Before we dive into the list, a quick checklist so you don’t accidentally boot up something that makes Grandma faint:
Players: How many people are actually in the room?
2–4 players → co-op platformers, party brawlers
4–8+ players → party packs, phone-based games, “pass the controller” stuff
Difficulty:
Mixed-skill family? Go for simple controls and short rounds.
All gamers? You can push into deeper co-op like action RPGs or hardcore cooking chaos.
Age & content:
Kids around? Stick to E/T-rated or cartoony stuff.
Adults-only gathering? You can add some scarier or more intense titles.
Platform:
Switch = king of couch co-op.
PS5 / Xbox / PC = great for cinematic co-op and local multiplayer brawlers.
With that in mind, let’s build your Thanksgiving game menu.
Nintendo Switch: Easy Wins for Any Group
If you’re hunting for Thanksgiving party games that work for literally everyone, the Switch is your best friend.
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Players: 1–4 local (up to 12 online)
Vibe: “I swear that blue shell wasn’t personal.”
Great for: Families, mixed ages, drop-in/drop-out play
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still the couch co-op classic. Races are short, controls are simple, and the chaos scales perfectly from little cousins to sweaty pros. It’s also a great “between dinner and dessert” game—everyone can jump in for a cup or two and bail when food arrives.
Thanksgiving tip:
Turn on Smart Steering and Auto-Accelerate for kids or non-gamers so they can actually finish races instead of staring at a wall for two laps.
2. Mario Party Superstars
Players: 1–4 local
Vibe: Board game night, but with emotional damage
Great for: Families, friend groups, patient people
Mario Party Superstars brings back classic boards and minigames from the series, and it’s perfect when you want something slower-paced than a racer but still full of yelling. It’s turn-based, so everyone gets a moment in the spotlight, even if they’re brand new to games.
Watch out for:
Changing bonus stars and random events can absolutely destroy friendships. In a good way. (Mostly.)
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Players: Up to 8 local
Vibe: Cartoon chaos with a competitive streak
Great for: Gamers in the family, teens, big friend groups
Smash is fantastic when you’ve got a room full of people who at least play something. Button-mashing works okay, but the game really shines when a couple of players know what they’re doing and everyone else is just trying to survive.
Thanksgiving twist:
Set custom rules: low stocks, time limits, and items turned on to reduce how punishing it feels for newcomers.
4. Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Players: 1–4 local or online
Vibe: “We could run a restaurant together” → “We absolutely could not.”
Great for: Small groups, cooperative chaos enjoyers
Overcooked! All You Can Eat bundles Overcooked 1 + 2 with remastered visuals and all the DLC, and supports local co-op for up to four players. You’re all chefs in absurd kitchens, trying to chop, cook, and serve orders without everything catching fire.
It’s one of the best couch co-op 2025 choices if you like yelling instructions, laughing, and occasionally watching the entire kitchen slide into a ravine.
Gameflip note:
Totally family-friendly, but maybe avoid when people are already stressed about real cooking in the actual kitchen.
PlayStation & Xbox: Cinematic Co-Op and Party Chaos
If your main box is a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, you’re spoiled for best couch co-op 2025 contenders.
5. It Takes Two
Players: 2 (local or online)
Vibe: Pixar movie meets co-op puzzle-platformer
Great for: Couples, siblings, best friends
It Takes Two is built entirely around co-op, and yes, it supports full couch play—just hit “Play Local” and use two controllers. Each level introduces new mechanics that force you to talk, coordinate, and occasionally blame each other for falling off platforms.
Thanksgiving angle:
This is a slower, more emotional game. Great for when most of the house is asleep and two people still want to play something special.
6. Split Fiction
Players: 2 (local or online)
Vibe: Pixar movie meets co-op puzzle-platformer
Great for: Duo that loves variety, platforming, and “wait, what is this level now?”
From the creators of It Takes Two, Split Fiction takes everything Hazelight learned about co-op storytelling and dials it into full chaos—in a good way. You and your co-pilot play as Mio and Zoe, two writers trapped inside a mash-up of their own sci-fi and fantasy stories, jumping between genres, worlds, and completely different gameplay styles as you go. It also supports a Friend Pass—only one person needs to own the game while the other plays free—plus cross-play, so it’s easy to get a session going even if you’re not sharing a couch.
7. Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Players: Up to 4 local
Vibe: Cozy platformer, big “family movie” energy
Great for: Kids + adults, casual players
Sackboy is a charming 3D platformer where you and your crew play as knitted heroes running through colorful stages. Difficulty ramps slowly, and the game is designed with couch co-op in mind, including levels that reward teamwork.
If you want something family game night friendly on PS5, this is a strong pick.
8. Diablo IV (local co-op) – Adults Only
Players: 2 local on consoles
Vibe: Dark fantasy loot grind
Great for: RPG fans, adults who want a “real” game after the party
Diablo IV supports couch co-op on consoles, letting two players share the screen in monster-filled dungeons while hoovering up loot. It’s an awesome way for two people to sink into something deeper over the long weekend.
Content note:
This is firmly M-rated—violence, horror themes, and lots of demons. Save this one for later at night when kids are in bed.
PC & “Everyone Join In”: Party Games That Use Phones
Thanksgiving often means mixed groups: some people can handle a controller; others just want to hang out. These games are perfect because phones become controllers, and anyone can join.
9. Jackbox Party Pack (Any Version)
Players: Usually 2–8 active, many more audience
Vibe: Trivia, drawing, bluffing, meme chaos
Great for: Big groups, varied ages, low-skill players
The Jackbox Party Pack series runs on a single device (PC, console, or smart TV), and everyone joins using their phone’s browser—no extra controllers needed.
Each pack has a mix of games:
Drawing competitions
Joke-writing battles
Quizzes and word games
You can easily tune what you play to your crowd, avoid mature content if needed, and let even the shy relatives get involved.
10. Among Us (local “couch online”)
Players: 4–15 (online, but couch-friendly)
Vibe: Social deduction, “I swear I was doing tasks.”
Great for: Friend groups, teens, siblings
Among Us isn’t traditional couch co-op, but it works brilliantly in a living room. Everyone grabs a phone, switches, or laptops, jumps in the same lobby, and suddenly the whole room is accusing each other of venting.
Pro move:
Agree on a “no screen peeking” rule and let discussions happen out loud in the room. It feels like a party game with a digital twist.
Family-Friendly Chaos: Great With Kids Around
If you’ve got younger players in the mix and want to keep things light:
11. Wobbly Life
Players: 1–4 local and online
Vibe: Goofy sandbox with jobs, vehicles, and physics
Great for: Kids, parents, siblings
Wobbly Life is a physics-driven open-world where you complete silly jobs, drive weird vehicles, and just mess around. The big 1.0 “Space Update” in 2025 added a ton of new missions, areas, and collectibles, and the game supports 1–4 players locally or online.
Think “cartoon Grand Theft Auto for kids but wholesome.” It’s perfect when you want something low-pressure and funny that everyone can enjoy together.
12. LEGO Party (or Any Recent LEGO Game)
Players: Usually 2–4 local
Vibe: Minigames, platforming, light-hearted fun
Great for: Younger players, casual adults
Recent LEGO games have leaned harder into co-op party vibes. LEGO Party, for example, packs in dozens of minigames, customizable characters, and couch and online co-op.
But honestly, most modern LEGO titles (Star Wars, Marvel, etc.) work great over a long weekend—simple controls, generous checkpoints, and lots of slapstick humor.
Short & Silly “Just One More Round” Games
When people are dropping in and out between snacks, these games shine.
13. Gang Beasts / Party Animals (Brawling Goofiness)
Players: 2–4+ local
Vibe: Floppy physics brawls on ridiculous maps
Great for: Teens, adults, casual chaos
These games all live in the same zone: weird squishy characters trying to throw each other into hazards while everyone in the room screams. Very little skill is required; half the fun is fighting the physics engine.
Great for later in the night when people are full, sleepy, and easily amused.
14. Sports & Rhythm Games (Just Dance, Sports Titles, etc.)
Players: 1–4+ local
Vibe: Move your body, laugh at each other
Great for: Breaking up long couch sessions
Whatever your platform, having at least one sports or music game installed is a good call. It might be:
A Just Dance entry for motion-based dancing
A couch-friendly sports game where you can play matches in under 15 minutes
A simple arcade sports title that doesn’t need deep rules knowledge
They’re a great “reset button” for when everyone’s been sitting too long and needs to move.
Quick Tips for a Smooth Thanksgiving Game Night
To make sure your Thanksgiving horror games, party titles, and co-op hits don’t become setup nightmares:
Update everything beforehand
Turn on your consoles/PC the day before. Let patches download so you’re not stuck staring at progress bars while the turkey gets cold.Test controllers & batteries
Nothing kills energy faster than a dead controller mid-match. Charge pads and stock up on AA batteries where needed.Create guest profiles
Make a couple of generic profiles on consoles so your guests don’t have to log into anything.Have a “rotation rule”
If more people want in than you have controllers, run a rule like “bottom two swap out” or “winner stays one round, then rotates.”
Wrap-Up: Build Your Own Thanksgiving Playlist
There’s no single “best scary game” or “best couch co-op 2025” pick for every table. But if you mix:
1–2 easy party games (Mario Kart, Jackbox)
1 co-op challenge (Overcooked, It Takes Two)
1 deeper game for the late-night crowd (Diablo IV, Wobbly Life, LEGO or similar)
…you’ll have something ready for every type of guest who wanders past the TV.
So as the leftovers get packed away and the living room fills with half-asleep relatives, grab a controller, fire up one of these Thanksgiving party games, and make some memories that’ll outlast the pumpkin pie.
