Best PS5 Co-op Platformer Games 2026: Split Fiction, Sackboy and Trine 5
The best PS5 co-op platformer games of 2026 compared: Split Fiction for duos, Sackboy for families of four and Trine 5 for groups who love solving puzzles.
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Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication and are subject to change.
If you only buy one of the best PS5 co-op platformer games in 2026, make it Split Fiction: every level is designed for two players working as a team. Groups of three or four are better served by Sackboy: A Big Adventure, while Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy suits friends who would rather solve puzzles together than chase reflex challenges.
We compared the three games using their Amazon listings, official PlayStation and publisher pages and ESRB classifications, focusing on what shapes a co-op evening: how many people can play, what online play requires and whether the content suits the youngest player.
Best PS5 co-op platformer games at a glance
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Split Fiction | Two-player story co-op | View |
| Sackboy: A Big Adventure | Families of up to four | View |
| Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy | Puzzle-solving groups | View |
Player count is the first filter: Split Fiction is strictly a two-player game, while Sackboy and Trine 5 work with one to four players. Tone is the second. Split Fiction carries an ESRB Teen label, Trine 5 is classified Everyone 10+ and Sackboy is classified Everyone.
Split Fiction: best overall for two players
Split Fiction
Split Fiction comes from Hazelight, the studio behind It Takes Two, and it is built strictly for two players, in split-screen on one PS5 or online. Mio and Zoe travel through levels that alternate between science fiction and fantasy worlds, and each level introduces new mechanics and abilities, so the platforming never settles into one formula. It earns the top badge because it is the most complete two-player package here: the Friend's Pass lets a partner join for free, with cross-platform play across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, as long as one of you owns the full game. Choose it for couples, siblings or long-distance friends. The limitations: there is no solo mode or third player, the ESRB Teen label covers blood and gore, crude humor, language and violence, and the Amazon listing says an internet connection is required.
Pros
- Levels alternate between sci-fi and fantasy settings, each adding new mechanics
- Friend's Pass lets a partner join without buying a second copy
- Cross-platform co-op with Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC players
- Split-screen play for two people on a single PS5
Cons
- No solo mode and no support for a third or fourth player
- ESRB Teen label (blood and gore, crude humor) rules it out for younger children
- Friend's Pass needs a persistent internet connection and one full-game owner
Sackboy: A Big Adventure, the family choice for up to four
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a 3D platformer for one to four players on the same PS5, plus up to four online with PS Plus, which makes it the most flexible option for a whole household. Its ESRB Everyone label lists only mild cartoon violence and mild lyrics, so younger children can join without parents screening scenes first. It also uses the DualSense well: haptic feedback changes as Sackboy crosses different materials, and adaptive triggers add resistance. It takes the family badge for that mix of four-player capacity, gentle content and co-op only levels that reward teamwork. Know its limits before buying: online cross-play stops at PS4 and PS5, anyone playing alone misses the co-op only stages, which need at least two players, and it launched in November 2020, making it the oldest game in this comparison.
Pros
- One to four players on one PS5, plus up to four online with PS Plus
- ESRB Everyone label with only mild cartoon violence and mild lyrics
- DualSense haptics simulate the surfaces Sackboy runs across
- PS4 and PS5 owners can play together online
Cons
- Co-op only levels need at least two players, so solo players miss them
- Online play is limited to PlayStation consoles, unlike Split Fiction's wider reach
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, best for puzzle-solving groups
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is a 2.5D side-scrolling puzzle platformer from Frozenbyte for one to four players, solo or in local and online co-op. Its three heroes, Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief and Pontius the Knight, combine their abilities to solve puzzles and win fights with swords, arrows and magic. The standout feature for mixed groups is an adaptive difficulty system for both combat and puzzles that scales with the number of players, so a duo and a group of four both get a fair challenge. Character-specific skill quests and boss encounters add longer-term goals. It wins the puzzle badge as the only game here sold primarily as a puzzle platformer. The trade-offs: the side-on view is more restrictive than Sackboy's 3D worlds, online co-op needs PS Plus, and its Everyone 10+ label for fantasy violence is a step up for the youngest players.
Pros
- Plays with one to four people, solo or in local and online co-op
- Adaptive difficulty tunes both puzzles and combat to the number of players
- Wizard, Thief and Knight each bring different abilities to puzzles and fights
- Character-specific skill quests add progression beyond the main story
Cons
- Side-scrolling 2.5D view allows less exploration than a full 3D platformer
- Online co-op on PS5 requires a PS Plus subscription
- Everyone 10+ classification for fantasy violence is stricter than Sackboy's
How to choose a co-op platformer for PS5
Count your players
If the same two people always play together, Split Fiction offers the most varied campaign. If the group size changes from one evening to the next, Sackboy and Trine 5 are safer, because both accept one to four players and can also be played solo.
Couch or online
All three support local co-op on one PS5 and online co-op, and their official PlayStation store pages list PS Plus as required for online play. Split Fiction adds the Friend's Pass for a remote partner on another platform, while Sackboy lets PS4 and PS5 owners play together.
FAQ
Can you play Split Fiction alone on PS5?
No. Split Fiction is designed exclusively for two players, and its box art states that it is two-player co-op only. You can share one PS5 in split-screen or play online. If you have no regular partner, the Friend's Pass helps because the other person does not need to buy the game, but you still need a second human player for the whole campaign.
Is Sackboy: A Big Adventure suitable for young children?
Its ESRB classification is Everyone, with descriptors limited to mild cartoon violence and mild lyrics, which makes it the gentlest of the three. Up to four players can join on one console, so a parent can play alongside children. The co-op only levels require at least two players, so plan to tackle those together rather than leaving a child to finish them alone.
Which game works best for players with different skill levels?
Trine 5 is the most forgiving for mixed groups, because its adaptive difficulty system adjusts both puzzles and combat to the number of players. Sackboy is also approachable thanks to its Everyone classification and one-to-four player support. Split Fiction asks both players to coordinate their actions and timing throughout, so it works best when both partners are comfortable with a controller.
Final verdict
Split Fiction is the pick for most duos thanks to its constantly changing levels and a Friend's Pass that saves your partner from buying a second copy. Families with three or four players should choose Sackboy: A Big Adventure, while Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy fits groups who enjoy combining hero abilities to solve side-scrolling puzzles.
Prices and availability are accurate as of publication and may change.