It’s early February, and for anyone in a relationship, that often means buying chocolates, making a romantic dinner, and carving out a day for your special someone. While watching a movie is usually the perfect way to cap off a lovely Valentine’s Day, this year we recommend you ditch the remote in favor of a controller. What better way to enjoy the night with your partner than by partaking in some extremely good cooperative games?
Whether you and your partner share similar gaming skills or are both unabashed newbies, playing a fun co-op game is a perfect way to keep your Valentine’s Day festivities from going stale. To help you find the ideal title to enjoy, we’ve plucked five of the best co-op games that should provide a chill but engaging experience. Including a swath of genres for all to enjoy, here’s a list of the best co-op games to play this valentine’s day!
5 Co-op Games Perfect for Valentine's Day
5. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Since it debuted over 15 years ago, the Lego series has stood as a solid stalwart for fans of co-op gaming. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the newest entry in this storied action/adventure franchise, offering a massive playground for fans of the iconic sci-fi films. Charming and comedic story missions lead players through the events of the 9 mainline Star Wars films, while hundreds of side activities serve as constantly enjoyable diversions. Luckily, if Star Wars doesn’t gel with both players, there’s a sea of Lego games of equal quality to choose from. You can suit up as your favorite MCU characters in Lego Marvel Super Heroes, go on an epic fantasy quest in Lego the Hobbit, or even brawl with dinosaurs in Lego Jurassic World. No matter what title you choose, you can rest assured that the controls and gameplay will be easy to understand, making the franchise a great choice for new gamers.
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
For those couples who like to get radical on Valentine’s Day, look no further than Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge for a hectic good time. Although the game supports up to six players at a time, this retro-inspired beat ’em up plays like a dream with just a pair of turtles on screen. Slamming down pizza for replenishment and encouraging teamwork along the way, Shredder’s Revenge sees the nostalgic team of turtles taking down iconic villains. The gameplay is simple – just move to the right and beat up everything around you – but with colorful cartoon visuals and an upbeat attitude, it’s super hard to put down. For a true retro experience, we also recommend TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection, but Shredder’s Revenge is a perfect game to pair with pizza for a comfy Valentine’s Day date at home.
3. Tetris Effect: Connected
For the past three decades, Tetris has been the undisputed king of puzzle games. This iconic block-stacking game has long been the stuff of solo play sessions and hearty competition, but the newest game in the series introduces some awesome co-op modes. In Tetris Effect: Connected, you can pair up and take down bosses together, working in tandem on separate and combined playfields. Complete with psychedelic visuals and truly excellent tunes, Tetris Effect: Connected is a musical cooperative masterpiece that deserves all the love it gets. It’s also a prime choice for Valentine’s Day gaming, as matches are quick and Tetris is about as straightforward as puzzle games come.
2. Diablo III
If you and your Valentine are both seasoned gamers interested in more than just a quick thrill, why not boot up one of the bloodiest co-op games ever, Diablo III? This dark fantasy RPG is massive and full of content, including quests that task you with taking down intimidating demonic bosses. Working together, your crew of heroic warriors must slash through massive mobs of monsters, picking up loads of loot and new gear the entire time. While Diablo III can be intimidating for new gamers, its relatively basic gameplay loop of killing stuff and gearing up is extremely satisfying once you understand the basics. If you both love it, you have plenty of time to practice before Diablo IV comes out in June!
1. It Takes Two
There’s a reason It Takes Two won the coveted title of Game of the Year in 2021. Risking a bit of embellishment, there’s never been a cooperative video game quite like It Takes Two (perhaps besides A Way Out). Toted as gaming’s “first romantic comedy” this adventure can only be tackled with two players, requiring teamwork, communication, and care throughout. In the game, you play as a pair of parents who have been magically shrunk to a tiny size and must repair their fading love for each other if they want to survive. Charming, funny, and an absolute blast to play, It Takes Two checks every box. It’s got platforming, action, puzzles, and more, with new gameplay twists keeping you on your toes. In a nutshell, It Takes Two is a masterpiece of a game that’s a wonderful adventure for two, simultaneously serving as the ultimate compatibility test.
