Sackboy A Big Adventure

My wife is not a gamer. She will sit next to me while I play things, but she rarely picks up a controller. Sackboy is one of the exceptions. The controls require almost no explanation, the levels have enough visual charm to keep a non-gamer engaged, and the drop-in revive system means that when she falls behind, she gets pulled back into the action rather than sitting on the sidelines waiting. Up to four players locally, a proper campaign, and presentation that genuinely holds up on a modern display. It sits just below Overcooked only because Overcooked demands coordination in a way that feels like the whole point. Sackboy is warmer, more forgiving, and honestly the better pick if your group includes someone who needs a softer landing.

My wife is not a gamer. She played It Takes Two with me all the way through, which almost never happens, and Sackboy is the next game I'd put in her hands. The onboarding is that clean. You pick up a controller and within two minutes you're running through a level together, and the gap between skill levels doesn't wreck the experience because the game is forgiving enough to let one person carry a tricky section while the other catches up. Drop-in co-op, works online or locally, looks genuinely beautiful on a QD-OLED. It's the safest duo recommendation in this entire catalog.

This one is underrated and I'd argue it's the safest recommendation on the entire list for a mixed-skill pair. The platforming is charming without being demanding. Levels are short enough that a less experienced player never feels left too far behind. My wife would describe It Takes Two as the game that got her into co-op. Sackboy is what I'd hand to someone who hasn't reached that point yet. It runs beautifully on PS5, supports both couch and online play, and the whole experience has a warmth to it that's genuinely rare. Not the most technically demanding game here. Exactly the right recommendation because of that.

This is the one I point parents toward when they ask what to buy for their kids on PS5. Sackboy handles the skill gap between adults and younger players better than most platformers because the shared screen keeps everyone together and stronger players can naturally help out without the game making it feel patronising. Four-player support means a whole family can pile in. The PS5 version holds a clean frame rate throughout and looks properly vibrant on a good TV. It is not the most thrilling game on this list if you are playing with people who have been gaming for years, but that is not who it is for. For mixed-age households, it is one of the safest buys on PS5.

Sumo Digital built something here that looks like a children's platformer and mostly is one, which is not a criticism. The co-op levels specifically designed for groups add genuine coordination moments without ever tipping into frustration. I think about this one in the context of playing with my kids: the controls are intuitive enough that a young player can contribute without feeling lost, while the level design gives everyone something to do. It supports up to four players locally or online, it runs beautifully on PS5, and it is the kind of game where nobody gets left behind. That combination is rarer than it should be.

Sackboy is the game you put on when you want a co-op session with no explanation required. Pick up a controller, jump in, and the game makes sense within seconds. I think about this one specifically for couples where one person is comfortable with games and the other isn't, because the revival system means nobody gets left behind on a screen alone while the other person clears the level. It's also a PS5 showpiece in the best way; the DualSense haptics are genuinely used here, and the presentation is cheerful enough that it puts people in a good mood before the first level is finished.

If the household has kids and you want a Sony exclusive that genuinely supports four people on the couch without anyone feeling lost, Sackboy is the answer. It is one of the better first-party co-op games on PS5 and it does not get talked about enough. PS4 and PS5 players can play together via cross-gen, but there is no crossplay with other platforms. The difficulty is low enough that a five-year-old and an adult can play the same level without the adult needing to carry the session entirely. It just missed the main list because the co-op design, while charming, is not as purposefully built around teamwork as the games above it.

Sackboy earns the top spot because it's genuinely designed for co-op from the ground up, not a singleplayer game with a second player bolted on. The entire campaign is playable with two to four people, and there are co-op-exclusive levels that only unlock when you're playing together. Local and online both work. Up to four players. Drop-in is smooth enough that you can get a group started inside a few minutes. For families or mixed-skill groups, it's the easiest recommendation on this list. The one trade-off is replay value: once you've cleared the main campaign, the incentive to return drops off noticeably.

Sackboy lands here because it's the smoothest couch co-op campaign on PS5 in terms of pure playability. The PS5-native version looks great, the checkpointing is forgiving, the level progression is transparent, and co-op-only bonus levels are tucked in for groups who want everything. The story is lighthearted and whimsical, this is not a game with weighty narrative, and scoring it honestly means acknowledging that. It sits at nine rather than higher because story quality is a real gap. But for families, mixed-skill pairs, or anyone who wants to enjoy a campaign together without the friction of RPG systems, it's the most accessible option on this list.

If you're playing with someone who doesn't game much, Sackboy is where I'd start. The controls are simple to pick up, the visual style is charming without being distracting, and the difficulty never punishes a struggling player so hard that the other person stops having fun. PS5-native with DualSense haptics and a clean 60fps, it also looks great on a TV. There are co-op-specific levels (the Knitted Knight Trials) that require real coordination, but they're optional — the main campaign is accessible throughout. Supports both couch and online play with drop-in. It doesn't have the deepest mechanics on this list, but for a parent-child or mixed-experience duo, nothing else competes.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is my go-to when you want couch co-op that feels welcoming but still has bite. The platforming is readable, the levels are bright, and drop-in/drop-out co-op works well when someone’s attention span is limited. It also deserves its ranking because it includes co-op-focused stages where you actually need to coordinate timing and movement instead of just running alongside each other. The trade-off is that it’s not a “systems” game. If you want deep builds or long-term progression, look elsewhere. Best for families, newer players, and relaxed weekend sessions.