It Takes Two: the best co-op game on PS5
It Takes Two is the pinnacle of cooperative game design and the most acclaimed co-op release in recent years. The game won multiple Game of the Year awards across the industry in 2021 and continues to be recommended as the definitive co-op experience on PlayStation hardware. The narrative follows a couple working through relationship difficulties, and each chapter introduces entirely new gameplay mechanics that use the two-player co-op format in uniquely creative ways.
Check price on Amazon →We compared the best cooperative gaming experiences available on PS5 to find the top titles worth playing with a partner or group on PlayStation 5.
Our methodology
We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
Side by side
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| It Takes Two: the best co-op game on PS5 | Check price | ||
| Deep Rock Galactic: best ongoing co-op for PS5 | Check price |
The full reviews
It Takes Two: the best co-op game on PS5
It Takes Two is the pinnacle of cooperative game design and the most acclaimed co-op release in recent years. The game won multiple Game of the Year awards across the industry in 2021 and continues to be recommended as the definitive co-op experience on PlayStation hardware. The narrative follows a couple working through relationship difficulties, and each chapter introduces entirely new gameplay mechanics that use the two-player co-op format in uniquely creative ways.
Deep Rock Galactic: best ongoing co-op for PS5
Deep Rock Galactic is the best endlessly replayable co-op game on PS5. The game assigns each of four dwarf miners a completely different role (Driller, Gunner, Scout, Engineer) with distinct abilities that complement each other in procedurally generated cave missions against alien insects. The combination of procedural content, role interdependency, and the exceptional in-game community culture makes each session feel meaningfully cooperative rather than just playing the same game near other players.
What matters most
Native PS5 implementation
True PS5 native titles use the DualSense controller's haptic and adaptive trigger features to add physical co-op feedback. Backward-compatible PS4 titles miss these features. For the full PS5 experience, prioritize native releases.
Performance mode availability
Many PS5 co-op games offer a 60fps performance mode and a 30fps resolution mode. For co-op action games where timing and responsiveness matter, the 60fps performance mode significantly improves the experience.
Split-screen support
Local split-screen is not guaranteed on PS5. Some developers dropped split-screen for performance reasons. Verify split-screen is supported if you play primarily locally.
Session structure
Story co-op (It Takes Two, Sackboy) has a defined endpoint. Live-service co-op (Deep Rock Galactic, Destiny 2) is ongoing. Match the format to how you and your co-op partner prefer to play together.
Cross-play considerations
For online co-op with friends on different platforms or generations, verify cross-play support. The gaming industry has broadly adopted cross-play, but implementation varies significantly between titles.
Frequently asked
'Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the most accessible PS5 co-op starting point for new players. It has simple controls, a charming visual style, and a gentle difficulty curve. It Takes Two is the best choice for experienced players ready for a high-quality co-op narrative experience.'
Destiny 2 and Warframe lead for free-to-play online co-op player counts. Among premium titles, Borderlands 3 and Deep Rock Galactic have the largest ongoing online co-op communities on PS5.
It Takes Two runs on PS5 via backward compatibility and in a native PS5 version with improved performance. The PS5 version benefits from higher frame rates, faster loading, and improved resolution while the core co-op gameplay remains identical to the PS4 version.
Many PS5 co-op games support cross-generation play between PS4 and PS5. Deep Rock Galactic, Destiny 2, Warframe, and most EA titles support this. Check individual game specifications as cross-gen support is not universal.
Tom Reeves has reviewed consumer electronics for over a decade, with a focus on televisions, monitors, laptops, and smart home devices. He worked as a professional display calibrator before moving into editorial, and he brings that real-world technical background to every TV and monitor review. At TheTestedHub, Tom covers display calibration, computer monitors, laptops and 2-in-1s, smart home platforms, home theater setups, and HDR performance.
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