Valentine’s Day is upon us once again, which means it’s the season for cheap flowers and even cheaper candy from Walmart the day of. Whether your partner doesn’t care about Valentine’s Day or you and your significant other are tired of going out to the same restaurant, you may want to try something new this year. Try playing video games together! Here are the top three games to play with your partner this Valentine’s Day.
3: Stardew Valley
Looking to fulfill your cottagecore dreams with your partner? Look no further than Stardew Valley. In Stardew Valley, you and your significant other are tasked with starting and maintaining a farm. When you’re not farming, you can do other activities like fishing, mining, and mingling with the townsfolk. The game also doubles as a dating sim, where you can build relationships and bond with the citizens of Stardew Valley. You also have the option to romance other players by crafting a wedding ring, which is a difficult achievement. Everything is customizable, from your clothes and house to your animals’ names (which can lead to hilarious inside jokes). While the game has a storyline, it is not required to follow in order to have a good time. To complete the game, players need to restore the community center to its former state and bring life back to the community. This is done by collecting rare items, building large projects, and donating large sums of money. However, the gameplay loop can get a bit repetitive after the first couple of play sessions. For example, my girlfriend and I have a farm together, but we dropped the game after a few sessions because we got bored. Despite this, Stardew Valley is one of the best games to play with your significant other and will surely result in hours of fun.
2: Mario Kart
While playing a co-op game with your significant other is rewarding and a great bonding activity, sometimes a little friendly competition is needed. There is no better game for this than Mario Kart. Mario Kart shines in its simplicity with its simple controls, short races, and easy-to-understand item system. However, there is a deeper level of complexity with kart customization, mini turbos, and items. This allows for countless hours of racing fun. Additionally, each Mario Kart game has its own unique mechanic. Do you want to use motion controls? Try Mario Kart Wii. Do you want to work together instead of against each other? Try Mario Kart: Double Dash. If you want a more balanced experience, try Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Whenever my girlfriend and I play Mario Kart, it always gets heated and results in a colorful exchange of words. Whether you’re a casual or a pro, Mario Kart is essential for any game night.
1: It Takes Two
It Takes Two is the epitome of the perfect couples’ game. What separates it from the other games on this list is that it is specifically made to be played by couples. In It Takes Two, you play Cody and May, a couple who are going through a divorce. Devastated by this news, their daughter, Rose, unknowingly puts a spell on them and transforms them into dolls. The only way to reverse this spell is to complete a series of puzzles in different environments, from a cuckoo clock to a snow globe. Each level also comes with its quirk, like having the ability to slow time, change gravity, or wield magnets. The formula for each level is relatively the same: get introduced to a new mechanic, slowly master it by solving puzzles, get thrown a curveball or two, and finally finish with a boss fight. It Takes Two is a game known to make couples argue due to the other’s inability to complete the puzzles; however, in my playthrough with my partner, we soared through with ease while completely in sync with each other’s movements, which many can’t say the same. What keeps the game fresh is the environment, mechanics, and visuals. The game is witty, cute, and a blast to play.
