By Max Jay

Being a gamer in a relationship can be rough sometimes, especially when your significant other isn’t into gratuitous violence and excessive foul language. But fear not, dear gamer: There are tons of great games you can play that both of you will enjoy.

Uncharted

Imagine Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider meets a well-written Michael Bay movie (suspend your disbelief for that last one). Is it in your brain? Good: That’s Uncharted.

The game is framed like an action movie with sweeping vistas and mind-blowing visuals. On top of that, developer Naughty Dog uses state of the art motion capture (mocap) technology to deliver hyper realistic performances, including the incomparable Nolan North as the game’s main character Nathan Drake.

The dialogue is lighthearted and humorous, inspiring an exciting charisma that flows through the entire experience. There’s even a relatively believable love story for the rom-com lovers out there. Whether or not your special someone is a gamer, they will almost definitely enjoy a heavy dose of Uncharted.

Portal

Portal started out as a simple gameplay experiment bundled in with the Orange Box (a collection of developer Valve’s most popular games) and immediately exploded into a worldwide phenomenon.

Don’t believe me? Well you know what popular Internet meme “The Cake is a Lie?” Well that came from Portal, and there’s more where that came from.

The game is saturated with a dry humor best suited for a Monty Python skit and is gilded with mind bending puzzles that will make even the smartest couple scratch their heads.

You want some cooperative play you say? Well you’re in luck! Portal spawned a sequel, the aptly named Portal 2, which includes a robust cooperative campaign that has all of the same hilarious dialogue and four-dimensional puzzle solving that you would come to expect from the series. Luckily the sequel is even better than the first game, so you’re not stepping into one of those situations where you end up so disappointed you can’t get out of bed the next day.

Portal is a perfect match for the couple that loves a good laugh right after slamming their heads together to solve an amazing puzzle.

BattleBlock Theater

For the arcade loving couple, Behemoth’s BattleBlock Theater is a must buy. The hand drawn visuals evoke old-school 90’s TV, while the goofy narrator inspires immature laughter with nearly every line delivered.

Meanwhile the game forces you to communicate closely and cooperate with your partner to reach some of the more difficult challenges you encounter throughout the game. Or you could always sabotage your partner and cause them to explode into a puff of shredded paper and smoke; totally up to you.

As if that wasn’t enough there’s also a never-ending online component to the game that will allow you and your special someone to make your own levels and play levels made by other gamers in the community.

Just make sure you don’t play it too late at night, because you may wake the neighbors with all the fun they’re not having.

The Last of Us

Sometimes you and your love may want a more somber experience: The Last of Us is game that tells a heart-wrenching story and forces the player to experience every second.

Using the same methods used in Uncharted, Naughty Dog strikes again with another movie like experience. This time, however, you’re looking at combining 28 Days Later with an intense Martin Scorsese film.

Keep in mind: The Last of Us is not for the faint of heart. It has the kind of subject matter that could make a Navy Seal shed a tear and it is relentlessly intense. Personally I had to take several breaks while playing through because it was just too much to handle sometimes.

That being said, a better story experience has yet to be delivered in the world of gaming.

BioShock Infinite

This is more for the sci-fi-loving couple. BioShock Infinite tells a story set in 1912 in the fictitious flying city of Columbia. You play as Booker Dewitt, a former Pinkerton Agent (think an old school CIA agent) as he attempts to rescue a mysterious woman named Elizabeth from the tower in which she is imprisoned.

As you play you’ll unfold the complex tale of Elizabeth and Booker while enjoying some truly jaw-dropping powers. If you and your special someone has ever talked about snapping your fingers and having a fireball launch out of your hand you’ll be pleasantly surprised with Infinite.

In terms of story, developer Irrational Games brings to life a mind bending sci-fi goodness that will keep both of you guessing beyond the end of the credits.

Mario Kart

Mario Kart satisfies some secret formula that makes even the most cynical anti-gamer melt into a puddle of giddy joy. I defy anyone that picks up a controller to play Mario Kart to not have a good time.

With Mario Kart Double Dash for the GameCube you can even play cooperatively with your better half. Don’t have a GameCube? Fear not, for it can also be played on the Wii, and everyone has the Wii!

Warning: A deal needs to be made between you and your significant other that if you are playing this game there will be no hard feelings when someone looses over and over. I’ve seen couples stronger than steel break down in a cartoon-like cloud of fighting after playing Mario Kart for thirty minutes. Don’t fight guys; it’s just a game (and ultimate bragging rights, but who’s counting).

So… No matter what you’re looking for in a game there is always something for you to share with your lover. From the action film lover, to the fluffy cartoon obsessed there is a genre for everyone.

What are your favorite games to play with your significant other? Sound off in the comments down below and share your suggestions with the rest of the loyal Internet.