Preferably free or at least not to expensive (<20 EUR)
Edit: Thank you so much for all your great suggestions! I now have to buy 2 controllers I think? Steam does not say what input hardware is needed for local multiplayer.
It’s hilarious, and easy to learn.
It takes two
Horizon Chase
Overcooked (part one is better than two, get the second only if you finish the first and want more)
Unrailed
Stardew valley
Boomerang Fu maybe, haven’t played it myself but looks cute and funny from what I’ve seen. 14.79 rn
Here’s a quick list of inexpensive games I think your kids could enjoy. All of these are shared screen games and I’ve played (almost) all of these with my kid who is around the same age. All of these run great on my Steam Deck.
- BattleBlock Theater $15 on Steam
- Broforce $15 on Steam
- Castle Crashers $15 on Steam
- Cuphead $20 on Steam
- Duck Game $13 on Steam
- Earth Defense Force 5 $60 on Steam (currently on sale for $15, ends Sept 1)
- Earth Defense Force: World Brothers $40 on Steam (currently on sale for $10, ends Sept 1)
- Just Shapes and Beats $20 on Steam (currently on sale for $12, ends Sept 7)
- Left 4 Dead 2 $10 on Steam
- Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime $15 on Steam
- Overcooked $17 on Steam
- Portal $10 on Steam
- Rabbit and Steel $15 on Steam
- Screencheat $15 on Steam
- Stardew Valley $15 on Steam
- Unrailed $20 on Steam
- Wizard of Legend $16 on Steam
All costs are in USD, so they should all fall below the 20 EUR mark.
Of these games, I would absolutely grab EDF 5 while it’s on sale. It’s just plain, stupid, fun and at $15 it’s a steal. Saw EDF World Brothers is on sale as well, though I haven’t played that one, it looks like it’s the same dumb fun as the others.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a great game.
Glad it’s being recognized
I will put in a strong vote for Castle Crashers, one of the most fun, charismatic beat em ups of all time, imo. Would be perfect for kids that age.
You can play Portal split screen, or do you mean that they collaborate on the solutions?
Also, my husband and I love playing Overcooked. That’s an excellent suggestion.
Portal 2 can be played split screen, yes.
I was joking below with someone else that suggested it that Overcooked is more likely to cause a fight. That game is so stressful lol
I hate Overcooked and other games like that. If I wanted that kind of stress, I’d just fucking work and at least I’d be getting paid for it
Rabbit and steel is SUCH A FUCKING GOOD GAME
it needs WAY more love
This answer is way too good for such a rough broad question with too many options. 👍
I’m always on the lookout for solid games I can play with my kid. For a long while the games had to be shared screen / split screen, at least until I got a Steam Deck. Now I’ve got a lot more options open to me like Risk of Rain 2, but that didn’t really fit their constraints so I left those type of games out.
There’s a bunch of games I left off due to low play time, so I didn’t think they were really worth it to suggest as first picks for someone on a tight budget. It’s definitely by no means a complete list.
As I said, good job! My only answer would’ve been: could you narrow that down a bit? 😁
If I had to narrow it to 10, it’d be this, keeping audience in mind.
- BattleBlock Theater $15 on Steam
- Broforce $15 on Steam
- Castle Crashers $15 on Steam
- Earth Defense Force 5 $60 on Steam (currently on sale for $15, ends Sept 1)
- Left 4 Dead 2 $10 on Steam
- Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime $15 on Steam
- Portal $10 on Steam
- Rabbit and Steel $15 on Steam
- Stardew Valley $15 on Steam
- Wizard of Legend $16 on Steam
Apologies, a little misunderstanding, I meant as a response to him!
Because the way this was asked there’s too many options!
I would also keep an eye out for the steam sales on the TT Lego games, I still enjoy them even as an adult.
Sure. Get two controllers and Retroarch and they’re set on games for life.
Untitled Goose Game
Overcooked is one of the most popular co-op games of the last few years, simple concept but fun, frantic gameplay. It’s pretty cheap at base price but goes on sale pretty regularly too.
Would have to get it through Steam I believe.
They said fun, not anger inducing
It’ll teach them teamwork XD
And swears.
Fuck that game
https://hurrycurry.metamuffin.org/
Is also cool. Not sure if it has splitscrern multiplayer though.
I love worms Armageddon when I was a kid.
Liero/OpenLiero is a two-player real-time action variant of Worms. Very recommendable.
haha yea
Kerbal Space Program.
(The original!!)
- A Hat in Time - $30 USD
- Caveblazers - $10
- Unravel Two - $20
- Alien Hominid Invasion - $20
- Magicka 2 - $15
- Jamestown - $10
- Ship of Fools - $22
- Pixeljunk Shooter - $9
- River City Girls - $30
- Degrees of Separation - $20
- Speedrunners - $15
- Blanc - $15
- Cat Quest 2 - $15
- Potion Party - $10
- Double Dragon Gaiden - $25
- Biped - $15
- Guacamelee 1 + 2 - $15 & $20
- KeyWe - $25
All of these are full price, so if you wait for a sale (like I do), you can usually find each of these for $10 or less.
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Any of the Worms games
In that vein, Hedgewars is basically open-source Worms Armageddon.
Very likely available from your distro, so
sudo pkcon install hedgewarsshould set you up in no time.Playing Worms at a friend’s house around that age is one of the fondest memories I have of any game.
Basically all the Lego games (although 13y olds might already find them too child-like, depends…).
They all have split screen, so are suitable for couch (or desk) coop.
Also the slightly older ones are quite inexpensive when buying them during sales (a few €).Special recommendation: Lego City Undercover.
Another fun couch-coop-capable game would be SuperTux, a Super-Mario-Cart like game.
This one is OSS and therefore completely free!LEGO Island nostalgia…
Off the top of my head.
Peak
Sunderfolk, needs a tablet or phone as a controller, though.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Suns
Sunderered
It Takes Two
Split Fiction
I second It Takes Two. Amazing game!
Split Fiction from the same team is good, too.
I heard great things, but I haven’t played it yet, so that’s why I couldn’t second it from experience.
