Besties Battle Bracket: Best Couch Co-op Game
Added 2025-08-06 15:26:11 +0000 UTC
Cuphead
One of the purest joys in video games is lounging on a couch with friends, chomping on junk food, and playing co-op video games. A great co-op mode can make a mediocre campaign transform into something unforgettable. This month, we use the Besties Battle Bracket to pick our favorite.
Rubric:
Which game allows both players to have equal amounts of fun
Which game is more approachable for people with varying skill levels
Which game is most improved by playing co-op?
Streets of Rage 4
The contenders:
Castle Crashers
Streets of Rage 4
The Binding of Isaac
Secret of Mana
Left 4 Dead
Cuphead
Halo: Combat Evolved
Gears of War
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Spelunky 2
Human Fall Flat
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Portal 2
Baldur’s Gate 3
Diablo 3
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Honorable mentions:
Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game
It Takes Two - Hazelight Games
Donkey Kong Bananza
TowerFall
Countless beat’em-ups
Lovers in a Dangerous Space Time
Spaceteam
Overcooked
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Spider-Man Stickers:
Comments
What the heII was that game Griff talked about with the dog?
The Onj Monster
2025-08-27 02:26:11 +0000 UTCMy best friend and I have played through Gears of War 2 so many times. Sad to see it completely snubbed.
David Nelson
2025-08-19 18:04:15 +0000 UTCI played Kirby co-op with a friend. Or rather tried (I think about half the game). For two adults, it's truly bad as Justin said. Just make it two Kirbys and it would be fine--or maybe keep Waddle-dee as a kid-friendly backup.
Rob W
2025-08-15 14:49:01 +0000 UTCResident Evil 5 is one of my all-time favorite co-op games
Aaron
2025-08-12 01:58:38 +0000 UTCGauntlet Dark Legacy for the GameCube
MilkBandit
2025-08-11 22:29:20 +0000 UTC
