Level Up Your Love: 8 Games to Share with Your Valentine

Looking for the perfect game to enjoy with a partner or friend for Valentine’s Day? Whether you're into puzzle-solving, farming, chaotic action, or peaceful home decorating, there's a game for you. 

From adventures like It Takes Two to the soothing gameplay of Unpacking, these games encourage communication, teamwork, and shared fun. When you're navigating a magical world, building your dream farm, or solving quirky puzzles, playing together can make the experience more memorable. 

Here’s a list of some of the best co-op and multiplayer games that are perfect for bonding while enjoying a range of unique gaming experiences.

It Takes Two

Released on March 25, 2021, by Hazelight Studios, It Takes Two is an action-adventure game that takes around 14 hours to play through. This game follows Cody and May, a husband and wife on the brink of divorce, as they deal with the effects of a magical spell that turns them into dolls. Throughout the game, the two struggle against the magical world they find themselves trapped in and fight to return to their regular bodies. 

It Takes Two is a game created purely for co-op play. To play the game you need to have a second player, however, only one person needs to buy the game and the other can play the game for free with them. It Takes Two can be played together in the same room, or miles apart and on the same gaming systems- crossplay is not available. The game itself can be played on Windows, Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo Switch. 

I played through the game with a friend a year or two ago and we still go back to play the game when we’re looking for something to do. I’ve found this game requires teamwork and communication. When one is given a task to accomplish, the other player is often required to help. This is the perfect game to increase communication between you and your significant other, while also playing through a lighthearted story. 

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a cozy farming simulation game developed by ConcernedApe. The game came out February 26, 2016 and is now nine years old. While there is no set playtime, if the player is someone who wants to reach perfection (or 100 percent) in the game, it can take over a 100 hours to get there. Stardew Valley has a relatively simple main story of the farmer (player) moving to the titular valley and taking over their grandfather’s farm. The rest of the game is vastly different from player to player and is dependent on how the player wants to play.

This game can be played alone or with up to four other people for split-screen or with up to eight for online multiplayer. Stardew Valley can be played on Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox and Windows. Additionally it can be played on a mobile device. However, Stardew Valley is not cross-platform. 

While Stardew Valley can be played alone, it can offer a whole new experience when playing with a partner. It can be a little bit more challenging in the beginning, since now you have to share your earnings with at least one more person, but it can also be easier in certain parts. 

Stardew Valley also offers a handful of different functions when there are more players. For example, you can marry another player, dance with another player at the flower dance festival, and a handful of other things. While the game doesn’t require things like teamwork, the more you work together the more success you can achieve. Overall, Stardew Valley is something that can allow you to get closer as you spend time together doing something calm.

Castle Crashers

Searching for a quirky humorous 2D game? Look no further. Castle Crashers, developed by The Behemoth and released on August 27, 2008, is a game where the player is a knight that fights to save princesses, defends their kingdom, and crashes castles. If the player sticks to the main objectives, the game takes roughly seven hours, but if the player wants to see everything the game has to offer, it can take up to 37 hours. 

Just like Stardew Valley, Castle Crashers can be played solo or with up to four players online and local. The game is offered on four platforms; Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Windows. cross-platform is available for certain platforms, but not others. 

I personally find Castle Crashers to be chaotic and a bit of a challenge to understand, at least that’s what I thought my first time playing. I played with a friend the second time, which made all the difference. It needs some communication and teamwork, but not as much as It Takes Two. 

The game is bright and vibrant, but also a bit childish. The jokes are silly and almost as if a middle-schooler wrote them. While that’s not typically my sense of humor, I still found the thrill in the goofy mindless fun that is Castle Crashers.

Minecraft

Minecraft is a game most people have at least heard of. Released on May 17, 2009 and developed by Mojang Studios, Minecraft has become a go-to game for all ages. It is heavily reliant on how the player likes to play and changes player-to-player. While there is no definitive end to Minecraft’s gameplay, there are boss battles that can be completed in as little as 40 minutes. 

Minecraft can be played alone or with over 100 people- depending on the devices and the settings of your account. The game is offered on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation, Windows, and Mobile. There are two versions of Minecraft; Bedrock and Java. While cross-platform is supported, a Java player cannot cross-play with a Bedrock player. The versions must match to be able to cross-play platforms. 

With Minecraft being such a different experience for each player it is perfect to play with someone else. Minecraft is similar to Stardew Valley in some ways, but completely different in others. There are no limits to what you can do or accomplish and when played together you can achieve greater heights and goals.

Human: Fall Flat

Are puzzle games more your and your partner’s style? Then, try Human: Fall Flat. Developed by Curve Games and released July 22, 2016, this puzzle adventure game has over 20 levels- called dreams– that don’t need to be played in order. Each dream is vastly different than others and requires out of the box thinking to solve. One dream in Human: Fall Flat can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

Human: Fall Flat is available on Windows, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile. Like previously mentioned games, Human: Fall Flat can be played alone but it is more enjoyable with at least one more player. Human: Fall Flat offers local multiplayer and online multiplayer, but does not support cross-platform. 

My only criticism of Human: Fall Flat is the strange controls that require patience to get used to, but once the player gets used to them the game becomes a type of mindless fun. Teamwork is heavily relied on when playing with multiple people and assisting other players overall makes the game a better experience. 

Unravel Two

Unravel Two- the sequel to Unravel- is a 2D puzzle game, developed by Coldwood Interactive and released June 9, 2018. The players act as two characters called Yarnys. Both are connected via a string and have to work together to move through levels and the story. Even though this game is a sequel, playing the first game is not required to understand the story or mechanics; Unravel Two can completely stand alone. This game takes at least six hours to play fully through. 

Unravel Two only allows local co-op play with two players. While Unravel Two can be played alone, it is considered even more challenging when the player flies solo. It is available to play on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. 

What I find to be the best quality of Unravel Two, is even if one person is better at one aspect of the game than the other, this doesn’t slow down the game play. When playing alone it does, which is why this game is better suited for two players. It’s a game that heavily promotes working together, while also letting players shine through where their respective gaming strengths are. 

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

Developed by Asteroid Base and released on September 9, 2015, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a brightly colored, chaotic action game in which the player explores a galaxy and uses the power of love to defeat Anti-Love, this quest can take at least five hours to complete. The player navigates space using a spaceship that they can customize and upgrade to match their own style. 

Just like Unravel Two, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime only has local co-op that supports up to four players. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime can be played alone but the more the merrier. The game is offered on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. 

I’ve noticed without communication and teamwork, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime can be a rather stressful game. Working with your partner(s) is vital to the game play. While the game does still have its moments of sheer chaos, sometimes, you might be shouting at each other to get the spaceship away from the enemies. But, in the end, your relationship will grow stronger from being able to communicate with one another during a tense situation. 

Unpacking

Want a zen peaceful game that requires no skill and lets you decorate a home? Try Unpacking, released on November 2, 2021 and Developed by Witch Beam. This game follows the life of a young woman and the different phases of her life. What’s different about this story is there’s no dialogue and nothing that spells out the story for the player. Instead, it's all about unpacking boxes and placing items throughout the woman’s new homes as she becomes an adult. Unpacking can take around four hours to complete. 

Unlike the other games on this list, Unpacking is one player only. However, that doesn’t stop it from being a game you can play with someone else by sitting together and working together to play through the game. Unpacking is available to play on Nintendo Switch, Windows, Playstation, Xbox, and Mobile. 

I found Unpacking to be incredibly peaceful. There’s no timer or rush to finish levels, so the player gets to take their time and organize everything how they want it. That’s another added bonus of the game. The player gets to make the home their own by decorating it however they wish. Playing Unpacking with someone else can be a relaxing and bonding experience. 

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No matter your gaming preferences, playing together can bring a whole new layer of enjoyment to your experience. These games each offer their own take on cooperation, challenge, and fun, which can help strengthen communication, teamwork, and any relationship. 

Whether you're facing magical worlds, working the land, or just unpacking life’s little moments, there's something to be said about sharing these adventures with someone else. So, grab a partner, pick a game from this list, and dive into a world where collaboration is key and the fun never ends. Happy gaming!