Local Multiplayer Games That Don’t Need the Internet

22 August 2025

Let’s admit something—we've all had moments when the Wi-Fi crashes, and we’re stuck staring at each other, wondering what to do next. Or maybe you're in a cabin in the woods, phone signal’s on life support, and all you have is your console or a couple of handhelds. Here’s where local multiplayer games shine like a beacon in the digital dark. They serve nostalgia, competition, and fun—all without needing to be online.

So grab a buddy (or three), charge your controllers, and dive into this hefty list of local multiplayer games that don’t need the internet to deliver epic gaming sessions. Whether you're kicking back on your couch, in a dorm room, or stuck in an airport lounge, there’s something in here for everyone.

Why Go Offline? The Beauty of Local Multiplayer

Before we dive into the actual games, let’s talk about the magic of local multiplayer. Sure, online gaming is enormous, but nothing quite beats yelling at your best friend sitting right next to you, right?

There's a human element to sharing a screen—or splitting it—that online games just can’t replicate. You feel the tension in real-time, you see their frustration when you beat them, and you laugh together when things go hilariously wrong.

Also, let’s be real—sometimes the internet just isn’t available. Dead zones exist. But your love for gaming doesn’t have to take a break.

1. 🎮 Overcooked! & Overcooked! 2

Let’s start with a classic. Overcooked is chaos in the kitchen, and it’s glorious. You and your friends (up to four players) work together to prepare meals, serve them, and deal with ridiculous kitchen obstacles like conveyor belts, fires, or moving truck platforms.

It’s frantic, it’s fun, and it’s the ultimate test of friendship. Whether you're chopping onions or screaming "WHERE’S THE RICE?!", it's a recipe for both disaster and laughter. No internet required—just teamwork and a lot of shouting.

- Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Ideal for: 2-4 players on the same screen

2. 🕹️ TowerFall Ascension

If you loved couch battles back in the day, TowerFall Ascension brings those vibes back hard. It's a pixelated archery arena where you try to be the last one standing using arrows, trick shots, and insane reflexes.

It’s fast, it’s furious, and it gets competitive, real quick.

What makes it so special? Instant pick-up-and-play action, tight controls, and matches that end in seconds, which means rematches are a must.

- Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
- Ideal for: 2–4 players, split or shared screen

3. ⚽ Rocket League (Offline Mode)

Yes, Rocket League is known for its online play, but guess what? It has a solid offline split-screen mode. You can team up or go head-to-head in rocket-powered car soccer. It's FIFA meets Fast & Furious, and it's every bit as bananas as it sounds.

Playing offline means fewer distractions and a real test of reflexes. Plus, it's a great way to practice before going online and getting demolished.

- Platform: PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
- Ideal for: 2–4 players split-screen

4. 🧠 Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

This one flips the local multiplayer genre upside-down. One player is the bomb defuser, seeing the bomb on screen. The others? They're the "experts" reading a bomb disposal manual—but they can’t see the bomb.

You’ll be screaming instructions like, “Cut the red wire—not that red wire!” It’s intense, hilarious, and needs zero internet to function.

- Platform: PC, VR headsets, Switch, PS4
- Ideal for: 2+ players (can be played with printouts!)

5. 🧟 Left 4 Dead 2

Zombies, guns, chaos. That's Left 4 Dead 2 in a nutshell. This iconic co-op shooter lets you and up to three friends take on hordes of the undead. It's old-school gaming at its best—full of tension, strategy, and a healthy dose of bullet-spraying mayhem.

Play offline using LAN or split-screen (depending on your platform), and get ready to scream when a Tank shows up.

- Platform: Xbox 360, PC
- Ideal for: 2 players split-screen, or 4 with LAN

6. 🥊 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

This one needs no introduction. Smash Ultimate is a celebration of gaming history. Mario vs. Link? Kirby vs. Sephiroth? Literally anything is possible—and it’s even better when you’re sharing laughs (and rage) with a bunch of friends on the same couch.

And nope, you don’t need the internet for this chaos. Just pick your fighters and get smashing.

- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Ideal for: 2–8 players on one screen

7. 🎲 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Another Nintendo classic. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe doesn’t just let you race—it lets you sabotage your friends with blue shells and banana peels. It’s fast, it’s colorful, and it has that perfect mix of skill and luck that keeps everyone screaming.

You can play with up to four players in split-screen, no internet required. Perfect for road trips, sleepovers, or just a lazy afternoon.

- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Ideal for: 2–4 players split-screen

8. 🧗‍♂️ Nidhogg 1 & 2

This game is...weird. But the good kind of weird.

You battle your opponent in a tug-of-war style fencing match. The goal? Get to the other side of the screen. The twist? Your enemy respawns and keeps getting in your way. It’s pixelated, it’s frantic, and each match ends with someone getting eaten by a giant worm. Yes, really.

Great for quick duels and hours of yelling.

- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Ideal for: 2 players

9. 🏗️ Gang Beasts

Imagine jellybeans in street fights—that's Gang Beasts. You control floppy, wobbly characters who awkwardly punch, headbutt, and throw each other off buildings or into incinerators. The physics are ridiculous, and that’s the point.

No complex mechanics, just hilarious chaos with every knockdown. It’s an instant party game favorite.

- Platform: PS4, Xbox, PC
- Ideal for: 2–4 players

10. 👨‍🌾 Stardew Valley (Split-Screen Co-Op)

Farming can be fun—who knew? Stardew Valley lets you and a friend build a farm together, fish, mine, raise animals, and build your little pixel-perfect life.

Cozy, calm, and charming, it’s miles away from FPS games and delivers a great local multiplayer experience. It’s like therapeutic teamwork after a rough day.

- Platform: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Ideal for: 2 players on split-screen (update required)

11. 🧙‍♂️ Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

This one feels like a neon-colored group project in space. You and your crew control different parts of a spaceship—one steers, one shoots, one controls the shield. If you don’t work together, you won't survive.

It’s chaotic, it’s charming, and it’s an amazing bonding experience. Perfect for pairs or small groups.

- Platform: PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC
- Ideal for: 2–4 players

12. 🏓 Sportsfriends

This lesser-known gem is a mini-game bonanza. From jousting with controllers in Johann Sebastian Joust to competitive jumping in Barabariball, it’s a collection of quirky competitive games that are best enjoyed with friends on the same couch.

It’s got a retro feel, but the fun is timeless.

- Platform: PS3, PS4, PC
- Ideal for: 2–4 players

13. 🛠️ Minecraft (Local Split-Screen)

No, Minecraft isn’t just for kids. Playing Minecraft locally with friends on split-screen can be anything you want—peaceful building, dangerous cave diving, creative chaos, or all-out war.

Whether you're building castles together or blowing them up, local co-op turns digital legos into a social event.

- Platform: PS4, Xbox, Switch (supports split-screen on TVs)
- Ideal for: 2–4 players

14. ✨ Cuphead

If you’re looking for a challenge, Cuphead and its charming old-school animation hides some seriously brutal platforming. But grab a friend, and suddenly those impossible bosses feel... well, slightly more possible.

It’s pure, old-school fun that forces teamwork and a lot of retries. Great for patient duos who love a good challenge.

- Platform: Switch, Xbox, PS4, PC
- Ideal for: 2 players local co-op

15. 🏗️ LEGO Games (Any of Them)

From LEGO Star Wars to LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, these games are couch co-op gold. They combine light puzzles, humor, and action in worlds you already love.

They’re low-stress, family-friendly, and don't require any internet unless you're downloading an update. Perfect for siblings, couples, or just chill nights in.

- Platform: All major consoles
- Ideal for: 2 players split-screen

Final Thoughts: Bringing the Fun Back to the Couch

Local multiplayer games are more than just a backup when the internet fails—they’re a throwback to a time when you passed the controller, shouted at the screen, and shared real moments of joy (and sometimes rivalry).

In a world that’s always online, these games remind us that sometimes the best connection happens offline—with people sitting right next to you.

So next time your Wi-Fi goes down or you're planning a game night, fire up one of these gems and let the laughter, chaos, and memories roll.