Cuphead review

Cuphead earns its place on looks and craft, but it is the hardest game on this list and suits couples where both people already play. The Steam page calls it a classic run and gun action game "heavily focused on boss battles", drawn with traditional cel animation and watercolor backgrounds and scored with original jazz recordings. You play as Cuphead and Mugman in single player or local co-op, earning weapons and super moves as you work through the bosses. Steam users rate it Overwhelmingly Positive, and at $19.99 it is fairly priced. For couples, though, the difficulty is the main question: bosses take many attempts, and a partner who rarely plays may spend more time watching a retry screen than enjoying the art. Steam lists shared or split-screen co-op and Remote Play Together, with no native online mode. That is why it ranks last for this audience despite its quality.

Who it is for

Couples who are both confident players and enjoy a tough challenge.

Price

$19.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store).

Buy Cuphead $19.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Single player or local co-op as Cuphead and Mugman
• Focus on boss battles
• Hand-drawn cel animation and watercolor backgrounds
• Original jazz recordings
• New weapons and super moves to earn

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Distinctive 1930s cartoon art and music
• Strength: Each boss win feels earned as a pair
• Strength: Overwhelmingly Positive Steam rating from more than 66,000 English reviews
• Weakness: Very difficult for new or casual players
• Weakness: Local co-op only, with Remote Play Together for online
• Weakness: Repeated failures can frustrate a partner

Key facts

• Developer and publisher: Studio MDHR Entertainment
• Released: September 29, 2017
• Players: 1 or 2
• Steam price: $19.99

Where it ranks

Cuphead is No. 10 in our Best Games for Couples verdict and No. 8 in Best 2 Player Co-op Games.