Benefits of Gaming as a Couple

With the winter months slowly closing in on us, it might be harder to get out and about for date nights. If that’s something you enjoy doing with your significant other when the weather allows, the winter chill could be a bit of a dampener. On the other hand, you may be ecstatic about the potential cozy nights that the cold air brings! Bundling up with your favorite person alongside you and a hot beverage of your choice sounds like the perfect Saturday evening pastime.

But what can you do for activities? If you want to try something a little different than binging something on Netflix or watching a movie, why not consider gaming together? Whether or not either of you is a gamer, finding games you can play as a couple could cure your cabin fever and keep you busy on a cold winter night. Gaming as a couple holds many benefits to relationships — keep reading below to find out more.

1. Improving Communication

One of the most significant benefits of gaming together is improved communication. Whether you live with your significant other, are in a long-distance relationship, or perhaps have just been caught up in work and haven’t had the time to see one another, gaming is a perfect way to find some common ground and be rewarded when you work together.

Playing co-op games means that you’ll need to communicate instructions or relay information to one another to progress forward, and you’re both dependent on one another to make sure that happens efficiently.

2.  Staying in Touch

It’s normal for adult life to occasionally swamp and overwhelm you. If you’ve felt like you haven’t been spending much time with your partner, then playing video games together is a perfect low-maintenance way to unwind with one another at the end of a long day. And there are so many fun online games for couples you could try out together.

Maybe it’s a hobby of yours already, but introducing your partner to online gaming is a great way to share an interest while staying in touch with them – without even having to leave your home.

3. An Interactive Experience

There’s nothing wrong with binge-watching every season of Stranger Things again or watching all the Harry Potter movies – we’re big fans of both. But sometimes, you want to engage with entertainment media more actively than just watching a screen. Gaming with your partner forces you to interact and immerse yourself in the game world.

You can either take turns on different levels or try playing co-op games if you want to play at the same time. Puzzle-solving will encourage you to work together and rely on one another’s strengths to complete a mission, but if you want to compete with one another, a bit of healthy competition can raise the stakes and make your experience more exciting – the loser cooks dinner, perhaps?

4. Long Distance Relationships

Long-distance relationships can be challenging. It’s not just that you don’t live with your significant other; you’re also separated by a considerable distance, making seeing each other regularly tricky. It’s natural to miss your partner and crave interaction to help you feel closer to them.

FaceTime calls every evening are great, but game nights or even gaming on the go via your phone throughout the day could also really boost the quality time you can spend with one another. Whether you want to play something thought-provoking like online chess, fun racing games like Mario Kart, a country-life RPG like Stardew Valley, or something else, the possibilities are endless.

5. Trying Something New

Many usually assume gaming is something only young people do – says who? Gaming has no age limit, so you shouldn’t let it deter you. It’s always a good idea to venture out of your comfort zone to try something new, and gaming might throw you off if you’re not in your twenties anymore, but it absolutely shouldn’t stop you. Research has shown that seniors who play video games benefit from better emotional health, and if you can enjoy it with your partner, even better.

6. Leveling Up

All in all, playing video games together can help you level up across the board. When you look at the bigger picture, you can reach new heights in your relationship by having a joint activity to look forward to at the end of an especially tough day at work.

Or, on a more game-specific note, both of you focusing on leveling up your rewards and inventory in the games can enhance the way you and your partner interact as a couple. You’ll have a shared goal that you can work towards together, and both of you will be able to take credit for your progression in the game, which can feel extremely rewarding.  

Any gamer knows how much time and effort can go into progressing through a game’s storyline – it’s challenging, but the joy and satisfaction of beating a difficult level is tough to top. This is why so many gamers enjoy strategy games that take a bit of thought to complete.

And yes, leveling up in a single-player game is always fun, but increasing your ranks with your partner is a different kind of excitement. You get to spend more quality time together and share in the enjoyment of a challenge conquered as a team. 

Conclusion

The benefits mentioned on this list are just a few reasons that playing online games with your significant other can help your relationship. Gaming as a couple can improve your communication, help you feel more connected, cure your boredom, and bring a new type of excitement into your love life. It’s a great way to keep the fire burning in your relationship and keep you busy during the winter season.