Best Co-op Games for Xbox 360: Couch and Split Screen

Two of you share the TV on a split screen and play the whole campaign, each with your own character and skill tree. It is a first-person shooter built around loot, with a long story and plenty of side missions, so one session rarely finishes anything.

Two players can split the screen for the campaign, playing as Marcus and Dom, in a cover shooter with big set pieces. The campaign also takes four players online.

Two players can split the screen for the whole campaign as Master Chief and an Arbiter, in a first-person shooter with vehicles and large open areas. The story closes the original trilogy.

Two players can split the screen in a campaign where four survivors cross the American South fighting waves of infected. A system called the Director changes enemies and items every time you play.

Up to four players share one screen as knights who cut through side-scrolling levels, level up and pick which stats to raise. Everyone fights at once and the levels are short, so a full run fits in an evening or two.

The co-op campaign is separate from the single-player one: two robots, each with a portal gun, and test chambers that cannot be solved by one person alone. The screen splits so each of you sees your own side of the room.

Two players can split the screen for the campaign as Marcus and Dom, in a cover shooter that expands the first game with more set pieces.

Two players can split the screen for the campaign in a first-person shooter where a squad of Spartans defends a planet, and you can also play Firefight, a mode of waves of enemies. You customize your armor.

Two players can split the screen in a campaign where four survivors fight waves of infected, with the other two controlled by the game. A system called the Director changes the infected every time you play.

Two players can split the screen for the campaign as Marcus and Dom, in the cover shooter that started the series. You duck behind walls and shoot, with a camera behind the character.

Two players can split the screen for a campaign about a squad of soldiers moving through a city at night, plus Firefight, a mode where you hold out against waves of enemies. It plays differently from the Master Chief games.

Two players take the roles of Chris and Sheva for the whole campaign on a split screen, and you can pass items and ammo back and forth. It is third-person and leans more on shooting than on scares.

Up to four players dig, build and fight bosses in the same 2D world on one screen. There is no set goal, so what you do each night depends on what the group decides to make.

Up to four players share a world on a split screen and can play survival or creative mode. The worlds are smaller than on PC, but you can build, mine and survive together without leaving the couch.

Up to four players run through hand-drawn 2D levels together, and a downed player comes back by being slapped out of a bubble. Some stages are built around music, where jumps and punches have to land on the beat.

Up to four players share one screen in a hand-drawn platformer, running, bouncing and bringing each other back when someone falls. You play as Rayman, Globox or the Teensies.

On Xbox 360, up to four players share one screen, each with their own character, and fight through the same dungeons and collect loot. You do not need an online account to play this way.

Two players can play the co-op campaign, a platformer where prisoners trapped in a theater cross levels full of traps while a narrator comments on everything. Up to four can play the arena modes on the same screen, against bots.

Up to four players share one screen in a punk-rock beat 'em up where you fight through a city as a band, leveling up and buying items. The humor and the music are a big part of the style.

Two players split the screen and play the first game's campaign, picking from four classes and sharing a desert world full of loot. It is the original version of the formula.

Two players split the screen as a pair of mercenaries who take cover, draw fire and flank enemies together. A system that tracks who is attracting attention makes the partner who is not being shot at more dangerous.

Two players split the screen in a Shanghai that falls apart around them, with choices you make together during the story. The cover-and-flank play is the same as in the first game.

Two players can split the screen for a separate co-op campaign of about six hours that sets up the single-player story, with two agents infiltrating together. Stealth and quick eliminations are the core.

Two players split the screen for the co-op missions, one as Sam Fisher and the other as Isaac Briggs. Stealth is the focus, though you can play loud too.

Two players split the screen across three campaigns, each with its own pair of characters. It is a third-person action game with more shooting and chases than horror.

Two players split the screen in an episodic horror game with two pairs of characters. In each pair one fights while the other supports, as when Moira's flashlight blinds an enemy before Claire attacks.

Up to three players work together as a wizard, a thief and a knight, each with different abilities. The levels are physics puzzles with more than one solution, set in a very colorful fantasy world.

Up to four players share one screen in a pixel-art brawler that follows the comic's levels and bosses. You pick a character, level up and spend money on items between fights.

Up to four players share one screen, one turtle each, in a 3D remake of the 1991 arcade game. You fight through levels and throw enemies toward the screen, as in the original.

Up to four players share one screen across two arcade brawlers set in a fantasy world, with spells and routes that branch. You pick a classic class like fighter or cleric and fight to the end.

Two players explore a Mexican-themed world in a side-scrolling brawler where new moves open new areas. One of you plays Juan and the other Tostada.

Up to four players share one screen in a fast platformer where the characters explode to launch themselves across levels. The levels are short and the humor is loud.

Two players share one screen in a puzzle game where two creatures try to find each other in a world of blocks you can move. You solve each level by cooperating.

Two players defend the same lawn by planting plants that stop waves of zombies. It is a tower defense with a light, humorous tone.

A second player can join your game as a henchman in a fantasy action RPG, following the single-player story, and what they earn carries over to their own game. The game lets you shape your hero with choices between good and evil.

Up to four players share one screen in a dungeon crawler where you choose between three classes and collect loot while fighting waves of enemies. It is a simple hack-and-slash built for short sessions.

Up to four players plan and carry out heists from above, each with a character with a specialty like picking locks or hacking. You see only what your character can see, so you have to talk.

Up to four players share one screen in a twin-stick shooter set in a neon grid, with waves of shapes coming from every side. Co-op is in certain scoring modes, and the game is short and about beating high scores together.

Two players can split the screen in a mix of tower defense and action set in the Cold War, placing defenses and then taking control of a turret or vehicle yourself. The toys come to life.

Two players survive together on an island full of zombies, crafting weapons and gathering supplies. You manage hunger, thirst and sleep as well as the enemies.

Two players can split the screen in a first-person shooter where you face enormous crowds of enemies in open arenas. The tone is silly and the action is nonstop.

One player moves a marionette cowboy with Kinect body motion while a second player can stand up and join in as a second set of guns, in a rail-style game with a theatrical look. It needs a Kinect sensor.

Two players share one screen in a side-scrolling run-and-gun with hand-drawn sprites, vehicles and lots of branching paths. It is a short arcade game made to be replayed.

Two players share one screen in a run-and-gun side-scroller with large bosses and fast action. It is a prequel to Hard Corps and it is known for being hard.

Up to four players share one screen in an anime-style side-scrolling brawler where you pick a fighter and fight through levels. The look comes from a fighting game of the same name.

Four players on one screen pick Marvel heroes and fight through a story that takes them across many settings. Certain pairings of heroes give the team bonuses, so picking who plays whom matters.

Four players share a screen in a story built around the Civil War, where you pick a side and fight with a team of heroes. Two heroes can combine in fusion attacks.

Two players split the screen in an action RPG with its own story, separate from the films, controlling one of three heroes. You level up skills and collect loot as you fight across Middle-earth.

Two players share the screen in an action RPG with a story campaign, each playing one of four heroes. You level up, collect gear and fight in real time.

Up to four players share one screen in a cave platformer whose levels are generated each run. You die often, and you can also hurt each other.

Two players team up in a short, violent side-scrolling brawler with knives, guns and a chainsaw. The co-op campaign is its own story.

Two players play as Lara and an ancient warrior in an isometric view with tomb puzzles that need both of you. The warrior's spears can be used as platforms, so each of you has a different role.

Two players explore an open version of New York and take on story missions with more than a hundred Marvel characters to unlock. The puzzles are simple, and the game has no real way to lose.

Two players explore an open Gotham City and play story missions, and it is the first LEGO game with full voice acting. The screen splits and rejoins automatically when you walk apart.

Two players play through the last half of the saga on a split screen, with an open Hogwarts to wander between missions. You switch spells and characters to solve each puzzle.

Two players follow the three films through Middle-earth, which you can walk between missions. Each character has a different ability, so you swap often to get past obstacles.

Two players split the screen across levels from four films, including Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, with a hub for each. The puzzles are simple and nobody can really lose.

Two players share one screen in a LEGO game covering Episodes I to VI, with the two earlier LEGO Star Wars games in one package. You can switch between characters with different abilities, and nobody can really lose.

Two players split the screen in play sets based on Disney and Pixar worlds, using figures you place on a base, plus a toy box for building your own things. It mixes story missions and free play.

Two players split the screen in a story campaign based on the film, plus a toy box area where you can roam. It is aimed at younger players.

Two players split the screen for Zombies, surviving rounds that get harder each time on a handful of maps. Nothing ends the match except dying, so the question is how far you get.

Two players can split the screen for the war campaign, and the Nazi Zombies mode, which unlocks after you finish the campaign, can also be played together on one TV. It is a World War II shooter.

Up to four players split the screen for Zombies, which here has larger maps and a story that continues across them. TranZit mode uses a bus to travel between areas.

Two players split the screen and cut through armies of hundreds of enemies in Three Kingdoms battles, picking from many generals. Most of the play is crowd combat, with some officers as tougher targets.

Two players split the screen in a game that mixes characters from Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors. You build teams of three and swap between them during battle.

Two players split the screen to fight giant insects and robots across large levels, each choosing from a set of classes. It has a B-movie tone and a lot of enemies on screen.

Two players split the screen to fight giant insects and robots in big city levels, each choosing from a set of classes. It has a B-movie tone and a lot of enemies on screen.

Up to four players share the TV with a split screen in a kart-style racer where cars turn into boats and planes depending on the track. They can also play the World Tour mode together, where one player finishing an event is enough for everyone to advance.

Two players team up in two-on-two basketball against the computer, with exaggerated dunks and a fire streak when you score a few in a row. Matches are short and rules are loose.

A whole band can play on one TV with guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals, and the game supports up to seven players. It also has a mode that teaches you real playing skills.