The Top 75 PlayStation 5 Local Co-Op and Multiplayer Games to Play With Your Kid: 51 - 75

In the first of a new series, Jump Dash Roll’s resident Gamefather returns, this time with a trusted sidekick, to look at the best local co-op games the PlayStation 5 has to offer.

I came back to gaming in order to play with my son, whose cousins instilled in him a love of video games. I was pretty out of my depth in terms of what games to play with him, until a friend recommended the Lego games, in particular Marvel Super Heroes. We fell in love with that, and never looked back. What I would have loved back then, when trying to work out the best games for us to play, was a list of games aimed at playing local co-op with your child. So many are online co-op only, or not suitable for young kids.

Compiling such a list is a bit of a fool’s errand, due to the fact everyone’s tastes are different, and there are so many games available, but luckily for you, if you wanted to read such a list, I’m a complete fool. 

I dragged Charlie — my now fourteen-year-old son — in as well, for his hot-off-the-street, well, playground, opinion. Between us, we came up with nearly a hundred games in our PlayStation library that we quickly put in some kind of order. We trimmed off the bottom few as we decided they weren’t really games we would recommend to anyone, and were left with no fewer than seventy-five games still available on the PlayStation 5, that are worth a look if you want a game to play with your child.

We have given a provisional age rating that is purely our suggestion, and will differ from the PEGI rating assigned to the game. It is important that you see them as different. Our rating is just about what age a kid would enjoy playing the game, or be able to pick it up etc. Every child is different, and if you are playing with your child you might want to play it first and decide whether it is suitable or not.

Without further ado, here are the first 25. This is of course a completely subjective list, but hopefully showcases the breadth of genres available across Sony's console in terms of co-op gaming.

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75. Death Squared (SMG Studio)

In a nutshell: Work together to solve block manoeuvring puzzles while a hungover commentator argues with a robot about your progress.

Kid says: Fun and challenging for a while; this game soon gets boring and repetitive.

Dad says: Genuinely funny constant voiceover while you play, this game has well thought out puzzles and good but frustrating co-op gameplay which ends up too repetitive to keep you coming back. Worth noting it is one for the thinkers, rather than needing crazy manual dexterity.

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 3

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74. Trackmania Turbo (Ubisoft)

In a nutshell: Racing game with lots of loops, stunts and over 200 tracks.

Kid says: A nice game to play once in a while, but it never leaves me wanting another round.
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Dad says: A fun racer at first, though local co-op seems a real afterthought. You can’t hit each other, so there isn’t that nail-biting jostling for position as you approach a corner, and there’s no series of tracks or competition setup or anything. You just pick random tracks by number, do the really short race, and then go pick another one. Feels more like you are playing a demo of a full game. There is a campaign mode, so this feels like you’d get more out of single player, which is a bit strange. While the tracks are good, and there is a feeling of speed, the lack of interest in the setup and the lack of physicality of the cars makes me feel pretty uninterested in going back to it.

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 3

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73. Don't Starve Together (Klei Entertainment)

In a nutshell: Survival co-op. Craft, forage, fight enemies, and try to survive until daybreak.

Kid says: This game just seems too complicated to not have a tutorial and the graphics and gameplay have never made me want to learn.

Dad says: I love the idea of survival games, and wanted to explore this one further, but my son isn’t up for it! I like the look of it, there is clearly thought in the makeup of the world, but it doesn’t really introduce you to anything. You have to just find out along the way how not to starve, basically by dying repeatedly and getting a little better each time. Finding new things to craft is exciting, and I think I would get into this if I stuck at it, but when we are looking for a game to play, this one never wins! Maybe one day…

Kid age: 12+

PEGI Rating: 12

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72. Ninjin - Clash of Carrots (Modus Games)

In a nutshell: Side-scrolling beat-em-up. Fight baddies with melee or ranged weapons as you race through a series of levels.

Kid says: Fun enough for what it is but it doesn't have the depth and gameplay to play too much.

Dad says: One to play with younger kids, to teach them the basics of a side-scrolling shoot-em-up/beat-em-up. It’s colourful and quick with no real long-lasting appeal, but not every game needs it. Doesn’t offer much for anyone looking for more than that.

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 7

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71. Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Sony Interactive Entertainment)

In a nutshell: From the same studio as Little Big Planet, another co-op platformer with cute little sack people!

Kid says: While nowhere near the standard of the other Sackboy games, this does have something that makes me want to try it again occasionally. The gameplay isn't bad and the levels all offer different things to enjoy.

Dad says: We have loved all three of the Little Big Planet games and I was very excited to get this, but it felt a real let-down. There is none of the variety and imagination from those games on offer here. It’s repetitive and boring, and feels like it was written by people who were not remotely involved in the classic trilogy.

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 7

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70. Nidhogg 2 (Messhof)

In a nutshell: Fight against each other across a series of stages with a variety of weapons in a bid to reach the end and, um, get eaten by a flying worm.

Kid says: This game is fun up to a point as the quick-paced mechanics allow for a good challenge, and it feels quite a laugh, but it gets dull after a while.

Dad says: Quirky little duelling game, addictive when played in short bursts, but doesn’t last any longer than that before becoming too repetitive. Worth a look for free or a couple of quid.

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 12

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69. Lego Harry Potter Collection (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)

In a nutshell: Solve fairly simple puzzles and bash up baddies Lego-style in a Hogwarts version of the popular Lego series.

Kid says: While this isn't close to a bad game, it is not as good as any other Lego games I've played and I would recommend the others instead.

Dad says: I’ll be honest, while I can remember playing this one, I can’t remember a single good or bad point. It’s a bog-standard Lego game. While they all play in a similar way, some seem to work more than others. This one felt far too by the numbers. If you or your kid is Harry Potter mad, it is probably worth a look. If not, there are better ones to play.

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 7

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68. It Takes Two (Electronic Arts)

In a nutshell: Award-winning co-op platformer where you navigate a bunch of puzzles and a failing marriage.

Kid says: I really enjoyed this for quite a time because of the great use of co-op and differing mechanics. However, after a while, the lack of progression means that it feels more like work than a game, even with fun mechanics. Characters do not change when they should and you get no closer to your goal.

Dad says: This is basically a series of mini games that doesn’t grab me much. Individually they can be fun, but they’re so ker-azey and wacky that there is no logic to them, and there is no feeling of progress towards a goal, you are just moving on and on to who knows what next, and it just palls after a while. The story is set up, has strange subject matter that doesn’t seem well handled (may pay off in the end, but it just doesn’t seem to progress level by level), and the characters are unlikeable and annoying.  It gets in the list because some of the levels are fun and imaginative, but I am unlikely to return to it.

Kid age: 12+

PEGI Rating: 12

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67. Knight Squad 2 (Chainsawesome Games)

In a nutshell: Party game for up to eight players, where you brawl and smash your way to victory.

Kid says: This is definitely a game for more than two people but I can see its potential.

Dad says: We haven’t really tried this with more than the two of us, and it doesn’t really work for two people. If you have a bunch of you round a machine, there aren’t too many games you can try, so this is probably worth a go if you don’t have to pay much for it. From the amount we’ve played, I doubt you will love it, but you may well have some fun.

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 12

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66. Earth Defense Force 5 (D3Publisher)

In a nutshell: Join together to save the world by blasting an infinite number of bugs from the face of the Earth.

Kid says: Builds are really different but balanced, and the fights feel like real wars, but the difficulty scale is just ridiculous unless we are missing something.

Dad says: Throwing overwhelming numbers of enemies at you, the different builds do provide completely different roles and experiences, which is initially interesting, and you do feel part of a bigger battle, which is a cool feeling. The nature of the game, however, means that it devolves into shooting bugs until you die, without any real feeling of strategy, leading to a quickly decreasing level of interest.

Kid age: 10+

PEGI Rating: 12

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65. Darksiders Genesis (THQ Nordic)

In a nutshell: Play as War and Strife and kill an enormous number of enemies in this isometric beat-em-up.

Kid says: If this game had less bugs, I could definitely see us getting into it, as the characters and gameplay are really fun.

Dad says: We really enjoyed this to start with, but there are just so many bugs it becomes unplayable. The game glitches, you get stuck, the camera is all wrong. It’s stylish and fun, and then just beats you around the head with what is wrong until you can’t take it anymore. A shame, as it feels like there is a good game in there.

Kid age: 10+

PEGI Rating: 12

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64. Cat Quest 2 (PQube)

In a nutshell: Buddy up in a cute intro to RPGs, complete with monsters, power ups, loot, side quests and dungeons.

Kid says: This is definitely one for younger kids. The core mechanics aren't bad and younger me would have loved it.

Dad says: The younger him DID love it, and he played it for hours! This is a great intro to RPGs for the younger gamer. It is probably charming to a certain sensibility after that as well, as there is a little humour to it, and a story, and it’s clearly well thought out, but I do feel we are unlikely to return to it now he’s a teenager!

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 7

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63. Terraria (505 Games)

In a nutshell: Popular 2D crafting survival game.

Kid says: I think that this game has a lot of potential but it takes a lot of effort and time to enjoy — effort and time that I would rather put into other games. It would be perfect if you wanted a niche game that would give a fairly fun and very long campaign.

Dad says: I love the look of this game, and feel I could get into it, but it has somehow never quite got me in its tractor beam to the point where I invest the time and attention to get used to it and find out what it can do. I feel we have put this higher up because it is well made and clearly has depth, and that without having spoken about it, we feel the fault for us not having played it much is ours rather than the game’s! 

Kid age: 10+

PEGI Rating: 12

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62. Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition (DrinkBox Studios)

In a nutshell: Platform co-op beat-em-up with humour.

Kid says: This game seems really fun and easy to get the hang of but the excitement doesn't last long enough to play the whole campaign.

Dad says: Well made, funny, and involving for a while, I think we would have played this a lot more if we were bigger fans of platform games. Those who are, and who are looking for some co-op platform fun, will undoubtedly enjoy this one.

Kid age: 10+

PEGI Rating: 12

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61. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Interplay)

In a nutshell: Revamped from the classic original hack ‘n’ slash RPG.

Kid says: I enjoyed this game quite a bit as the builds vary nicely and the combat seems easy, fun and not too repetitive, but it doesn't grab me as much as other games do due to its simplicity in combat.

Dad says: A classic of its time is now showing its age compared to newer games. It is fun, but the AI leaves something to be desired, with enemies unable to navigate crates to get to you while you pick them off. Still, nice for younger players to experience a classic from a different age.

Kid age: 12+

PEGI Rating: 12

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60. Super Bomberman R (Konami)

In a nutshell: Fast and frenetic multiplayer bombing action

Kid says: Fun and simple but very repetitive.

Dad says: Really difficult game to get far in, and very frustrating, it manages to make me want to keep playing it to get further. Manic speed once you progress a few levels, and a genuinely hilarious multiplayer experience until you become too frustrated to carry on!

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 7

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59. Skulls of the Shogun (Microsoft Game Studios)

In a nutshell: Tactical battlefield strategy where you get more powerful by feasting on the skulls of your enemy.

Kid says: Fun, challenging and very complicated. This game really focuses on intelligence and strategy. It is enjoyable but the turn-based nature doesn't hook me as much as it does in other games as it removes some of the excitement. It wouldn't work without it though. 

Dad says: Really interesting game, with good mechanics and strategy. I like the look and feel, and would definitely play more of this if my co-op partner wanted to! Definitely one to check out if you want some good turn-based strategy.

Kid age: 12+ 

PEGI Rating: 12

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58. Streets of Rage 4 (DotEmu)

In a nutshell: Head back to the 90’s with a revamped side-scrolling beat-em-up.

Kid says: While repetitive and difficult, this game rewards good teamwork and can be fun from time to time.

Dad says: I definitely enjoy this more than my son, and so don’t get to play it too often. As I said when I reviewed it on this very site some time ago, it isn’t much fun for one player, but comes alive in two-player mode. One for the parents more than the kids, I suppose, especially if they’re ancient enough to remember the time when these games were all the, um, rage. It’s done well, and worth a look if you are interested.

Kid age: 10+

PEGI Rating: 12

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57. Tekken 7 (Bandai Namco Games)

In a nutshell: One-on-one combat. Learn the combos or button mash; it’s the winning that counts.

Kid says: I can see why some people would love this game due to its skill and competitive atmosphere but I've never gotten into it due to the memory and time necessary for any skill.

Dad says: I used to love the Tekken games, playing hours and hours worth on the PS1 back in the day. I have really gone off these 1v1 fighting games, and cannot be bothered to learn the combos, so I just button mash a few times. If you love this type of game, you already know Tekken. If you don’t, you won’t love this one either.

Kid age: 12+

PEGI Rating: 16

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56. Pixel Junk Monsters 2 (SCEA)

In a nutshell: Prepare for a slow and methodical invasion of slow and methodical monsters by building Tower Defence units along their path.

Kid says: This game is really good for a relaxing, fun challenge but as I get older, it is replaced by other better and more complicated games. That isn't to say it is only for younger people though as I can see myself enjoying it from time to time.

Dad says: Really nice feel, this is a fun game to play with kids, helping young ones get used to controllers, or even just getting involved and shouting out advice on what to build to shoot the monsters. A standard tower defence, quite slow as it plays out, but still with some difficulty as you try and level your towers up.

Kid age: 7+

PEGI Rating: 3

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55. Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)

In a nutshell: More Lego action. Superheroes, puzzles, jokes, Lego.

Kid says: I firmly believe that this is the best Lego game due to its more complex challenges and better character creation and wider freeplay. However, it is definitely more complicated.

Dad says: I loved the first of these, but maybe because of the timing of when we found it. My son had completed this on his Xbox before we even played it together, so rather than figure everything out, he was impatiently waiting for me to complete my bits of the puzzle so he could carry on. The game felt too zoomed in as well, so I was battling with the camera most of the time and not sure whereabouts on the level I actually was, which I found frustrating. It is competently made, though didn’t feel as fresh as the original.

Kid age: 10+

PEGI Rating: 7

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54. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)

In a nutshell: Even more Lego action. Lightsabers, droids, puzzles, jokes, Lego.

Kid says: This is easily the closest Lego game to more mature games due to its slightly more skillful combat system but it retains a lot of the benefits of the other Lego games such as fun and simple challenges.

Dad says: Not to be confused with the earlier Lego version of the game, this does far more than most of the other Lego games. This will make it less suitable for very young kids, though as soon as they’re capable with a controller, I’m sure they’ll love it. It runs the risk of falling in between the simple Lego games and the more complicated shooters it makes an effort to emulate, but it definitely offers some fun with Wilhelm screams galore and that hit-and-miss humour that the Lego games continually employ.

Kid age: 10+

PEGI Rating: 7

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53. Gang Beasts (Double Fine Productions)

In a nutshell: multiplayer fighting game with a hilariously dodgy control system. A mass brawl of drunken idiots.

Kid says: I am sure this game is impossible to ever fully get the hang of which both makes it a big laugh with friends and a boring and repetitive game.

Dad says: Terrible game that somehow ends up playable due to the frustrating and hilarious lack of control you have over your character, so that getting your character to do literally ANYTHING you want them to do feels like a triumph. Forming temporary truces with online enemies by raising your hands aloft before combining your attacks on some random feels really satisfying. It never lasts long, but it does scratch a unique itch.

Kid age: 10+

PEGI Rating: 7

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52. Knowledge Is Power (Sony Interactive Entertainment)

In a nutshell: Use your phone to answer questions and sabotage each other during a good ol’ fashioned trivia game.

Kid says: This is a really fun quiz and would be better with more players. It has a good mix of fun and actual knowledge which does mean that younger people have a slight disadvantage. However it isn't too unfair as we both seem to win sometimes and it is always quite close.

Dad says: Quiz games seem few and far between outside of Jackbox, and this is a pretty fun attempt to fill the gap. It manages to keep things close so that people don’t feel out of it.

Kid age: 12+

PEGI Rating: 3

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51. Nex Machina (Sony Interactive Entertainment)

In a nutshell: Fast and frenetic two-player shoot-em-up with powerups and several quadrillion enemies.

Kid says: This game can give such a buzz when you are doing well and rewards skill and teamwork but loses the fun factor after a while of playing due to its repetitive nature.

Dad says: I love the manic energy in this game, it’s smooth and slick. The power ups are great, and you can really get into the zone with it. That said, it’s so intense I can never play it for too long without feeling like I need a lie-down due to sensory overload.

Kid age: 12+

PEGI Rating: 12

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We hope this has given you some ideas for games to buddy up on with your kids, friends or loved ones. Stay tuned for the next 25-game instalment, coming next Monday!