Family co-op sorted by age, from no-fail toddler games to teen-friendly campaigns.
Playing with your kids works best when the game does not punish the weaker player. The list below is sorted by age band, and every game supports two or more people on the same screen.
We have flagged which ones have no fail state at all — useful for young children — and which need reading ability.
2023 · Switch
Four-player platforming where a young child can float over most hazards. Nobody can lose for long.
2022 · PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch
Characters respawn instantly with a small stud penalty, so a child can experiment freely. Nine films of content.
2023 · Switch
Four-player 2D Mario with bubble characters that cannot be knocked out, plus easier Yoshi and Nabbit options for young players.
2011 · PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Mobile
Split-screen building with no enemies in creative mode. The most open-ended thing you can share with a small child.
2017 · Switch
Shape-cutting puzzles with two-button controls. Genuinely funny for both of you.
2017 · Switch
Smart steering and auto-accelerate let a seven-year-old finish a race, while drifting keeps it interesting for you.
2016 · PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Mobile
A shared farm with reading involved but no combat required. Great for teaching patience and planning.
2018 · PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch
Genuine teamwork under time pressure, in five-minute levels. Expect shouting, mostly the good kind.
2013 · PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch
Drop-in platforming where a struggling player can be revived instantly. The music levels are a highlight for any age.
2020 · Switch
A shared island with no threat of any kind. Best played in short daily sessions rather than long ones.
2011 · PC, Xbox, Switch (cloud)
Excellent for an older child who likes puzzles — it teaches spatial reasoning without any violence.
2021 · PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch
Built for two, with mechanics that change constantly so neither of you dominates. Mild cartoon peril only.
2011 · PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Mobile
Shared survival with real stakes and long-term projects. The best excuse for a weekly ritual.
2015 · PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch
Car football with a five-minute match length and a skill ceiling you will never both reach. Free to play with split screen.
2022 · Switch
A shooter with no gore, where covering the floor in paint matters more than eliminations. Ideal for a first competitive game.
2023 · PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
For teens who play D&D — full split-screen co-op with a mature rating, so check the content first.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe or Lego Star Wars, because neither has a meaningful fail state. Super Mario Bros. Wonder's bubble mode also lets a child keep playing without ever being out.
Minecraft for spatial planning and resource management, Portal 2 for logic, Stardew Valley for budgeting and patience, and Overcooked for communication under pressure.
Short-session games make limits far easier to enforce: Mario Kart races, Rocket League matches and Overcooked levels all end naturally in three to five minutes, unlike open-world games.
The Switch — it ships with two controllers, has the deepest family library, and most of its games support local co-op out of the box.
Yes: Stardew Valley (combat is optional), Animal Crossing, Snipperclips, Unravel Two, Portal 2 and Minecraft in creative mode.