Level Up Your Love Life On Valentine’s Day With These Co-Op Video Games

What do you have planned for Valentine’s Day this year? (If you’re single and looking for that special someone, try finding bae with these dating apps.)

Besides the usual dinner date, it may also be a good idea to spend some safe quality time at home with bae considering we’re not exactly out of the woods yet with this pandemic.

Here’s our suggestion: Check out our shortlist of eight co-op video games from different genres that are easy to learn, especially if your BB is new to gaming. Side effect: Bae might start enjoying video games too.

It Takes Two
PC, Playstation 4|5, Xbox One, S|X

This award-winning masterpiece comfortably made it into our best games of 2021 list. You can only play it co-op and, honestly, it's so fun - can't tell you how many times I've argued or high-fived with bae over some of the puzzles in this game.

"It Takes Two" is an action-adventure game where you play a couple planning to get a divorce. Somehow, the two of you get transported into the bodies of dolls made by your daughter, and now you must reluctantly work together to get back into your own.

The story is wholesome, and the gameplay is playful and creative. If you want to intro your non-gamer S.O. to video games, this is the one that will get them hooked.

Overcooked 1 & 2
PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One

This is the quintessential game to test your relationship. In “Overcooked”, you’ll both play as chefs dishing out various food such as cakes, burgers, and sushi. What better way to build (or assess your compatibility) than working together to assemble the raw ingredients, slice, cook, and plate the dishes before sending out the diners’ orders.

It starts off simple, but as the stages progress you may need to jump across moving trucks, cross islands, or go through portals. Cooperation and task delegation are key to completing this game - and the key ingredients to a successful relationship.

Expect screaming, arguments, and a huge high five when you finally complete a stage you took hours to figure out. Yes, the game can be played with up to 4 players but instead of a double date, I find that a two-player co-op hits the sweet spot for “Overcooked”.

Instead of choosing either/or, we’d suggest you get both “Overcooked 1” & “2”. It can make for some pretty fun weekends post-V Day too.

Portal 2 Co-Op Campaign
PC, Mac, Xbox One

This is an oldie-but-goldie first-person puzzle game. The premise is simple: using a portal gun, you “shoot” open two portals that are connected to one another. Both of you travel between or pass simple objects through these portals. To complete a stage, you’ll need to work out the best portal placements and sequencing together as a team.

The game is quite short (you can complete the game over a weekend together) but the hilarious story mode makes up for it. If the game is to your liking, you can both explore the game further on PC where there are hundreds of user-created stages available for download too.

Cuphead
PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

For those with a competitive significant other (like Monica in “Friends”), give “Cuphead” a try. The visuals and sounds are reminiscent of old 1930s Disney cartoons, with the old-school hand-drawn animation look. Don’t say we never warn you though - the game is very unforgiving.

The two of you will play as Cuphead and Mugman in a run 'n' gun, shoot 'em up style 2D game with tricky boss fights that could make you want to throw the controller out of the window. But when you do finally beat that crazy boss together, the satisfaction feels so good.

Don't Starve Together
PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

This is a survival game where you and your better half try to survive in a world where the plants and animals are out to kill you. The game has a spooky, bizarre, Tim Burton-like feel, which adds to the overall atmosphere.

To survive, you need to explore the world, craft new items such as weapons to defend yourself, and gather food to eat, all the while keeping your sanity in check. Just in case hor, if one day Singapore kena zombie apocalypse, you’ll be able to survive with bae.

There are many different characters to choose from, each with its own unique quirks. The game doesn’t really tell you what you need to do from the get-go, but it can be fun exploring and learning the game together. Just don’t starve together, okay?

Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime
PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4

A true co-op game has both players completely relying on each other throughout, and “Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime” is all that and more. This is a co-op space shooter game. Together with your partner, you’ll need to defeat bosses that are kidnapping cute bunnies in their attempt to take over the universe.

In each level, you need to find the bunnies while keeping your neon-coloured spaceship running smoothly. This means both you and bae need to work together. For instance, you take control of the guns while bae is responsible for steering the ship and dodging obstacles. The two of you will be constantly changing roles as the game progresses. Coordination is key to saving the bunnies!

We highly approve of “Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime”, especially if you’re looking for a refreshing, unique game to play with your partner (and if you have a soft spot for bunnies).

Arms
Nintendo Switch

We recommended “Arms” as one of the video games to level up your fitness this year, and it makes a great game to play together with your better half too. In this game, you hold your Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons in each hand to simulate actual boxing. The character’s arms extend, spin, and curve depending on how you swing your fists in real life.

With an extra pair of Joy-Cons, you can play co-op together for 2-on-2 tag team fights against a series of CPU opponents in the Grand Prix, or play some fun mini games like shooting hoops and volleyball.

Plus, you’ll be working up a sweat in no time. Win-win.

Heavy Rain
PC, PlayStation 4

Does your significant other love to binge on thrillers and true-crime documentaries on Netflix all weekend? Then perhaps a story-based game like “Heavy Rain” will strike your fancy. There’s no co-op mode, but “Heavy Rain” is a dialogue-heavy adventure game where your choices together affect how the story progresses.

Through the eyes of four protagonists, you need to uncover the mystery behind a serial murderer known as the Origami Killer. The story gets interesting as it unfolds like a Netflix murder mystery, and, as a couple, you’ll need to pore over clues and make the right choices for a happy ending.

A little darker than the other games, but you may come off this one trusting your other half more than before.

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