6 Modern Games you can play with your mates on the Couch

Gaming is now mainstream, and it’s taken itself to the internet on a large scale now. In fact, a lot of games now have some kind of DRM (digital rights management) system behind it, meaning you ALWAYS have to be online to play.

It’s not too much of a big deal, you can still play games perfectly fine but for those purists out there, there’s still a bunch of games on modern systems where you don’t need the internet to play with your buddies.

The good old days of couch co-op aren’t quite dead yet. Let’s take a look at some of the best local multiplayer games on the market right now, as well as what system they’re on.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)

Image: Nintendo

For those that are into fighting games but want a bit more child-friendly edge to it, since playing Mortal Kombat with your 10-year-old is just irresponsible.

Smash Bros. ultimate is the 5th in the Smash Bros. series, and as you’d expect it features various Nintendo characters all pitting together until only one remains in the arena. The game can be pretty chaotic, and if you’re new to the game then don’t expect to win straight away.

I highly recommend this with a bunch of friends – it’s honestly hilarious.

Overcooked 1 & 2 (PS4, XB1, Switch)

Image: Team17

Ever wanted to feel severely stressed whilst playing a video game? Probably not, but Overcooked and its sequel manage to make stress somehow enjoyable.

The basic premise is, you gotta grab ingredients as they’re on screen and working with your buddy you have to prepare meals and get them out to be served before the order expires. It’s hell. To make it harder, each player is usually restricted on what they can reach, so you HAVE to communicate effectively.

Me and Guy did this and I’m pretty sure he had a minor panic attack halfway through. He insisted that his tears were from joy though. Weird guy.

FIFA ’19 (PS4, XB1)

Image: EA

In usual annual fashion, FIFA has its local multiplayer options. You don’t always have to go against one another either, you can work together to take on opponents online.

There’s not a lot to say about FIFA really, you’re likely already familiar with it. Football fun on the couch with your pals. Sounds good to me!

Rayman Legends (PS4, XB1, Switch)

Image: Ubisoft

A great nod to the old-school Rayman games back in the PS1 days, Rayman Legends is pretty much a continuation from Rayman Origins, which saw the Rayman series rebooted as a classic platformer just like the good old days.

You don’t have to go it alone though, and that’s why it’s made our list. Pick from a huge roster of different variations of Rayman and some of his friends, and 100% the entirety of the game with a buddy by your side! Be warned – once you start, you won’t be able to stop until you’ve done literally EVERYTHING.

Don’t Starve Together (PS4, XB1)

Image: Klei Entertainment

For those unfamiliar with Don’t Starve, it’s pretty much a simplified survival game set in a generated world where you stay alive for as many days as you possibly can. The only thing is, when you’re dead, you’re dead – you gotta start over! Because of this perma-death feature, it’s quite scary to play it alone.

Don’t Starve Together is a standalone multiplayer expansion to Don’t Starve, and I find myself playing this with friends a lot more often than on my own. It’s a little less traumatising to have a hand from a friend when you’re in a dangerous, yet beautifully illustrated wilderness full of monsters and… man-pigs.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)

Image: Nintendo

Last, but certainly not least, is the latest edition of Mario Kart. Anybody already familiar with games should have expected this to make an appearance!

Similar to Smash Bros, Mario Kart sees a variety of Mario characters, as well as some other familiar Nintendo faces, all karted up for some epic races around various different tracks. Some of them are easy, some of them are stupidly difficult.

You can also seriously screw each other over too with the countless methods of leaving traps for your opponents to fall in, or just simply blasting a turtle shell up their arse. It’s nice and casual fun, unless your mate is a veteran and always comes 1st… then it’s a teeny-tiny bit annoying!

Got any other couch co-op games of the modern era that you feel is worthy of a shout out? Drop us a comment below and let us know your favourites!