Video Game Dictionary - What is Couch Co-op?

Couch Co-op

IPA: kaʊʧ ˈkoʊˌɑp

Definition

Couch Co-op refers to a multiplayer game where the players are in the same physical location, hence the reference to the “couch”. Typically, this looks like a split-screen gaming experience using only one PC or console. While online multiplayer is a great experience, Couch Co-op emphasizes physical presence and bonding.

Couch Co-op finds its origins in local co-op arcade games from the 80s like Gauntlet (1985) and Double Dragon (1987). In the 90s, when consoles were first growing in popularity, games like Mario Kart 64 and Goldeneye 007 were big staples for Couch Co-op. The term itself was coined somewhere in the mid-2000s when the emergence of online multiplayer meant that there had to be a distinction between the two.

Now, many modern games are based around Couch Co-op or include this as an option. Popular Couch Co-op games include Overcooked, Moving Out, A Way Out, and most recently, Split Fiction. With Couch Co-op remaining a staple in the industry, it continues to fuel bonding experiences, teamwork, and hours of fun.

Example Usage

"We played Couch Co-op on Overcooked; it nearly ended our friendship!”

“I love Couch Co-op game nights, they're the best.”