Mortal Kombat 1 Local Multiplayer: 2 on the Couch, 8 Online

Two people can play on one console, and every source we read has them fighting each other. Mortal Kombat 1 local multiplayer is versus on every console store we read, so the real question for your sofa is whether you want a rematch or a teammate.

As of Oct 25, 2026: Xbox, Nintendo and PlayStation pages re-read that day; Steam fields from our Oct 18 store data. The Mortal Kombat 1 game page shows the latest check.

Key Takeaways

• Two on one console. Xbox, Switch and PS5 all stop at two.
• Versus, not co-op. No store lists a co-op field.
• Eight online. Xbox, Switch and PS5 list up to 8.
• Online needs a plan. PS Plus, Game Pass or Nintendo Switch Online.
• Rated M. Mature 17+ on Xbox and PlayStation.

Mortal Kombat 1 local multiplayer? (quick answer)

Yes, for two, and you fight each other. Mortal Kombat 1 lists two players on one console on every console store we read. The official FAQ puts it plainly: "Local Versus matches are also available for players to face off against challengers."

Chart: CouchCoopDesk, Xbox, Nintendo and PlayStation pages checked Oct 25; Steam store data Oct 18.

The stores agree on the number. They differ on the wording, and one review muddies it.

Overview

NetherRealm Studios made it, per the Xbox store, and Warner Bros. Games publishes it, per our Xbox store data. It came out on 9/19/2023 there, rated Mature 17+.

Desk note: 21 versus-only games in our database list a seat count on a console store. 8 of them stop at two on one console, Mortal Kombat 1 among them, next to Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8. Nine seat three or four. With two seats, friends three and four wait their turn.

Chart: CouchCoopDesk, data from our store database, checked Oct 25.

Analysis: is Mortal Kombat 1 local multiplayer co-op?

No store says so. The Xbox store files it under local multiplayer and prints no local co-op line. Steam's categories in our data are Shared/Split Screen and Shared/Split Screen PvP, and PvP means player versus player.

One outlet uses the other word. TechRadar's review says that "when you do choose to fight other players, there's local co-op, and online options that include ranked and casual play." Read in context, that sentence is about fighting other players. We found no store, FAQ or guide that describes two people on one team against the computer.

GODEEPER: What Steam's Shared/Split Screen label covers, and why the Xbox store prints a different set of fields. Split screen vs shared screen vs online co-op

DashFight's mode guide describes the local mode as "allowing you and another player to play a match on the same console or PC." It adds that you need at least two inputs but can mix different controllers.

Chart: CouchCoopDesk, from the Xbox, Nintendo and PlayStation pages, checked Oct 25.

Online, crossplay and the subscription

Online is where the bigger numbers live. Xbox lists Online multiplayer (2-8), Nintendo Online (1-8), and PlayStation up to 8 online players with PS Plus.

Each needs a plan. The official FAQ says a PlayStation Plus subscription, Xbox Game Pass Core or Nintendo Switch Online "is required for online multiplayer." The Xbox page now names Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate for online on console.

The same FAQ lists Krossplay on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. Switch is not in that sentence, so plan on Switch players meeting Switch players.

GODEEPER: How one PC copy can host a friend on another screen through Steam. Steam Remote Play Together explained

What players say

We could not verify a player comment about couch play in Mortal Kombat 1. The Reddit archive we search timed out on the Mortal Kombat board, and the one local-play comment we found was about a different Mortal Kombat collection. We will add a line on the next check.

Our take

Pick Mortal Kombat 1 for two-player rematches on one console; pick a co-op game for a shared goal. Every console store lists two seats, and none lists co-op. Online stretches to 8 players, but every console needs a subscription for it.

Groups of three or four get more seats from our 4-player local games list. We will re-check the Xbox labels if Microsoft adds a co-op field.

What we don't know yet

Whether a CPU team mode for two humans exists. No store, FAQ or guide we read describes one, so we do not claim it.

How we checked this

We re-read the Xbox store page, Nintendo's Switch listing and the PS5 concept page on Oct 25, plus the official Mortal Kombat FAQ, DashFight's mode guide and TechRadar's review. Steam fields come from our importer's Oct 18 read; Steam's own page was not reachable. Several outlet pages refused our request. We did not play Mortal Kombat 1 for this article.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 2 players play Mortal Kombat 1 on one console? Yes. The Xbox store lists Xbox local multiplayer (2-2), Nintendo lists Single system (1-2) and the PlayStation Store lists 1 - 2 players. The official FAQ says Local Versus matches are available for players to face off against challengers, so the two of you fight each other.

Is Mortal Kombat 1 couch co-op? No store lists a co-op field for it. The Xbox store files it under local multiplayer, and our Steam data shows the Shared/Split Screen PvP category, which is versus. TechRadar's review uses the words local co-op, but the official FAQ describes local play as Local Versus matches.

Is Mortal Kombat 1 split screen? No store says split screen for it. The Xbox store prints no Shared/split screen label, and Nintendo and PlayStation have no screen field. Our Steam data lists the Shared/Split Screen and Shared/Split Screen PvP categories, which name a screen type, not a co-op mode.

Do you need PS Plus or Game Pass to play Mortal Kombat 1 locally? The official FAQ ties the subscription to online play: PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass Core or Nintendo Switch Online is required for online multiplayer. The PlayStation Store prints PS Plus required for online play. No store we read names a subscription for local versus.

Is Mortal Kombat 1 2 player on Switch? Yes. Nintendo's listing for the Switch version shows Single system (1-2) and Online (1-8), with no Local wireless line. The regular price was $39.99 on Nintendo's page when we checked on Oct 25, the same figure the official FAQ gives as the Switch SRP.

How much is Mortal Kombat 1? $49.99 on the Xbox store, printed as $49.99+, and $49.99 on the PlayStation Store, checked Oct 25. Nintendo lists a $39.99 regular price for Switch. The official FAQ gives the same SRPs: $49.99 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, $39.99 on Switch.

Related Reading

• Co-op games for different skill levels: picks when one player is far ahead.
• Best couch co-op games by platform: the hub for every platform list.
• Couch co-op games for couples: games that stop at two players.

References

1. Xbox, Mortal Kombat 1: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/mortal-kombat-1/9N7271QN4SGB
2. Nintendo, Mortal Kombat 1 for Nintendo Switch: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/mortal-kombat-1-switch/
3. PlayStation Store, Mortal Kombat 1: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10004911
4. Mortal Kombat, official FAQ: https://www.mortalkombat.com/en-gb/faq
5. DashFight, every game mode in Mortal Kombat 1 explained: https://dashfight.com/news/every-game-mode-in-mortal-kombat-1-explained-3291
6. TechRadar, Mortal Kombat 1 review: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/mortal-kombat-1-review