content at your fingertips is utterly astounding and frankly made all the more enjoyable with a friend. Building a dirt house just doesn’t feel the same when a buddy isn’t by your side crafting a wooden door for you.

You can get up to all kinds of mischief in Minecraft by building the wildest creations in the overwhelmingly expansive Creative mode or by desperately scaring off a creeper in the incredibly intense Survival mode. However, no matter how you approach Minecraft, so long as you do it with a friend, you’ll have the time of your life.

7 A Way Out

a way out escaping on dirt bikes

Made for co-op experiences are often seen as alienating. They have to be played with a friend, so if you and your best bud have just broken up, then tough luck. Fortunately, developer Hazelight Studios took a risk with their prison escape game, A Way Out, and it paid off big time.

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A Way Out is an incredibly innovative game that ensures both players feel useful at all times. Regardless of which character you play as, your role in the story and minute-to-minute gameplay is incredibly important. There are also a ton of fun mini-games to engage in, and you can even start a band with your friend. Although we wouldn’t advise taking too long to come up with a name. The police are never too far behind.

6 It Takes Two

it takes two characters on ski lift

Speaking of Hazelight Studios, It Takes Two is yet another co-op-only game that is perfect to play with a friend. This is the developer’s follow-up title to A Way Out and expands upon its core ideas in a big way. As a result, it easily became one of the best games from 2021 and won a slew of awards.

With a poignant story to explore and a range of unique mechanics per character - meaning lots of replay value - there’s a lot to experience in It Takes Two. Of course, in typical Hazelight Studios, there are a plethora of mini-games to enjoy too. If you enjoyed A Way Out or are simply looking for a lengthy narrative-focused adventure to play with a friend, then give It Takes Two a go. You won’t regret it.

5 The Quarry

Abigail in The Quarry facing the camera

The screen isn't technically split while playing through Quarry with friends, but it is couch co-op. In fact, it offers a rare type of local play where eight of you can be involved. Each one controls a different character in the story.

The said story is about a group of camp counselors working at Hackett's Quarry summer camp. On their last night, they're put into a number of life-or-death situations that involve violent people and supernatural beings. Whether they all live or die depends on the choices you make.

4 Divinity Original Sin 2

Divinity Original Sin 2 Artwork

For those seeking an extremely lengthy and in-depth RPG, look no further than Divinity Original Sin 2. This mind-blowingly detailed game allows for unparalleled customization and offers an intriguing narrative to engross yourself in. With riveting turn-based combat, towns, dungeons, and forests to explore, and a whole slew of baddies to defeat, Divinity Original Sin 2 offers one of the most comprehensive RPG experiences ever made. And, amazingly, it can all be played with a friend.

That is perhaps the most impressive aspect of this game. Like its predecessor, Divinity Original Sin 2 can be played entirely with a friend sharing the same screen. It’s an audacious achievement and one that really pays off. There simply aren’t many games like it that offer the ability to experience the entire thing with a friend. So, if you’re in the market for a huge RPG, then you should definitely try out Divinity Original Sin 2.

3 Outward

a wide shot of a hunter aiming their bow at an incoming red deer in a vast verdant valley filled with tall grass and trees

Of course, you cannot talk about expansive open-world RPGs without mentioning the indie gem, Outward. This incredibly ambitious indie game likely went under the radars of a lot of players, despite being a truly rewarding experience. Not only does it completely redefine what we’ve come to know as an RPG, but it also allows you to experience the whole thing - and its DLCs - with a friend.

The difficulty of Outward’s combat coupled with its harsh and unforgiving world makes trekking through it with a friend that much more of an adventure. There’s something immensely satisfying about the comradery between two suffering souls. But never fear, Outward isn’t unfair, and eventually you’ll collect a ton of very cool gear. But until then, enjoy going on a stunning albeit treacherous journey with a friend by your side.

2 Cuphead

Cuphead and Mugman walk happily down the street

Cuphead is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Its gorgeous art style, smooth exhilarating gameplay, and charismatic cast of bosses make it a wonderfully memorable experience. And while of course Cuphead is oodles of fun alone, as the old adage goes, everything is better with a friend.

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It goes without saying that Cuphead is a ton of fun with a friend. Not only does it make the somewhat tricky game a tad easier, but it also offers the wonderful thrill and excitement you experience when you share something special with a mate. Blasting your way through bosses has truly never felt better.

1 Halo: The Master Chief Collection

HaloTheMasterChiefCollection

You’d likely be hard-pressed to find someone who owns an Xbox Series X/S and not Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Containing most of the games in the series, the collection offers players the chance to relive - or experience for the very first time - the world of Halo.

As the Halo series is widely considered one of the best FPS games for beginners, this collection is also the perfect way to introduce a friend to video games and play along with them. Thanks to new features and enhanced visuals, this collection also feels as fresh as the latest game in the series. There’s simply no reason to pass on this wonderful collection of legendary games, especially if you intend on having a few mates over for a game night.

NEXT: Best Split-Screen Multiplayer Games On Xbox One, Ranked