The best couch party games

Grab a game, call your friends, have a laugh.

SpeedRunners (Xbox One/PS4/PC)

Much like TowerFall, SpeedRunners has been around for some time now, but proved popular enough to warrant an updated release on the current generation of consoles. Following the same format as Nippon Marathon, SpeedRunners instead uses 2D, side-on perspective. Players race with grappling hooks around a simple course, with the camera tracking the leader of the pack. There’s no finish line here, however. Instead, the walls of the screen begin to close over time, requiring players to stick closer and closer to the front of the pack.

As the name suggest, speed is of the essence here, and experienced players will be able to pick up a ludicrous pace in their loops round. Much like Nidhogg, SpeedRunners is as much of a spectacle as it is a blast to play. Watching two experienced players soaring through a course in close competition is a thrill in its own right, so don’t be afraid to take this party game a little more seriously.

Overcooked (Xbox One/PS4/Switch/PC)

We’ve already included the superb Overcooked in our rundown of the best couch co-op games, but while the bulk of the title has you working together, Ghost Town Games’ indie hit also boasts a fantastic versus mode. Pairing up in a 2v2 battle of culinary prowess, you’ll quickly find out which of your friends are able work in synergy together, as everyone else will rapidly devolve into shouting over who should be chopping the lettuce right now.

Trying to meet order deadlines in Overcooked’s campaign is a stressful enough business, and watching your rivals deliver a dish early only ups the ante further. As with Nintendo’s Mario Party series, Overcooked’s versus mode is just as likely to leave you laughing as it is to have you at each other’s throats. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Associate Editor

Henry Stenhouse serves an eternal punishment as the Associate Editor of AllGamers. He spent his younger life studying the laws of physics, even going so far as to complete a PhD in the subject before video games stole his soul. Confess your love of Super Smash Bros. via email at henry@moonrock.biz, or catch him on Twitter.

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