Single-player games to play with my partner
My wife and I have just finished playing Chants of Sennaar together. I know it's a single-player game, but working on the puzzles together is very satisfying, and the controls are simple enough (i.e. point and click) that it doesn't feel like the person controlling the game is "playing" the game, and we can discuss what's going on at our own pace.
Does anyone have any suggestions for other, similar games with (a) relatively simple interactions that let us play the game together, and (b) an interesting, engaging, and beautiful story?
I've seen a lot of recommendations for Obra Dinn as a similar game around gaining and then applying knowledge in order to solve the puzzles of the game. I confess the style isn't quite as appealing, but maybe we should give that a go next. Alternatively, Heaven's Gate looks like it's more explicitly a similar game about translation, but doesn't look like it'll be as easy to play together. I also thought about more old-school point-and-click games, but from everything I remember about those, they were less about figuring out puzzles with logic, and more about trying all the items in your inventory until something works...
Disco Elysium, it has simple interactions so you can play at your own pace, great choices and puzzles to consider, and an amazing story with fantastic writing. Played it alongside my partner, had a blast.
I love how you can die in a single action, within seconds from starting the game, and it's still satisfying.
How? I just finished the game
If you fail your check to grab your tie from the ceiling fan, you overexert yourself, have a heart attack, and die.
IIrc I died of heart attack after my hungover 1 Physique has been assaulted by the light I just turned on.
I am flabbergasted I have not seen Outer Wilds mentioned yet. In fact, out of most of the singleplayer games out there that are decent to play with partners, Outer Wilds is one of the few that is almost a recommended-must to play with your partner at the same time. I hesitate to call it an escape room because that can scare some people off... it isn't like the We Were Here series (multiplayer but also a great playthrough with partners :D). But in the same way that you can't really talk to somebody about an escape room without spoiling the surprises, you're going to find yourself having no one else to gush over a discovery you find in that game until someone else you know has beaten it.
Unless, however, you start a game with someone else, which then gives you someone who knows just as much as you as any given time, to go 'Did you see that thing?! That thing was awesome!!!'.
I played Outer Wilds with my 6 years old son watching. He enjoyed it as much as I did.
I will second Outer Wilds! Initially, my S/O and I played it separately, but I had a hard time with the flying mechanics so I just started watching him play it. And it was so much fun for the both of us. I helped solve some of the puzzles! There was a moment I was laying in bed to go to sleep when one of the puzzles clicked and I gasped and shared with my S/O and we were sooooooo excited and amazed and there was just so much fun even just watching.
I read the first half of your post and immediately thought to recommend Return of the Obra Dinn, then I read the rest. The art style may seem off-putting, but it's an absolutely stellar puzzle game and the only thing I really, really hate about it is that I haven't been able to find anything that scratches the same itch.
Another game you may enjoy is Case of the Golden Idol, which also a sequel coming this year.
Yeah, I'm going to echo Obra Dinn as well. It's more "hands on" with the controls, but not demanding by any stretch. It's actually a great couple's game because you are not in any rush whatsoever as you slowly piece together what wild adventure happened on this ship. It's a masterfully done game and I can't recommend it enough.
+1 for obra dinn! My husband and I actually played this together fully, he did the controls whilst I had a notebook and wrote down all the clues. It's barely a controller needed game, the controls exist to move you around but are meaningless otherwise - it's all in the puzzling together of the story.
Absolutely phenomenal game and also irks the shit out of me that there's simply nothing else like it.
Maaaybe Her Story, that's got the same kind of sit down and work out the clues vibe. But nothing with the gorgeous aesthetic and puzzle mechanics of Obra Dinn.
My wife likes games a lot but really can't play them, she just never got the controls down past the NES era. We've had a few games that have worked in the same set up you described with me driving and both of us picking courses of action.
The first one we really got into was on the xbox, but I see a copy on steam now too... dreamfall: The Longest Journey. We both really got into the story and enjoyed it all the way through.
All of the telltale games that are highly rated were good. She particuarly liked the Wolf Among Us, and I meant to play through the walking dead ones but I think life took over there. But all of those are great as you quickly yell out decisions when they pop up.
Life is Strange was another one we really liked, we didn't play the second one actually so maybe I put it in the queue.
Her Story is pretty good for two people puzzling it out together as well.
More recently we got the Quarry and while we only had one session (just time is hard now) we were both really enjoying it.
I was going to try binding of edith finch as I hadn't played that but it made her motion sick watching it, pretty much any fps style gets to her, she was excited to try obra din but again motion sickness won over there.
In terms of adventure games, I mean I grew up watching my dad play most PC games through the 80s and 90s so I may be hard wired to enjoy game watching, but I had zero issues watching almost every sierra and lucas arts game being played, I think my sister who was pretty adverse to the pc would sit down and watch the kings quest games everytime too. I mean gaming has come a ways so maybe not as tollerable to go back but eh.
If you are going to try one I'd go for the remake of monkey island, it was just done so well and adds voice acting, plus the puzzles are not that insane and the comedy in it is great. Going back old school I'd give Loom a shot, it's still point and click and I don't think it had crazy puzzling. Sam and Max hit the road i think is still funny and worth a play through.
More recently I think thimbleweed park and broken age were fun. For broken age I honstly really enjoyed watching the documentry about it until they said stop for spoilers. Then played the game, then back to finish it off. It was a great experience to have watched so much about it then see the finished product.
Hope one of those works for you guys off that list!
I can second Life is Strange. My sister played it with her friend.
In general choice games are quite fitting. Until Dawn, Dark Picture Anthology, quarry, Detroit Become Human
Saw the title and I immediately came in here to say "Her Story". My wife never plays games and this one grabbed us right away we barely moved off the couch for a whole Saturday until we figure everything out.
@Johz, Her Story is on sale on Stream for 2.95 right now. Had it on my wish list and bought it last night.
You mean Telltale. Taleworlds is the developer of Mount and Blade.
Whew old man moment thank you!
I haven't played Chants of Sennaar so I can't really compare but I'd take a look at The Witness. If you're specifically looking for an adventure game it probably isn't for you as it as more of a pure puzzle game. If you want puzzles to work on together though I think it will be excellent.
If you're coming off Chants of Sennaar then I think Ghost Trick, Hypnospace Outlaw and the Ace Attorney games might be up your alley. Interesting styles and narrative with plenty of twists to keep things interesting.
Slightly stranger picks: Betrayal at Club Lou and The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood are interesting little... I don't even know how to describe them. Narrative sims where you build your own skills and affect the world through surreal decisions. My wife and I still debate our positions on custom tarot and pizza psychology like its a normal thing people do.
Personally found that Obra Dinn gets pretty tedious, especially after working through the scenes the first time but Case of the Golden Idol is a similar experience in a more digestible package.
There's also a few spectator games that I've found fun for audiences to watch. This is normally very linear affairs with a more cinematic, third person presentation. Uncharted (2 and 4) and The Last of Us was a whole family affair back in the day and recently HiFi Rush, Stray and Guardians of the Galaxy was good fun for my wife and kid to watch.
And even if your wife is not the most comfortable with playing, Super Mario Wonder and It Takes Two are couples experiences I'd recommend for everyone.
I also recommend case of the golden idol. My gf and I played it together and it was very fun
Machinarium is a wonderful game. It's a point and click adventure about a robot having to save his girlfriend in a lovely steampunk-ish world and with wonderful music and a great story.
I imagine any of the Myst series would work well. Granted the first one has to be 30 years old by now. They may have updated it to run on modern hardware. You explore interesting places and solve puzzles to continue on. The latest one is called Obduction I think.
Myst has been remastered a number of times, these days it runs in full realtime 3D and looks great.
The sequel, Riven, (my favorite) has never been remastered (due to losing the original assets in a fire, IIRC), but should still run ok. If it doesn't run as is, I think it's supported by ScumVM. Also, it's getting a ground up remake that should be out in the not-too-distant future!
Obduction isn't directly connected to the Myst games, so you don't need to have played those to make sense of the story, and the latest game is actually Firmament, which is also standalone (and fairly short by comparison).
Quern is a better Mystlike than Firmament, IMHO.
I'm also looking forward to playing the upcoming Neyyah!
+1 for this. Probably the best gaming experience with my girlfriend was working through Myst together a few years back.
Now we've got to find time to start Riven.
Kentucky Route Zero
I recommend “It Takes Two.” While it’s a multiplayer game, it’s local based, split screen, and both of you can play and solve puzzles together. My partner and I enjoy it a lot. It’s pretty funny, too.
For a newer game but a little more simplified - Cocoon. It's not too long, so I'm sure it could be knocked out in a few sessions.
My wife played Zelda (lately BotW and TotK) and I referenced the companion book and acted like a guide or navigator. I felt like we were both playing. In fact if she was tired of attempting a difficult part, I'd have a go at it. Great times!
Seconding the modern Zelda titles. My wife knits while I play - it's a great pick up and play experience.
Have you played Braid before? It's a delightfully trippy and challenging puzzle platformer that I played with a friend exactly the way you and your Wife are playing. The controls are a little more complicated than point and click, but for the most part you're just looking at moving, jumping (I think? I can't even remember all the mechanics), and carrying a thing.
It does a lot of time-related shenanigans and you have to figure out how to manipulate the mechanics in order to complete the puzzles, but it's well worth the work! There are also secrets that are tucked behind some devilishly hard puzzles.
A remaster of Braid is being released on April 30 this year!
No way, that's awesome news! I'm sure I've forgotten enough about the puzzles over the years to give it a shot with my wife myself.
Detroit: Becoming Human is a nice single-player game that two people can play. It's not open-world. The story is really engaging and you have to make decisions that later affect the world. There is a crime-solviing element to the game similar to L.A Noire. So it's a problem solving adventure game, where you can focus on your decisions.
It's completely different from Chants of Sennaar though... I just had fun playing it with my girlfriend.
You might find some good ones on this question! Way back when I first joined I asked about games that had choices that mattered, with the mindset of playing them on Discord with friends giving input. There's several recommendations spanning from visual novels to RPGs.
Most notable one to come to mind (which I haven't played yet myself, but it's high on my list) is Killer Frequency. It's about a radio show host trying to stop a serial killer and save callers.
Then one I have played: Oxenfree. Played it with a friend, and had a lot of fun trying to piece together the story and figure out what to do to progress things!
Oh yes, seconding Oxenfree and Oxenfree 2 as good games to play with someone! They both have great stories and atmosphere and it's fun to talk about it as you play. The decisions in the game will affect the outcome, too, so replaying them is definitely an option
They're a little older but the Broken Sword games are pretty good in my opinion. Detective stuff, with hints of the mystical, not to give too much away. They remind me of the old Sierra adventure games, but a bit less goofy.
How about Gemini Rue? It's a story-driven sci fi point-and-click game with noir vibes. I enjoyed solving the puzzles and unraveling the mystery between the two main characters. The game alternates between their POVs. There were unexpected combat segments requiring the use of your keyboard (WASD & spacebar) to dodge and shoot bullets. I thought that part was alright.
This game and the other wadjet eye point and clicks are great!
Banner Saga could potentially work for you. Progression alternates between the interactive story and turn-based battles against the baddies.
The mood of the game is quite unique.
Trine is a puzzle game that is made to play with others. I find its fantasy universe endearing. The single player mode even feels a little weird, it's designed around couch co-op. And the graphics/art are beautiful.
Little nightmares might fit that bill. I haven't played it with my partner but with a few friends and it worked out fine. We did take turns actually playing but it didn't make much of a difference.
We had a great thread about specific types of game recommendations, your request fits in pretty well with this comment chain.
Transistor is a beautiful game with a beautiful story and offers the option to take all forms of combat in either real-time or turn based gameplay. This way you can stop the game and think about what you wanna do together!
My top recommendations were going to be The Witness and Obduction.
However, since those have already been recommended above, I will throw out this suggestion (even though it's very unlike the others) because my partner and I have derived an immense amount of pleasure from it over the years: Noita.
This is a fairly action-heavy game, so the person manning the controls will be more heavily involved in the gameplay than the person watching. However, the gameplay is very entertaining to watch, and the person who is not controlling things can often perceive the environment more clearly and spot things the other cannot (for the person who is manning the controls, the game can really put them into a can't-see-the-forest-for-the-trees headspace). We have a ton of fun swapping back and forth between these two roles, and when we play cooperatively like this, we get a lot further along than when we just play it on our own. It has many enticing secrets and puzzles to discover.
This is not a video game, but you might also like the board game Pandemic. Although technically this is a multiplayer game, we get the most fun out of playing it entirely cooperatively: instead of assigning one character to each of us, we will play with several characters that belong to both of us equally and then decide all of their moves together. We have the most fun when we set the difficulty level so that we win only about 50% of the time.
I played a ton of Slay the Spire over screenshare in the pandemic. Since there's no time limit you can discuss every move as much as you want, and have breaks to make tea whenever. I guess any turn-based game works well that way.
(Currently playing a lot of Inkbound, which can be played both single and co-op. Again, since it's turn based it gives enough options to chat)
those games don't have that :)