Whether you’re two gamers, a gamer and their newbie partner, or just two good friends playing around, cooperative gaming is one of the best ways to spend time with those close to you. Here are the top 10 cooperative games for couples.
10. Super Mario Odyssey
Developer: Nintendo EPD Initial Release: October 2017 Cooperative Style: Couch Platforms: Nintendo Switch Super Mario Odyssey is one of the best-selling games ever released for the Nintendo Switch, and for good reason. The game combines beloved Mario mechanics like platforming, wall-jumping, and ground-pounding with new sandbox environments and a new companion called Cappy, Mario’s sentient hat that he can use to attack enemies or possess creatures to help him get around. The game also features a cooperative mode where one player takes control of Mario while the other takes control of Cappy - the duo can attack enemies and solve puzzles together in Super Mario Odyssey’s brilliant, beautiful new world.
9. Unravel Two
Developer: Coldwood Interactive Initial Release: June 2018 Cooperative Style: Couch Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch The sequel to 2016’s beloved puzzle platformer Unravel brings us to double the fun, double the cuteness, and double the yarn. Players control two Yarnys - little yarn dolls that can use the yarn from their bodies to climb things, form bridges, and solve various puzzles. The Yarnys embark on an adventure to help some children in the area around their home. This game’s adorable aesthetic and simple but challenging gameplay is perfect for couples who differ in gaming skill level. The mechanics are easy to learn, and the puzzles force you to think as a team and work together. It’s the perfect gateway game for date night.
8. It Takes Two
Developer: Hazelight Studios Initial Release: March 2021 Cooperative Style: Online or couch Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Xbox Series X It Takes Two follows Cody and May, a married couple who have just decided to get a divorce. After their daughter accidentally casts a spell on them and turns them into dolls, they must find their way back to her to try and break it. This fun, unique platformer cannot be played alone - you need a partner to play. Each level introduces a new pair of mechanics that complement each other, and you need to learn to use these in order to progress. It’s perfect for couples who are good at communicating or are looking for a particular challenge as well as an emotional, heartfelt storyline.
7. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Developer: Nintendo EPD Initial Release: March 2020 Cooperative Style: Online or couch Platforms: Nintendo Switch Unless you were living underneath a rock in 2020 (and who could blame you?) you’ve probably heard about Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The latest instalment in the beloved Animal Crossing series, AC: NH allows players to create a cute character who moves to a deserted island after purchasing a “getaway package” from Nook Incorporated. Once they arrive, they can start improving the island and their homes, inviting a wide range of charming, wacky characters to live on the island with them. The game focuses on design, self-expression, and friendship. This blockbuster is the second best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch, surpassed only by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. There are two ways to play this game cooperatively with your loved ones: if you share a Switch, you can both live on the same island, sharing the design decisions and control over various elements. If you each have your own Switch, you can visit each other’s islands to hang out, play games, and see what your friend has been up to.
6. A Way Out
Developer: Hazelight Studios Initial Release: March 2018 Cooperative Style: Online or couch Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One A Way Out is another multiplayer masterpiece from Hazelight Studios, though its tone differs greatly from It Takes Two. Players take on the role of Leo or Vincent, convicted criminals who must break out of prison and go on the lam. Players work together to solve problems and live through Leo and Vincent’s stories simultaneously. Hazelight has proven itself as a powerhouse in the realm of unique multiplayer games, and A Way Out is the best example of their prowess. Players aren’t tied together the entire time; while one of you might be watching a cutscene, the other could be in control and solving a puzzle.
5. Don’t Starve Together
Developer: Klei Entertainment Initial Release: December 2014 Cooperative Style: Online Platforms: Microsoft Windows Klei Entertainment’s Don’t Starve has enchanted gamers with its Burton-style graphics and brutal-yet-rewarding gameplay since its release in 2013 - now you can experience all of this frustration and imminent death with friends! Join up with anywhere between two and six people to build a camp, forage for food, and generally try and survive this world of horrors that you’re in. This can be a real treat for couples or even larger groups of friends; you can each pick your own unique characters, and there’s a vast world to explore and get murdered in.
4. Portal 2
Developer: Valve Initial Release: April 2011 Cooperative Style: Online or Couch Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS X, Linux, PS3, Xbox 360 Valve’s beloved puzzle platformer isn’t just about Chell and GLaDOS - it also features a cooperative campaign where players take on the role of ATLAS a P-Body, a pair of bipedal test robots tasked with testing GLaDOS’s deadly traps. You have to work as a team, using your portal guns and your wits to survive each test. Valve really knows how to make robots relatable, and ATLAS and P-body are no different. Even though they don’t talk, you’ll find yourself endeared to the dynamic duo as you pilot them through the puzzles and GLaDOS’s wrath.
3. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Developer: Steel Crate Games Initial Release: July 2015 Cooperative Style: Online Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Linux, Google Daydream, Gear VR, OS X, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest If you’re looking to add a little stress to your date night, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is perfect for you. It’s designed for at least two players (though you can include more if you like) with one person as the “Defuser” and the rest as “Experts.” Diffusers have a bomb on the table in front of them, covered in elaborate puzzles that can’t be solved without information from the Experts, who must find that information in the manual before the bomb goes off. This game is bound to start arguments, but it’s also really fun if you can manage to work together and defuse the bombs. We wouldn’t recommend it for groups that lack teamwork, though.
2. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Developer: Asteroid Base Initial Release: September 2015 Cooperative Style: Online Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, OS X, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch This cutesy, brightly coloured space shooter can be played with up to four players - the goal is to find and rescue a range of forest critters that have been captured. You have to balance the different stations on the ship, attacking enemies, protecting the ship, and of course, someone has to drive. While there are a lot of similar games that have come out since Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime was released in 2015, no other game executes the blend of cooperation and ship management quite so well. Coordinating your flights through the stars requires a lot of communication and teamwork - you might even find that the game will strengthen your friendships.
1. Overcooked! 2
If you’ve ever wanted to be a chef, don’t play this game. Overcooked! 2 is a nerve-wracking kitchen simulator where you and up to three others must work together to prepare dishes and serve them to hungry customers while simultaneously trying to navigate increasingly ridiculous environments. This game is great for a group of friends that don’t mind yelling at each other over who has the fish. The levels can be frustrating, but really rewarding when you finally manage to get into a rhythm and pass the level. Additionally, we love the cute little chef avatars! And there you have it! The top 10 best cooperative games for couples. We hope you enjoyed this article, and that you have some new ideas for date night!
