I'm looking for games to play with my wife in local co-op mode on my PC (I have it hooked up to a big screen so we can game together on the couch). Any suggestions for really good ones? Age and genre don't really matter, but preferably it is still available for sale somewhere such as on GOG.

Some local co-op games we've enjoyed playing together in the past (yes, I know most of these are not PC games): Trine, Castle Crashers, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Contra, Metal Slug, New Super Mario Bros. I'd love to find something that's like a co-op Castlevania.

If there aren't really any good options for PC, I would consider games from older consoles that could be played via emulator, but my preference would be for true PC games.

Have you ever played Civilization? My wife and I used to play Civ 4 before our son was born and we had some free time, but we used two laptops. And it's qute different from the games you mention.

Another option could be Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. I think it's great when played with a friend.

Unfortunately they dont have Wacky Wheels here :/

Liero Xtreme is nice 2 player freeware. Used to play the original alot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G67ZYS8kFc
http://www.jonneweb.net/pelit/file/1291/liero-xtreme/

Torch Light 2 a arpg/hack n slash (Steam & Non Steam). Buy the copies from the developer (wont need to use steam) or get it from steam (might be in winter sale was on sale during thanksgiving for $10 a copy). TL2 has both online and offline co-op.

Terraria (Steam only atm) another co-op game you and the Mrs. can play if your into platform builder/adventure games.

Dungeon Defenders (Steam & Non steam) is a fun grindy lil people defense game. I call it people defense because you play as characters that have to stop hoards of mobs in a sorta tower defense way.You can run around and kill them yourself and build structures to defend spots.The game also has pvp mode,ctf mode,king of the hill mode,and more modes to come. (like Orcs Must Die)

Have they sorted out Dungeon Defenders yet? As I recall from when I got it, the game was pretty riddled with bugs, including at least one gamebreaking one (disconnecting you for no apparent reason, resulting in losing all the 'money' and xp you'd earned in that game) and the devs were just pumping out more bad quality dlc rather than bothering to fix the bugs. Worst deal I've had on a game, and I got it on sale for £1.50.

same screen co-op is a toughy.... Borderlands is a long fun game... and its dirt cheap with all exspansions included

Ah, thanks, will have to check that one out. How does co-op in Civ work?

I had been meaning to check out Lara Croft... thanks for reminding me. Thanks, but like I said in the title, I'm looking for local co-op. Looking at the video, this is neither local nor co-op (although it looks interesting). Thanks, but none of these are local co-op.

Well, last time I played Liero it was local only :)

But yes its NOT co-op. It used to be 1 -4 player vs only, but that was years ago. I dont know what they have added to xtreme -version.

Shadowgrounds 1 is pretty good local coop. A top down shooter. I doubt its even expensive these days. Havent played the second one, but Ive understood the first one is better.

Well, GOG just released Capsized, and that has local co-op. Just an idea.

all the games I listed have local co-op....

Ah, ok. You're right, it is local. My mistake. I was fooled by the split-screen in the video and assumed that was from 2 different PCs for some reason.

But yeah, gotta be co-op. The wife is not a fan of competition, so those kind of games wouldn't fly.

Now Shadowgrounds I may have to try. I actually picked it up in a sale a while back but never got around to playing it.

One computer, one monitor.

You are wanting hotseat local co-op, not just "local co-op"... Lan games are considered Local co-op now :)

Dugeon Defenders, lara croft, all the Deathspank games, Castle Crashers, Rayman Origins, and Magicka are all local hotseat games, where only 1 pc is needed.

Rayman Origins is one of the best games to come out in it's genre. It's fantastic, my wife and 8 year old love it, I enjoy it, and most people who've played it love it.

I'll second Rayman Origins
Sonic the Hedgehog 2, 3, Knuckles
Gunstar Heroes

I don't play local co-op on PC much so I don't have many suggestions.