Valentine’s Day is a great day to go that extra mile and show the special people in your life just how important they are to you. Unfortunately, with living day to day life being so expensive it can be difficult to make an accurate show of just how much someone means to you. While a fancy dinner or an exciting outing may be out of the budget this year, gaming is still more affordable than most hobbies. With that in mind, I have compiled a list of my favorite Valentine’s Day couch coop games. These are games you can sit together with a significant other and relax while you play.
It Takes Two or any Hazelight Studio game
First off I can not recommend “It Takes Two” enough. While its central conflict being about divorce may not sound romantic, the teamwork and fun of the game is paramount. “It Takes Two” puts a struggling couple on a “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” style adventure that has lots of heartfelt moments to it. Plus, the game absolutely can not be played alone. You have to have someone with you to play it. All of Hazelight Studios games follow this decision. It is so nice to see a company focusing on the couch coop market. Any of their games would be perfect for a night in with that special someone, so if the divorce is what drives you away I implore you to check out their other titles. “A Way Out” takes a lot of inspiration from “The Shawshank Redemption” and is about an unlikely duo breaking out of prison together. Meanwhile “Split Fiction” is about a pair of writers who are made to live through the stories of their writings. Both of them are excellent and fun games. But, for Valentine’s Day, I have to suggest the title explicitly about being in love.
Portal 2
Maybe an oldie, but when co-op is done perfectly it is done perfectly. Portal 2 may be turning 15 this year, but it is still a blast. If you have never had the chance to try it out, there is an entire mode centered around playing with a friend. It introduces new comedic characters and new puzzles outside of the main story. Filled with all the creativity and masterful gameplay one would expect from Valve. These games are so much fun to mess around with with a partner. There is even still an active community that develops new puzzles to try out all the time. Once you and your fellow tester solve the base game you can start trying out all sorts of unique challenges.
Civilization 5
Admittedly, this entry may be because my partner and I are massive history nerds who love complex board games. But there is undeniable fun in getting to build up an empire and rule the world together. While almost any entry in the Civilization franchise would satisfy this condition, I chose the fifth game because of its Hotseat mode. Easily one of the best features, this allows a full game to be played with any number of participants. Throw this up in big screen mode and create your perfect kingdom alongside all those you would share global domination with. If you would share that is.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Again, punching my nerd card a little too hard here. “Baldur’s Gate 3” having a split screen mode was genius though. This is a long game so might be worth a few more dates than just Valentine’s Day. How else are you going to get someone to play through all of it with you though! This game has limitless ways to explore and fun ways to approach challenges. Getting to work together and coordinate with loved ones simply allows for more opportunities. You don’t need me selling you on this one. It was already on the top of everyone’s Game of the Year lists when it came out. Just a reminder that you can play this curled up with your favourite people too.
Monster Prom and dating sims in general
There are a lot of well written and fun dating sims out there that I bet would be a lot of fun to play with your significant other. “Monster Prom” and its sequels I want to call out for specifically having multiplayer game play however. It takes into account that people can play together and creates an environment where coordination and communication can make the game a lot easier, or a lot harder. These well written, cute, and low pressure games are great to share with those you love.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Moving away from the traditionally calming games now. “Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes” involves having perfect communication with your partner as you try to disarm a bomb. One player is given a bomb covered in puzzles and the other has a booklet with instructions on how to disarm said bomb. Can you decipher and overcome these challenges before the time runs out? I bet you could if you could just clearly communicate with one-another.
Overcooked
“Overcooked” is another game that requires great communication to be amazing at. Players take on the roles of cooks in ever increasingly complex kitchens. As recipes get more difficult and orders start piling up, teamwork keeps things running smoothly. This is one that is sure to get the giggles going as the hilarious and cartoony feel of the game makes even messing up a lot of fun.
These were just a few of my favorite titles to play with those I love. Which of them are you excited to try? Are there others you know about you want to share? Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know!
