The best games to play with friends at a gaming café

The best thing about a gaming café isn't the hardware. It's that your friends are sitting right next to you. You can shout, point at the screen, and blame each other in person.

But not every multiplayer game works on one screen. Some are built for the couch, some need a separate console or PC for every player, and some quietly need every player to have their own online account. If you get it wrong, you'll spend the first half-hour of a paid session sorting out logins.

So here's a list of games that work well at a café, grouped by how many of you there are, with what the publishers and platform holders say about local play. Details were checked on 31 October 2026.

Quick guide: how many can play on one screen?

For two players

It Takes Two

Still the best two-player game for a café afternoon. It's co-op only: you can't play it solo. EA says it supports split-screen couch co-op and can be played offline, so it's perfect on one PS5 with two controllers. Every level throws a new idea at you, and it's genuinely funny.

At a café, two players on one PS5 is about as cheap as gaming gets. LEVEL UP! in Kopar Khairane lists It Takes Two on its PS5s on Gamehood.

Split Fiction

From the same studio, and built the same way: two players, split-screen, story-driven. EA says it supports local couch co-op with two controllers, and on PC one player can use a controller while the other uses keyboard and mouse. If you loved It Takes Two, this is your next session.

A Way Out

Another two-player-only co-op game from the same team, about two prisoners breaking out. EA describes it as exclusively a two-player co-op experience. It's shorter and more cinematic, and works well for a single long sitting. JB Gaming Lounge in Mumbra lists it on Gamehood.

Fighting games: Tekken 8, Mortal Kombat 1, Street Fighter 6

Fighting games are made for sitting side by side. They're quick, loud and easy to run as "winner stays on" when a third friend is waiting. Vertigo lists Tekken 8 on its PS5s, and Playnation in Thane lists Mortal Kombat 1, per their Gamehood listings.

For three or four players

EA SPORTS FC 26

The default café game in India, for good reason. The PlayStation Store lists 1 to 4 local players for FC 26 on PS5, so two-vs-two on one console is easy. Play Kick Off with two controllers on each side.

Many cafés list FC 26, including Nexora in Powai, Gamebox Cafe, JB Gaming Lounge and Playnation in Thane, per their Gamehood listings.

Rocket League

Football with rocket-powered cars. It's easy to pick up, hard to master and great with four. Epic's support pages explain how to set up split-screen on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, and the Xbox store lists 2 to 4 local players. JB Gaming Lounge lists Rocket League on Gamehood.

Minecraft

Not just for kids. Minecraft's help centre says the Bedrock Edition supports split-screen for up to four players on PS4, PS5 and Xbox. A four-player survival world is a great slow-paced session if your group isn't into competitive games.

Gang Beasts

Wobbly, floppy, physics-based brawling where the goal is to throw your friends off the map. The PlayStation Store lists 1 to 4 players locally (and up to 8 online). It's chaotic and it's best played loud.

Party Animals

Cute animals, rough fights. There's a catch: on PS5, Party Animals' support page says couch split-screen for up to 4 players works in Quick Match and Custom modes, but every player needs their own PSN account with an active PlayStation membership. Its Local Game mode doesn't need accounts but supports up to 2 players. Ask the café how its consoles are set up before you choose this one.

For bigger groups: play side by side

Some of the best group games don't support split-screen at all. At a café, that's fine: just book PCs or consoles next to each other.

Fall Guys

Epic's support page confirms that Fall Guys has no local split-screen. Each player needs their own device and account. But it's free to play and works across platforms, so a row of PCs or PS5s gets the whole group into one lobby.

HELLDIVERS 2

Up to four players, online only, with no couch co-op. On PS5 every player also needs PlayStation Plus. On PCs side by side, though, it's one of the best co-op shooters around. Friendly fire is on, so expect plenty of accidental chaos.

VALORANT or Counter-Strike 2

For five friends who take it seriously, nothing beats a five-stack on neighbouring PCs. If you're not sure what specs to look for, check what the café lists. Our guide to where to play Valorant in Mumbai covers cafés that publish their setups.

Among Us

Old but still great with a big group in one room, where you can see your friends' faces when they lie. AK Gaming Corner in Jogeshwari lists it on Gamehood.

Picking a game: a quick decision guide

• Two of you, want a story: It Takes Two or Split Fiction
• Two of you, want to compete: Tekken 8 or EA FC 26
• Four of you, one console: EA FC 26, Rocket League or Minecraft
• Four of you, want silly chaos: Gang Beasts
• Five or more: Valorant, Fall Guys or Among Us on side-by-side PCs
• Four friends who like shooters: Helldivers 2 on PCs

Café tips for group sessions

1. Check the game is installed. Message the café before you go. Most will tell you on WhatsApp.
2. Ask "per console or per controller?" Four players on one PS5 can cost very different amounts depending on the café. Our price guide has examples.
3. Sort out accounts in advance. For games that need online accounts, have your login ready. Never share your password with staff. Type it yourself and log out when you leave.
4. Bring your own controller if allowed. Some players prefer their own. Ask first.
5. Plan a mini tournament. A knockout bracket on paper makes even a two-hour session feel like an event. It works especially well for a birthday.

FAQ

What's the best game for two players at a gaming café? It Takes Two or Split Fiction for co-op, and EA FC 26 or Tekken 8 if you want to compete.

Which games support four players on one PS5? EA FC 26, Minecraft (Bedrock) and Gang Beasts all support up to four local players on PlayStation. Party Animals does too, but every player needs a PSN account. Rocket League supports split-screen as well; Xbox lists up to four local players, so ask the café how many controllers its PS5 setup allows.

Does Fall Guys have split-screen? No. Epic confirms there's no local split-screen, so each player needs their own device.

Can we play Helldivers 2 on one console? No. It's online only, with each player on their own PC or PS5.

Find cafés with your game on Gamehood's games page.