For two players who enjoy puzzles, start with It Takes Two. For a cinematic escape story, consider A Way Out. For a group of three or four, Overcooked! All You Can Eat and Sackboy are the options in this selection. Choose around the people sharing your PS5 and what you want to do together, rather than a score that tells you little about the evening ahead.
Couch co-op and split-screen are different things
Couch co-op means cooperating on one console. Split-screen means each player has a separate view. A game can support both, but local co-op can also use one shared view. An online co-op label alone does not tell you whether another controller can join on the same PS5.
Four games at a glance
| Game | Your local group |
|---|---|
| It Takes Two | Exactly 2 · Puzzles, platforming and changing abilities |
| Overcooked! All You Can Eat | 2–4 in co-op · Cooking and sharing jobs |
| Sackboy: A Big Adventure | 2–4 in co-op · A 3D platform adventure |
| A Way Out | Exactly 2 · A cinematic prison escape |
It Takes Two
Cody and May need each other to overcome obstacles. Their abilities change as the adventure moves between chapters, giving each player a different part of the solution. That makes it a useful choice for a regular two-person team willing to work through one adventure together.
The official PlayStation page confirms two-player couch co-op with split-screen and offline play. Plan for two human players. It is not a way for a group of three or four to join the same local adventure.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Your group runs a kitchen: prepare ingredients, cook, serve and keep track of orders. Several jobs compete for attention, so agreeing who handles what matters more than following a story. Choose it when your group wants to coordinate around a clear shared task.
The PlayStation listing supports one to four local players, allowing a co-op group of two, three or four. Check the edition name: All You Can Eat collects remastered content from Overcooked and Overcooked 2.
If the pressure spoils the fun, try the assist settings. Team17 describes options including longer rounds and slower recipe timeouts. Adjusting those settings can be a better starting point than arguing over an order left on the counter.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Sackboy fits a group that wants to jump through 3D platform levels together. Movement, obstacles and exploring the crafted worlds take the place of managing a busy kitchen.
PlayStation lists one to four local players, with online play optional. You can begin as a pair, include a third or fourth player, or play alone when the others are unavailable.
A Way Out
Leo and Vincent are working towards their escape from prison. Pick this direction if two of you want a continuous story rather than short party sessions. EA describes A Way Out as a co-op-only split-screen adventure. It needs two players; an AI companion does not take the second role.
There is an important version distinction: A Way Out is a PS4 game playable on PS5. The PlayStation Store confirms PS5 compatibility and notes that a system software update may be needed. Availability on a PS5 does not mean a separate native PS5 edition.
Before your game night
- Count the players: It Takes Two and A Way Out need exactly two. For three or four people in this selection, choose Overcooked or Sackboy.
- Choose local play: Connect the controllers to the same console. Online co-op and Remote Play are separate features, not proof of a local mode.
- Check your edition and access: A trial or an online Friend’s Pass is not automatically the full game for your evening.
Do you need two copies or PlayStation Plus?
On one console, you do not buy another copy simply to connect a second controller for couch co-op. That differs from playing online on two consoles, where account, access and subscription rules apply. PlayStation Plus is not the requirement for a second local player in the modes discussed here.
For It Takes Two, the official Friend’s Pass explanation says you can try the first chapter in local or online co-op without owning the full game. One player must own the full game to play the entire adventure. The pass does not make the whole game free for two people who do not own it.
Check before buying
Check whether you already own the required edition or have access through a service you use. If you buy PlayStation wallet credit, compare the final price with its face value and match the code to your account region. A wallet code adds funds; it does not unlock a game by itself.
For more practical game guides, browse our English guides.
