The short version: the best 2 player games for the PS4 are split screen couch games, not online ones, and the console's split screen library is smaller and older than people pretend. Stick to a handful of proven titles like Overcooked, It Takes Two, Rocket League and Mario Kart style racers (on other systems), check the box for the words "split screen" or "local co-op" before you buy, and expect to spend somewhere between zero and forty pounds depending on whether you already own a PS Plus subscription.
I am not a games journalist. I am a 53 year old who rebuilt a business in public and spends far too much time thinking about what works versus what gets marketed well. The PS4 two player games market is a perfect example of the second thing. Loads of "best of" lists are just copy paste jobs of the same twelve games, half of which require PlayStation Plus and a second controller you don't own. So here's the version with the annoying details left in.
Split screen is not the same as multiplayer
This is the bit that trips people up every single time. A game can say "2-8 players" on the box and mean online only, which does you no good if you and your partner, your kid, or your mate are sitting on the same sofa. Split screen means both players are on the same television at the same time. That is a much smaller list than "multiplayer" and it is shrinking every console generation because split screen is expensive to build and most studios would rather you both buy your own copy and play online.
So the first filter, every time, is: does this game have local split screen on PS4, not PS5, not "cross play," PS4 specifically. Check the back of the box or the Steam-style description on the PlayStation Store under "Features." If it says "Online multiplayer" and nothing about local, assume it is online only and move on.
The games that deliver, in order of how often I'd recommend them
Overcooked and Overcooked 2
Chaotic kitchen co-op where you and a second player chop, cook and plate food under a timer while the kitchen itself tries to kill you with conveyor belts, fires and floors that move. It costs around 15 to 20 pounds for the full version with all DLC on sale, and both players need just one controller each, nothing else. This is the single most recommended couch co-op game on PS4 for a reason: it is funny to play badly, which matters more than people admit when you're trying to get a non-gamer to join in.
It Takes Two
A story driven co-op adventure built from the ground up for exactly two players, no more, no less. One console, one copy, and PlayStation lets the second player join for free through a "friend's pass" style system on some versions, so you don't always need two copies. It won Game of the Year in 2022 and it earns it: every level reinvents the mechanics completely. Budget 25 to 35 pounds.
Rocket League
Car football, free to play, split screen built in from day one. This is the one I'd put in front of someone who says they "don't really play games" because the rules take about ninety seconds to explain and the skill ceiling is high enough that two experienced players can still have a real match.
Mortal Kombat 11 or Street Fighter V
Fighting games are the oldest local two player genre there is and they still work because the format never needed online to be good. Expect 20 to 30 pounds for either, and expect the first ten matches to be a bloodbath for whoever hasn't played a fighting game since the arcade era.
Lego games (any of them)
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Lego Marvel, Lego Harry Potter. Drop in and drop out co-op, forgiving difficulty, and good for mixing an adult and a child or two adults with very different skill levels, because the game adjusts around whoever is struggling.
A worked example, because the theory only gets you so far
Say you run a small household budget for entertainment of 20 pounds a month and you want something you and a partner can play three evenings a week without it turning into one person carrying the other. Overcooked 2 at roughly 15 pounds covers you for a month on its own and rewards communication rather than skill, so a complete beginner and an experienced gamer can both contribute. Add the free Overcooked season pass style DLC if it's on offer and you've got 50-plus levels, which at three sessions a week of 30 to 40 minutes each will take you close to two months to clear, including the levels you'll want to replay because you got annihilated by a runaway oven.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Compare that to buying a 60 pound AAA game expecting split screen, only to discover on the store page, after you've already paid, that "multiplayer" meant online only. This happens constantly, and it is the contrarian bit nobody writing these lists wants to say out loud: the games industry has quietly been killing split screen for a decade because it costs more to render two cameras at once and most publishers would rather sell you two copies through online play. Big franchises like Call of Duty dropped split screen on several PS4 entries entirely. Check before you buy, every time, no exceptions.
Step by step: how to check before you spend anything
- Open the PlayStation Store listing for the game on your PS4, or search it on your phone.
- Scroll to the features or details section and look specifically for the words "Local Multiplayer," "Split-Screen," or "Couch Co-op."
- If it only says "Online Multiplayer," assume no split screen and search the game's name plus "split screen PS4" before buying.
- Check how many controllers you need. Most PS4s ship with one, and a second DualShock 4 costs around 45 to 55 pounds new, which can double the real cost of "free" games.
- If buying digitally, check whether the game supports a shared PlayStation account or requires two separate PSN logins and two copies, which some publishers still insist on even for local co-op.
What's worth skipping
Most modern battle royale and live service games are a waste of money if local split screen is your actual requirement. Fortnite dropped split screen on PS4 for long stretches. FIFA style football games technically support it but the frame rate often drops noticeably with two players on screen, which matters less if you're casual but will annoy anyone used to playing solo. And a lot of "party game" bundles padding out these lists are filler, five minigames you'll play once and never touch again.
If you've already exhausted the PS4 list and you're weighing up whether to move to a newer console for better split screen support, it's worth looking at how the 2 player Switch games for couples and siblings compare, since Nintendo never dropped local co-op the way Sony and the bigger publishers have. And if gaming nights sometimes happen without a console in reach, a deck of cards still beats scrolling for something to play, which is exactly why 2 player games with a deck of cards are worth keeping in the drawer as a backup.
When it's not about the PS4
Sometimes the real problem isn't the console, it's that you want something quick for a flat with patchy wifi, or you're travelling and don't have a TV to plug into at all. In that case the better answer is often offline multiplayer games you can download for two players on the same wifi rather than another 30 pound PS4 purchase, or if it's just the two of you and one phone between you, the free two player games you can play offline on one phone solve the problem for nothing. Worth checking before you spend anything on a game you'll use twice.
Frequently asked questions
Do all PS4 games support two player split screen?
No. Most modern PS4 games, especially shooters and sports titles, support online multiplayer but not local split screen, so always check the store listing for the specific words "Local Multiplayer" or "Split-Screen" before buying.
Do you need two controllers for every PS4 two player game?
Yes for split screen titles like Overcooked, Lego games and fighting games, you need a second DualShock 4, which costs around 45 to 55 pounds new, so factor that into the real cost before assuming a cheap game is a cheap night in.
What's the best cheap 2 player game for the PS4?
Overcooked 2 at around 15 to 20 pounds is the most reliable pick because it only needs one controller each, teaches itself in minutes and works well with mismatched skill levels, which makes it a safer buy than most sports or fighting titles.
Can two players use the same PlayStation account on PS4?
For local split screen games, yes, one account and one console is usually enough, but some digital titles require a second PSN profile or a second copy of the game for full progress tracking, so check the game's specific requirements before paying.
