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My wife and I like to play games together, but PC devs often skip couch co-op options. For example, I bought Halo Master Chief Collection because I know Halo co-op is legendary and I never really played Halo growing up, nor did she. But the PC version specifically doesn't have split screen co-op where the console version does.

We already own and play Stardew Valley, Outward (fantastic game if you aren't aware), and Civ 5 (we prefer it over 6).

So what other options have you enjoyed that I may have missed?

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[-] warmaster@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago
[-] FlavorPacket@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is SO good.

[-] TheEternalBambzip@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 year ago

Saving this comment. Thank you <3

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[-] Cirom@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

A few that I've played:

20XX and 30XX - Megaman-style roguelites. Built with 2-player co-op in mind (either local or online) - when playing local, the screen space is shared but the screen zooms out when players are far apart (similar to Smash), so you still get about the same amount of view distance.
Hypercharge: Unboxed - FPS Horde Shooter/Tower Defence hybrid. Up to 4 players (local or online) have to defend cores from hordes of enemy toys, with the ability to place defences to make the job easier. It's mostly about the FPS shooter aspect over the tower defence stuff, though.
Streets of Rogue - GTA1-style sandbox roguelite. Up to 4 players (local or online). To describe Streets of Rogue is difficult. It's a very silly sandbox game where you're given a few objectives (usually neutralising folks or getting an item from another group of guys), but there's always many ways to go about things. It's also one of the few games where the 32 playable characters actually play wildly different from eachother (except the red/blue gangters but that's also the joke), and multiplayer adds another level on top of that as you can easily help (or hinder) eachother's Main Objective, as each class has their own goals.
Helldivers - Top-down shooter. Up to 4 players (local and online, at the same time) get dropped into a planet to complete various objectives. There's a lot of mechanics in this game which would probably kill other games (like how friendly fire is mandatory, or how reloading your gun discards the rest of your clip), but the devs (who also made Magicka, just fyi) made it work very well. There's a sequel coming later this year, too.
Sonic Robo Blast 2 - 3D Platformer. Up to 2 players local splitscreen, or 32 online can play together to run through co-op Sonic levels. Also the only game in this list that's completely free (by nature of it being a Sonic fangame).
A Hat in Time - 3D Platformer. Up to 2 players local splitscreen, and 50 online can play together in a platformer which I honestly find a lot more fun than Super Mario Odyssey. Also, Player 2 is an equal to the main hero this time instead of a glorified "little brother mode" - heck, Player 2 can actually trigger cutscenes and stuff without Player 1's involvement at all. Great stuff.
N++ - 2D Precision Platformer. If you've heard of Super Meat Boy, the original N is the game that inspired it. N++ is just a perfected version of N, with a brand new co-op mode with its own unique levels, which now requires two players to flawlessly move their way through levels where even a single slip-up means starting the level again (though that's fine - they're at max only 60 seconds long, but there's over a thousand of them)
Mercenary Kings - Metal Slug meets Monster Hunter. Up to 4 players local or online. Rise up the difficulty ranks by completing missions, upgrading the parts on your very modular guns and don't forget to eat before you go on a hunt- er, mission.
Pretty much the entirety of the side-scrolling beat-em-up genre, including Streets of Rage 4 (4 player local), River City Girls 1&2 (2 player local) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (6 player local and online, yes 6). This entire genre is based on local co-op, so just pick a game and dive in.

It Takes Two is a masterpiece for co-op gameplay and is great for casual gameplay. A Way Out was made by the same studio before It Takes Two and it's easy to see where they were able to improve on the experience, but it's also a great game for local co-op.

[-] decadentrebel@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It Takes Two.

Which reminds me, we really need to finish that game.

[-] yokowasis@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

How about firing Dolphin emulator and play some gamecube and wii games.

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[-] SetheryVanDamn@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

If you and your wife are into D&D-type stuff Divinity Original Sin 2 has local co-op. It's an isometric turn based adventure game. Super fun to play and on sale for about $18 at the moment, I think. I will say, it's a little more involved than some of the more casual games like Stardew, but if you're willing to put in a little time to learn the game it's one of the most rewarding games I've ever played.

My girlfriend and I actually played through the whole thing together!

[-] scrawdaddy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I wish there was something else that had a similar experience to divinity! That’s my favorite game to play with my wife.

Sill waiting on baldurs gate 3

[-] SetheryVanDamn@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Same here! Good news is that baldurs gate 3 is coming out on August 3rd - not long now!

[-] scrawdaddy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Can’t wait!

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[-] gk99@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

LEGO games are fantastic

It Takes Two and A Way Out are co-op masterpieces

[-] Omnimater@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

We've played a couple of the Lego games and found it a little too kiddish simplistic.

I'll check out the other two thanks

[-] BossDj@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

I'll second A Way Out, then. It's pretty simple, but very well done

[-] imPastaSyndrome@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Agree with the latter, the former can be slow and I don't like how so many stages are so so heavily filled with 'bring X character with y colored power back here eventually' spots

[-] vulgarcynic@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago

Not exactly a recommendation (most of what I would have said has been covered below) but, my partner and I use Co-Optimus to find new games to couch play together. Here's a filtered list of PC split-screen and couch co-op games.

https://co-optim.us/1m8Ysft

Hope that helps!

[-] Omnimater@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Awesome resource thank you for sharing!

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[-] nop@vlemmy.net 4 points 1 year ago

Out of Space is a ton of fun, starts out hard, but stock with it and you can overcome.

Others I've seen mentioned already, but deserves more: Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime and It Takes Two

[-] axby@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago

I tried "Out of Space" last night with my partner and wow, you weren't kidding. I really liked it, but we died every time. Eventually we switched to the easier "zen mode" and were able to win a few matches. I couldn't help but wonder if the balance wasn't finely tuned for 2 players, maybe they balanced it for 4.

For anyone interested: this is a really fun game, but it's not quite as much like "The Sims in space" as I expected. It's closer to "Overcooked, but with some placeable furniture that you need to interact with".

If anyone knows of a co-op (not necessarily local, but that's a huge plus) game like "The Sims", I'd be very interested. Rimworld is close, but the multiplayer mod didn't work well for us. I think my partner's old laptop couldn't keep up at 3x speed, causing big desyncs. Factorio is great for co-op IMO (though not at all like "The Sims", more like Sim City)), but my partner doesn't really like it because of the gritty environment.

[-] mtcerio@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

We just played It Takes Two. Great variety of gameplay and level styles. Always something to learn, always something new happening, very different environments. Also, good story for husband and wife coop. Great game, I can recommend!

[-] _st0f@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

Me and my gf loved playing Divinity: Original Sin 2.

And we're super excited for Balder's Gate 3 made by the same Devs as DOS2. It's just had its release date move forward to Aug 3rd woo!

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[-] Fushi@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

It Takes Two is co-op masterpiece. It’s mostly a puzzle platformer but changes up the gameplay style every level. Lots of little mini games to get distracted by too. Can’t recommend it enough

[-] sunbunman@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

Not split screen but my partner and I are really enjoying nine parchments. She's not a gamer at all, but the game on casual difficulty gives just the right amount of challenge for her.

[-] jbloggs777@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 year ago

Will y'all stop making me poorer, damnit! 😉

[-] ADandHD@vlemmy.net 2 points 1 year ago

Magicka and Magicka 2 are great! Can't recommend them enough. Both are on sale rn for like $2.50

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[-] 227@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

There's a mod that allows borderlands 2 to be split screen

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[-] allaun@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

It's not a split screen game, but it can be CO-OP. My partner and I play For the King (currently 75% off on steam).

[-] Risk@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime!

Another not split screen but local co-op, up to 4 players.

If you're willing to get just a little technical you can use nucleus co-op (check out the sub-reddit for details) to split screen many, many games.

[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 2 points 1 year ago

Not "split screen" but "same screen":

Unraveled 2

Great for couples.

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[-] theyseemeroland@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Castle Crashers and Guacamole 1/2, hands down

[-] Skunk@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

+1 for it takes two.

There’s also a pretty nice list already in the comments.

I do like a lot Portal 2 but wifey cannot play for too long with me as she becomes impatient. When that’s the case and she just want to watch a story like you would watch a movie, I play A Plague Tales (both of them) and she ends up wanting to know more and finally, crying.

[-] Omnimater@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Lmao yeah portal 2 was a little challenging

[-] sverit@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

Both Rayman games are really nice

[-] Omnimater@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Not really familiar with them tbh I'll look into them

[-] devils_advocate@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Screencheet. It's the only fair combative experience.

[-] iRyu@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

There are a lot of good suggestions here already. I want throw out Escape Academy. Split screen escape room game. My brother and I started playing it and had a blast in just an hour. Not sure about any story because we glossed over it, but we enjoy puzzles a lot.

Edit to include: Cuphead Wildermyth Overcooked 2 Terraria TMNT Shredders Revenge

[-] BudgetBandit@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

„Human Fall Flat“ is pretty good. I’ve played it on switch with a bud and we had a good time. Especially the times we broke the level by sheer accident.

[-] HongoBongo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Divinity: Original Sin (and it's sequel) are two of my favorites that I played split screen with my wife. They're classic crpgs, so can be a bit slower paced, but both have great stories and are very good about allowing freedom to both people playing

[-] imrichyouknow@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago
[-] Quentinp@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

Grim Dawn has split screen coop?

[-] x12mike@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Much like others, I can't say enough good things about It Takes Two.

The storyline, great! The gameplay, fantastic! The soundtrack, amazing!

That damn book, pissed me off to no end. (you'll understand that if you play it)

I'd put it up there in my top 10 games I've played of all time.

[-] Kainsmasquerade@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

It’s not split screen, but an enjoyable game for two players in the same screen (so couch coop):

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritfarer

You play the new “Reaper” and his cat. Collect lost souls, that still have some issues to solve, travel the “in between” spirit world, build a house boat, take care of gardens, make music, etc. The artwork is cute, while the topics of the lost spirits can be unexpected sad. Still a great game to relax!

[-] Still@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago

if you want some chaos; unrailed, overcooked, and plateup are good

[-] Omnimater@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

She loves overcooked but it stresses me the fuck out

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this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2023
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