Top co-op games for couples in quarantine

Even the strongest relationships may fray a little around the edges during months of lockdown. But instead of focusing on the minute irritations of everyday life, such as how your partner doesn’t load the dishwasher correctly, or take out the right bins, why not direct your energy towards something more enjoyable? The world of gaming offers unlimited virtual space in which to collaborate with your other half. While we can’t easily set ourself many goals in the real world in these uncertain times, it’s oh-so-simple to hit targets online with the press of a button. Get to the next level, and you might just take your relationship to the next level, too.

If you want to practise your communication and get your partnership back in sync, try a co-op game. You could try running a kitchen in Overcooked 2, or if you’re up for something a little ridiculous, why not attempt to pass as a human with eight tentacles in Octodad (you are guaranteed to be in hysterics within five minutes of manoeuvring his manic limbs). Lovers of fantasy adventure can join forces in Diablo III (and perhaps soon Diablo IV) or if you would rather take on an intellectual challenge, solve puzzles side-by-side in Death Squared. For anyone with a Nintendo Switch, you can’t go wrong with classic games such as New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, in which you can work together as the eponymous siblings, or any titles from the quirky Lego franchise – which encompasses Harry Potter, Marvel and Star Wars, to name a few. Or for a thrill, a nice website to play games at is another option on the table.

It might seem a little counterintuitive, but another way of preventing quarrels is to drum up a bit of healthy competition. In other words, battle your partner on the screen and you might not need to battle it out in the house. Switch games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and MarioKart 8 Deluxe give you the option of playing both on the same team or against each other, so you can swap around depending on how you feel about your partner. Rocket League – football played with cars, naturally – likewise allows you to play either as allies or on opposite sides. If you want to game on separate PCs, you could compete on Age of Empires III over LAN, or those who prefer mobile phones can just as easily go head to head in a race in Asphalt 9: Legends.

You may not have considered board games, seeing that they are largely thought of as a bigger group activity, but rest assured there are plenty of options for couples, too. For instance, Codenames – the popular word strategy game – has also been released as a special two-player edition, Codenames: Duet and Seven Wonders – in which ancient civilisations fight it out for supremacy –  likewise has a smaller edition, Seven Wonders Duel. Fight for resources in the simple but addictive Jaipur, or marvel at the tile playing pieces in the beautifully designed Azul. If you like quickfire cardgames, upgrade your snap with Dobble, which has multiple fun variations.

The editorial unit