Best Split-Screen Co-op Shooters with Shared Story Modes for Xbox Series X

This entry revitalizes the classic split-screen experience with full support for two-player local co-op in the campaign mode. Players can tackle the entire shared story together, benefiting from the Series X's enhanced frame rates and resolution for a smooth visual experience.

While primarily known for its multiplayer, Halo Infinite allows two players to engage in the campaign's co-op missions locally. Although not a full split-screen story mode, the shared combat experience offers deep tactical gameplay optimized for Xbox Series X performance.

A quintessential Xbox shooter that supports two-player split-screen co-op for its entire campaign. The brutal, cover-based combat and emotional narrative deliver a cohesive local experience, ensuring both players contribute to the shared story progression seamlessly.

The sequel continues the legacy of couch co-op with two-player split-screen campaign support. Players navigate a dark, dystopian world together, sharing the story beats and combat challenges while enjoying the high-fidelity visuals available on next-gen consoles.

This looter-shooter allows up to two players to split-screen for the majority of its main campaign. The shared story remains intact as players explore different worlds, combining chaotic combat with humorous narrative elements in a locally playable format.

Although focused on multiplayer missions, Deep Rock Galactic supports local split-screen for up to two players. While not a traditional linear story mode, the shared procedural narrative and cooperative mining objectives provide a compelling local couch experience on Series X.

Destiny 2 supports local split-screen for a significant portion of its content, including story missions. Players can complete shared narrative arcs together on the same screen, enjoying the rich sci-fi lore and cooperative gameplay mechanics designed for local play.

A classic cooperative shooter that supports two-player split-screen for its entire campaign. The shared survival narrative and intense zombie horde combat offer a timeless local gaming experience that remains performant and engaging on Xbox Series X.

Metro Exodus does not support split-screen co-op, so this entry is excluded to maintain strict relevance. The focus remains on titles that explicitly allow two players to share a screen during narrative progression.

While primarily a chaotic cooking simulator, Overcooked 2 is often grouped with co-op shooters for couch play. However, it lacks shooter mechanics and a shared story mode, making it unsuitable for this specific curated list of shooting games.

Awway Out is a unique co-op only title where two players share a screen to escape prison. Although not a shooter, its narrative-driven structure and mandatory cooperation make it a standout local co-op experience for Xbox Series X users.

This award-winning co-op adventure supports local split-screen and offers a deeply engaging shared story. While not a shooter, its innovative gameplay mechanics and narrative depth make it a must-play for couch co-op enthusiasts on Xbox Series X.

Recent Call of Duty entries have largely removed split-screen support for campaign modes. This exclusion highlights the scarcity of modern AAA shooters with this feature, emphasizing the value of the selected titles that still offer local co-op.

Warframe does not support local split-screen co-op, relying instead on online multiplayer. Therefore, it is excluded from this list to ensure all recommendations meet the strict criteria for couch-based shared story gameplay.

This bundle includes Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel, both of which support two-player split-screen co-op in their campaigns. Players can revisit the shared story and hilarious dialogue together, enjoying the classic looter-shooter gameplay on Series X.

MCC supports two-player split-screen for specific campaign missions in Halo: Reach and Halo 3. While not all titles in the collection support it, the available shared story segments offer a nostalgic and polished local co-op experience on Xbox Series X.

Rainbow Six Siege does not support split-screen co-op, focusing exclusively on online competitive play. This exclusion reinforces the need to identify specific titles that enable local shared narrative experiences rather than just competitive multiplayer.

Older versions of Destiny had limited local co-op, but Destiny 2 has largely standardized the split-screen experience for its main campaign. This distinction ensures players know which version of the franchise to look for on modern Xbox consoles.

Halo 5 does not support split-screen co-op for its campaign mode, a notable deviation from previous series entries. This exclusion helps users avoid purchasing games that lack the desired local multiplayer features for couch-based storytelling.