These Co-Op Games Are Perfect for Date Night

It’s time to put your relationship to the test

One of the first things my boyfriend and I bonded over was our love of video games. We survived the dealbreaker question of which console is best — Xbox, of course — and dove headfirst into exploring our relationship as gamers. Teammates in everything.

Forget building IKEA furniture together, and pick up a controller to put your relationship to the test. Warning: patience will be required. But you’ll also get to experience incredible stories and overcome challenges together from the comfort of your sofa.

You could try out some multiplayer shooters such as Apex Legends or Call of Duty: Warzone, but these aren’t always the easiest route into gaming for anyone that’s a total newbie. And not everyone’s into that kind of game.

I’ve pulled together a list of 6 couch co-op games that are perfect for any couple, no matter their experience in gaming. So, grab your player two…

It Takes Two

The best game of last year, confirmed by the 2021 Game Awards, It Takes Two is a masterpiece and the ultimate example of a great co-op game. It’s one I recommend to everyone, and I’ve played it twice now — originally with my boyfriend and then again with my brother which provided two completely different gaming experiences.

It Takes Two is up there with the best games I’ve ever played, full stop. The story follows Cody & May who are on the verge of divorce. Their daughter is understandably upset, so she unknowingly — and magically — turns her parents into two homemade dolls who are then left to cooperate together in the hopes of getting back to their real human forms.

The level of detail and pure imagination is incredible, allowing our characters into unique worlds with each chapter. One second you’re in a wintry snow globe wonderland, and the next you’re in a playground of toys and cardboard-constructed castles. The game remains fresh and exciting as each player gets a unique skill with each level, forcing you and your player two to master and coordinate these new abilities. It’s fun, easy to grasp, and full of exciting levels and mini-games!

Overcooked

Overcooked is a real test of patience and communication. The objective is to work together to fulfill food orders, all whilst navigating and surviving the wacky levels you find yourself in — jumping between icebergs to reach an ingredient, using space portals, or attacking rats trying to steal your food. The graphics are cute and engaging, which helps balance out the pure chaos of the game itself.

What I loved most about playing this with my partner is the simplicity. There are complex challenges to overcome, sure, but the aim of the game is basic enough to understand and the goal for each level remains the same. Cook food!

There’s a sequel to the original game, and a number of DLCs available now — from Campfire Cook-Off to Surf ‘n’ Turf — ready to engage gamers with new recipes to prepare. If you love the first and don’t end up arguing too much with your player two, then there’s plenty of additional content to enjoy.

A Way Out

From the creators of It Takes Two comes their previous co-op game, A Way Out. You both play as inmates trying to break out of jail, choosing between Vincent and Leo — quite a different storyline to It Takes Two. It’s dark and gritty, full of fast-paced, action-heavy moments, and intensely exciting.

The great thing about Hazelight games is that each player gets a unique experience. You’re playing different characters, with different personalities and skills — they’re experiencing the story in a different way but working towards the same goal. The game requires clever coordination and organisation between the pair of you in order to proceed.

The story is phenomenal and will have you both hooked from the start. My favourite part was the little side games that you stumble upon, such as an arm-wrestling match or a Connect 4 game to play. They’re moments of light relief, a time to pause and breathe amidst the more puzzling and deep story.

Minecraft / Minecraft Dungeons

Everybody loves Minecraft and it’s one of the most accessible games out there. You have the freedom to do whatever you want, and take everything at your own pace. Go on adventures together, explore distant lands or dig deep into spooky caves and fight off spiders. Or, you could simply busy yourselves building the perfect home and farm for all the animals you want. Personally… that’s what I love to do.

Now, I also want to mention Minecraft Dungeons as an addition to the section because this spin-off game was so much fun to play as a duo. With a top-down dungeon crawler style, it’s a stark difference from the usual Minecraft gameplay and mechanics, but it keeps all the best parts of the original. The graphics and environments are stunning, and the signature lo-fi style music remains to make you feel right at home.

Whilst Minecraft Dungeons eliminates open-world exploration, players are set on a linear path instead — a quest to free villages and areas from the Arch Illager’s forces. Slash your way through enemies, level up your characters, and adopt weapons to suit your play style as you work together to defeat this foe.

Unravel Two

The platform puzzle game returned back in 2018 with this short but sweet sequel to Unravel. The difference from the original? There are two Yarnys to play with instead of one — you can still play solo, but it’s much more fun to work together as a duo — so get ready to entwine, untangle and coordinate your moves.

It’s a wild ride of cuteness and — at times — sinister fun. With one Yarny dangling over red hot fiery vents it’s hard to resist not swinging them into the danger zone! Setting aside these funny moments, it’s a real game of reliance on one another as you’re forced to work together to climb, repel and navigate the immersive levels.

I have to admit the larger background story that goes on behind the two cute yarn characters was a little lost on me at points and didn’t feel wholly necessary — though it provides the environments you play in, your attention is largely fixed on the platforms you’re traversing and the complex puzzles you need to solve.

Cuphead

This is one for the slightly more experienced gamers, or do what I do and rely mostly on your partner’s skills to get you through it! Cuphead is really, really hard. Putting aside the difficulty, the unique 1930s-style animation is a treat for the eyes, and the platformer has even recently been adapted into a Netflix series.

Though the animation is absolutely gorgeous, my favourite part of the game has to be the sound. Kristofer Maddigan’s score features nearly 3 hours of original ragtime, swing, big band, and jazz music, all performed by live musicians. All of this contributes to an upbeat and energising theme to help you on your mission to tackle the game.

And I’ll be honest, there’s a lot to conquer. Forget checkpoints, forget an ‘easy’ mode (you can’t unlock the finale without completing everything on ‘regular’). There are left-to-right platforming levels to master, and endless boss battles to win — and they’re oh-so-satisfying to win. It’s a hard enough game solo, and whilst I’ve added it to this co-op games list, the second pair of hands can certainly add to the chaos on screen. I was very guilty of getting confused! Still, it’s a true piece of art and worth appreciating… if you dare.

I have one bonus game to briefly mention, and that’s LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Releasing April 5th 2022, you can play alone or via local co-op (no online capability has been announced yet), and I’ll absolutely be playing this with my boyfriend. With three trilogies worth of content to explore, over 300 playable characters to choose from, and collectibles to find, it’s sure to provide hours and hours of enjoyment. So, keep an eye out for the release if you’re interested!

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