Best PS4 couch co-op games

PlayStation has a long history of couch multiplayer sessions, stretching back to that incredible feeling of being able to play an arcade fighter like Tekken in the comfort of your own home. 

Over the years we’ve seen all kinds of titles come to Sony consoles, and while the platform holder’s portfolio of exclusives this generation has been more squarely focused on AAA-tier single-player narrative experiences, the console more than holds its own with some fantastic couch co-op titles. 

With the PS4 starting to reach the end of its life cycle, we’ve put together a list of the five best local co-op games you can play on the system. 

If you’ve got an Xbox One, why not check out our list for that console. 

Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3 is a co-op shooter (Picture: Gearbox)  

After almost a decade, Gearbox returned to the wastes of Pandora with the third mainline entry in the Borderlands series, and it was worth waiting for. 

With an almost endless array of weaponry to choose from, the game showers players with loot, making it the kind of game which feels fresh from moment to moment. 

Add in some chuckles from the game’s ridiculous cast of characters, and you’ve got a great way to spend a weekend with a buddy. 

Overcooked

Overcooked 2 will have you screaming at your loved ones (Picture: Team 17/Ghost Town Games)

The game that tests the strongest of friendships and relationships, Overcooked is the master in creating a false sense of security. 

With each player controlling a chef in progressively more absurd kitchens, the game feels simple at first; cut the ingredients, cook them, put them together. Before long, your characters are setting fire to saucepans, tripping over each other, and dropping food everywhere. 

If you’re going to play Overcooked, be prepared to swear at your colleague – even when it’s probably your fault. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty games have a long history of accommodating split-screen play, and Infinity Ward’s excellent latest instalment is no exception. 

While the campaign is single-player only, you can team up with friends to take on everyone online or try the surprisingly challenging Spec-Ops mode together which offers varied objectives. 

Signing in with an Activision account is mandatory, but at least that way you can carry over much of your progress. 

Rocket League

Rocket League is ideal for pick up and play thrills (Picture: Psyonix)  

A game that became a global phenomenon in part due to its arrival on PlayStation Plus, Rocket League’s core concept is so simple it’s a wonder no one thought of it before (discounting its predecessor, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars). 

It’s football with cars, but that only tells half the story. With these vehicles capable of pulling off incredible feats of agility like somersaults and boosts, the learning curve is steep but the potential for rewarding gameplay is sky-high. 

You’ll never forget the first time your car backflips the ball into the net, before you realise it’ll go down as an own goal. 

Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition

Diablo 3 is a couch co-op masterpiece you really must play. With seven classes including the most recent addition, The Necromancer, each with their own abilities and gear to chase, there’s a play style to suit everyone. 

With multiple areas and randomly-generated dungeons, it’s the ideal game to replay multiple times with Adventure Mode meaning that no two characters feel the same (even within the same class).