Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen PS1 Games, Ranked

Highlights

• The original PlayStation broke barriers and wowed players with great hardware and mature gaming experiences.
• Co-op and split-screen games were a significant part of the PS1’s library, providing hours of fun for fans.
• Titles like Um Jammer Lammy, Future Cop: LAPD, and Chocobo Racing offered unique gameplay experiences on the PS1.

The original PlayStation was a landmark console in many ways. After Sony failed to secure deals with other big names in the gaming industry to co-develop a console, the company decided to break into the console territory on its own two feet, leading to the development of one of the greatest video game platforms ever made.

The PlayStation wowed players with its great hardware and focus on more mature gaming experiences, setting them apart from their competition in the best way imaginable. The console was filled to the brim with some truly great games, with many co-op and split-screen games also being a part of this platform’s massive library of quality titles that fans still remember to this day.

Updated on April 26, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The PlayStation 1 is a console that a lot of gamers remember fondly to this day. After being screwed over by Nintendo and rejected by Sega to partner up, Sony decided to take a huge risk and make an independent splash in the video game market that was one of the wisest decisions the company has ever made. The PlayStation was a hit at launch, with its focus on attracting mature audiences paying off well for the company. To this day, Sony continues to develop first-party titles that emphasize nuanced themes and complex storytelling, a hallmark of the developer’s strategy that has paid dividends. In the midst of their single-player offerings on the PS1, there were several excellent co-op and split-screen games that fans had a great time with.

13 Um Jammer Lammy

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

PaRappa the Rapper was a major player on the PS1 back in the day, and it’s a shame that this hard-as-nails rhythm game never got the time of day to shine on future platforms, barring an odd re-release here and there. Along with this main series, PaRappa the Rapper spawned a spin-off title that could be played in co-op.

As most people would expect, Um Jammer Lammy is not a rhythm game that takes things easy. Players must time their button presses perfectly to pass in a level, and both players need to be at the top of their game to secure a good score. If one player isn’t good enough, then both of them are punished.

12 Future Cop: LAPD

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

A simple action game where players control a mech across multiple stages, Future Cop: LAPD is a fun, mindless shooter where players must use all their skills to take out a wealth of enemies while preserving themselves. The story mode can be played with two players to heighten the enjoyment of the game.

Players who want to enjoy a time when gaming wasn’t super serious or too focused on being an easy joyride will find Future Cop: LAPD to be right up their alley. As long as players don’t blame each other for avoidable mistakes, the game will prove to be quite engaging in its own right.

11 Chocobo Racing

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

Chocobos are some of the more recognizable mascots in gaming history, being a huge and notable part of Final Fantasy time and time again. These cute creatures are known for helping players roam around the world map while avoiding any enemy encounters in the process.

Given the heights of popularity that Squaresoft had reached on the original PlayStation, it was only a given that they’d try to cash in on the hype of the series and its characters. This led to the development and release of Chocobo Racing, a fun (if somewhat unremarkable) title that is a blast to play with friends.

10 Worms Armageddon

Number Of Players Supported: 1-4

The Worms series has churned out hit after hit, with this popular turn-based strategy video game series allowing players to control a platoon of troops who have to take out their opponents using a variety of innovative weapons. It helps that the maps these battles take place on are also pretty creative in their own right, allowing players to utilize a wealth of tactics to ensure that their enemies are defeated.

Worms Armageddon was a huge hit on the PS1, allowing players to engage in some great tactical warfare that seemed oddly hilarious because of the cute nature of these worms and the PG-friendly manner in which they met their demise. The game has aged like a fine wine, with the tried-and-tested nature of the gameplay being quite enjoyable even now.

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

There was a time when the Twisted Metal series was more than just a forgotten franchise with a movie based on it. This destructive racing series featured some dark lore, weird characters, and unique plotlines that would send shivers down the spine of any player who checked this experience out for themselves.

Twisted Metal 2 is considered by many to be the best title in the series, with the gameplay, characters, and individual storylines being pretty engaging. There’s something highly addictive about starting this game up, sitting down with a friend, and destroying everything in sight while checking out one of the many available modes.

8 Gauntlet Legends

Number Of Players Supported: 1-4

Gauntlet Legends started out as an arcade game before being ported over to home consoles. While this shift was anything but smooth, players who gave this hack-and-slash dungeon crawler a shot usually had a great time, especially if they could partake in the action-packed goodness with their friends.

Gauntlet Legends may not be the best action game on the PS1, so it’s nice to see that local co-op enhances the enjoyment players can have quite a bit. This title is a great example of why more action games should have co-op options since the simple act of playing with a friend can really enhance the fun factor.

7 Legend Of Mana

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

The idea of playing through a co-op JRPG made by Squaresoft during its heyday is enticing for all the obvious reasons, and Legend of Mana certainly helps players scratch this retro itch as they go through a fantasy world full of threats and lively characters. It’s one of the better titles on the PS1 that most people don’t talk about, which is a shame.

Controlling two characters and laying waste to enemies on the map makes for a simple and great time, with the pace of the game being governed by the actions of the players themselves. This allows for quests to be tackled in a non-linear manner, which is endlessly entertaining.

6 Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

A beat-’em-up game with platforming elements, it’s easy to see why a Star Wars game released around a time when the fervor surrounding the series was at its very peak would be well-received by the masses. Star Wars fans loved what Jedi Power Battles brought to the table, letting players fulfill their wildest fantasies of becoming a Jedi Master and laying waste to any enemies that stood in their way.

The game’s mix of platforming and action lets gamers enjoy the best of both worlds. It may not be the most polished game around, but players won’t mind as long as they get to fulfill their dreams of being a powerful Force user who can school enemies without facing too many problems. This title is especially fun when played with a friend.

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

• Platforms: PC, Android, PlayStation, PSP, Nintendo Switch
• Released: March 1, 1999
• Developer: SNK Corporation
• Genres: Run and gun, Shoot ’em up

Metal Slug X is a great action-packed side-scrolling shooter that encompasses the arcade-y goodness people have come to expect from titles like this. The game is a blast to play through, especially if players share this experience with their friends as they tear through the available stages.

The game can be pretty tough early on, with players forced to endure threats over and over again as their health is depleted in a flash. The bosses are especially challenging, but those who team up together and sync their attacks in harmony will beat up the toughest foes without too many issues.

4 CTR: Crash Team Racing

Number Of Players Supported: 1-4

Mario Kart was a massive hit on Nintendo consoles, and it was only a matter of time before Sony would try and emulate this title’s success. The result is Crash Team Racing, a kart racing title that is more technical and requires more skill than Nintendo’s flagship racing game.

The game is certainly charming, even if it doesn’t have the lasting power of Mario Kart. Players can always boot up a round with their friends to go through the many tracks in this title, with a modern take on this kart racing series also available for fans who want to see what makes this series so special.

3 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

A legendary video game that needs no introduction, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is a brilliant video game that improves upon everything established in its predecessor. Playing this game in both its single-player and multiplayer modes is a blast to this day.

Sure, most people will just pick up the remakes if they want to enjoy some fun skateboarding gameplay, but there’s something about the original game’s charm that’s hard to resist. The wealth of gameplay modes in this title is a ton of fun and makes it clear why Pro Skater 2 has earned its name in the history books as one of the greatest video games ever made.

2 Gran Turismo 2

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

The Gran Turismo series has seen better days, and it’s clear that Sony’s focus is more towards their action-oriented offerings. Fans of this beloved racing series can always check out the older games in the franchise if they want to relive a time when these games were flourishing.

Gran Turismo 2 is undoubtedly a series highlight, with the game looking and feeling groundbreaking at the time. The years may not have been kind to it, but racing fans can still have a great time racing against their friends across numerous tracks.

1 Diablo

Number Of Players Supported: 1-2

Diablo is a series that needs no introduction, with this beloved dungeon crawler allowing players to hack and slash their way through numerous levels as they try to attain the best loot possible. This simple gameplay loop has transformed into something magical, with Diablo 4 taking over the hearts and minds of fans once again.

The release of this game on the PlayStation made for a great time as players sat down with their friends and cleared out waves of enemies while trying to get the best equipment in the process. The original game still has a charm of its own that fans will love if they decide to revisit it.