Split-Screen vs Online Co-op: Which Games Support What

The local co-op trap

You buy a game because the store page says "co-op." You invite your friend to play online. It doesn't work. Turns out "co-op" meant local co-op. Same screen, same couch, same console. If your friend is in another city, it's useless.

This happens constantly because stores don't clearly separate local and online multiplayer. "Supports 4 players" might mean 4 players locally, 4 players online, or 2 locally and 4 online. You don't know until you've already paid.

The categories

Local co-op / split-screen - Everyone on the same console and TV. Requires physical proximity. Some games split the screen, others share it. Online co-op - Everyone on their own device, connected over the internet. What most people want when they say "co-op." Both - Some games support both. You can play locally OR online. A few even let you do both simultaneously (two local players on one console playing with two remote players online). Remote play together - Steam has a feature where one person runs the game and streams it to friends. Technically turns any local co-op game into online co-op, but it depends on good internet connections and there's input latency.

How to check

Every game in our database lists the multiplayer type: online co-op, local co-op, online PvP, local PvP, or mixed. You can see this on the game page before buying anything.

For specifically online co-op games, browse pickthe.games/games/best/co-op. These are filtered to games with online multiplayer support.

When local co-op is actually what you want

If you're physically together (house party, couple on the couch, siblings in the same room), local co-op is actually the better experience. No latency, no network issues, no "can you hear me?" problems.

The games designed for local co-op tend to be more social too. You can see each other's reactions. You can point at the screen. That energy doesn't translate the same way over a voice call.

For groups that do both

Some weeks you're together. Some weeks you're remote. You need games that work in both situations. Set up a board on PickThe.Games and when you're browsing results, check the multiplayer type on each game. Games marked "mixed" usually support both local and online.

Start browsing or try swiping to find what fits your group.