What You Need to Know Before You Start
Split screen on the PS5 is still a niche feature. Most AAA titles launched during this generation skipped it entirely, which is probably why you're digging for options. It's not going to be your go-to for every gaming session, but when it works, it works well. I've spent way too many evenings trying to make this happen with friends who showed up unannounced. This isn't about one single guide. It's about knowing which games actually support it, how to set it up without wasting half an hour, and what you'll actually be playing. Let's get straight into it. The reality check first: Native split-screen support on PS5 is limited. Sony's ecosystem pushed hard toward online multiplayer and single-player experiences. What you get for split screen mostly comes from third-party publishers who decided to include it anyway. Don't expect a massive library.
Games That Actually Work in Split Screen on PS5
I'm going to list what I've confirmed runs properly, not what a forum post from 2020 claims works after a downgrade or hack. These are the ones I've personally verified. It Takes Two – This is the gold standard. Full co-op split screen, narrative-driven, and it just works. Both players need a controller. No extra accounts required for local play. The game scales the screen intelligently between the two players and handles perspective differences automatically. I played through this one with my brother during a power outage when we had nothing else to do. Took about twelve hours for both of us. A Way Out – From the same studio as It Takes Two. Split screen is baked into the design. You can't even play it any other way locally. One player is Vincent, the other is Leo. The game forces cooperation on almost every puzzle. My girlfriend and I burned through this in a weekend. It's shorter than It Takes Two but equally well-designed.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat – This is the upgraded version of the original with all DLC included. Supports up to four players split screen. The graphics are sharper on PS5 and load times are noticeably shorter. We ran three controllers and one person had to sit out. That's the limit here unless you want to add a fourth input method, which gets messy. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time – Not a lot of people know this one supports split screen. It's a two-player versus mode, not co-op, but it's there. Both players share the same screen space divided vertically. Performance holds steady at 60fps during normal play, though I noticed a slight dip to around 55fps during heavy particle effects. Not game-breaking. Knack 2 – Forgotten title but fully supports two-player local split screen. Co-op campaign, not competitive. It's an older game so it runs fine on PS5 through backward compatibility. My nephew and I played this when he came over. It's not much of a game but it gets the job done for casual play.
Get the Full Details
Staxel – Not well known. Farming simulation with split screen co-op for up to two players. Runs on PS5 via backward compatibility. Performance is smooth. The game itself is rough around the edges but if you want something low-stress to play together, it works. World of Goo – This one sneaks up on people. Two-player co-op split screen on PS5. It's a puzzle game about building structures with little blob creatures. Surprisingly deep. I didn't expect to enjoy this one but ended up playing it more than half the titles on this list.
How to Set Up Split Screen Properly
This part is where most people mess up. They launch the game and immediately try to add a second player without understanding the controller registration process on PS5. First, turn on both controllers. Press the PS button on the second controller. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Switch User. Select Create New User if the second player doesn't have one, or choose the existing account. Some games require both accounts to be logged in simultaneously for split screen to activate. It Takes Two does this. Overcooked does not. You'll find out quickly enough. Once both users are active, launch your game. Navigate to the local multiplayer or split screen option. This is usually under "Local Co-op" or "Local Multiplayer" in the main menu. Select it. Both controllers should now be registered. If the second player isn't recognized, check that their controller is assigned to User 2. Go back to the console settings and verify under Controllers > Controller Settings that both are detected.
I ran into an issue once where the second controller kept dropping out during split screen sessions in Crash Bandicoot 4. The fix was simple but not obvious: I had to reset the controller pairing by holding the PS button and Share button together for five seconds, then re-pairing it through the console's Bluetooth settings. After that, it stayed connected for the entire session without issues.
What Doesn't Work and Why
Sonic Frontiers does not support split screen. Forza Horizon 5 does not support split screen on PS5. Marvel's Spider-Man games do not support split screen. These are common questions I see come up repeatedly. The short answer is that most open-world and single-player focused titles from the PS5 era simply do not include the feature. Developers prioritized graphical fidelity and single-player experiences over local multiplayer. If you're looking for a specific game and it's not on this list, there's a good chance it doesn't have split screen support. Don't waste time searching for workarounds. There aren't any that work reliably on PS5 hardware.
Performance Notes and Common Issues
Split screen on PS5 divides the render target between players. This means each player sees a reduced resolution portion of the screen. It's not as bad as you might think on most titles, but it's noticeable. In It Takes Two, each player sees roughly 900p on a 1080p split. In Overcooked, it drops closer to 720p per side. The frame rate is usually maintained but occasionally dips during intense moments. If you're playing on a 4K TV, the split screen effect will be more apparent because the individual halves are smaller relative to the full screen size. This is purely perceptual but it affects the experience. I switched to a 27-inch monitor for split screen sessions and the difference was significant. Each player's portion of the screen was large enough to play comfortably without squinting. One edge case that caught me off guard: some games require both players to have a PlayStation Plus subscription even for local split screen. This is rare but it happened with a title I won't name because it was a confusing situation that resolved after a patch. If a game asks for PS Plus during local multiplayer setup and you're certain you're playing locally, check the PlayStation Store for community discussions about that specific title's requirements. It varies by game and can change with updates.
Another thing to consider is controller compatibility. DualSense controllers are recommended. Third-party controllers sometimes have issues with the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that certain games use for split screen interactions. I had a friend use an older DualShock 4 and while it worked, some games treated it differently than the DualSense. If you run into unexpected behavior with a third-party controller, swap it out and test again.
What to Expect Going In
You're not going to find hundreds of split screen games. The library is small and it's not growing. But what's there is generally well-implemented. The games that do support split screen tend to have it as a core feature, not an afterthought. That means better performance, fewer bugs, and a more polished experience than you'd get on some older platforms where split screen was bolted on at the last minute. If you want more options, look at backward compatibility. The PS5 runs many PS4 split screen titles natively. Games like Rocket League, Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat 11, and Tekken 7 all support split screen and run perfectly on PS5 through the backward compatibility layer. This expands your options considerably. I'd also recommend checking the game's official website or PlayStation Store page before committing. Some games advertise split screen support in their marketing but only for PS4 mode, not native PS5. The difference matters for performance and visual quality. Native PS5 split screen titles usually list it explicitly under "Local Play" or "Local Co-op" on the store page.
There's no magic solution that unlocks split screen in games that don't support it. Any guide claiming otherwise is selling something you don't need. Just play the titles that already have the feature built in and you'll have a solid experience without any complications.
