Confirm the game is local, not just two-player
Poki describes its two-player collection as local games for two people on one screen, commonly with a shared keyboard or touch controls. Open the individual listing and check the exact input layout: one player may use WASD while the other uses arrow keys, or the game may divide the screen differently. Do not infer controls from the category name alone.
Set up the shared device
Before starting a competitive round, sit where both people can see the screen and reach their controls. Test each input in a practice moment, check whether the browser has captured keyboard focus and agree how to restart if someone presses the wrong key. For a touchscreen, verify both players can reach their side without covering the other person’s view.
Choose a fallback when local play is unavailable
If the title requires separate accounts or devices, decide whether that still suits your plan. For a quick same-room alternative on Oneshotgems, take turns with Coin Drop: each person gets the same number of attempts and records the displayed score. This is shared-device turn-taking, not a simultaneous two-player mode, so use it only if separate turns are acceptable.
Questions about same-device two-player games
Does a same-device game use one keyboard?
Many local two-player games share a keyboard, but controls vary. Check the individual title’s instructions before beginning and make sure both players can reach their assigned keys.
Can two people control one Oneshotgems game at once?
The catalogue examples are single-player sessions. Friends can take turns or compare separate runs, but not control one live game together.