Long distance relationships can be hard, especially when it comes to finding exciting ways to spend time together. I’ve recently “closed the gap” after five years of my long distance relationship. In spite of the distance, we managed to create meaningful memories through gaming together. We still love to game together all the time! Here is a list of games you can play with your partner while you wait to reunite or even when you’re hanging out together.
My Favorites
1. Satisfactory
In Satisfactory, you and your friend, should you choose not to adventure alone, are dropped on an alien planet. Your job? Mine all the resources by building a huge factory. Satisfactory is a great game to play with a friend, because the worlds you get to explore and build in are pretty expansive. This game will require you to mine, explore, recover materials from crash sites, and discover the local flora and fauna. Some planets are more difficult to traverse than others, but they’re all beautiful.
The only issue I had with this game was that it lacks a strong narrative, so it lost my attention after a while. However, not every game needs to be all about a story! I enjoyed that Satisfactory is challenging; Sometimes ore deposits can be inconveniently located and it’s fun to puzzle out the best factory design. My partner and I spent dozens of hours building and exploring together, and we’ll definitely pick it back up soon!
2. Valheim
Valheim, released by the Swedish developers at Iron Gate Studio, is another game in the base-building, creature-fighting genre. I’ve heard Valheim affectionately described as “Minecraft but Norse.” It’s an apt description — you play as a fallen warrior trapped in purgatory until you prove yourself worthy of Valhalla by defeating all the monsters in the realm. Valheim is fun as a solo player, but it’s enhanced tenfold with friends! The more, the merrier! You and your band of warriors are dropped in a ring of towering runestones and nudged in the right direction by tips from Hugin, Odin’s helpful messenger raven. Together, you must find resources, build shelter, and figure out how to fight the monsters described in the runestones.
I can’t get enough of Valheim. I played on the Hard difficulty setting with my friends, which was a bit too challenging for me, but on a lower setting I think I could play this game forever. Sailing across the ocean, braving dark dungeons, and sitting in our cozy base drinking mead with my friends will always bring a smile to my face. The world is gorgeous — it’s one of those games where you look up in awe at the World Tree every night. The building mechanic, a huge part of survival, is actually fun and generally user-friendly. The seven currently available biomes are all unique and challenging in their own way, and I love the bits of the past that are scattered across the land. Valheim is definitely a favorite that I will keep coming back to play with my partner!
3. Minecraft
A classic. I don’t know a dedicated gamer today who hasn’t had at least one Minecraft phase. Designed at the peak of “edutainment” and even implemented as a way to teach math in some schools, Minecraft is a game that’s got it all.
Spend hours building a medieval town together, explore a unique, expansive procedurally generated world, and make your own dystopian village dreams come true as cutthroat supreme overlords. If you’re feeling adventurous, the two of you can even make it your goals to defeat every boss in the game.
4. Terraria
Similarly to Minecraft, Terraria is another procedurally generated block-based world where you can build and explore. However, instead of being 3D, Terraria is a 2D side-scroller. I had a lot of fun playing Terraria with my partner, especially figuring out how to attract each unique NPC! Mine, explore the 10+ biomes, and try to defeat the Corruption with your bestie for only $10!
5. Sid Meyer’s Civilization V and VI
The Sid Meyer’s Civilization franchise is an oldie but a goodie. One of the leading 4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) games, Civilization V and Civilization VI have both been staples in my long distance relationship.
These games center around building an empire from scratch and trying to conquer the rest of the players through science, culture, religion, or military might. These are long games that provide days’ worth of strategic fun! My favorite between the two is definitely Civilization VI, but be sure to play with the Gathering Storm DLC for a more immersive experience!
6. It Takes Two
On the verge of a divorce, you and your partner are turned into a pair of tiny dolls after your daughter hears you fighting. A talking book, (love) Doctor Hakim, puts you through a series of harrowing adventures to get you to regain your spark and fall in love again. It Takes Two is heartwarming, silly, and a fantastic game to play with someone you love. I had a lot of fun playing it with my partner and with one of my good friends!
7. The We Were Here Series
Do you enjoy a good puzzle? The We Were Here series follows two adventurers who get separated in a dark, spooky castle. The two of you must solve puzzles and test your communication skills in order to be reunited and finally escape. starts off with a free installment, but the intrigue doesn’t stop there! There are four full-length games in this series, and one mini-installment that features more team building mini-games! The We Were Here series is one of my favorite games that I played with my partner. I wish I could play them all over again!
8. Astroneer
Astroneer is a cute planet exploration and crafting game. Build a base, terraform planets, and build ships to explore the universe with your friends! Astroneer is a sweet sandbox game that is just the right amount of difficult and casual. The low-poly graphics style gives it a soft vibe and there’s no end to the shenanigans you can get up to with your friends!
9. Phasmophobia
Are you looking for something a little more spooky? Phasmophobia gives you the opportunity to be the ghost hunter you always dreamed of becoming. Explore haunted sites, determine what kind of creature inhabits it, and try to survive to collect your reward — exorcism optional. As you gain experience as a ghost hunter, you can upgrade your gear and find cursed items that will make your job a little easier… at a cost. Phasmophobia is also available in VR, and it has full voice recognition so you can at least swear at the ghosts as they rip you to pieces!
10. Stardew Valley
Back to cozy vibes, no co-op game list would be complete without Stardew Valley. If you’re not familiar, in Stardew Valley, you play as a burnt-out corporate professional who decided to quit your job in the big city and move to the small seaside village of Pelican Town. Your late grandfather left you his old farm, knowing that you would one day grow tired of the fast-paced city life. As a new transplant in Pelican Town try to find some meaning and respite, farming, mining, and helping nurture the local community.
Stardew Valley is renowned for jump starting the cozy farming sim boom because of its rich lore, interesting townsfolk, and seemingly endless things to do. If you’re looking for a cozy game where you can even marry your significant other, Stardew Valley will easily give you hundreds of hours to spend upgrading your farm together.
11. No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky had a rough start at its 2016 launch, but it’s up and running now with over 100 hours of gameplay that you can enjoy with your friends or partner! Explore the universe, build bases, improve your ship, and more. You can even cook delicious food and give them away!
12. Wizard of Legend
If you like rogue-likes, Wizard of Legend will be a good investment. It’s only 16 euros on Steam, although it goes on sale quite frequently! You play as a wizard (or wizards) whose goal is to reach the end of a dungeon to become the titular “Wizard of Legend.” Can you become legendary together with your friend?
These games hold a special place in my heart, but I’ve also played several other games with my long distance friends, and hope to play several more. Plus, you can never have too many options! If the games that worked for my partner and me don’t work for you, maybe you’ll find something in these quick lists!
Co-Op Games Masterlist
Farming Sims/Neighborvanias
- Traveller’s Rest
- Sun Haven
- Fae Farm
- Coral Island
- Palia
- Stardew Valley
Survival
- Raft
- Starbound
- Deep Rock Galactic
- Stationeers
- Witch It
- No Man’s Sky
- Astroneer
- Terraria
- Minecraft
- Satisfactory
- Valheim
- Core Keeper
- Enshrouded
- Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure
RPGs
- Sea of Thieves
- Baldur’s Gate III
- Divinity: Original Sin II
- Wildermyth
- Baladins
- Totally Spies: Cyber Mission
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- Sea of Stars
- Book of Travels
- ASKA
- The Last Oricru – Final Cut
Strategy
- Teamfight Tactics
- Sid Meyer’s Civilization V and VI
- Wyldermyth
- Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
Horror/Thriller
- Barotrauma
- Phasmophobia
- Lethal Company
- The Dark Pictures (series)
- R.E.P.O.
- Content Warning
Party Games
- Ultimate Chicken Horse
- Pico Park
- Pummel Party
- Forza Horizon 5
- Mario Kart
- Pit People
- Peak
Rogue-Likes
- Spells and Secrets
- Ravenswatch
- Crawl
- Risk of Rain 2
- Wizard of Legend
Two Player Only
- A Way Out
- Haunted Paws
- Cuphead
- Unravel Two
- Biped
- Keywe
- Portal 2
- Bread & Fred
- Tick Tock: a Tale for Two
- The We Were Here Series
- It Takes Two
- Chained Together
I’d love to hear about your experiences with any of these games, or if you’ve found a new favorite game from this list. Let me know in the comments!
Alexia Unplugged 
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