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Best Resident Evil Games for Local Co-Op on PC (2026 Guide)

By Freedom251 Team · · 13 min read

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Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, and Resident Evil Revelations 2 are the verified Resident Evil games with local split-screen co-op on PC. Resident Evil 5 gained confirmed PC split-screen support in Capcom’s February 27, 2023 update. Steam lists shared or split-screen co-op for Resident Evil 6 and Revelations 2, while Capcom documents the exact two-controller setup for Revelations 2. Each game suits a slightly different kind of two-player session, and each has an important restriction to know before you start.

If you are asking, “Which Resident Evil games have local co-op on PC?” this is the practical answer: start with these three, then choose according to whether you want one campaign, several connected campaigns, or a story mode alongside RAID. Do not assume a Resident Evil title supports couch play simply because another game in the series does.

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The short list: three Resident Evil games with local PC co-op

For two people playing in the same room on one PC, the dependable shortlist is three games:

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Game What the PC evidence confirms Best fit Important restriction
Resident Evil 5 Capcom’s February 27, 2023 Steam update says the PC version supports local split-screen co-op. A straightforward co-op campaign built around the main Resident Evil 5 experience. An older Capcom FAQ said offline split-screen was unsupported; the later 2023 update is the current status.
Resident Evil 6 Steam lists shared/split-screen co-op and describes two-player co-op offline or online. Players who want several connected character campaigns and action-focused co-op. Ada Wong’s campaign is single-player only.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 Steam lists shared/split-screen co-op. Capcom specifically documents split-screen for STORY and RAID. A pair that wants a story campaign plus a separate RAID mode. Two controllers are required for the documented PC method; RAID split-screen can begin only when both players are at the base.

Those are supported capabilities, not a claim that every Resident Evil release on PC has couch co-op. Franchise branding is not enough to establish local multiplayer, so treat these three titles as the verified options for this use case.

#1 Best Overall
Resident Evil 5 - PC
  • Fans that pick up the PC version will be the first to experience stereoscopic 3D out of screen effects as their living rooms are transformed into the world of Kijuju. (wireless 3D Vision glasses sold separately)
  • Chris Redfield, protagonist of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Code Veronica, returns and is joined by new playable character Sheva Alomar, an African BSAA agent tasked with investigating the epidemic.
  • New cooperatively-focused gameplay revolutionizes the way that Resident Evil is played. Chris and Sheva must work together to survive new challenges and fight dangerous hordes of enemies.
  • Features groundbreaking graphics that utilize an advanced version of Capcom’s proprietary game engine, MT Framework, which powered the hit titles Devil May Cry 4, Lost Planet and Dead Rising.
  • Improved inventory system allows items to be traded between characters. To add to the intensity, all inventory management is done in real time; items can even be assigned to the directional pad for instant access.

The distinction between “shared/split-screen” on a store page and a fully documented setup matters. Resident Evil 6 and Revelations 2 have Steam feature labels, while Revelations 2 also has Capcom’s step-by-step instructions. Resident Evil 5 has a dated Capcom announcement that specifically resolves an older support contradiction. Together, those details provide a more reliable buying checklist than a generic multiplayer tag.

Resident Evil 5: the clearest campaign-first choice

What changed on PC

Resident Evil 5 belongs on a current local-co-op list because Capcom changed the answer for the PC edition. In a Steam announcement dated February 27, 2023, Capcom stated: “Will support local split screen co-op.” That dated update supersedes an older Capcom PC FAQ that had described offline split-screen as unsupported.

If you encounter an old forum post, guide, or FAQ repeating the no-split-screen limitation, check its date. The conflict is historical rather than a reason to remove Resident Evil 5 from a current shortlist: the 2023 Capcom update is the later statement and the one to use when assessing present PC support.

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Why choose Resident Evil 5 for two players

Resident Evil 5 is the most direct recommendation when the goal is to play through the main campaign together rather than sample a separate multiplayer mode. Its place in this list is based on the confirmed local split-screen feature, not on an unsupported ranking of horror, difficulty, graphics, or overall quality.

The practical appeal is simplicity: select the game when both players want a single, campaign-centered co-op experience and do not need the multiple-campaign structure of Resident Evil 6 or the additional RAID activity in Revelations 2. The available evidence does not establish a special controller brand, adapter, frame-rate target, or hardware requirement, so do not infer those details from the feature announcement.

That makes RE5 a useful default for a pair that wants to sit down and work through one shared route without first deciding which of several campaigns to tackle. It is also the title most likely to generate outdated search results, so verifying the date of any setup advice is part of choosing it responsibly.

How to handle conflicting setup advice

  • Give priority to Capcom’s February 27, 2023 PC update over the older FAQ.
  • Make sure you are evaluating the Steam/PC edition addressed by that update, not a different platform release.
  • If a guide predates 2023 and says local split-screen is impossible, treat it as outdated information rather than a current limitation.
  • Because the update confirms support but does not provide a complete controller troubleshooting manual, use the game’s current PC input behavior and your operating system’s controller detection when resolving setup problems.

Resident Evil 6: broad co-op coverage with one campaign exception

What Steam confirms

The Resident Evil 6 Steam listing identifies shared/split-screen co-op and describes two-player co-op as available offline or online. That makes it a local option for two people sharing one PC, while also distinguishing it from games that support only network multiplayer.

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Resident Evil 6 is organized around multiple intertwined character campaigns. That structure is the useful distinction for a pair deciding between the three games: you are not limited to one protagonist’s route over the entire experience. The source evidence establishes the campaign variety and co-op support, but it does not justify a definitive ranking of which campaign is scariest, longest, or best.

Steam’s wording also helps clarify what “local” means here: offline two-player play is listed alongside online play. You therefore do not need two separate PCs for the same-room option described in the listing. However, the listing does not provide the detailed controller sequence that Capcom publishes for Revelations 2, so allow time to confirm that both inputs are recognized before beginning a long session.

The Ada Wong limitation

Ada Wong’s campaign is explicitly one-player only. If your plan is to play every campaign together, Resident Evil 6 will not meet that expectation. You can use local co-op for the campaigns that support two players, but Ada’s route must be played solo.

Rank #2
Resident Evil 6 - Xbox One
  • Starting with four distinct, yet interwoven story threads, for either solo or co-op play, both offline and online, not only does Resident Evil 6 deliver both different perspectives and gameplay styles
  • Ada Wong, Resident Evil's very own femme fatale, dives into a thrilling campaign of intrigue and infiltration, featuring unique missions, gameplay and weapons. Ada is available from the start
  • The most expansive Resident Evil game to date- Experience the horror through four distinct yet intertwined campaigns
  • Solo or co-op - Resident Evil 6 delivers both single and two player co-op gameplay either offline or online
  • Includes all the available DLC content from Resident Evil 6: Siege Mode, Predator Mode, Survivor Mode, Onslaught Mode, The Mercenaries maps, ResidentEvil.net costumes

This exception matters when planning a shared playthrough. Decide in advance whether the single-player Ada section is acceptable, whether one person will watch while the other plays, or whether you would rather choose Resident Evil 5 or Revelations 2 for a consistently two-player-focused session. Do not describe Resident Evil 6 as having unrestricted co-op across the entire game.

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It is worth making this decision before purchase rather than discovering it after completing the co-op-supported routes. If uninterrupted two-person participation is a requirement, RE6’s campaign exception is a disqualifier, not a minor footnote.

Who should pick Resident Evil 6

  • Choose it if both players want several connected campaigns rather than one linear route.
  • Choose it if offline, same-PC co-op is important but online flexibility is also useful; Steam lists both offline and online two-player modes.
  • Choose another title if both players require every story campaign, including Ada Wong’s, to support two players.

Resident Evil Revelations 2: story co-op plus RAID

What is supported

Steam lists shared/split-screen co-op for the PC version of Resident Evil Revelations 2. Capcom’s PC support instructions are more specific: local split-screen can be used in both STORY and RAID. That combination makes Revelations 2 the most clearly documented choice for players who want a campaign and a distinct replay-oriented mode in the same game.

The evidence supports the two modes and the setup sequence; it does not establish that every controller, wireless adapter, or unusual input configuration will work. Plan around two PC-compatible controllers, and treat compatibility as something to verify on your own system rather than as a guarantee for every device.

Revelations 2 therefore has two separate reasons to recommend it. STORY provides the narrative-focused session, while RAID gives the pair another local activity after or between story sessions. The important qualification is that both modes are documented, but RAID has an additional location rule when the second player joins.

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Exact PC split-screen setup

  1. Connect two controllers to the PC.
  2. Launch Resident Evil Revelations 2 from the Steam Library.
  3. Start either STORY or RAID.
  4. Press START on the second player’s controller when the mode is ready to accept the additional player.
  5. For RAID, make sure both players are at the base before attempting to start split-screen. Capcom specifies that RAID split-screen can be started only from that location.

The “START” instruction refers to the second controller’s start input, not a keyboard shortcut. If your controller labels use a different name for that button, use the control that performs the game’s standard start or menu function.

Connect both controllers before launching the game whenever possible. That follows Capcom’s published order and makes it easier to tell whether a problem is a missing device or a mode restriction. The instructions support recommending two PC-compatible controllers as an accessory category; they do not identify or endorse a particular brand, adapter, or model.

The RAID-at-base condition

RAID has a location-based starting condition that is easy to mistake for a controller failure. Capcom says RAID split-screen can be started only while the players are at the base. If the second player cannot join while you are elsewhere in RAID, return to the base before repeating the join action. This is a mode rule, not evidence that the second controller is unsupported.

When troubleshooting, test STORY first if you want to confirm that both controllers are visible. Then enter RAID and move to the base before pressing START on controller two. This sequence separates the general input check from RAID’s specific start-location requirement without claiming that every hardware combination behaves identically.

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Who should pick Revelations 2

  • Pick it if you want both a cooperative STORY mode and a separate RAID mode.
  • Pick it if you prefer following Capcom’s published, step-by-step setup rather than relying on informal configuration advice.
  • Keep the two-controller requirement in mind before starting; the documented local method is not a one-controller pass-and-play arrangement.

How the three games differ in practice

Decision question Resident Evil 5 Resident Evil 6 Resident Evil Revelations 2
Is local PC support confirmed? Yes, by Capcom’s February 27, 2023 update. Yes, through Steam’s shared/split-screen listing. Yes, through Steam’s listing and Capcom’s PC instructions.
Main shared activity Campaign co-op. Two-player co-op across supported character campaigns. STORY co-op, plus RAID split-screen.
Offline same-PC play Local split-screen is confirmed. Steam describes two-player co-op offline or online. Local split-screen is confirmed for STORY and RAID.
Known mode restriction Older no-support information is superseded by the 2023 update. Ada Wong’s campaign is single-player only. RAID split-screen starts only at the base.
Documented controller detail The update confirms the feature but does not specify a universal controller setup. The listing confirms the feature but does not provide the Revelations 2-style step sequence. Capcom says to connect two controllers and press START on player two’s controller.

Use three questions when comparing them. First, is the shared activity the main story or an additional mode? Second, can both players participate in every section you care about? Third, how much setup guidance do you want? RE5 is the campaign-first choice, RE6 offers the broadest campaign structure but excludes Ada’s route, and Revelations 2 has the most explicit instructions plus the STORY/RAID split-screen combination.

Rank #3
Capcom Resident Evil Village Gold Edition (PS5)
  • A New Perspective – See the eighth core entry in the Resident Evil series from a new vantage point in “Third Person Mode.” In addition to the intense first-person view players enjoyed in the initial release of Resident Evil Village, they can now watch Ethan in action and experience his journey from a new angle in Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion.
  • Bonus Game – Resident Evil Village will provide access to a free multiplayer experience titled Resident Evil Re:Verse, which releases on Oct. 28, 2022 alongside the launch of Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion. An all-star cast of iconic characters face off in four to six-player deathmatch battles in classic locations.
  • Evolution of Combat – In addition to engaging enemies, in Resident Evil Village Ethan can guard against incoming assaults, or kick foes away to buy time, allowing players to strategize the best approach for surviving the challenges ahead.
  • Popular Features Return – Recognizable features return Resident Evil Village that nod to previous Resident Evil titles, such as “The Duke,” a merchant who allows players to buy and sell items, purchase recipes for crafting, and customize weapons.
  • The Story Continues – “Shadows of Rose” resumes the Winters family saga 16 years after the events of Resident Evil Village. The expansion’s new tale follows Rose Winters, the daughter of main protagonist Ethan, as she struggles with her terrifying powers. Explore the warped and twisted world inside the consciousness of the Megamycete in search of a cure.

Choose by the kind of co-op session you want

For one campaign played together

Start with Resident Evil 5. Its current PC support is explicitly confirmed by Capcom, and the principal distinction in the available information is that it is a straightforward campaign co-op pick. This recommendation is about fit and documented support, not a claim that it is objectively the best Resident Evil game.

For several connected campaigns

Choose Resident Evil 6 if the appeal is moving among multiple character campaigns while retaining two-player co-op where supported. Schedule the Ada Wong campaign as a solo section because Steam identifies it as one-player only.

For story mode and an additional activity

Choose Revelations 2 if you want STORY and RAID available for local play. It has the clearest published setup path: two controllers, launch from Steam, enter STORY or RAID, and press START on player two’s controller. Remember the base requirement when starting RAID split-screen.

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For the least uncertainty about instructions

Revelations 2 has the most explicit PC directions from Capcom. Resident Evil 5 has the clearest dated confirmation that an old limitation changed. Resident Evil 6 has the clearest listing for offline or online two-player co-op but also the clearest campaign exception.

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Preparing a two-person PC session

Before launching a game

  • Confirm that you are using the PC edition covered by the relevant listing or Capcom notice.
  • Have two PC-compatible controllers available, especially if you are following the documented Revelations 2 setup.
  • Connect both controllers before entering the mode in which player two will join.
  • Decide whether your session requires complete story coverage. That decision rules out Ada Wong’s campaign as a two-player segment in Resident Evil 6.
  • For Revelations 2 RAID, plan to reach the base before trying to start split-screen.

No universal controller brand, adapter, operating-system setting, performance target, or hardware specification is established for these games by the documented feature notices. Treat “PC-compatible controller” as the practical category, then verify that your own devices appear as separate inputs before committing to a purchase or a long play session.

If player two does not join

  1. Exit the current join prompt or mode and confirm that the PC recognizes both controllers as separate inputs.
  2. Reconnect the controllers, then relaunch the game if the second input is still absent.
  3. In Revelations 2, follow Capcom’s order exactly: connect both controllers, launch from the Steam Library, start STORY or RAID, and press START on controller two.
  4. If you are in RAID and the join action does nothing, return to the base before trying again.
  5. If you are in Resident Evil 6’s Ada Wong campaign, switch to a co-op-supported campaign; that route is intentionally single-player.
  6. If an old Resident Evil 5 guide says local play is unavailable, use the February 27, 2023 Capcom update as the current reference.

These checks separate documented mode restrictions from ordinary input problems. The available Capcom and Steam information does not promise compatibility for every controller model, adapter, or custom input layer, so unusual hardware may require its own device-specific troubleshooting.

Buying, edition, and price checks

The three PC editions are the relevant purchase candidates, but current prices, discounts, regional availability, and bundle contents change. Check the live Steam listing or the retailer page for the exact edition before buying. Do not assume that a console feature label, a legacy FAQ, or a differently packaged release describes the same PC capability.

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A second controller is the one accessory category directly implied by Capcom’s Revelations 2 instructions. The documentation does not establish a tested brand, model, adapter, wireless standard, or universal compatibility list, so compare devices on your own PC rather than treating any particular product as officially recommended. No reliable current price can be stated here without checking the store at the time of purchase.

What this shortlist does—and does not—prove

The three games above are verified local-co-op choices for PC. That does not mean every modern or older Resident Evil title supports couch co-op, and it does not establish comparative claims about horror intensity, pacing, campaign length, graphics performance, or technical quality. Those judgments require separate evidence or clearly labeled personal opinion.

Likewise, the available information does not provide current prices, a universal hardware specification, performance benchmarks, or a guarantee that every edition sold in every region has identical features. Check the current Steam listing and edition details at the time you buy or install. The feature statements here are tied to the Capcom update, Capcom support instructions, and the Steam listings identified above.

Rank #4
Resident Evil The Board Game: Bleak Outpost
  • Enter the Guard House and underground Aqua Ring in tense new scenarios featuring sinister new mechanics. You’ll encounter flooded tiles, undead insects, the ferocious Neptune, and the constant threat of Plant-42’s searching vines dragging you into the depths...
  • Are you brave enough to explore this strange world and face these two huge new bosses, so large they take up multiple squares?
  • Including six gripping new scenarios, this expansion adds 8 hours of extra gameplay to your Resident Evil: The Board Game campaigns. Or, play each scenario as a terrifying standalone experience.

Final recommendation

For a classic two-player campaign, choose Resident Evil 5 and rely on Capcom’s February 27, 2023 confirmation rather than older no-support advice. For multiple connected campaigns and offline or online flexibility, choose Resident Evil 6, but plan for Ada Wong’s campaign to remain solo. For the most explicit setup instructions and the choice between STORY and RAID, choose Resident Evil Revelations 2; connect two controllers and remember that RAID split-screen starts at the base.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Resident Evil games have local co-op on PC?

The verified shortlist is Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, and Resident Evil Revelations 2. Capcom confirms local split-screen for the PC version of RE5, while Steam lists shared or split-screen co-op for RE6 and Revelations 2.

Can you play Resident Evil 5 split screen on PC?

Yes. Capcom’s February 27, 2023 Steam update says the PC version will support local split-screen co-op. Older Capcom FAQ text said offline split-screen was unsupported, but that earlier statement predates the later update.

Does Resident Evil 6 have local co-op?

Yes. Steam lists shared/split-screen co-op and describes two-player co-op as available offline or online. Ada Wong’s campaign is the exception: Steam identifies it as one-player only.

Can two people play Revelations 2 on PC?

Yes. Steam lists shared/split-screen co-op, and Capcom specifically documents local split-screen for both STORY and RAID.

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How do you set up split-screen in Revelations 2 on PC?

Connect two controllers, launch Revelations 2 from the Steam Library, start STORY or RAID, and press START on the second player’s controller. In RAID, both players must be at the base before split-screen can be started.

Do I need two controllers for Revelations 2 local co-op?

Capcom’s documented PC method requires two controllers. The instructions do not identify a specific brand or guarantee every adapter or input configuration, so confirm that both devices are recognized separately by your PC.

Can I play every Resident Evil 6 campaign with a partner?

No. The game supports two-player co-op in its supported campaigns, but Ada Wong’s campaign is explicitly single-player only.

Which game is easiest to choose for a straightforward local campaign?

Resident Evil 5 is the clearest campaign-first pick because Capcom confirms PC local split-screen and the documented distinction is a single shared campaign experience. That is a fit recommendation, not an objective quality ranking.

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Are current prices or PC hardware requirements listed here?

No dependable current prices, performance benchmarks, or universal hardware specifications are established. Check the current Steam or retailer listing and verify your own controller setup before buying.

The Bottom Line

Bottom line: Choose Resident Evil 5 for a straightforward local campaign, Resident Evil 6 for multiple campaigns with Ada Wong reserved for solo play, or Resident Evil Revelations 2 for STORY plus RAID. For Revelations 2, connect two controllers and start RAID split-screen from the base.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

co-op gameslocal co-opPC gamingResident Evilsplit screen

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