Summary
If there’s one constant inCall of Duty, it’sthe franchise’s heavy emphasis on online multiplayer—whether in its core Multiplayer mode, co-op experiences, orWarzone. However, for those looking to kick back and play with friends in the same household, split-screen has been a go-to feature in severalCall of Dutytitles.
Though theCall of Dutyseries has moved beyond its inclusion of split-screen, which most of the earlier installments had in some capacity, it is worthwhile to take a look back at how valuable the feature was in bringing friends together to a local gathering. Here are some ofthe bestCall of Dutygames that players can still boot up for some local split-screen co-op fun.
Updated by Nathan Round on June 01, 2025:Online Multiplayer has always been a major focal point for nearly every Call of Duty title, but many players still prefer playing with friends and family on a single device. Split-screen is a great way to share the experience with those in the same household. While recent Call of Duty titles have moved away from split-screen support, many older games still offer this feature. This list has been updated with additional entries and more detailed information on the split-screen capabilities for each title.
WhileBlack Ops 6introducessplit-screen co-op but with limitations, as players are pretty much restricted to online play, players can team up in Multiplayer—but the Campaign remains a solo-only experience. Those diving into split-screen Multiplayer for local play can dive into classic modes like Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, and Team Deathmatch, ensuring endless variety and competition for players across the board. However, split-screen Multiplayer does limit players to facing off against bots.
TheZombies mode also supports two-player split-screen supportand has received notable changes, including the removal of barricading windows and the introduction of Omnimovement, enhancing player mobility and making long-term survival against zombies more manageable. With a roster of different maps andengaging Easter Eggs to complete, the Zombies experience alone makesBlack Ops 6an excellentCall of Dutyto boot up purely for split-screen play.
Looking back at theCall of Dutyseries, it’s hard not to mentionCall of Duty: Advanced Warfare,as it marked a period in the franchise’s full-blown attempt at a futuristic sci-fi setting. The fast-paced action and dynamic maneuverability breathed new life into the series and made the gunplay even more engaging. Though not appreciated by some of the community, the other half were pleased to have a new look in theCall of Dutyfranchise. AlthoughAdvanced Warfare’sCampaign does not support split-screen co-op, two friends can team up locally to take on challenges in the multiplayer and survival modes over on console.
The main survival mode presented here is titledExo Survival, which sees players battle against 25 rounds of increasingly powerful enemies to rank up gear andunlock more weapons. Playing the Exo Survival mode cooperatively alone is a good reason to pick upCall of Duty: Advanced Warfare.However, outside both co-op Multiplayer and Exo Survival, players who ownAdvanced Warfare’sDLCs can alsodive into Exo Zombies in split-screen.This classic round-based Zombies experience fully integrates the advanced movement system, making it one of the most uniquely crafted Zombies modes to date.
Perhaps the split-screen co-op capability isn’t a distant reality. Although most of theCall of Dutygames have excluded any local co-op support for Campaigns or other modes in the game, including Zombies, local split-screen multiplayer still has some presence in games on the modern generation of consoles. This is the case withCall of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2022), and while it does not support the traditional four-player local multiplayer, players can still enjoy two-player split-screen co-op either through quick-play or by setting up a private match in the Multiplayer mode of the game.
The split-screen multiplayer support forModern Warfare 2(2022)is only available on consoles, but what makes it so fun is the fact that players can try out online modes including Search and Destroy and Team Deathmatch against other online players. This local multiplayer functionality also carries over to the game’s sequel,Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3. The only exception here is the Free-For-All mode, which is only accessible by playing solo.
Call of Duty: World At Warwas the first game in the series tohave a co-op Campaign, one that is as fun as it is gritty. While the PC version only allows online co-op or local co-op with the possibility of LAN, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions ofCall of Duty: World At Warhavesupport for local split-screen cooperative playfor up totwo players in the Campaign and Zombies mode of the game.The latter is unlocked after finishing the roughly seven-hour-long story mode.
Interestingly enough,World At War’sinclusion of the Zombie mode was a first for the series, and ever since then, it has become so popular and has continued to be part of subsequent installments in theCODfranchise. The game alsosupports split-screen for Multiplayer local-play, though unlike other installments in theCall of Dutyseries,World At Wardoes not introduce any AI/CPU combatants in the local multiplayer mode, so there will just be real players against one another across the whole map.
While Sledgehammer’sCall of Dutygames likeModern Warfare 3 (2011)leave out the Zombies mode, the developer replaces it with adedicated split-screen co-op mode called Spec Ops.The mode returns fromModern Warfare 2 (2009)with its objective-based Mission Mode. Set in the backdrop of the Campaign missions and their locales, Mission Mode consists of 24 objectives that span from stealth encounters to explosive set-pieces.
A new addition inModern Warfare 3 (2011)from its predecessor was a Survival mode within Spec Ops, which pits the two players against a wave of increasingly difficult enemy encounters. Survival mode incorporates the same maps as those in the multiplayer mode, so it can be a good way to learn the layout of the environments before heading for a more competitive experience. All in all, both modes are excellent for spit-screen play, but players can alsoplay split-screen for local multiplayer with up to four players.
Similar to the Survival portion of Spec Ops mode inCall of Duty Modern Warfare 3(2011),Call of Duty: Ghostsprovidesthe co-op experience in its Squads mode, where a player can team up with another to defeat AI enemies in a series of different modes, like Safeguard, which features waves of incoming AI enemies. The enemy behavior and maps play similarly to a multiplayer match, and is a blast to play if players are looking for a Spec Ops-like experience. However, that’s not all.
To add to the co-op experience,Call of Duty: Ghosts’ take on the zombie mode,Extinction,is a wild arcade ride into a sci-fi landscape swarming with Cryptids—the big bad for the mode. The maps here are relatively expansive and allow for much more player freedom and perk customization. As players earn more skill points, they can unlock powerful new weapons and classes, so the mode also has a great deal of replayability. Both modes can beplayed split-screen with up to two players, makingGhostsa great co-opCall of Dutytitle to play with friends.
Black Ops 4was a controversial entry at launch, largely due to the absence of a traditional Campaign and the introduction of Blackout, the franchise’s first take on the Battle Royale genre. However, when it comes to co-op content,Black Ops 4is a solid choice. The gamesupports split-screen for two players in Multiplayerand up tofour players in Zombies—though offline play comes with some limitations.
Gameplay-wise,Black Ops 4returns to the classic boots-on-the-ground combat of earlier titles whilekeeping the Specialist system fromBlack Ops 3, making for an exciting and strategic Multiplayer experience. Zombies, on the other hand, is a standout feature, offeringeight diverse Zombies maps across both launch and post-launch content, ensuring hours of thrilling co-op action.
Call of Duty: Black Opsis where theBlack Opsseries truly began and, for many, was a go-to title for split-screen co-op play. UnlikeWorld at War,Black Ops’ Campaign does not support split-screen, but its other modes are a different story. Both Multiplayer and Zombies allow multiple players to jump in on the same console, withonline play supporting two playersandlocal play allowing up to four.
Black Opsdelivers that classicCall of Dutyexperience that older titles are beloved for. The ability toplay modes like Team Deathmatch and Dominationon its iconic maps is great, even if it’s only limited to private matches against bots if players cannot find an online game. Zombies, on the other hand, offers even more split-screen content,boasting an impressive array of maps—some available at launch and others through DLC.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’ssplit-screen support is nearly identical to its predecessor,Black Ops. While the Campaign lacks co-op,Multiplayer and Zombies allow for two playerson the same console for online play, and up to four players for local matches. This makes it an excellent choice for players looking to team up with friends—especially since Black Ops 2 is often regarded as one of the bestCall of Dutytitles of all time.
The game’s Multiplayer leaped into the future (which is now the present day), maintainingthe boots-on-the-ground gameplaywhile introducing revolutionary features like the Pick 10 System. Zombies, on the other hand, delivered some of the most iconic maps in the franchise,including Mob of the Dead and Origins, both of which remain fan favorites to this very day.
The old Treyarch’sCall of Dutygames have always catered to local couch co-op in one way or another. With the jump to PS4 and Xbox One systems,Black Ops 3brings backtwo-player split-screen support for the Campaignwhile also retainingfour-player split-screen support for all its local multiplayer and Zombies modes.Harnessing the power of the hardware and sticking by the decision of a two-player co-op Campaign, the developers expanded on the level design to allow for more open-ended exploration, as well as take on challenges that require collaboration between the players to progress forward.
Completing the Campaign clocks around a decent nine hours of playtime. Players can also progressthrough a Zombies Campaign dubbed “Nightmares” via split-screen, which is pleasingly around the same length as the story mode—so there is a lot of co-op fun to be had here. However,the highlight ofBlack Ops 3’scooperative play has to be Zombies, featuring several iconic maps at launch and even more as part of the game’s DLC, making it an excellentCall of Dutytitle to dive into with friends all-round.
