Split Screen gaming isn’t dead, you just need to look harder for them, but they sure ain’t that popular as 10 years ago. Mainly because split screen games requires your console, or PC to render the same textures twice, they have been pushed aside by game developers – but not by all. I’m more than glad to announce that I found a couple of split screen games, and also co-op, that are just beautiful when played together with amigos – long live couch friends!
Without further ado, I present you my short list of split screen, and co-op games. The best games to play with friends.
The best games to play with friends #1
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
I’ve played the Xbox 360 version of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel split screen with a friend of mine, but co-op is much better. Although The Pre-Sequel falls short, and you can even consider it to be a big expansion to Borderlands 2, it’s a fun game – even more when played with friends.
PC owners of the game will fell the wrath of game developers – or their stupidity, you pick; They didn’t implement a split screen option for PC per se, but you can tweak it a little bit, here and there, and with some help of awesome people on Steam forums, you can make it work. The bottom line is that the game can fully support split screen, but devs didn’t want you to raise $50 with another friend and split the costs – greedy bastards, I call them. Remember kids – don’t even pre-order games!
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is available on PC, OS X, Linux, SteamOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. You certainly have it on every platform possible – well, almost.
The best games to play with friends #2
Little Big Planet 2
God, I love Little Big Planet so much – doesn’t matter what age you are, you’ll seriously fall in love with those cute sack dolls. Now, LBP 2 isn’t a split screen game, even though it has some multiplayer split screen levels, but it’s not like that for the entirety of the stage. What you do have is couch co-op, or on-line co-op – which you will find that it is fantastically made.
It’s a little bit dreadful when you’re playing with a newbie who just pushes you in spikes, or molten lava, but that’s what friends do, right? Right? I thought so.
Little Big Planet 2 is only available for PlayStation 3!
The best games to play with friends #3
Left 4 Dead 2
Now Left 4 Dead 2 offers friends the possibility of playing it split screen, and online co-op. But playing on the same couch and yelling at each-other is way more fun than doing so using Ventrilo, or Skype – those little spit bubbles that come out of your mouth and straight onto Timmy’s face will make him rage more than getting his buttocks beaten in-game.
Left 4 Dead 2 PC users can make the game split screen super easy, you just need to type something in the console menu, and voilà. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging. I’ve embedded a YouTube video just down below that will teach you how to implement split screen into Left 4 Dead 2. See? I ain’t evil.
You do require a controller for the second player, as the game doesn’t recognizes two mice, or two keyboards – Doh!
Left 4 Dead 2 is available on PC, OS X, Linux, and Xbox 360.
The best games to play with friends #4
Portal 2
Hehe, Portal 2 is just plain fun and awesome – it’s even more fun and awesome when your best bud is on the same couch with you. I’ve played Portal 2 with a friend of mine on Xbox 360 – haven’t played the PlayStation 3 or PC version, but I do know that both version include a split screen option, so there’s nothing to worry about.
This is one of the most fun games to play with a friend – and I’m not just saying this so you reconcile with Timmy. Come to think of it, I’d better call my roommate, and ask him what plans he has for tonight. That’s a stupid question. Of course he’ll be playing Portal 2 with me…hopefully.
Portal 2 is available on PC, Linux, OS X, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
The best games to play with friends #5
Gears of War
I didn’t include a number at the end of Gears of War, because each, and every one of them can be played with a friend on split screen. It’s super fun by the way. The cinematics aren’t split on to screens, so there’s no worry there. You will require an Xbox 360, or One controller besides the traditional keyboard, and mouse setting.
Well, we don’t know for sure if the next Gears title will feature split screen, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t. Gears of War 4 is set to be developed exclusively for Xbox One, but we’ll probably see a PC port a year after its console release. It’s Microsoft after all.
Gears of War is available on PC, and Xbox 360. Well, the first Gears of War available on PC, and it will be soon ported for Xbox One. Gears of War 2, and upwards, are only available for Xbox 360 – Microsoft claims that the PC port has sold poorly for this platform, mainly because of piracy.
That’s about it guys, and girls. Talk to a friend, and convince him that split screen games aren’t dead. Here are a couple of other games to play with friends:
- All the Lego games like Lego Hobbit, Lego Star Wars, Lego Jurassic World, and so on
- Awesomenauts
- Cars 2
- Minecraft
- Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
- Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
- Lost Planet 2
- Call of Duty Black Ops
- Terraria
As a side note, I didn’t include any brawlers like Mortal Kombat, or Street Fighter, because I don’t consider them split screen, or co-op. They just pin players against each-other. While I do find them really fun, and super enjoyable, they don’t fit the criteria.
If you have a game that I might have excluded from my Games to play with friends list, please do tell – post in the comments section below. I love playing games with my mates.
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