Every time I picked up the controller, my spouse would roll their eyes. That gentle, somewhat weary expression that asked, “Are we doing this again?” wasn’t dramatic.
I therefore set out to locate games that we might genuinely play together. I couldn’t play any games when my significant other was sitting next to me and playing online poker on the phone. We played real games together, laughed together, and didn’t want to toss the controller across the room.
It required some trial and error. To be honest, a lot of trial and error. However, I made it there. Additionally, this list is for you if your companion now says, “I don’t really like video games.”
1. Two Are Needed
Really? Avoid overanalysing it and searching for something better. Go here to get started.
The explanation is straightforward: It Takes Two is a cooperative game that requires two players to play. There isn’t even a single player option. Together, you tackle various puzzles and minigames, play through the same scenario, and grip a controller. As the name suggests, it’s a game where two players must cooperate to get anywhere. Just choose who is May and who is Cody.
Every chapter is unique, which is why it appeals to people who have never played video games or who have tried and found they don’t enjoy them. Some even make you feel like you’re playing a shooter game, while others take you on an emotional journey to mend that relationship.
The idea is that nothing can be tedious or annoying for too long. The game leads you down an entirely different path just when you think it could become stuck.
2. Sackboy: A Great Journey
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a fantastic game if your spouse has a slight competitive streak, as most people do. It has a multiplayer mode where you and your partner go through stages together, and it’s colourful, adorable, and set to amazing music. However, there isn’t any pressure. The stages are quite imaginative, and the game is simple to play. Sackboy is a great choice for our list since there is ample space for one of you to defeat the other, which is where the fun lies.
You follow the protagonist, a small cloth-made stuffed animal, as he attempts to protect his town from the malevolent Vex. In your journey to save the community, you will travel across several worlds with each other and learn new mechanics.
The visuals of the game are stunning. It looks beautiful, even to someone who has no interest in games. It matters more than most people realise because your partner is much more likely to remain involved if they have a favourable initial impression.
3. The Valley of Stardew
Something very different now. Not everyone enjoys fixing problems and going on adventures. For these individuals, Stardew Valley provides everything they need: no action, no pressure, and no timer counting down as you’re being pursued.
You are engaged in farming. Mining, farming, fishing, conversing with tiny pixel villagers, and decorating a farmhouse. In the multiplayer mode, you can split up responsibilities or just wander about doing your own thing on a shared farm. However, if you’d like, you can also kill some beasts. When you need a respite from the crops, the combat is quite simple—all you have to do is click to swing your sword—but it’s enough to make your heart race.
This sounds familiar to me. But trust me, Stardew is a favourite among couples who find action games daunting. The pace is leisurely, nothing major occurs (unless you lack the appropriate armour or weapons), and it has the effect of making the entire evening go by without your noticing. It’s so soothing, and lounging together seems to be undervalued these days.
4. Fall Guys
Shall we return to the mayhem? The entire game is chaotic, but in the greatest way imaginable. You take on the role of a small jellybean running through obstacle courses in this party-style battle royale. It’s already humorous, I know.
You’ll sprint, jump, dive, and grab while falling off platforms, getting knocked over, and failing in the most absurd and dramatic ways that will make you both laugh till it hurts. Fall Guys is hard to take seriously, but it’s also impossible to feel angry or furious. And that’s the whole idea, isn’t it?
Playing this game with a partner who has no experience with video games makes perfect sense because it doesn’t require any particular talent and is simple to learn. Why? Because it’s amusing to be terrible at Fall Guys. Not just for you, either. You don’t require expertise. Most people can laugh at themselves, so all you have to do is be prepared to do so.
Have You Found the Secret Yet?
Finding the ideal game is not the only goal. Another option is to choose a game that just took home The Game Awards’ Game of the Year Award for its unique features, soundtrack, design, or storyline. Clair Obscur: Astro Bot and Expedition 33 are two excellent examples.
The moral of this tale is to avoid making your partner feel foolish or ashamed when they make mistakes. When they overlook something obvious, they don’t groan. Don’t frown. Just perfect pleasure. That is the most important thing. Try one of these games and enjoy yourself. Later on, you can thank me.
