Your Turn!: Bringing Couch Co-Op Back, One Save State at a Time

Features Sep 21, 2025

In today’s gaming landscape, real-time online multiplayer dominates, but for many players, nothing quite matches the charm of true couch co-op: taking turns, passing the controller, and sharing a game side by side. Kyle McParland, a solo developer fresh out of a software development program, set out to recreate that feeling for the modern era. The result is Your Turn!, an Android app that lets two friends load the same ROM on compatible emulators, take turns by swapping save states, and “pass” a virtual controller back and forth. Because it’s asynchronous, you don’t even have to be online at the same time, bringing that older tradition into the digital age.

Kyle’s idea grew out of a simple frustration: modern multiplayer options often ignore slower-paced, turn-based, or single-player games that friends still want to enjoy together. Your Turn! bridges that gap, letting players experience those titles cooperatively no matter the distance. Early testers have already used it to tackle JRPGs, platformers, and puzzle games, all at their own pace...without juggling schedules or enduring lag.

I spoke to Kyle regarding how and why he's made the app, and why it feels rather unique in today's gaming and emulation landscape.


A Non-Linear Path to Development:

Kyle’s journey into software development isn’t your typical coder’s origin story. “I had a very non-linear path to get to where I am,” he shares. Before venturing into app development, Kyle made a short film shared on YouTube titled Scenes to Watch When You’re Sad, a project he remains very proud of.

It wasn’t until a casual hiking trip with his wife, who works in tech, that Kyle got the idea to dive into programming. “She suggested, ‘I have the brain for development,’” he recalls. “I hadn’t considered how the skills I developed in a very different career path transferred over, but I decided to try it out and I haven’t looked back.”

Since graduating from a web and software development program in January 2025, Kyle has worked on other apps, but Your Turn! is very much his thesis project: a labor of love from his passion for retro gaming.

Emulation and the Nostalgia of Sharing:

“I’m 33 years old and grew up in a Super Nintendo household,” Kyle shares, reflecting on the era that shaped his love for gaming. “That era simply defines gaming for me.” For Kyle, the magic of those classic games wasn’t just about playing solo, it was about that shared experience: passing the controller back and forth with friends and family. This memory is the heart of Your Turn!.

His introduction to emulation came early and left a lasting impact. “I remember downloading ZSNES on my dad’s work laptop in the early 2000s and it completely blew my mind,” Kyle recalls. “There are so many games I now consider classics that I wouldn’t have even experienced without emulation.” That sense of discovery, accessing hidden gems and timeless titles beyond the reach of modern consoles, fueled his passion and planted the seed of an idea for a new kind of modern multiplayer.

That love of classic gaming informs everything about Your Turn!. The app is inspired by the playstyle of iconic games like Super Mario Bros 1 through 3: two-player experiences where the joy comes not just from the playing itself, but from sharing turns and reactions. Kyle explains, “Even when you’re not the one holding the controller, you’re still fully invested. I think there’s something special about that.” It’s a form of connection that modern online multiplayer sometimes overlooks, replaced by fast-paced real-time interactions instead of the patient, anticipatory excitement of waiting your turn.

Your Turn! aims to revive that feeling, making it possible to share a game remotely and asynchronously, passing the controller virtually between friends or strangers you've just met who might be separated by miles or busy schedules. It’s a throwback to the simple pleasure of co-op gaming on the couch, reinvented for the less physically connected present.


New Life into Turn-Based Play:

The spark for Your Turn! came from Kyle’s admiration of mods that let you share traditionally single-player games with a friend. “I’m really a big fan of mods like ModLoader64 and Together in Spire that let you experience single-player games you love with a friend. Even just the other day I beat Dark Souls with a friend using the Seamless Co-op mod by Yui.”

These experiences made Kyle start thinking about new ways to play games together, even when real-time multiplayer isn’t practical. “As someone who grew up passing a controller back and forth on a couch, it is sad that gaming has moved online, but it’s also undeniably convenient,” he reflects.

Kyle still passes controllers with his wife on their shared couch, but scheduling online sessions with friends has become increasingly difficult. “My goal with Your Turn! was to alleviate that somewhat. We can still play together, even when we can’t get our schedules to line up.”

Breaking down the app’s process in simple terms for gamers, especially fans of Pokémon or GBA titles: “Essentially, it allows two people to play the same game cooperatively, turn by turn. For instance, when it’s my turn, I open up my emulator of choice and play for as long as I like. When I’m finished, I simply save the game, open Your Turn!, and pass the controller to you.”

The other player receives a notification on their phone that it’s their turn, opens the app, and downloads the save state to continue the progress. “It's like if we were sitting next to each other on the couch and passing the controller back and forth whenever either of us dies or beats a stage—except online, asynchronously.”

An example of the graphic you'll be presented with when you 'plug in' your controller for co-op play

Co-op for Real Life:

While online live multiplayer tools abound, Kyle was driven to build something for the gaps in modern life. “There are tons of really amazing tools you can use to play games together live, but I wanted to make something for when life gets in the way.”

The app currently supports the John GBA and John GBC emulators (both lite and full versions), a carefully limited scope to keep the beta manageable. “The limited list was simply to preserve my sanity for the closed-beta test. Once I collect enough data and everything is stable, my goal is to support as many emulators as possible.”

'Passing the controller' which you once did

Passing Notes:

One of Your Turn!’s charming features is a note system players use when handing off turns, adding a personal touch to the shared experience. Kyle fondly recalls a memorable note from the beta testing phase: “The first game I play tested with my friend before the public closed-beta was Pokémon Red. Near the end of the run, he passed the controller to me halfway through the Elite Four and we were in bad shape. Through sheer willpower, I managed to push through and get Gary down to one final hit to beat the game. I passed the controller back to him to perform the final attack along with the note, ‘We’re completely out of items. All of our Pokémon are dead. But… We have flamethrower.’”

Moments like that, full of tension and friendship, make the app feel less like a tool and more like a shared adventure.

The most rewarding part of this project for Kyle has been sharing the app with friends. “After Pokémon Red, my friend and I played the ROM hack Pokémon Crystal Clear by ShockSlayer and that was the moment that Your Turn! really solidified in my mind. The hack essentially turns Gen 2 into an open world game, adds new Pokémon, events, and randomness to the experience.”

Sharing that first blind run with his friend through Your Turn! made the experience unforgettable. “At the end of the day, even if no one else was interested in using the app, I was having so much fun that it would have been worth developing it just for us.”

The option to send 'notes' within the app!

Building the App:

Kyle is refreshingly open about the rollercoaster of emotions that come with being a solo developer, especially when tackling mobile app development for the first time using React Native. “This is my first time developing for Android with React Native and honestly, mobile development can be a nightmare. When it’s 2AM and your deployment failed for the third time even though it was working yesterday and you barely changed anything, you want to pull your hair out.”

The challenges don’t stop at technical bugs. Kyle also had to navigate learning curves and unexpected setbacks all on his own. Yet, it’s this struggle that makes the eventual victories sweeter. “That said, it’s very satisfying and empowering when you get your code running natively on a device. Now it feels like the possibilities are endless.”

For Kyle, the motivation wasn’t just the technical accomplishment, it was the fun of sharing the experience with a friend. “At the end of the day, even if no one else was interested in using the app, I was having so much fun that it would have been worth developing it just for us.” That personal connection, alongside the creative challenge, keeps him pushing forward through the late nights and frustrating bugs.

Your Turn! has its own mascot! This is 'Issho' who is responsible for delivering the controller to each player

Building a Community:

Kyle’s goal was to find at least 12 testers to join the early access beta, which requires a minimum two-week closed beta period on Google Play Store. “It’s going much better than I ever expected!” he says. “My solution was to create a Discord where anyone who was interested could go and learn how to opt into the beta.”

Although he anticipated friction from having to submit an email to join the beta, the community has grown faster than expected. “Frankly, that friction would have turned me away as a user, but it’s only a week later and we’re well above the minimum users!”

The Discord server includes a matchmaking channel for those who want to find gaming partners. “There are already multiple games that originated from this channel so go check it out!”

Kyle shares his roadmap for Your Turn! enthusiastically: “Beyond expanding the compatible emulator list as much as possible, I’m planning to enable users to have multiple ongoing games with either the same user, or various other users.”

Requests have come in for PC and iOS versions, which Kyle hopes to deliver in the future. “That will also be coming,” he confirms.


A Final Word:

Kyle wants to express heartfelt thanks to the community that’s already supporting Your Turn!: “Thank you so much to EVERYONE who has participated and supported so far. People are telling me they’re playing games with friends across time zones, partners, spouses, and even moms! Please know that these messages absolutely make my day and I’m extremely grateful.”


Why Your Turn! Matters:

In a world where typical FTP multiplayer games dominate, Your Turn! is a refreshing reminder that shared gaming experiences don’t have to happen in real time, or require gigantic downloads. It’s about the fun off connecting with friends or strangers, even when lives are busy and time zones differ, and appreciating classic games.

Kyle McParland’s passion for retro gaming and innovative approach to asynchronous play create a bridge between old-school couch co-op and modern convenience. Whether you’re reliving childhood favorites or exploring new ROM hacks with friends far away, Your Turn! lets you pass the controller again...just like the good old days, only now, anytime, anywhere.


If you want to join the beta or find out more, check out Kyle’s official Discord: Your Turn! – Official Server. The early access is free, the experience is unique, and the chance to play classic games with friends on your own time is just a tap away.

Big thanks to Kyle for chatting to me about something so unique, and so fun.

Tags