PC multiplayer games for couples

[Tek7]

I'm looking for recommendations for games Ember and I can play together on the PC.

Here are the guidelines:

• No first-person shooters. (I tried, people. I tried.)
• World of WarCraft is right out (for long-term play), so no other MMOs
• Action RPGs are fine, but the bar is set extremely high after playing and finishing Soma Bringer
• Same deal with puzzle games. We've played some of the best out there (e.g. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Puyo Puyo 15th Anniversary) together.
• It would be nice if the game offered both co-op and competitive multiplayer, but just one or the other is fine.
• It would be kinda cool if it was available on Steam, but it's not a requirement.
• No need to list games on other systems. Yes, I know emulators are available. Yes, I know it's possible to play old arcade games online using certain emulators. That's not relevant to this thread.
• Wanting to stay clear of web-based games. We'd strongly prefer a game that we have to install.
• LAN play is also preferred, but not required.

I'll let Ember make a follow-up post if she has any other guidelines.

I already plan on trying the demo for Torchlight II when it's released, so no need to mention that.

We're both downloading the Worms Reloaded demo to give it a try and see if we like it.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Elader Arkon]

like building stuff? I recommend the Civilization series, more specifically Civ V. (can likely be bought later in the inevitable Steam sale).
Guild Wars- People keep saying it isn't an MMO so I'm putting it in the list out of spite.
Dawn of War II -(has fantastic co-op campaign gameplay, and TLS is one of the funnest modes ever... and unlike a certain Blizzard RTS, has LAN) Best thing about the campaign co-op is you never (if I remember right) control more than a couple squads -two for one player, three for the other just in case Ember isn't a fan of controlling mass units.

Edit: or, forget about getting other games an just tag-team the Mass Effect series. Because you will regret not playing it earlier when you eventually get around to it.

 

[Tek7]

Oh, right. No real-time or turn-based strategy games. Forgot that guideline in the OP.

 

[Elader Arkon]

what's left?
No/extremely limited: MMO, RTS, FPS, Puzzle, Turn based strategy, web-based games. huh.

There's some good stuff but there's that fun little issue: must be co-op and/or competitive multiplayer.

I'd suggest just trying to find more DS stuff to do.

 

[Tek7]

what's left?
No/extremely limited: MMO, RTS, FPS, Puzzle, Turn based strategy, web-based games. huh.

There's some good stuff but there's that fun little issue: must be co-op and/or competitive multiplayer.

I know. I'm not even sure there IS a game that fits the guidelines I've posted. Torchlight II may be the best bet.

/sigh

It's tough when we keep finding the best games in each genre on the first try...

(And when Ember won't play first-person shooters. )

 

[Ember]

Sorry, sorry, I'm difficult. ;_; I wanted to like a FPS, but I'm so bad at them (like, you think you'll teach me, but it's so unfathomably bad, you just what to throw things and quit before the round is up...it's just not fun for anyone)...I don't have the patience to try to get any better. I'm not really sure it's even possible.

I like lots of puzzle games, but I've become something of an elitist.

I'm not anti-MMO, but I don't know about anything free-to-play that is just as fun to play sporadically.

 

[The Mighty Gerbil]

Tek did you guys try Alien Swarm together? It won't give much play time but it's free, you can make games friends only (I think) and it has an easy setting. Of course Tek already played it to death.

Sorry, sorry, I'm difficult. ;_; I wanted to like a FPS, but I'm so bad at them

<Hmmm Gerbil senses an opportunity to give a hard time>
It's ok if you hate us and won't play with us Ember sniff, sniff, we will just go cry in a corner alone and hated...

(like, you think you'll teach me, but it's so unfathomably bad, you just what to throw things and quit before the round is up...it's just not fun for anyone)...I don't have the patience to try to get any better. I'm not really sure it's even possible.

You've got to believe Ember you've got to BELIEVE! Nah FPS's aren't for everyone it's cool if you don't like them . I'm still not competition level either even though I try and try T_T .

 

[Joshinator]

Minecraft.

 

[XionTawa]

My wife and I have had issues finding good games to play together, and spend many hours and days trying to find good PC games for us...but after all the searching and demoing and buying...we came to the conclusion that the best games for us, were MMORPGs... Currently we are playing FFXIV...

 

[Keero]

/^_^;;

Critter Crunch
Castle Crashers
Little Big Planet
Eternal Sonata
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Super Stardust HD (A LOT of fun in co-op)
Gunstar Heroes
TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix

Most PC co-op games are FPSs. Most PS3 co-op games I own/tried have been stellar. Gogo Black Friday.

 

[Tek7]

Tek did you guys try Alien Swarm together?

It's installed on her computer, but she won't try it. She tried Madballs in... Babo:Invasion and wasn't feelin' the top-down view.

EDIT: Which is a shame, because I enjoyed Madballs WAY more than I thought I would. So much fun.

I'm still not competition level either even though I try and try T_T .

I'd still love to see you play Spy in a Highlander match. I could play Medic, Keero could play Pyro, BassMan or Omega Amen could play Demoman, Parabellum could play Scout, Whon could play Soldier, Scout, or Sniper, D4rthSp0ck could play Heavy or Sniper, and we could find SOMEONE to fill the Engineer slot.

Fun on a bun.

Minecraft.

Oo, Minecraft. I've been meaning to check that out anyway. I'll show Ember and see if she'd be interested.

/^_^;;

Critter Crunch
Castle Crashers
Little Big Planet
Eternal Sonata
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Super Stardust HD (A LOT of fun in co-op)
Gunstar Heroes
TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix

*smacks Keero with a Holy Mackerel for posting a list of Playstation 3 games*

Most PC co-op games are FPSs. Most PS3 co-op games I own/tried have been stellar.

Gogo Black Friday.

With the baby due in February, the PS3 purchase was bumped down from "with the right sale, definitely" to "I dunno, babies are expensive."

 

[Keero]

Was worth a try.

 

[Tek7]

Was worth a try.

Believe me, I still want one. If only to play Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix online. And I have to admit, Super Street Fighter IV looks pretty cool. And I think I could convince Ember to play Soul Calibur IV with me fairly easily.

 

[Ember]

With the baby due in February, the PS3 purchase was bumped down from "with the right sale, definitely" to "I dunno, babies are expensive."

He beat me to it.

But ftr, Turtles in Time = favorite brawler ever...maybe nostalgia, but it was fun.
So thumbs up anyway for the suggestion.

 

[Keero]

Hmm, what about Trine? Oooooor.... uhh, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Marvel Ultimate Allliance/X-Men Legends 2 (with gamepads)...

:/

 

[Tek7]

Hmm, what about Trine?

I invited her to play Trine with me. She declined.

Oooooor.... uhh, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

I didn't know the new Tomb Raider game had multiplayer. I'll see if there's a demo.

Marvel Ultimate Allliance/X-Men Legends 2 (with gamepads)...

She tried X-Men Legends 2 with me on a console. She didn't like it.

 

[Corpfox]

What about 3rd Person Shooters?

Dead Rising 2 has Co-op as well as Multiplayer.

Well, Ember is a tough sell for a Girl Gamer.

- Flatout: Ultimate Carnage
- Portal 2 (Co-op and Puzzle!)

Looking at this list, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Co-op_Games

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bust-a-Move_Wii
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_Paradise
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Ocean
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer_(video_game)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Batman:_The_Videogame
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Star_Wars:_The_Video_Game
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Star_Wars_II:_The_Original_Trilogy
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Star_Wars:_The_Complete_Saga
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Indiana_Jones:_The_Original_Adventures
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Slug_(series)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Hunter_Tri
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streets_of_Rage_2
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_Symphonia:_Dawn_of_the_New_World

 

[toj-Grey]

This morning, Valve confirmed the release date for the very highly anticipated second Portal game. The puzzle-platformer game will hit the streets on February 9 next year and will feature the voice of Office and Extras funnyman Stephen Merchant.

(February 9, 2011)

Portal 2 WILL be a game you you can enjoy, its more puzzle than shooter and it will have the co-op that will be awesome.
Now all you have to do is wait for it =/

 

[Tek7]

What about 3rd Person Shooters?

Dead Rising 2 has Co-op as well as Multiplayer.

Well, Ember is a tough sell for a Girl Gamer.

- Flatout: Ultimate Carnage

DR2 is $50 per copy right now, so it's right out solely based on price.

Sounds like she may be willing to give Flatout: Ultimate Carnage a try. I bought it last time it was on sale on Steam, so I may have her check it out on my account.

- Portal 2 (Co-op and Puzzle!)

But a first-person shooter.

I'll be getting Portal 2 (whether at launch or when it goes on sale may depend on my employment situation at the time), but I doubt Ember would want to try it. I'll still try to convince her to give it a shot after it's out, though.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bust-a-Move_Wii
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_Paradise
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Ocean

I like the Puzzle Bobble (a.k.a. Bust-a-Move) series, but there are better puzzle series (Puyo Puyo, Puzzle Fighter) for us to play together. Still, it's worth checking into.

I hadn't thought of Burnout Paradise. And I didn't know it was co-op. I'll look into it.

Endless Ocean is...meh. I've seen the game in action and aren't interested.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer_(video_game)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Batman:_The_Videogame
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Star_Wars:_The_Video_Game
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Star_Wars_II:_The_Original_Trilogy
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Star_Wars:_The_Complete_Saga
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Indiana_Jones:_The_Original_Adventures

Wow, Freelancer. That name brings me back. I'm not familiar with the multiplayer portion of the game, but that would be worth checking out, too.

Last time I suggested a Lego game, Ember didn't seem interested, but it wouldn't hurt to ask again.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Slug_(series)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Hunter_Tri
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streets_of_Rage_2

Ember doesn't care for side-scrollers like Metal Slug or Contra. To be honest, I'm indifferent to either series.

Monster Hunter Tri, if I remember correctly, only supports online multiplayer, not local co-op. Which is a shame.

Ember and I have actually played Streets of Rage 2 together. So much <3 for SoR2.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_Symphonia:_Dawn_of_the_New_World

I vaguely remember reading that the multiplayer aspect of ToS: DotNW was very limited. I might check into the game after I wrap up a few other RPGs, though, since I've wanted to play a "Tales of" game for a while.

(February 9, 2011)

Portal 2 WILL be a game you you can enjoy, its more puzzle than shooter and it will have the co-op that will be awesome.
Now all you have to do is wait for it =/

Oh, I'm sure Portal 2 will be awesome. I have no doubt. I just remember the precision the later levels of Portal required and can guarantee you that Ember, who's still new to first-person shooters, wouldn't enjoy it. There were times I got frustrated and I've been playing FPS games since Wolfenstein 3D.

 

[Ember]

I'd try it...Portal 2 that is. Co-op sounds interesting. =)