Two-player PlayStation 2 classics: split-screen, campaign co-op and party nights.
The PS2 generation was the last one where local multiplayer was assumed rather than added. Almost every genre had a two-player option, and a multitap turned that into four.
These are the best co-op PS2 games, split by how you want to play — full campaign co-op, competitive split screen, or party games for a room.
2005 · PS2, PS3
The whole arena-based campaign supports two players in split screen. Leaner and faster than the mainline games.
2003 · PS2
Survival horror designed for four players, ahead of its time and hampered only by the era's online. Offline AI partners work.
2004 · PS2, Xbox, Modern ports
Isometric loot-driven action RPG with full couch co-op. The direct ancestor of Diablo on console.
2004 · PS2
Four-player dungeon crawling with deep character builds and save-transfer between games. Enormous.
2000 · PS2, GameCube, Xbox
Four-player arcade dungeon crawling with the classic 'Wizard needs food badly' pacing. Great for kids.
2002 · PS2
Brutal two-player run-and-gun with a weapon-swap system. Short stages and endless retries.
2001 · PS2, PS3
One player, but the second controller can guide Yorda — the classic 'player two' trick families used.
2002 · PS2, GameCube, Xbox
Four-player split screen with bots and a map editor. The best console shooter multiplayer of its generation.
2004 · PS2, Xbox
Split-screen racing built around crashing your friend into a wall. Crash mode is a party game in itself.
2001 · PS2, GameCube, Xbox
Two-player snowboarding with a soundtrack everyone remembers. Runs last two minutes.
2005 · PS2
The strongest PS2 fighting game, with an arcade history mode bundled in. Perfectly readable for beginners.
2003 · PS2, GameCube, Xbox
Weapon-based fighting with an eight-way run that makes it feel more open than its peers. Beautiful even now.
2004 · PS2, Xbox, GameCube
Environmental grappling and a preposterous cast. One of the most fun two-player brawlers ever made.
2005 · PS2, Xbox
Split-screen street racing through open cities with heavy customisation. Chaotic and fast.
2006 · PS2
Co-op lead and bass, plus face-off mode for two guitars. The easiest way to get non-gamers playing.
2007 · PS2
Four buzzer controllers and a quiz format anyone can join instantly. A genuine family-night staple.
2004 · PS2
Karaoke with scoring and two microphones. It sold consoles in Europe on party night alone.
2003 · PS2
Classic four-player bomb battles with a minigame collection attached. Rounds last a minute.
2004 · PS2
Two dance mats, one very tired living room. Still the most physical party game on the console.
2002-2007 · PS2
Titles like Sega Superstars Tennis and Crash Bash filled the board-and-minigame slot on PlayStation. Best with a multitap.
Timesplitters 2, Burnout 3, SSX Tricky, Ratchet: Deadlocked and Guitar Hero II. All support two players on a single screen with no online requirement.
Yes for most of them — the PS2 has two controller ports, so games like Timesplitters 2, Champions of Norrath and Buzz! need a multitap for three or four players.
Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, Lego Star Wars, Buzz! and Bomberman Land 2 are all approachable, forgiving and quick to learn.
A few have modern re-releases — Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II and Burnout Paradise Remastered among them. Most still need original hardware or a PS3 with backwards compatibility.
Champions of Norrath for depth and Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II for pacing. Both support couch co-op through the entire campaign.