Top 2 Player Games to Play First
- Basketball Stars: Pick a team and go head to head with dunks, three-pointers and blocks. Play a tournament against the computer or settle a rivalry with a friend on the same keyboard.
- Basket Random: Each player scores using a single key while the court, players and ball keep changing. It is quick to learn, totally unpredictable and great for short rounds.
- Rooftop Snipers: A chaotic two-button shootout where you try to knock your opponent off the rooftop. Rounds are short, so it is perfect for long best-of series with a friend.
- Fireboy and Watergirl: Forest Temple: The classic co-op puzzle platformer. Guide Fireboy and Watergirl through the Forest Temple, collect diamonds and reach the exit, either together or by switching between them alone.
- Bubble Trouble: A remastered arcade classic from 2002. Team up with a partner, fire harpoons to split bouncing bubbles into smaller ones and dodge them until every last bubble pops.
Why Playing Side by Side Is So Much Fun
Playing against a person sitting next to you feels completely different from beating a computer. You hear the groan when a shot misses and see your friend lean in during a close round. Short, chaotic games work especially well for this. Rooftop Snipers uses just two buttons per player, and the goal is to knock your opponent off the roof. Basket Random keeps changing the court, the players and the ball, so luck and laughter often decide the score as much as skill does.
Teaming Up in Co-op Puzzle Adventures
Not every two player game is a competition. The Fireboy and Watergirl series is built around teamwork: one player controls Fireboy, the other controls Watergirl, and you need each other to reach the exit. Fireboy cannot touch water and Watergirl cannot touch fire, so you will be talking through every switch and moving platform. Start with Fireboy and Watergirl: Forest Temple, then move on to Fireboy and Watergirl 3: Ice Temple once you have the rhythm.
Good communication is the real skill in co-op games. Before each tricky section, agree on who moves first and who waits on a button. If one of you keeps falling into the same trap, swap roles for a level. Sharing the hard parts keeps the game fun for both players.
Sports Showdowns and Classic Board Games
If you want a straight-up contest, sports games are the easiest way in. Basketball Stars lets you pick a team, then dunk, shoot threes and block your friend's shots, and Realistic Air Hockey brings the arcade table to your screen. Calmer duels work too. Checkers and Tic Tac Toe are turn-based, so they suit slower moments when you want to think rather than react. For more ball games, visit the sports games page.
2 Player Games FAQ
What are the best 2 player games to play on one computer?
Basketball Stars, Basket Random and Rooftop Snipers are great for quick competitive matches on one keyboard. If you would rather work together, the Fireboy and Watergirl series is the go-to co-op choice, with six temple games to play through as a team.
How do two players share one keyboard?
Most local 2 player games split the keyboard in half. One player usually uses the W, A, S and D keys while the other uses the arrow keys, though some games, like the Random series, need only one key per player. Check the controls on each game page before starting.
Are there 2 player games I can also play alone?
Yes. Many games here include a mode against the computer, including Basketball Legends 2020, Tennis Masters, Rooftop Snipers and Checkers. Fireboy and Watergirl can also be played solo by switching between the two characters.