This category includes 2 player games, also known as two-player games or multiplayer games for two, game experiences designed specifically for two participants, either with competitive or cooperative gameplay.
The concept of 2 player games has always been present throughout the history of gaming, catering to the desire for friendly rivalry or cooperation between two individuals. These games can encompass a wide range of genres, including sports, strategy, fighting, racing, puzzles, and more. One of the first two-player computer games was Archon: The Light and the Dark, the fantasy board game made by Free Fall. The popular coin-op Bubble Bobble is one of the best examples of cooperative arcade games.
Fighting games are perfect for two players: the 1985 C64 game Kung-Fu: The Way of the Exploding Fist was followed by International Karate + and many other titles. This was before the legendary fighting games Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. If these games focus on the competition between two players, a beat-em-up such as Double Dragon II: The Revenge is based on cooperation, like the shooters Contra and Gunstar Heroes.
Clearly, we can't help but mention sports sims like Kick Off 2 and Sensible Soccer, great titles if you play solo but real masterpieces if you play against a friend. Finally, the Amiga racing game Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge is a fantastic example of a 2-player competitive game based on split-screen.
