3 Greatest PS1 Co-Op Games Of All Time

Published Oct 18, 2026, 2:57 AM EDT

Sharmila is an engineer-turned-gaming hardware journalist and freelance contributor at ScreenRant who has been covering the gaming and tech industry since 2021. While she first built her expertise writing about video games, she has since pivoted towards gaming hardware, with a focus on PC components, peripherals, handhelds, and performance-driven tech. When she’s not testing gear or writing about the latest hardware trends, she can usually be found diving into competitive shooters or keeping up with the evolving esports scene.

Before online multiplayer became the norm, playing with a friend meant squeezing onto the couch, grabbing a second controller, and figuring things out together. PlayStation 1 had plenty of games built around that simple idea, letting two (or more) players take on enemies, explore dangerous dungeons, and survive situations that were much harder to handle alone.

Co-op games offer a charm that competitive multiplayer just can’t replicate. Instead of fighting to defeat each other, co-op has you work together, share the spoils, and occasionally argue over who made a terrible decision that got both of you out of the game or round.

The PS1 arrived at a time when developers were still finding new ways to make multiplayer work on home consoles. The limitations sometimes made things messy, but co-op games back then were still a lot of fun. In fact, figuring out how to play around the hiccups was part of the experience.

Not every co-op game on PS1 (or other old consoles) has aged equally well, of course. Some are clunky by today’s standards, and others demand more patience than modern players might expect. But the best ones understood what mattered: giving two people a reason to keep playing together, even after repeated failures. Years later, those shared victories, ridiculous mistakes, and desperate last-minute saves are still what make these co-op games on PS1 worth remembering.

Released for the PS1 in 2000, Gauntlet Legends is one of the most entertaining co-op experiences you can revisit from the console’s library. The game takes the classic dungeon-crawling formula and fills it with monsters, treasure, magic, and plenty of reasons to stick together. Up to two players can team up, making it an excellent choice for friends who want to spend an afternoon fighting their way through fantasy worlds.

Players can choose from different character classes, including Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard, and Archer. Each has distinct strengths, so choosing the right character can make a difference when facing larger groups of enemies. The Warrior is great for close-range combat, while the Wizard can deal with threats using magic. Working together makes encounters more manageable, especially when the screen fills with enemies.

The goal is simple: explore each level, defeat monsters, collect keys, and find your way forward. Along the way, you’ll pick up gold, food, potions, and other items that help keep your character alive. You can also improve your character’s abilities as you progress, giving you a reason to return for another run.

The best part? Gauntlet Legends gets everyone on your team very easily and quickly involved. There’s little need to understand complicated mechanics before starting a session. Of course, it’s a classic PS1 experience worth revisiting even today, all thanks to the simple premise, varied characters, and the engaging co-op support that make it a memorable choice for group gaming nights.

Future Cop: L.A.P.D.

If some co-op police action is just the kind of thing you’d like on a game night, Future Cop: L.A.P.D. deserves a spot on your list. Released in 1998, this futuristic action game puts players in control of the X1-Alpha, a heavily armed police vehicle that can transform into a walking mech—literally.

The main campaign takes players through a futuristic Los Angeles overrun by criminals and hostile forces. You’ll battle enemy vehicles, gunmen, and other threats using an assortment of weapons. The X1-Alpha can switch between its vehicle and mech forms, letting you approach different encounters in different ways. The setting also gives the game a distinct atmosphere, with futuristic cityscapes and a police force trying to regain control of the streets.

However, the real reason to run Future Cop: L.A.P.D. on your PS1 or emulator today is, of course, its multiplayer feature. The campaign is a two-player cooperative experience, so gaming duos can tackle the action together. It also includes Precinct Assault, a separate mode that blends combat with strategy—but this one will pit you against your friend. Players deploy units, defend their positions, and try to push into enemy territory. Besides the shooter experience you’d expect from a game like Future Cop, it’s actually a small-scale real-time strategy game.

That mix of action and strategy makes Future Cop: L.A.P.D. stand out among PS1 multiplayer games. So, you’re not just running around and shooting down targets mindlessly, but you also have to think about positioning and strategize in real time. For players who enjoyed mech combat but wanted more than just a standard “destroy all enemies” action game, Future Cop: L.A.P.D. was definitely one of the top picks in their PS1 library.

Diablo

Long before dungeon-crawling RPGs became a staple of modern gaming, Diablo gave PS1 owners a chance to descend into a dark fantasy world—with a friend, of course. Originally released for PC in 1996, the game arrived on the PS1 in 1998. Its premise is simple: the town of Tristram is plagued by evil, and beneath its cathedral lies a sprawling dungeon filled with monsters, secrets, and increasingly dangerous enemies.

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In Diablo, players choose between three character classes: Warrior, Rogue, and Sorcerer. The Warrior excels in close combat, the Rogue specializes in ranged attacks, and the Sorcerer relies on powerful spells. Each class approaches encounters differently, giving players a reason to experiment with different characters. In the PS1 version, two players can share the adventure locally, fighting through the dungeon together.

The gameplay revolves around exploring increasingly dangerous floors, defeating enemies, collecting equipment, and becoming strong enough to face tougher opponents. You’ll find swords, armor, magical items, and other pieces of equipment that can change how your character performs. Better loot makes a real difference, and finding a powerful item after a difficult fight is one of the game’s most satisfying moments.

Diablo’s atmosphere still holds up remarkably well. Tristram feels like a town living under a terrible curse, while the dungeons beneath it grow more unsettling as you descend. The sound design, dark environments, and relentless enemies create a sense of danger that few games of its era managed to capture so effectively. The two-player co-op support is just a cherry on top: You can cover each other’s weaknesses, share the pressure of difficult encounters, and work your way towards the final confrontation with Diablo himself.

If a co-op with a darker tone is what you’re looking for, Diablo remains a memorable choice on PlayStation 1 in 2026.

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