Congratulations! You’re one of the proud owners of the new Xbox Series X. Now you want to show it off to your friends and family by having them come over and play with you.
But with tons of games already optimized for the Series X, it can be hard to pick the right one for you and your friends. If that’s the reason you’re here, you’re in for a treat! We’ve listed all the best couch co-op games you should play on your new console.
Some of the games on this list are optimized for Series X and S, while others are made available through backward compatibility. Even then, playing these games will still look and feel a lot better.
Contents of this Page
1. DIRT 5
What is the game about?
- Racing
- Four-player co-op
One of the most popular co-op games you can play with your friends on the Xbox Series X is Dirt 5. It is a racing game that can be played by up to four players simultaneously via split-screen.
Since the Xbox Series X utilizes new hardware, you should experience stellar performance and stunning graphics. Next-gen consoles are capable of 120 fps at 4K resolution if you have an equally capable display.
Dirt 5 is optimized for next-gen gaming, so you can expect a smooth experience. If you only have a monitor with a maximum resolution of 1080p, fret not, as you can always choose lower resolutions to match your display.
Dirt 5 takes you to tracks in various breathtaking locations, such as Morocco, New York, Italy, Arizona, China, Brazil, Norway.
If you and your friends are looking to enjoy some quality time at your place, Dirt 5 is a game you should consider trying out.
2. Gears 5
What is the game about?
- Campaign
- Competitive
- Multiplayer
Gears 5 is a competitive third-person shooter with a campaign that is fun to play with friends. The entire franchise has always been a mixture of serious war story, intense combat, and ridiculous over-the-top scenes.
If you’re a fan of this saga, know that the campaign in Gears 5 picks up where Gears 4 left off. The game will put you and up to two of your friends seated and entertained in a 12-hour journey. Apart from gunfights, you will also tour stunning landscapes, from deserts to frozen wastelands.
3. A Way Out
What is the game about?
- Co-op
- Story-driven
If you have a friend who is always at your place, A Way Out is a game you should consider playing on the Xbox Series X. The game can only be played in a co-op setting as it doesn’t have a single-player mode. Don’t worry, though, as you can always play with someone online.
The game circles around Leo and Vincent, two characters who end up in prison for different reasons. The game requires both players to work together to break out of jail. But getting out of jail is just the beginning because the real adventure starts when you are on the run.
You need to work as a team to get through what lies ahead and avoid being captured, so expect epic gunfights and adventures.
A Way Out is story-driven, so it should give you a movie-like experience, and we highly recommend you to try it out.
4. Borderlands 3
What is the game about?
- Action RPG
- First-person shooter
- Split-screen co-op
Borderlands 3 is a first-person action RPG shooter developed by Gearbox Software. Even though the game is titled Borderlands 3, it is actually the fourth entry in the main series.
In Borderlands 3, you and your friends will be slaughtering both weird and wonderful creatures.
One thing that makes Borderlands 3 unique is the ability to travel across multiple planets, adding a variety of the type of monsters you’ll be facing.
In multiplayer mode, you and your friends will be playing through split-screen functionality. You can play with not just one but three more friends as the game can be played by up to four players.
Because Borderlands 3 is optimized for the Xbox Series X through Smart Delivery, you will notice better visuals as you pillage your way through the vast world. And oh, there will be faster loading times with the new SSD storage device as well.
5. Streets of Rage 4
What is the game about?
- Fighting game
- Co-op
- Arcade
If you and your friends are not into shooters, Streets of Rage 4 is a game you should consider. It is an arcade fighting game that allows up to four people to play together on one screen.
In this game, you and up to three friends will be fighting thugs on the streets. But be careful if you have friendly fire enabled because you can inflict damage to your friends and cause quite a problem.
When things do heat up, you can fight against each other in versus battle mode. This mode should help settle the score with your friend. If you want, you can play up to four players at once to show who’s the best fighter in the game.
Streets of Rage 4 is entertaining enough in single-player mode, but having friends join you is usually more fun.
6. Diablo III: Eternal Collection
What is the game about?
- Demon-slaying
- Looting
- Fantasy Action RPG
Another couch co-op game you should not miss is Blizzard’s Diablo III: Eternal Collection. This game allows you to play with up to four friends.
Because of how the game is designed, it should keep you and your friends awake and engaged for hours. Unlike other couch co-op games, the screen won’t be split since your characters share the same screen for seamless communication.
It is essential to note that both difficulty and loot will scale according to the number of players in the game. If you’re going to play with a roster of four players, then expect bosses to be more challenging.
One downside with sharing the same screen is that when a player needs something from their inventory, the rest will have to wait until the player is done.
Even though the game is eight years old now, it is still fun to play with friends. You should also experience better visuals and overall gameplay since the Xbox Series X can support up to 120 fps.
7. Overcooked! All You Can Eat
What is the game about?
- Can be played by up to four players
- Simulation
Overcooked! All You Can Eat is the summary and a remaster of both Overcooked! and Overcooked! 2 optimized for next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series X.
In total, there are seven new kitchens and three new chefs. There is also a new assist mode and other accessibility features, such as dyslexic friendly text, support for color blindness, and a scalable user interface.
If you can’t play the game locally with a friend, you can play with them online. But the real thing that makes this game great is its support for cross-platform multiplayer. Now you and your friends can enjoy the game together regardless of platform.
The new assist mode allows you to master the heat of the kitchen more efficiently. Some of the features the game supports include the ability to slow the timeouts on recipes, skip levels, and increase the duration of rounds.
Over 200 kitchens are available, along with over 120 chefs.
8. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
What is the game about?
- First-person shooter
- Split-screen multiplayer
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is one of the finest first-person shooters on the next-generation consoles. The games in the bundle are playable at 120 fps at 4K on the Series X and 1080p on the Series S.
If you and your friend are fans of the franchise, you will definitely love playing this collection on your new console. The included games not only have enhanced graphics, but they also have an improved split-screen interface to make couch multiplayer and co-op more enjoyable.
Another thing that makes this collection worth playing is it can accommodate up to four players. Unfortunately, the games can only run at 60 fps with four players. The game also supports HDR, which can be accessed in the settings menu for an even better visual experience.
9. The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope
What is the game about?
- Horror co-op
- Story-driven
- Interactive
Are you and your friends into horror games? The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope should keep you engaged for hours. Like A Way Out, this game is story-driven and can be played by up to five players. Unlike other couch multiplayer games, it is interactive and feels more like a movie than a game.
The story starts when four students and their professor wound up stranded in an eerie town called Little Hope after their bus had crashed. The place is located in a remote area where a signal is impossible to come by, so calling for help is impossible.
The four students and their professor have no other option but to travel to the nearest town on foot to get help. The road ahead is not simple, and each player will be flooded with strange flashbacks dating back to the 17th century.
Even though the game is story-driven, players have to make various decisions– all pointing to a unique ending.
Graphics and gameplay are great on the Xbox Series X. If you are looking for a game to play with your friends, this title should keep you on your toes.
10. Warhammer: Chaosbane – Slayer Edition
What is the game about?
- Action RPG
- Hack and slash
Warhammer: Chaosbane – Slayer Edition was developed and published by Eko Software and Bigben Interactive. The game was upgraded and optimized for next-generation console hardware.
Both on Xbox Series X and PS5, the Slayer Edition supports up to 60 fps at 4K resolution. The game also runs smoothly with improved visuals and loading times.
The Slayer Edition includes all the DLCs, including the Tomb Kings expansion and the new Witch Hunter class, which can easily switch between rapier and pistol weapons.
Like Diablo III, Chaosbane is a hack and slash game with plenty of loot to collect.
You can play with up to four friends in Chaosbane, and similar to Diablo III, you get to play together on one screen. Playing on one screen should make communication and teamplay coordination easier.
The game is broken down into multiple chapters, and the story mode should keep you busy as it also offers plenty of achievement that requires grinding. Side quests are also given to you by NPCs, who will reward you with either gold or equipment to aid you in your journey. While it’s true that grinding in Chaosbane can be challenging, the creative latitude, craft, and build development of characters and the story ensure an experience you deserve. Add the various class types, abilities, divine gifts, and you can surely enjoy the game according to your preferred style.
