Shift Happens

Jump and run through a lab full of puzzles with a partner while changing your size constantly.

In “Shift Happens” you take on the roles of Bismo and Plom. They are two colorful creatures made of jelly, which have been created on an assembly line. The goal of the game is to escape from the factory floor and the nearby experimental laboratories after an accident. However, the path to freedom is not without obstacles, as you’ll be confronted with jumping passages, levitation devices and various puzzles.

Although Bismo and Plom were made from the same wobbly material, they are built quite differently: One of them is big and powerful, while the other one is small and agile. Both conditions have their own benefits. On a trampoline, for example, it’s the weight that counts, but in a narrow shaft the size is much more important. You can change your roles at any time, because at the push of a button you lose a lot of your weight—faster than with any diet. This mechanic is the foundation for about 40 coop levels spread across several worlds.

“Shift Happens” is a pleasant puzzle game for exacty 2 people that can keep you entertained for at least one evening. The difficulty level is mostly moderate except for some tricky parts here and there.

Why you should play it:

  • Mostly well crafted puzzles, which take full advantage of the core mechanic.
  • Pleasant atmosphere and cleverly designed credits at the end of the game.
  • In addition to 40+ coop levels, there is a solo mode with additional challenges.

Last edited: 21.02.2024

Supported Platforms

  • Windows (Steam)
  • XBOX Series X/S, XBOX One (Microsoft Store)
  • Nintendo Switch (Nintendo eShop)

This game may be available on other platforms. Please check out the official website for “Shift Happens”, if your preferred platform isn’t listed. Your Linux distribution may support this game through Steam Play.

Supported Input Devices

  • Regular Gamepad
  • Single Joy Con (Switch)
  • Keyboard (PC)

Most couch co-op games require one gamepad per player (DualShock 4, DualSense, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller etc.), but sometimes you can share gamepads (PS5, XBOX Series X/S), use a single Joy Con (Switch) or let at least one person utilize a keyboard (PC). Please note: We can’t guarantee that your specific setup works with “Shift Happens”.

Multiplayer Options

  • Local Multiplayer (Couch Co-Op)
  • No Online Multiplayer
  • Remote Play Together on Steam

Remote Play Together (Steam) allows you to share local multiplayer games with friends over the internet. Only the host needs to own the game. The service is free.

Download “Shift Happens”

We don’t use affiliate links, we don’t do paid listings, we just love good couch co-op games. Please support your favorite indie developers and—most importantly—have fun!

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About us

Great couch co-op games are hard to find? Not anymore!

We love couch co-op games. Nothing beats the joy of sitting in the same room, playing some fun games and experiencing the reactions of your friends first hand—especially during a pandemic, when you’re more often at home with your partner, family members or roommates. Sure, online multiplayer modes can be fun, too, but couch co-op has always been the best type of multiplayer games for us.

If you are like us, you play local multiplayer games on a regular basis, either with your kids or your friends. Every platform has some couch co-op classics, like “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” and “Super Mario Party” on Nintendo Switch or “Sackboy: A Big Adventure” on PS5. While these couch co-op games can be played over and over again, you may want to try something new from time to time. So, where do you find interesting, new titles? Sometimes you get great recommendations from friends, but most of the time you need to do your own research.

Most game stores like Steam, PlayStation/Microsoft Store or Nintendo eShop offer categories for local multiplayer games. However, they either feature just a handful of new games or list thousands of entries. Websites for couch co-op games do exist, but they try to list them all, even the not-so-good ones. Gaming related blogs and magazines write about couch co-op games from time to time, but it’s not their main subject. You probably don’t want to search on the internet for hours and hunt for hidden gems. You want to find great, new games without the hassle. That’s why we’ve came up with the idea for Couch Co-Op Favorites.

We create lists with handpicked couch co-op games—filterable by platform, player number and relevant features. On this website you can quickly find new games which have been tested by people like you. Save time on researching, spend more time with friends and family.

We love couch co-op games

We are a group of friends from Northern Germany. We have a deep passion for couch co-op games and did a lot of research on the subject in our student days. We don’t know all titles, but we certainly know a lot of excellent games for different platforms and audiences. We regularly play games, but we still identify as casual gamers. We believe that not every gaming related site needs to look like it has been made for stereotypical gamers. That’s why we’ve decided to make this site look friendly and approachable.

Our mission is simple: We want to bring joy to people looking for good couch co-op games and we want to support indie developers, too.

We personally test every game

All games listed here are handpicked by us. We’re not paid by developers to feature their games. Developers may send us their games for free, but this doesn’t influence our opinon about these games. If we list a game, we genuinely like it. It’s that simple. No ads, no affiliate links, just good games.

Are you working on a couch co-op game?

If you’re working on a couch co-op game, feel free to send us a short email with a link to your press kit and a few codes. To be able to test a game properly, we use multiple platforms (PC and at least one console, if possible). Currently, we prefer to test on Steam (Windows/Ubuntu) and on Nintendo Switch (EU/Germany). Please understand that we cannot publish a review for every game. As our time is limited, we are unable to test any betas or games in “Early Access”. Additionally, we priotize games which are available on multiple platforms (not Steam only).

If you’re not sure wether your game is “good enough” or if you haven't been feeling very confident lately, please consider reaching out anyway. We are regular people, just like you, and we try to answer every email!

Know a great game or found a typo?

Regardless of whether you’re an (indie) game developer or a fan of couch co-op games, we’d be happy to hear from you. Feel free to send us an email or start a conversation on Twitter! 😊 🎼

Write us: hello@couchcoopfavorites.com

Follow us: twitter.com/couchcoopfavs

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