PC game recommendation for my partner and I
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My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
I haven't seen anyone say Enshrouded yet. Im hosting a server on wine/linux for my group. Its like Valheim but with more direction like a quest log and lore and etc.
Lots of good reccs on the thread already too. -
My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
Something you might want to consider is that often boardgames nowadays have an electronic equivalent. Case in point, my best mate and myself recently played The Dresden Files over Steam.
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My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
I really enjoyed We Were Here with a good friend. It's a coop escape room like puzzle game where you'll play in different rooms but your puzzles interact with the other room and you'll have to communicate and work the two rooms together to solve it
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My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
Me and my husband play this on emulator
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Seriously? How has no one suggested Untitled Goose Game or did I miss it? It is frigging hilarious and if you both like humor and fooling around as a mischievous goose, it is perfect! I played it with my 7 year old and we had tons of fun, plus the ending was the cherry on top!
Edit: also, similarly hilarious but a bit more stressful to play, Pizza Possum, my kid was and is nornally absolutely not into fast-paced gaming, but this one was an expection and is also hilarious to play together and it was a blast collecting all the gadgets. We still come back to both games regularly.
YES FOR GOOSE GAME!!
WISH IT WAS LONGER
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I'm not sure I could convince her to play a tower defense style game. But it looks like MY kind of game, so thanks for the recommendation!
It's actually a mediaeval economy simulator
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My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
Portal 2 has great puzzles for two players, but the timing can be frustrating
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I really enjoyed We Were Here with a good friend. It's a coop escape room like puzzle game where you'll play in different rooms but your puzzles interact with the other room and you'll have to communicate and work the two rooms together to solve it
The sequels are also very nice!
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I really enjoyed We Were Here with a good friend. It's a coop escape room like puzzle game where you'll play in different rooms but your puzzles interact with the other room and you'll have to communicate and work the two rooms together to solve it
The Past within has a similar concept and is also great!
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I'd like to add their first game A Way Out. My partner and I had a blast playing it.
A Way Out is still my favorite, probably just prefer more grounded games.
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Portal 2 was my first thought as well. It can also work as a good litmus test for how they will respond to FPS controls. You can try kb/m or controller and see what feels natural.
My partner (we found playing left4dead after portal) is an inverted controller person. Which was wild to me considering they worked in a heavy clerical field and really took to building keyboard with me. Yet, no kb/m for gaming. After that switch , they were able to enjoy co-op 1st person stuff a lot easier.After portal we played borderlands 2 together. It’s low pressure most of the time and can be a background activity while you talk and hang out. The story is kinda cheesy but it’s fun to share the inside jokes with someone and bonded us in an unexpected way.
Hopefully those work for you!
Edit: it takes two and split fiction are really fantastic coop experiences as well. But, it take two should probably have a small warning for emotional content. Split fiction is a ton of fun but does get kinda difficult for less seasoned players. I found it endearing helping through those sections, but it could be harder for others. There are some moments that we both audibly wowed at though! That made the difficulty worth it.
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My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
Sonic Racing Crossworlds. The bots are plenty tough on the hardest difficulty. But you can make them easy too.
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My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
Honestly the coop play on Lego PC games is pretty good if you can get over them being cartooney. You have lots to pick from too, so maybe your partner has movies they're a fan of that are represented in Lego games.
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Semi-casual
Factorio
Are you trying to kill him?
Playing Factorio co-op was one of the games that got my wife into gaming. She couldn't do quick reaction time shooters, but Factorio at its most basic is essentially a 'puzzle' game.
... But yeah we lost a few weekends or weeks or months to it. The factory must grow.
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My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
I do not know how well it fits your characteristics but Sea of Stars is a cool retro rpg you can play in coop.
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I'm not sure I could convince her to play a tower defense style game. But it looks like MY kind of game, so thanks for the recommendation!
I don't really think I'd call it a tower defense game tbh.
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Honestly the coop play on Lego PC games is pretty good if you can get over them being cartooney. You have lots to pick from too, so maybe your partner has movies they're a fan of that are represented in Lego games.
Yup, seconding this. The gameplay is simple enough for a first time gamer and they're funny. Lego Skywalker Saga and Lego Harry Potter were a blast, and we picked up Lego Voyagers but haven't played it yet.
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Semi-casual games that run well on older PCs and linux? Plus no launchers? Let's see.
I got a few but there may be splitscreen ones in this list too. (If that's ok)Battleblock Theater
Biped (maybe?)
Cassette Beasts
Castle Crashers
Children of Morta
Don't Starve Together
Dinkum (If Australian Animal Crossing sounds interesting)
Factorio
A hat in time
Guacamelee
Human Fall Flat
Hyper Light Drifter
ibb & obb
KeyWe
Kingdom Two Crowns
Knights and Bikes
Like, all of the lego games (They're all similar mechanically, so pick one of the newer ones that look good)
Lovers in a dangerous spacetime
Magicka (I like the first one but the second one isn't bad)
Monaco
Moon Hunters
Necesse
Peak
Resident Evil 5/6 (Yes, really, its a great time in co-op)
Satisfactory
Secrets of Grindea
Split Fiction (This one may be graphically harder to run?)
Stardew Valley
Spiritfarer
Terraria
Trine games
Valheim (At least until mistlands)I'm kind of going off of semi-casual meaning not high intensity shooters or things that require crazy skills. Most of these are pretty easy to pick up and are generally forgiving. They shouldn't have launchers but if they added one in a later update, then dang.
Don't Starve is anything but casual lol
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I'd like to add their first game A Way Out. My partner and I had a blast playing it.
Different vibe and very slow. The newer games are more fun in my opinion.
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My partner expressed an interest in finding a game for both of us to play. She doesn't play many games, and I generally prefer single player games so I find myself at a loss for what's out there that we might like. Hoping the community here can help!
We have played some retro platformers together. Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, that kind of thing. And I know she plays puzzle match games on her phone. Which isn't a lot to go on.
It needs to be a multiplayer PC game that runs on Linux/Proton (if unsure, please suggest your game anyway. It probably does). One machine is a mid-range PC from about 5 years ago. So probably no recent AAA games with high system requirements.
I'm thinking:
- Easy to pick up and play and can offer a satisfying play experience with short play times.
- Cooperative play would be a plus.
- Being able to play with just two people (not forced to play with random people online).
My particularities:
- I won't play a game that requires creating/signing in to an account to play it at all. I can tolerate that requirement for multiplayer play, but I'd rather it just use a Steam account.
- I'd prefer if it didn't install a launcher.
- I'd like it to either have a built in server and/or be selfhostable.
Deep Rock Galactic can be played up to 4 players, but 2 is fine. There's difficulty scaling to what you want to do and you have to want to play high difficulty content to access it. You go around various biomes, mining for resources, fending off enemies. There's a multitude of mission types to play that can be fun to funny.
It was officially released in 2020 but was in early access for longer than that. It'll run well on mid range PC builds and supports Linux though with the typical warning it might be a little janky until you get the right modifications going. The DLC in the game is cosmetics and you have plenty you can earn through regular gameplay.
A racing style game that you two can play around in I believe is called Wreck Fest. It's a demolition styled racing game so crashing, smashing, and bashing are all encouraged. It has from straight racing to demolition derbies with AI.
It released in 2018 and should work fine on a mid-range PC, though might need to turn down some of the physics effects since there's a lot. Its DLC is different cars which isn't really pay to win as they have strengths and weaknesses to them. I've played it on single player and it's still fun, with a friend would be wonderful.
If you'd like a rogue lite kind of game, there's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Splintered Fate. It's a coop rogue lite where you build up power sets and see how they do. Can be up to 4 players but solo is very much viable as well.
