One of the greatest things about retro gaming is how it brought people together. Whether it was passing the controller on the couch, battling in arcades, or connecting through link cables, multiplayer games have always been a huge part of gaming history. While modern online multiplayer has changed how we play, classic local multiplayer still holds a special place in the hearts of many.
From co-op beat ‘em ups to competitive racing games, fighting games, and even puzzle battles, retro gaming offers some of the best multiplayer experiences of all time. Many of these games are still incredibly fun today, whether you’re playing on original hardware, emulators with Netplay, or modern re-releases with online support. Let’s take a look at the best multiplayer retro games across different genres, proving that great gameplay never gets old.
Classic Beat ‘Em Ups – The Ultimate Co-Op Experience
Beat ‘em ups were designed with multiplayer in mind, letting players team up to take on waves of enemies in side-scrolling action. Whether in arcades or at home, these games were some of the best ways to play with friends.
Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis, 1992) is often considered the best beat ‘em up of all time. With tight controls, satisfying combat, and an incredible soundtrack, teaming up as Axel, Blaze, Max, or Skate to take down Mr. X is an unforgettable experience. Another legendary game is Final Fight (Arcade, SNES, 1989), Capcom’s iconic brawler where players control Cody and Haggar to rescue a kidnapped girl in Metro City.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (Arcade, SNES, 1991) brought the fun of TMNT to video games with fast-paced action and cooperative gameplay for up to four players. Other must-play beat ‘em ups include Double Dragon II (NES, 1988) and Golden Axe (Sega Genesis, 1989), which remain fun even decades later.
Fighting Games – The Competitive Side of Retro Gaming
Few genres capture the intensity of head-to-head competition like fighting games. Whether at home or in arcades, these games tested skills, reflexes, and strategies against friends.
Street Fighter II (Arcade, SNES, Sega Genesis, 1991) is easily one of the most iconic fighting games ever made. It introduced special moves, combos, and balanced characters, making it the perfect game for competitive matches. The Mortal Kombat (Arcade, 1992) series took things in a more violent direction, with brutal fatalities and realistic digitized characters, while Tekken 3 (PS1, 1997) brought 3D movement and deep combat mechanics to the genre.
The Super Smash Bros. (N64, 1999) franchise began as a fun, chaotic alternative to traditional fighters, featuring Nintendo’s biggest characters in a four-player battle royale. Other great multiplayer fighters include Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (Arcade, Dreamcast, 2000) and The King of Fighters ’98 (Arcade, Neo Geo, 1998), both offering incredible competitive depth.
Racing Games – Fast-Paced Fun for Everyone
Racing games have always been a staple of multiplayer gaming, whether competing for the fastest time or using power-ups to sabotage opponents.
Mario Kart 64 (N64, 1996) perfected the kart racing formula with tight controls, fun tracks, and iconic items like the Blue Shell. For arcade-style speed, F-Zero GX (GameCube, 2003) is a high-speed, futuristic racer that demands incredible reflexes.
More traditional racing games like Gran Turismo 2 (PS1, 1999) and Sega Rally Championship (Arcade, Saturn, 1994) focused on realistic driving mechanics and track variety, offering great head-to-head competition. Fans of extreme sports games shouldn’t overlook Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PS1, N64, 2000), which featured fun multiplayer trick battles and challenges.
Co-Op Platformers – Jumping Through Challenges Together
While most platformers are single-player, some classics allowed two players to team up or compete for points.
Contra (NES, 1987) is one of the best co-op platform shooters ever made, with fast action, powerful weapons, and the legendary Konami Code for extra lives. Donkey Kong Country (SNES, 1994) introduced tag-team gameplay, where players could swap between Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.
Bubble Bobble (Arcade, NES, 1986) is another underrated co-op platformer where two players control cute dinosaurs that trap enemies in bubbles. For competitive platforming, New Super Mario Bros. (DS, 2006) introduced versus multiplayer, where players race through levels while sabotaging each other.
Puzzle Games – Battle of the Brains
Some of the best multiplayer experiences come from classic puzzle games, where players compete to clear blocks, match tiles, or outthink their opponent.
Tetris (Game Boy, NES, 1984) remains one of the best puzzle games of all time, with versus modes allowing two players to send garbage blocks to their opponent. Dr. Mario (NES, 1990) took the same concept but added color-matching mechanics.
Other great competitive puzzle games include Puyo Puyo (Arcade, Genesis, SNES, 1991), Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (PS1, Arcade, 1996), and Bomberman (SNES, Genesis, 1993), which features explosive multiplayer chaos for up to four players.
Classic Multiplayer FPS Games
Before online gaming became standard, local split-screen FPS games were the best way to play shooters with friends.
GoldenEye 007 (N64, 1997) defined local multiplayer FPS games with four-player split-screen battles, unique weapons, and iconic maps like Facility and Temple. Perfect Dark (N64, 2000) improved upon it with more weapons, better AI, and customizable game modes.
Doom (PC, SNES, PlayStation, 1993) pioneered online deathmatches, but it also had split-screen co-op and competitive play on some consoles. Quake III Arena (Dreamcast, PC, 1999) and TimeSplitters 2 (PS2, Xbox, GameCube, 2002) continued the legacy of fast, fun, multiplayer FPS games.
Sports and Party Games – Fun for Everyone
Sports games have always been great for multiplayer, whether playing competitively or just having fun.
NBA Jam (Arcade, SNES, Genesis, 1993) is one of the most exciting arcade sports games ever made, with over-the-top dunks and fast-paced two-on-two action. Mario Tennis (N64, 2000) and Mario Golf (GameCube, 2003) brought Nintendo’s charm to classic sports games.
For casual multiplayer fun, party games like Mario Party (N64, 1998) and WarioWare Inc.: Mega Party Games! (GameCube, 2003) are some of the best ways to have fun with a group.
Final Thoughts: Multiplayer Retro Games Never Get Old
Retro multiplayer games are timeless, offering simple yet highly competitive gameplay that still holds up today. Whether you’re playing co-op beat ‘em ups, competitive fighters, racing games, puzzle battles, or classic shooters, there’s no shortage of incredible multiplayer experiences from gaming history.
Thanks to modern emulation, online Netplay, and classic console re-releases, many of these games are easier to play today than ever before. If you’re looking to relive the fun of classic multiplayer gaming, grab a controller, call a friend, and jump back into some of the best multiplayer retro games of all time.
What’s your favorite retro multiplayer game? Drop a comment below and let’s talk classic gaming memories!