The original PlayStation has a phenomenal library of games ranging from mainstream staples we adore decades later to obscure gems lost to time. There are plenty of multiplayer games on the system, and Sony even made the Multi Tap so four players could play simultaneously.
However, there are far fewer games that use the hardware or even provide co-op gameplay at all. With this in mind, here are some incredible games you can enjoy on Sony’s humble gray box with a friend.
10Re-Loaded: The Hardcore Sequel
Mindless Bloody Shooting At Its Finest
Re-Loadedis a simple butaddictive top-down shooterwhere you play as one of a selection of undesirables and take down scores of baddies with your guns.
I mean it when I say ‘undesirable.’ The roster proudly displays all of the playable characters' crimes,including cannibalismand being a ‘big baby.’ Each has a specific weapon and special ability, so there’s plenty of replayability.
Thegameplay ofRe-Loadedis rudimentary, but that’s part of the charm. You and a friend must explore a 3D landscape in search of the exit while killing everything that moves.
Enemies typically explode into a bloody puddle, and the techno soundtrack just screams ‘the 90s.’ Re-Loaded may lack the substance of other titles on this list but it remains an oddly relaxing game where you don’t have to worry about gear or complicated controls.
9Crash Bash
Don’t Sleep On The Spin-Offs
Crash Bash
Crash Bashwas poorly received compared to the trio of single-player masterpieces from Naughty Dog. That said, it’s clear thatthe title’s focus is multiplayer, and that’s where it shines.
Crash Bashtrades the precision platforming of the original for acreative library of mini-games. Like every compilation, there are some duds, but the good outweighs the bad. you may team up with a friend inCrash Bashand eventackle an entire campaign together.
A word of warning. Don’t let the vibrant visuals lull you into a false sense of security, andCrash Bashis sometimesdeceptively tough. You and your co-op buddy must bring your A-game if you want to conquer the story mode.
8Um Jammer Lammy
Kick, Punch, Ya’ll Remember!
Um Jammer Lammy
Parappa the Rapperis a classic cultrhythm gamefull ofabsolute bangers, and while the sequelUm Jammer Lammyisn’t nearly as popular, it deserves a mention for itsgreat co-op features.
The big difference betweenParappaandLammyis one is a rapper while the other is a guitarist. Thegameplay in each title is largely the same. You’re given a string of commands to hit to the music and must do so as accurately as possible.
Sequences inUm Jammer Lammyaremuch tougher thanParappa, but they can be played with a friend as part of a duet. Player Two takes control of ‘Rammy,’ and while the character is just a monochrome version of Lammy, the formula works perfectly for two players.
7Metal Slug X
An Arcade Classic At Home
Key Information
2D Shooter
Release Date
January 2001
Metal Slug Xis a brilliant 2D scrollingarcade shoot-em-upwith fast-paced gameplay, gorgeous pixel art animation, and ridiculous boss battles where the odds are firmly stacked against you.
Metal Slug Xis one of the series’strongest entries, and the carnage hits differently with a friend by your side. Like the arcade versions,Metal Slugfeels like it’smade for two players, and the difference is that it won’t munch your coins on a home console.
Thanks to the arcade pedigree,you can finishMetal Slug Xin roughly an hour, but it’s an upgrade fromMetal Slug 2, whichXis based on. It will take much longer if you want to rescue every hostage, and there are a couple of unlockables when you beat the Arcade mode for the first time.
6Command and Conquer: Red Alert
That Tesla Coil Sound, Though
Command and Conquer: Red Alert
TheCommand and Conquerseries includes some of thebest RTS gamesof all time. While most players associate the genre with PC,Red Alerthas a fine console port on PS1, and it even offers co-op if you have the hardware!
Red Alertis a beefy game for the PS1, but it can be enjoyed co-op, provided you have two consoles, two TVs, two copies of the game, andthe coveted Link Cable. I’ve actually used this setup, and it’s an absolute pain to put together, butit felt revolutionary at the timeand works perfectly.
you’re able to play grand-scale skirmishes controlling independent armies on the same team. The best part is that you can build your bases around each other to make a monstrous war settlement that evaporates anything in range.
Oh, you can alsopress Select to switch allegianceand watch all of your defenses attack your friend!
C&Ctakes effort to play co-op, but it serves as a platform for unforgettable battles.
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5Team Buddies
It’s In The Title
Team Buddies
Team Buddiesseems to crop up in many of our PS1 lists, but it’s ahidden gemjust begging for a remake.
For the uninitiated,Team Buddiesis a3D shooter with RTS mechanics. You control a team of colorful beans witha dedicated swearing buttonand must comb the map for cubes. Those cubes can be spent to create guns, vehicles, and new teammates.
Thanks to the RTS gameplay, you mustcompete with multiple teamstrying to do the same thing and hatch strategies on the fly to stay ahead.Team Buddiesworks flawlessly split screen, and the short matches mean you don’t need to invest dozens of hours to enjoy the title.
Thecrass humormay not be for everyone, but it adds a bit of charm, in my opinion.
I Wouldn’t Want To Live Here
Diablois another game that is more well-known in the PC space. However, the PS1 port is not only faithful,it has co-op baked in, and the entire epic story can be enjoyed with a friend.
Diablois the first entry in alegendary ARPG seriesthat is still alive and well in 2025. The original is brutally tricky and arguablyquite rough around the edges. That said, the series had to start somewhere and it doesn’t detract from the fantastic gameplay andaddictivechase for lootand power.
The town of Tristram is surprisingly bleak and gritty and serves as the hub for your adventures. you may play as aWarrior, Sorcerer, or Rogue, and each class has defined strengths and weaknesses to explore with a friend.
It’s a pity thatDiablo 2didn’t make it onto the system, but it’s worth seeking out if you enjoy the original.
A Top Tier PS1 Shmup
Space Shooter
April 1998
Space shooters make for excellent co-op games where youtackle waves of enemies, and giant boss shipswith a wingman. And fortunately for you PS1 addicts, the console has one that’stailor-made for two players.
G-Dariusis afantastic Taito space shooterand part of theDariusseries, known for its bizarre obsession withmechanical aquatic monsters. You and your friend both pilot your very own Silver Hawk, a tiny ship that packs a big punch.
Everything inG-Dariuscan be enjoyed alone or with a friend. If you’re playing together, there are15 campaign stagesin a story with multiple endings. Each level has a boss with two variants, and if you’d prefer to focus on those, you can do so in theboss rushmode.
2Worms World Party
Worms Finest Gets An Upgrade
Worms World Party
Any longstandingWormsplayer will likely tell you thatthe series peaked withWorms Armageddon. I would agree on PC, with all of the fantastic mods, andWorms World Partygives console players atantalizing taste of that freedom.
Worms World Partywould likely be DLC if it were released today, as it simplyadds a few featuresto the legendaryWorms Armageddon.
Everything you love aboutArmageddonis here, from the goofy voice lines to theenormous weapon pool.Worms World Partyadds optional modifiers to the mix and an unrivaled level of customization.
Wormsgameplay isturn-basedchaos at its finest, and it iseven better co-op. you’re able to duke it out against your friends orteam up and squash armies together. Maps areprocedurally generated, so no two games are the same, and theWorld Partyoptions ensure you never tire of the gameplay.
1Future Cop LAPD
A Cult Classic
Future Cop: LAPD
Future Cop LAPDis anambitious 3D adventure/shooterwhere you and a friendpilot mechsand take on crime syndicates across the city.
The title has a die-hard following as the premise is simple but perfectly executed. The difficulty is firm but fair, andbattle demands a strategic approach, as while the mechs are tough, they aren’t bullet sponges. The story, or Crime War Mode, offers a campaign that can be enjoyed alone or in 2-player split screen mode.
Bothplayers share a life barin co-op, making the Crime War surprisingly tense. You can plan smart approaches to avoid damage with multiple players, and there’s plenty of welcome variance in mission objectives.
Many fans adoreFuture Cop LAPDforPrecinct Assault Mode, which is basically a MOBA-lite long before the genre even had a name. Even if you’re not interested in that, the title is worth playing for the campaign.
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