It’s officially fall, and the perfect season to curl up with a thick blanket, a pumpkin-flavored sweet treat and a cozy couch co-op game. For anyone looking for a low-stress multiplayer video game to spend a comfortable evening with your friends or family, here are my recommendations.
“Stardew Valley”
I know everyone raves about this game, but basic is basic for a reason, and if you haven’t played “Stardew Valley” yet, now is the time. In this wholesome open-world farming simulator game, your character has escaped their corporate hellscape by moving to a small, welcoming farming town they inherited from their grandfather. Players can do everything from settling down and starting a family to fighting monsters in the mines after dark, all full of cozy countryside adventures about what it means to live a good life.
“Cuphead: Don’t Deal with the Devil”
In the 1930’s cartoon-styled run-and-gun game, Cuphead and Mugman have to fight the Devil’s debtors to pay back their gambling debt. This game is difficult, so expect to die, and then die some more, but trust me, the beautiful side-scrolling animation, jazzy soundtrack, visionary boss fights and sprinting around with pea-shooters make it worth it and marvelous for an eerie, chilly evening.
“Terraria”
This action-adventure sandbox game is perfect for any “Minecraft” lovers looking for a game with a little more combat. “Terraria” is a 2D side-scroller with mobs, caves, crafting, fighting and more, all in the name of survival and glory. It’s cozy and thrilling, a perfect mix for a night with a spooky chill in the air.
“It Takes Two”
In “It Takes Two,” Rose Goodwin’s parents tell her they’re getting divorced, and in her devastation and desperation to keep them together, she accidentally turns them into dolls who have to work together to get back to her. In this magical two-player adventure, players must work together to mend the broken relationship and get back to Rose, reluctantly working through their issues to get back to their real bodies. “It Takes Two” is a low-intensity co-op, with a wholesome storyline, competitive mini-games and whimsical surprises — adding a new perspective to both the world and the couple’s marriage.
“Valheim”
In this open-world survival game, play as a fallen Viking in the afterlife, fighting to prove themselves and be admitted into the halls of Valhalla. Players have to summon and defeat seven enemies of Odin, traversing different biomes and challenges along the way. “Valheim” is a beautiful cross between “Skyrim” and “Minecraft,” and while the game is difficult, the blend of cozy survival beyond death is the perfect combo for a restful, spooky evening.
“Luigi’s Haunted Mansion 3”
Mario may control most of the Nintendo spotlight, but Luigi takes the cake when dealing with ghosts. In “Luigi’s Haunted Mansion 3,” Luigi puts the ghostbusters to shame, clearing out a haunted hotel with a vacuum, plunger and a flashlight. The light-hearted paranormal puzzle game makes for a charming, haunted adventure as Luigi and his gooey clone, Gooigi, complete the levels of the haunted hotel and unlock its secrets along the way.