Top 10 Co-Op Games to Play With Your Significant Other

Finding good co-op games for a couple can be harder than it sounds. Some titles assume both players already know their way around a controller, while others are so mechanically demanding that they can, at times, turn a relaxing evening into a competitive event neither of you asked for.

The good news is that we have options aplenty now, from games you can play while chatting to adventures that ask for constant… “cooperation”. So, whether your partner is a seasoned gamer or still learning which button does what, these are our picks for the best co-op games to play together.

10 PowerWash Simulator (2022)

PowerWash Simulator is the answer for couples who want to play something together without turning the evening into a test of their communication skills. FuturLab’s cleaning sim lets you take a pressure washer to increasingly filthy locations, and its simple controls make it approachable even if your partner doesn’t normally play games. The original launched in 2022 with online co-op.

There is something oddly satisfying about splitting a job between two people. One of you can handle the awkward corners while the other works through the big surfaces, and neither person needs to worry about falling off a cliff or accidentally ruining a three-hour save. If the original hits the spot, PowerWash Simulator 2 is worth considering too, especially for couples playing on the same couch since the sequel adds split-screen co-op.

9 Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (2015)

Few co-op games make both people feel this necessary. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime puts you inside a neon battleship where you must run between stations to operate weapons, shields, engines, and other systems. It supports up to four people locally, but two is more than enough to create some wonderfully frantic teamwork.

The fun comes from constantly deciding what to prioritize and when. One moment you are steering away from danger, and the next you are scrambling to a turret because something enormous has appeared on screen. It rewards communication and, thanks to the simple controls, is a particularly good pick when one person is less experienced with games.

8 PEAK (2025)

PEAK turns climbing a mountain into a cooperative survival problem where every ledge looks manageable until somebody misses the jump. Released in June 2025 by Team PEAK, the game drops you and your friends onto an island and asks you to reach its summit while managing stamina, injuries, supplies, and the occasional spectacular mistake.

It is hilarious precisely because failure usually becomes a shared problem. You can help your partner climb, carry useful items, and revive them, but a poorly judged leap can still send the entire plan downhill. Literally. It is a great choice for couples who enjoy laughing at each other’s disasters rather than pretending every run needs to be perfect. Proximity voice chat is not required, but we highly recommend it!

7 Portal 2 (2011)

Valve’s co-op campaign remains one of the best tests of whether two people can actually communicate. Portal 2 gives each player their own portal gun and builds puzzles around coordinating movements, timing, and positioning. You cannot simply brute-force your way through every room because the solution often requires both people to understand the same idea.

That makes it particularly good for a couple because the game rewards talking things through. You will occasionally solve a puzzle in seconds, then spend ten minutes staring at the same wall because neither person noticed the obvious solution. At least the inevitable “I told you so” comes with a great soundtrack and some excellent writing!

6 Overcooked! 2 (2018)

Overcooked! 2 is where the peaceful evening starts getting dangerous. Ghost Town Games and Team17’s chaotic cooking game throws you into kitchens that move, rotate, and generally refuse to cooperate, with up to four players working together locally or online.

The appeal for couples is simple: every successful meal requires you to divide the work. Someone chops, someone cooks, someone washes dishes, and then the entire system collapses because nobody remembered the rice. It is fast, funny, and accessible… although calling it a relationship stress test would not be entirely unfair.

5 A Way Out (2018)

Hazelight built A Way Out specifically for two people. Released in 2018, it follows Leo and Vincent, two prisoners who must cooperate to escape before their story develops into something much bigger. Both players control one character, so there is no meaningful way to play it alone.

That structure makes it a strong choice for couples who want an actual story rather than an endless sandbox. The game constantly gives each person something to do, from stealth and combat to smaller activities that let you simply mess around together. It also helps that the Friend’s Pass lets one owner invite another player.

4 Journey to the Savage Planet / Revenge of the Savage Planet (2020/2025)

The Savage Planet games are a great middle ground between exploration, platforming, combat, and absolute comedy. The original Journey to the Savage Planet established the formula, while 2025’s Revenge of the Savage Planet expanded it with more worlds, equipment, and cooperative exploration.

Revenge is the obvious pick if you want the more current experience, especially with its split-screen and online co-op. The two of you can explore alien environments, collect resources, and uncover upgrades without the game becoming relentlessly difficult. Its sense of humor also gives couples plenty to laugh about between bouts of alien wildlife violence.

3 Split Fiction (2025)

Hazelight followed It Takes Two with Split Fiction, and the result is another two-player adventure that refuses to stick with one gameplay style for very long. Released in March 2025, it follows writers Mio and Zoe as their stories drag them through wildly different sci-fi and fantasy scenarios.

The variety is its biggest strength, but Split Fiction also asks a little more from both players than Hazelight’s previous game. The platforming is more demanding, the controls can get more involved, and some sections require quicker reactions and tighter coordination. It also supports Friend’s Pass, so only one person needs to own the full game. For couples who want something more mechanically demanding, this is the step up.

2 Stardew Valley (2016)

Stardew Valley is the slow burn of this list. ConcernedApe’s farming RPG launched in 2016 and has since become one of the easiest recommendations for couples who want something they can keep returning to from time to time. Its multiplayer supports farming, exploration, mining, fishing, and shared resources, with split-screen and online co-op available.

The best part is that you do not have to play the same game in the same way. One person can spend the day tending crops while the other heads into the mines, and both efforts contribute to the same farm. Eventually, you will have developed your own routine, which is exactly why a short session can somehow turn into “just one more in-game day” at 2 a.m.

1 It Takes Two (2021)

It Takes Two was practically born for this list. Hazelight’s 2021 adventure requires two players from beginning to end, with Cody and May navigating a bizarre journey that constantly introduces new abilities, puzzles, and gameplay ideas. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2021, and the co-op design is still the reason to play it.

Every major section gives both people a job, so neither player becomes the designated passenger. The game also keeps changing before a mechanic has time to become stale, which makes its roughly 12 to 15-hour campaign easy to recommend for a couple. If you only play one game from this list together, start here!

Honorable Mentions

There are plenty of other games worth playing together, but these three miss the main list for very different reasons. One is scary, one is wonderfully silly, and the last can consume your entire calendar if you let it.

1. Phasmophobia (2020)

Want to find out which person suddenly becomes brave when the other one is holding the flashlight? Phasmophobia lets up to four players investigate haunted locations, gather evidence, and identify the ghost. It is online co-op rather than a traditional couch experience, but the shared panic makes it ideal for couples who want some horror to spice things up.

2. LEGO Games

LEGO games are almost impossible to mess up for a casual co-op night. The combat is simple, the writing is funny, and familiar franchises make them especially easy to recommend when both people already love the source material. The LEGO Marvel Super Heroes series, LEGO Batman series, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and LEGO The Lord of the Rings are all worth a look (check here for WB Games’ official list on Steam).

3. Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)

For couples looking for a game they can sink into for weeks, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the obvious heavyweight. You can build completely different characters, make decisions together, and occasionally discover that your partner’s idea of a sensible plan involves throwing a perfectly good companion into a chasm. That kind of chaos is half the fun.

Which game would you pick for a co-op night with your significant other, and which one deserves a place on this list? Let us know in the comments below!