Lists

12 games

The best two-player games

Pass the second controller. NES and SNES games that are better with someone on the couch.

  1. Contra

    1988 · NES · Famicom

    Share the lives, share the blame.

  2. Super Mario Kart

    1992 · SNES · Super Famicom

    Split screen, battle mode, and the balloon popped at the last second.

  3. Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting

    1993 · SNES · Super Famicom

    Best of three, then best of five, then one more.

  4. Tecmo Bowl

    1989 · NES · Famicom

    Two players, one Bo Jackson, and nobody lets the other pick the Raiders.

  5. River City Ransom

    1989 · NES · Famicom

    Two students against a whole town, with shared shops and separate stats.

  6. Secret of Mana

    1993 · SNES · Super Famicom

    Three players with the multitap, each one a party member.

  7. Super Bomberman

    1993 · SNES · Super Famicom

    Four players with the multitap. Loud.

  8. Contra III: The Alien Wars

    1992 · SNES · Super Famicom

    Two players and screens that explode around both of you.

  9. Balloon Fight

    1985 · NES · Famicom

    Co-op until someone pops the other one on purpose.

  10. Double Dragon II: The Revenge

    1989 · NES · Famicom

    The brawler done right, with a friendly-fire toggle for friendships that can take it.

  11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project

    1991 · NES · Famicom

    Two turtles and throws that fling Foot soldiers at the screen.

  12. Kirby Super Star

    1996 · SNES · Super Famicom

    The second player becomes Kirby's helper, whichever enemy it was.