Summary
When deciding on which game to play as a couple, you’d probably gravitate more toward games that offer couch co-op or multiplayer experiences. Games such as It Takes Two or Overcooked are the perfect titles for that, but there are also quite a few single-player games out there where you could really make it work as a couple.
Whether you and your partner are more into horror, narrative-driven adventures, mystery, strategy, or games centering around love and romance, there are plenty of single-player adventures ready to be enjoyed on your next date night. Here are a few of those options.
Resident Evil 7 is a perfect single-player horror game to play together because it is very terrifying when played alone, and you also have a romance storyline that tests how far one husband would go to rescue his wife.Turn off the lights, grab some popcorn, and watch your brave partner venture into the claustrophobic eeriness of the Baker House on the Louisiana Bayou.
The best thing about Biohazard is that it can stand on its own. It also sets itself apart from the rest of the Resident Evil series in that it introduces a new protagonist, Ethan Winters, and is fully designed in the first-person. Ethan is searching for his missing wife, leading him to a decrepit house of horrors where the members of the Baker family, seemingly affected by a mysterious condition, are hellbent on killing him.
You’ll find no greater love story and stellar video game writing than inDon’t Nod’s Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. The game stars ill-fated lovers Red mac Raith and Antea Duarte, who are a ghost-hunting pair in the late 17th century. Their romantic bond and chemistry are unparalleledby any other video game couple, and their story is both emotional and gripping to experience.
The game hasa decision-based narrativewith RPG elements, especially when it comes to combat and boss fights, though it’s still not as challenging as most Soulslikes. As a couple, you may follow the story and make your decisions together, as well as take turns helping each other defeat the bosses whenever you may need to.
Just like any relationship is driven by connection, here you have a game that is the very definition of forming connections. It’s a very unique title from talented video game auteur Hideo Kojima called Death Stranding, which, although single-player, features a Social Strand system where any player who has the game can populate the world with useful structures to help other players as well as leave signs of their presence.
The story and lore are the most confusing parts that even feel like somethingChristopher Nolan would have a hard time writing and deciphering, but that only adds to the depth and mystery, which will lead to plenty of discussion afterward. And since the game is rather chill and traversal-focused, there are plenty of opportunities to continue building your connection while playing Death Stranding.
Until Dawn is a suspenseful teen horror game that takes place in the snowy cabin retreat and surrounding outskirtsof Blackwood Mountain in Canada. It follows a group of high school friends who are invited to the Washington Family Lodge by the brother of two twins who tragically lost their lives the year before. What ensues is a suspenseful, choice-based cinematic horror tale with a creature twist.
You’ll be taken to an abandoned sanatorium and mines, and there are some pretty gruesome deaths and harrowing set pieces. Since the game follows multiple protagonists (who can build their own relationships), you and your partner can choose which characters you’d like to follow and take turns switching off the controller.
If you own a PS5 or prefer playing on PC, there’s a remake of Until Dawn now available on those platforms.
Like Until Dawn, Detroit: Become Human is another branching narrative gamepublished by Sony Interactive Entertainmentutilizing notable Hollywood talent. This one steers things in a near-future science-fiction route, setting the game in the backdrop of technologically advanced 2038 Detroit. You’ll be playing three different android protagonists from different assignments – a former investigator, a maid, and a caretaker-turned-revolutionary.
The game has you build a lot of empathy and humanity toward androids, turning their usual negative portrayal on its head, especially toward the end. One particular android, Kara, begins a co-parenting relationship with another android. It’s a very emotional story and, once again, you may assign characters to each other and help make decisions together, or even switch off every chapter.
If you and your significant other are obsessed with musicalsand/or Greek mythology, you’ll have a blast with Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical. First off, it excitingly stars voice actors from The Last of Us series, Midnight Mass' Rahul Kohli, TWD’s Khary Payton, and Rent’s Anthony Rapp as the singing members of the Greek Pantheon. And there’s also a murder mystery tied into the choice-based narrative.
The main character is Grace, a college dropout with aspirations of being a singer and who soon finds herself accused of murdering the previous Muse of the Greek gods. She has to prove her innocence, and, along the way, there are quite a few musical numbersand romance optionsall driven by choice, so sing along and enjoy solving the mystery together.
Dave the Diver is an excellent choice for a date night pick, especially if you’re both fans of sushi. It’sone of the best underwater exploration gamesas well as a restaurant simulator. When the sun’s out, Dave heads into the water and uses his harpoon to catch some of the fish you’ll be serving to customers later in the evening at the restaurant.
The pixel art is stunning, especially in the underwater portions of the game, and the sea creatures you’ll encounter can sometimes be massive and terrifying. You can work together through the process of catching your fish and defeating the giant bosses, help each other manage the customers and prepare the food, and explore the mysterious secrets that lie in the depths of the Blue Hole.
Another video game centered around Greek mythology that’s perfect to be played by a couple is Supergiant’s Hades 2, a roguelike game that serves as a sequel to the 2018 hit and greatly expands the systems and game design.You play as Melinoe, the sister of the original protagonist, Zagreus, and her story is more witchy and takes place in the hub of the Crossroads, which you’re able to customize.
More significant changes to Hades 2 also includethe expansion of romance options, where you’re able to now bond with your love interest around the Crossroads and even bathe with them. The ultimate goal, however, is to defeat the God of Time, Chronos, and there are many areas and bosses you’ll have to get through before that. Since it’s a roguelike structure, you can make a competition out of seeing who gets the farthest in a run.
This game is still in Early Access, so some features and story developments could be subject to change.
While Marvel Rivals might be the perfect multiplayer Marvel game to play with your partner, 2022’s Midnight Suns is a single-player option that would prove even better. It’s a turn-based strategy game featuring card mechanics for a party of heroes, so you and your significant other can work together in strategizing moves and card abilities that would best win each fight.
The fun of this game is getting to have a large roster of Marvel characters at your disposal with different abilities to test out, including the titular Midnight Suns group that has Magik and Blade.The main enemy is Lilithand a new character called the Hunter will be a key ally in stopping her. You get to customize and create your Hunter character, so that’s another fun activity that makes this one perfect for couples.
The best single-player stories for couplescome from the Life is Strange series, which, again, are choice-based. Each installment offers emotional and compelling storylines with themes related to family, love, and small-town mystery. The protagonists also wield supernatural powers, like the ability to rewind time, see people’s auras, perform telekinesis, and cross parallel realities.
The first game follows Max Caulfield and Chloe Price in Arcadia Bay as they solve the disappearance of Blackwell Academy student Rachel Amber and remains the most iconic and groundbreaking entry.
Life is Strange 2 follows a tale of two brothers protecting each other on the run, True Colors is about uncovering the mystery behind the tragic death of protagonist Alex Chen’s brother, and Double Exposure is a direct sequel to the original where you assume the role of Max Caulfield once again.
