Photograph: Good Mood Creators. But the platformer's central gimmick of switching between robotic animals mid-level affords the game a unique co-op mechanic. One player controls.

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Here’s what love sounds like to a gamer: “Take the good controller.”

So, this weekend, why not skip the standard flowers/dinner/movie and opt instead for some couch time and co-op gaming?

1. Portal 2 (Local/Online)

It wouldn’t be a list of co-op games without it. This modern classic is the gaming equivalent of building a piece of IKEA furniture together in 95-degree heat. That might not sound great, but at least there’s a common enemy here. If you can find a way to suffer within the stark white walls of Aperture Science together and figure out a solution with the power of teamwork, you will be bonded in a new and lasting way.

2. ibb and obb (Local/Online)

This side-scrolling romp through a brightly colored world brings a ton of charm (and a bit of challenge) to a simple concept. You and your partner play as the titular ibb and obb, two little creatures hopping and bopping through every level by way of gravity-based puzzles. With wide-eyed characters and rounded edges, this game sits squarely in the “adorable as all hell” category, and features an original soft electronica score for extra chillness.

Play it while killing a bottle of wine.

3. LittleBigPlanet (Local/Online)

The best kinds of dates are the ones that have a sense of adventure. LittleBigPlanet offers the next best thing. You can guide Sackboy and friends around a planet that’s just like Earth, if Earth were deconstructed and had its colorful bits glued back together by a lovable community theatre troupe. Climb platforms, solve puzzles, and help each other customize your characters in a world that’s all about exploration and wonder.

4. Borderlands 2 (Local/Online)

Alright, enough of all of this cutesy crap. If you’re looking for the most romantic way to blow someone’s head off alongside your partner, your search has just ended. Team up to take on monsters and scavenge the frozen wasteland, smoking pistols at your sides.

5. Risk of Rain (Local/Online)

With elements like permadeath and difficulty that increases alongside the game’s clock, Risk of Rain is definitely one of the toughest games on this list. If you and your partner are seeking nail-biting tension and simplistic throwback graphics, this indie action platformer for local or online multiplayer is definitely the way to go. Just make sure you’ve both got a penchant for deprecating humor: The death messages are notoriously snarky, ranging from “rekt” to “That was absolutely your fault.”

6. Sid Meier’s Civilization V (Local Hot Seat/Online)

It’s the world domination dynamics of Risk mixed with the soul-crushing death of spirit that comes with a Monopoly defeat. And it’s fun for up to six couples at a time! (Twelve if you’re doubling up.) The sight of your beloved marching their troops into your capital, slaughtering your Great Scientists, and pillaging your wheat fields might not be an easy thing to stomach … but once you nail them back with a sneak naval attack five turns later and snag their most populous city, it all suddenly becomes a lot more fun and bearable.

7. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (Local)

A game that’s as fun as it is adorable, which is to say, very. Hop aboard a spherical spaceship that’s under attack by aliens as you and your S.O. essentially role-play the latest Star Wars movie. Grab the steering wheel and pilot out of danger while your astronaut-in-crime mans the laser cannons, firing back some blasts of your own amidst a refreshingly neon-toned spacescape. While later levels can get pretty tricky, communication is the key to sailing your hot pink ship to safety.

8. Broforce (Local/Online)

Steam rates it a 10/10. The world should rate it a 10/10. Looking for retro 8-bit graphics? Play Broforce. A fan of ridiculous cartoon violence and explosions? Play Broforce. Proudly name Die Hard as your favorite Christmas movie? Play Broforce. Starring all of your favorite ’80s and ’90s action hero bros like Rambro, the Brominator, and even Ellen Ripbro (of Alien fame), Broforce is a dizzying side-scroller that whips you through war campaigns as you shoot, slice, and vaporize all enemies in sight. So crack open a cold one and cuddle up with your favorite bro: it’s time for Brobocop and Cherry Broling to do their thing.

The days leading up to Valentine's Day can be stressful. The Hallmark holiday sneaks up on us after the collective hangover from the winter holidays finally disappears—before you realize the tinsel's been tucked away, you're scrambling to buy flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and the like. But instead of spending money on expensive gifts that your partner may only enjoy for a finite amount of time, we at Ars want to encourage you to spend quality time together—and what better way to do that than to pick up the joysticks and play some video games?

While there's a lot of emphasis in the video game community on online multiplayer and the ease of being able to play with friends regardless of your location, it's always fun to share the experience with the person you love most while being literally right next to them on your own couch. Below we've gathered some of our favorite couch co-op games, which span across platforms and range from hardcore to beginner-friendly. They should allow seasoned and less experienced gamers alike to spend a couple hours this Valentine's Day vacuuming up ghosts, preparing meals, battling underground monsters, defusing bombs, and racing to the finish line. Regardless of your skill level or game of choice, the time should be more special because you're spending it together (aw).

Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi's Mansion 3 tasks Mario's sheepish little brother with rescuing his friends from the clutches of a haunted hotel. Its two-player mode doesn't become available until an hour or so into the story, but at that point the rest of the game becomes one of the most accessible co-op campaigns in recent memory.

If your partner isn't well-versed in typical game mechanics, they can control 'Gooigi,' a Luigi clone made of green goo that has a lower health pool but infinite lives. This gives them the freedom to fool around and die repeatedly without forcing you both to restart levels and boss fights. The game isn't particularly difficult, and because Gooigi is an essential part of solving many of the game's puzzles, your partner won't feel like an accessory twiddling their thumbs while you do all the work.

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Luigi's Mansion 3 as a whole has issues: aiming your ghost-sucking vacuum can be frustratingly imprecise, and there are some tedious sequences that force you to backtrack through previously conquered levels for little added benefit. But even compared to other Nintendo games, it oozes charm. This is a game with character, from Luigi's adorable looks of terror to the distinct designs of each hotel floor and ghost boss you come across. Barreling into a room with your 'Poltergust' vacuums and subsuming everything in sight is both silly and consistently satisfying. It all looks gorgeous, like a playable Pixar movie. And because it's broken up into clearly defined levels, it's a game you and your partner can drop and revisit at your leisure.
—Jeff Dunn

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a rare space-based video game that's as exciting as it is adorable. The forces of Anti-Love threaten the universe, so you and your partner have to navigate the mazes of the galaxy in a neon battleship that you both control. While one person steers the ship, the other has to defend it using weapons, shields, and other technology, hopping from control base to control base.

As you complete the various stages, all of which are randomized so you'll always be exploring a new area, you have to rescue space bunnies, battle baddies, and avoid knocking into rock formations and damaging your own ship.

Not only are the themes of Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime perfect for this time of year, but you and your partner really have to work as a team to be successful. I recommend going into this game blindly together, so you're both forced to learn the controls and get your 'space legs' simultaneously.

Once you get the hang of the basics, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is only as challenging as each new maze layout—but that doesn't take away from its fun. It's a refreshing change of pace from the competitive couch co-op games that typically get the spotlight and a unique way to spend quality time working together.
—Valentina Palladino

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Ah Mario Kart, arguably the most obvious game to include in any couch co-op list. You may roll your eyes seeing it here, but there are many reasons why Mario Kart is a beloved multiplayer game. It's a racing game that can be as competitive as you want it to be, and its variety of characters, courses, and wacky items make it more appealing for those who generally aren't into racing games.

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In my household, my partner and I (Valentina) choose to be competitive in Mario Kart, and we make it known when one of us hits the other with an expertly placed green shell. Has that led to a few harsh words? Sure. But all of them (... most of them) have been said with a jovial undertone.

While we compete against each other in just about every race, it's nice to have a common enemy in Grand Prix mode that we can hate on when we're both having particularly rusty days. One minute, we're trying to beat each other and target each other's wheels with banana peels—but a moment later, we're chasing down an NPC who did one of us dirty (Metal Mario is a sneaky bugger). Mario Kart's controlled chaos of sorts makes it an incredibly fun game to play for hours, and it's easy to do so, especially if your partner is like mine and often pleads for 'just one more round' to prove their status as the superior driver.
—VP

Overcooked! 2

Whether you enjoy cooking in real life or not, it's hard to resist the frenzied fun that is Overcooked! 2. The game forces you and your partner to work together as cute creature-chefs preparing meals from start to finish. While chopping, cooking, plating, and serving food may not sound difficult, don't be fooled—Overcooked! 2 is quite challenging, especially if you're new to the game.

Good Coop Pc Games Free

Single-player mode is difficult for a number of reasons, but two-player couch mode kicks it into high gear because you and your partner have to figure out how you work best together around the kitchen. Who's chopping the fish for sushi? Who's ready to plate the rice when it's done cooking? Who's dishing out clean plates for the next meals to be served on? Who's dodging speeding vehicles to cross the street and get this plate of mahi-mahi to hungry customers? There's a lot to figure out, and you must do so while the clock is ticking.

There's no other way to excel at Overcooked! 2's couch mode: work together, or die (or at least, annoy diners and destroy your chances of getting good tips). Don't be surprised if you and your partner start shouting while virtually cooking, but just try not to take that emotion into your actual kitchen.
—VP

Good Co Op Pc Games On Steam