Cuphead

Cuphead has a clear campaign with an ending, beautiful hand-drawn art, and local co-op that works from start to credits. The reason it's sitting in honorable mentions is that the story is skeletal. There's a premise, some bosses, and a resolution, but character and narrative depth are not the draw. The difficulty is also a genuine filter: some duos will love the shared achievement of grinding through a tough boss together, and others will abandon it in frustration before the halfway point. If finishing a campaign is the goal and skill is high, it's worth it. If story is the primary reason for playing, the top ten serves that better.

Cuphead is stunning — the hand-drawn 1930s animation style is unlike anything else on PS5, and the boss design is inventive enough that even repeated attempts feel like you're learning something new. In co-op, the revive mechanic adds a layer of coordination that makes victories feel genuinely shared. Local couch co-op only, no online support, which is a real limitation for remote pairs. More importantly, skill gaps hurt here more than almost anywhere else on this list — a weaker player burning through both lives repeatedly creates friction fast. If you and your partner are at similar skill levels and enjoy a challenge, it's excellent. Otherwise, start on Simple mode and manage expectations.

Cuphead’s co-op isn’t just two guns firing—success depends on reviving a partner at clutch moments, managing screen space, and staying composed through lengthy boss phases. The handcrafted animation and tight inputs feel great on Switch, and short fight loops make it easy to practice on the go. It places mid-list because it’s local-only and brutally challenging, which narrows the audience and limits flexibility compared to online-capable peers. Still, for duo players craving high-skill teamwork and a distinctive style, few indies deliver a more satisfying shared victory arc.