The best games to play with friends or a partner

It seems to me that when we were kids, we spent a lot more time playing games with our friends. We had more time, and even then, games were still a novelty. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like developers three decades ago also focused more on multiplayer experiences, while today they're more focused on single-player. Maybe my circle of gaming friends is smaller than others, so I don't come across games that are designed for two-player play as often. I admit that I'd rather invest my time in a game with a really good story than countless hours in Call of Duty, but every now and then I'm tempted to hang out in a good game.

This isn't a cry for help that I need more gaming friends, but more of a reason to reflect on what games I've enjoyed playing with friends in the past or recently.

It Takes Two – a good lesson on how to communicate with your partner

It Takes Two is a game where you play as a husband and wife who are on the verge of a breakup, but are given the chance to save their marriage through solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles. The lesson teaches you how to communicate with your partner to find a solution to all obstacles together. And also a lesson in patience, especially if your partner is not as passionate a gamer as you are. The gameplay style is very simple and charming. Each puzzle is carefully designed and different from the last. I would easily rate it a 10/10 among games to play with a partner or friend. An added bonus is the ability to play in pairs with only one copy of the game.

Also check out the games A Way Out and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, which are also the work of director Josef Fares.

Split Fiction – another masterpiece

Split Fiction wasn't on my radar, so I was even more surprised when a friend recommended it to me, and we finished it together. You only need one copy of the game to play with two people, which is very budget-friendly.

Split Fiction was developed by Hazelight, the studio behind the aforementioned It Takes Two. This time, we take on the role of two authors (Mio and Zoe) who are thrown into a fantasy world of their own creation. Once again, the developer has provided excellent obstacles, and the gameplay mechanics are also sophisticated and fluid.

Portal 2 – a classic that almost everyone knows

You and a friend take on the role of a robot and together you must figure out how to get through a maze of various puzzles. Little things often matter, and a second of carelessness can mean the difference between success and failure. You are accompanied by GlaDOS throughout, who spices up the action with wacky humor. While the focus is on working with your friend, that doesn't mean you can't play some pranks on them. After all, multiplayer games are all about having fun.

Sea of Thieves – who hasn't dreamed of being a pirate with infinite freedom?

Blindfold yourself, fly your flag, catch the wind and set sail for the riches that await you on the horizon. That's the concept of Sea of Thieves, with friends keeping you company as you plunder - or standing against you. It depends on what you want. You can also play it solo, but it's definitely a game that's more fun when you play with others. You'll be searching for treasure, trading found items and hunting down immortal pirate captains. Somewhere along the way, you'll also encounter the kraken, a mythological creature that has claimed the lives of many brave pirates.

GTA Online - You + Friends = Chaos²

GTA Online is the reason we've been waiting a decade for GTA VI. Everything you can do in the regular GTA V can be done in the online version, but with a group of friends, which only increases the amount of chaos you'll cause in the city of Los Santos. Together, you can rob banks, race, perform stunts, and participate in a variety of activities that have been created by a rich community over the past decade.

Forza Horizon 5 is great for car lovers

Forza is one of the most recognizable racing franchises for a reason. Forza Horizon 5 takes you through the vast locations of Mexico, from jungles and sand dunes to coastal villages. You can race and win the title of best driver alone, or your friends can jump behind the wheel of the steel horses, regardless of whether they play on PS5, Xbox or PC.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes - a race against time

This time you're not racing cars, but time. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is available on all platforms, but for me the experience is best in VR. You put on your VR glasses and see a briefcase in front of you, which contains a bomb and various tools with which you will try to deactivate it. This is your responsibility, and the responsibility of your friends outside the world of virtual reality is to guide you through the entire process with the help of guides and documents. Accurate communication is key, as well as speed, because time is running out.

Escape Academy – do you like escape rooms?

If you like escape rooms where you and your friends have to find clues and use them to solve various puzzles, then you'll also like the game Escape Academy, which is essentially an escape room in a virtual world.

Borderlands 3/4

In Borderlands games, you get the feeling that the best player isn't the one with the most accurate shots, but the one who can cause the most chaos and spill the most blood with the most bizarre weapons. You can play them alone, but it's better to share the devastation with a friend, with whom you can compete in the most innovative way to defeat enemies.

Borderlands 4 is the latest game in the franchise. Although the optimization is terrible and you need a solid computer for normal FPS, it still offers a lot of fun. However, if you haven't decided to buy it yet, you can check out the previous game, which is often available in some promotions.

Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2

Larian Studios is a studio that knows how to develop worlds that you can get lost in for hundreds of hours, where every little detail really affects the events surrounding the protagonist. Although you are always accompanied by a loyal group of supporting characters with interesting backgrounds that you have the opportunity to explore, the experience is still different if you fight alongside a friend or partner. It is different if you cannot influence the decisions of a friend, who may, for example, decide to mow down everyone in front of him (both allies and villains). This spontaneity can lead to a completely different ending than you initially planned, and that is also the charm of playing with others.

The same studio also developed Divinity: Original Sin 2, which lets you invite up to three friends who love the D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) concept. You'll find a fantastic story, a world that responds to your decisions, and endless possibilities to experiment with different strategies and combinations to defeat enemies.

The game doesn't end when you complete the main story, however. When the credits roll at the end, you'll unlock Game Master mode, which allows you to create your own D&D campaign.  

Creating gaming memories is sweeter when you share them with others

Minecraft, any Call of Duty game, Battlefield, Apex Legends, Valheim, Outward, Left 4 Dead, Resident Evil 5, Helldivers 2, Time Splitters 2, Moving Out! … It's hard to list all the games that are best for two, but I hope I managed to find at least one that you will spend fun moments with others.

Which game do you like to play with friends?