Upon the inception of video games, the revolutionary entertainment form was designed to be played by two friends; Pong was released in 1972 as one of the first video games ever created, and required two people to play. Of course, gaming has come a ridiculously long way in the past fifty years – but one constant is that games are more fun with a friend! Hence why in this article, we’ll be running through our top ten best 2 player Xbox games.
Grab a friend, fire up your 360, One, or Series S/X, and load up your Game Pass – it’s time to start!
10 Of The Best 2 Player Xbox Games
We previously wrote an article on our Top Ten 2 Player PlayStation Games, but now it’s the Xbox crowd’s turn.
Make sure you stay until the end to see our top pick – let’s dive in!
10. Call Of Duty: Warzone
Heralded as one of the best innovations in the battle royale genre in years, Call of Duty: Warzone was released last year to huge praise from both players and critics. It is undoubtedly one of the best free Xbox One games 2 players can enjoy.
While not strictly 2 player co-op, we still count it considering you can enter each match with a squad. Indeed, while Apex Legends is heralded for its efficiency in playing with random people, Warzone is famous for being especially fun when building your own team with friends. Particularly when you make it your mission to eschew weapons in favor of a trusty, deadly truck.
9. Best 2 Player Xbox Games – Sea Of Thieves
Similar to how Minecraft became popular, Sea of Thieves encourages you and your friends to tell your own tales.
Setting sail in a massively open Caribbean-inspired map of blue waters, shipwrecked islands, and ocean beasts, Sea of Thieves is undoubtedly one of the best Xbox two player games. While it is playable by yourself, these open-ended style games are far more enjoyable alongside another crewmate on a sloop. Who becomes the captain, and who is the swabby? Who will get condemned to the brig first? Or will you and your first mate sail peacefully into the sunset? Only you can tell your tales!
Also, most importantly, there are some absolutely banging sea shanties. This solidifies Sea of Thieves as one of the best two-player Xbox One games, also available on the Series S/X.
8. Rainbow Six Siege
Grab a partner you trust, because the tension and tactical prowess required by Rainbow Six Siege has surely disrupted a few friendships.
The staple game mode of the series, called Terrorist Hunt, will see two players make their way through a range of levels, clearing out enemies as quickly as possible. You can’t go in all guns blazing, though! Rainbow Six Siege at its heart is a tactical game, and carelessness will get you both killed. Also, probably arguing.
Depending on what you class as a good 2 player game for Xbox One, this title may not be appealing. Though, if you and a friend have always imagined yourselves as the world’s most efficient SWAT team, then Rainbow Six Siege is one of the best Xbox One games 2 players can enjoy!
7. Best 2 Player Xbox Games – Human Fall Flat
Clunky movement controls? Frustrating object physics? Deceptively simple puzzles? Doesn’t sound much fun on its own. As soon as you tackle this game with a friend, though, it becomes one of the most hilarious experiences you will find from 2 player Xbox One games.
That’s what makes Human Fall Flat so special, and why it places on our list. What would usually be the most irritating mistakes instead become comical memories; from screaming at the other player to pull you up from a ledge, to catapulting each other through walls, to plastering disturbing images of your faces all over your characters.
Not to mention the game’s overly melodramatic soundtrack, which makes it all the more hilarious when you find yourselves acting like Jack and Rose at the end of Titanic.
6. Gears Of War 5
Gears of War 5 is the latest installment in its iconic franchise. As ever with the series, it’s among the best 2 player online co-op and best 2 players split-screen games Xbox One has to offer.
The original cover-shooter, Gears of War is legendary not only to the franchise’s fans but to gaming as a whole. The latest edition advances the story of some of gaming’s most famous characters ever-onward. The whole campaign is available for two players to play online, or on the same sofa for that old-times nostalgia.
To add to its reputation, Gears 5’s soundtrack is scored by Ramin Djawadi – the composer of Game of Thrones’ music. If you’re looking to get immersed in a world, and saw through some Locust hordes with a friend while you’re at it, Gears of War 5 is one of the best two player Xbox games out there.
5. Best 2 Player Xbox Games – Portal 2
Many may gawk at this legendary title’s number five place on our list – but trust us, we have our reasons!
Having gone down as one of the best video games of all time, Portal 2 tends to come to mind when someone says ‘two players’.
The reason why it only ranks at number 5 is simply due to its availability. Microsoft never released Portal 2 for the Xbox One, therefore your only option is to own the 360 version. Luckily though, it’s backward compatible. This means that if you own Portal 2 in its only form as an Xbox 360 game, you will still be able to run it on the Xbox One and Xbox Series S/Series X.
Regardless of its access issues, Portal 2 has gone down as one of the best 2 player Xbox 360 games. Many class it as the best 2 player game ever, and for some, it takes their overall number-one spot.
Do yourself a favor and ask around if any of your friends own a playable version of Portal 2. If you’re lucky, you’ll both have one of the best experiences that gaming has to offer.
4. Borderlands 2
Remember people talking about their Borderlands 2 sessions back in school? Honestly, if you don’t remember that, then did you even go to school?
Released in 2012, Borderlands 2 was a unique take on the classic co-op first-person shooter genre. Where previous installments of that genre were the likes of the early Halo and Call of Duty games, Borderlands 2 refreshingly never took itself so seriously. Being a fantastic game in its own right, and playable by a team of two, three, or four friends, you’d shoot and slash your way through colorful, stylized levels, collecting immense amounts of loot and meeting some of gaming’s most legendary characters along the way. I’m sure you remember the names Claptrap and Handsome Jack.
While the third installment in the series is still great, it’s Borderlands 2 that rightfully achieved legendary status, and thus holds the number 4 spot in our list of the best Xbox 2 player games. What’s more is that the game was re-released for the Xbox One, meaning you can still get one the smoothest two player co-operative shooter experiences in the world of gaming, looking as vibrant as ever.
3. Best 2 Player Xbox Games – Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Here it is; for many people, the definitive 2 player Xbox game franchise – of course, we’re talking about Halo.
Halo is legendary in its virtually intergenerational fame. Whether you were born in 1990, or all the way up to 2005 (that’s basically spanning three or four generations in the gaming world), there is no doubt that you played at least one of the Halo games – either on your own Xbox or on your friend’s.
It was an absolute godsend, then, that Microsoft released Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This is a continuously-updated collection of all the Halo games, remastered for playability on modern Xbox consoles. Enabling veterans to relive their childhood days playing Halo 2 back in 2004, and allowing younger fans to appreciate the unbeatable quality of Halo 3 and Halo: Reach multiplayer, Halo: The Master Chief Collection goes down in history as one of the best two player Xbox games of all time.
There’s a good chance when walking into any men’s public toilet that you’ll find a group of guys chanting that iconic choral Halo menu theme – and no, I’m not joking. Halo was a pioneer in its day, and remains legendary in status and quality now; so grab a friend, and start shooting up some Elites!
2. It Takes Two
There has been some doubt in recent years that strictly two player games perhaps aren’t as successful as they used to be in the days of Portal 2 – but Hazellight Studio has burst in to put these qualms to rest.
Releasing in March of this year, It Takes Two is a 2 player action-adventure game that is taking the scene by storm. With overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam and five-star reviews from critics across the board, it’s perfectly possible that we may have this generation’s Portal 2 on our hands.
Two players (there is no single-player option) take control of Cody and May, a divorced couple who find themselves trapped in the bodies of two small dolls made by their young daughter, who simply wants to be part of a happy family again. The players have to navigate intriguing puzzles, engaging movement and platforming mechanics, and a swathe of charming characters to direct Cody and May back to their daughter.
Endearing, fun, and vibrant, It Takes Two is a fantastic modern take on a strictly two-player game – and without a doubt one of the best 2 player Xbox games currently available.
1. Best 2 Player Xbox Games – Cuphead
Was there ever any doubt?
Released in 2017, Cuphead solidified itself as the best modern two player Xbox game on the market. A classic side-scrolling run-and-gun game with a heavy emphasis on challenging boss battles, Cuphead can be played solo but is at its best when joined by a friend; not only does it turn the frustration of dying repeatedly (which you will do) into laughable moments, but also enables the both of you to set up badass combo moves to deal massive damage to your enemies.
Mostly, though, Cuphead is renowned for its impeccable style. Replicating 1930s animation with almost disturbing precision, you sometimes forget that video games didn’t actually exist 90 years ago. As far as we’re aware, no game has ever replicated this immortal aesthetic as perfectly as Cuphead did – and we’re not sure anyone will top it.
With the Fonz-style finger guns as Cuphead and Mugman’s main weapons, bopping along to the game’s infectious hot jazz soundtrack, all that’s left to say is: check this game out for yourselves. You and your friend may decide to put the controllers down after a few hours, but even if the bosses prove too challenging, you’ll have had a whale of a time along the ride.
Trust us – you’ll be back for that soundtrack at some point!
That Was Our Review Of The Best 2 Player Xbox Games
So there we have it! Our top ten best Xbox One games are 2 player focused, ranked for your delectation. Make sure to go through this list with your chosen gaming partner, and try at least one of them out.
If you’re looking for a challenging bonding (or breaking) experience, give Rainbow Six Siege or Cuphead a go. If you’d rather relax and tell your own tales with the best bud, Sea of Thieves or Halo might be your cups of tea. Regardless, when it comes to 2 player games for Xbox, there’s something for every pair. The choice of good 2 player games Xbox One, 360, and Series S/X have released is far longer than what we could fit in here, so make sure to browse for yourself if nothing took your fancy!
Now, if you don’t mind, we’re off to jam to the Cuphead soundtrack. See you there!
If you liked this article, why not check out another on our blog! We recommend Best 2 Player PS4 Games: What Are The Top 10 2 Player PS4 Games?, Esports Team: Our Guide On How To Make An eSports Team, and What Musicians Can Learn From The Video Game Industry to get you started!
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