Top 5 Video Games for Couples to Play Together

The non-traditional video game controls make Guitar Hero World Tour accessible to the casual gamer, yet playing on Hard or Expert requires some real skill, making it interesting enough for the veteran.

World Tour lets you play on guitar, bass, drums, or vocals, and each player chooses their own level of difficulty, so you are not forced to play at the level of your significant other's. But even newbies should find it relatively easy to progress to harder levels after a few songs.

Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Windows, Mac

4) Soul Caliber IV

The fourth installment of a popular fighting game, Soul Caliber IV incorporates Star Wars characters like Yoda, "The Apprentice," and Darth Vader and has highly engrossing character customization. Besides different outfits for your characters in any color you please, you can customize your character's face, hairstyle, voice, skin color, physique, and fighting style.

If it sounds like I am more enamored of the character customization than the fighting, it's because I am. When it comes to the fighting, I find it hard for a casual gamer like me to perform the moves and combos well under stress (anything out of training mode), whereas in a game like Street Fighter IV (see Honorable Mentions below), I find the moves much more accessible.

However, stronger players (a.k.a. my boyfriend), can play with an adjustable handicap on their health meter, so that it takes less hits to knock 'em down. I guess you could say it's cheating, but let's be honest with ourselves: it's fun for no one when one player is constantly beating the other in less than a minute. The handicap system gives the casual gamer some breathing room for improvement, and makes it exciting enough for the veteran gamer to stay on their toes.

Street Fighter also has a handicap system, but in the end I chose Soul Caliber for more interesting character design and beautiful arenas.

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

3) Earth Defense Force 2017

This is a somewhat obscure title exclusive to the Xbox, but I had to include it because it's so ridiculous and fun.

The earth has been attacked by aliens in the forms of human-eating ants and spiders, giant Godzilla-sized robots, and various flying objects. You are on a task force to eradicate them all. Earth Defense Force 2017 is a third-person shooter that two people can play co-op locally. Casual gamers who are wary of shooters have no need to be of this one. The low-budget graphics and complete lack of gameplay complexity (shoot everything) make it a low-pressure game.

53 stages can be played at five different levels of difficulty, providing countless hours of saving the world together.

Platforms: Xbox 360

2) Castle Crashers

Castle Crashers is a side-scrolling 2-D adventure game with role-playing elements. Up to four players can play co-op locally or online. You attack with melee weapons, ranged weapons, and magic. Gain experience as you play and level up to gain better weapons and magic.

The game uses a quirky visual style reminiscent of a talented five-year-old's drawings to depict everything from bright-eyed princesses and bushy-tailed forest creatures, to pooping bears and pools of blood.

Platforms: Xbox 360 (Live Arcade)

1) Left 4 Dead

What could be more romantic than being the sole survivors of a zombie apocalypse? How about shoving away a lethal Hunter who is crouched over and clawing at your significant other, and putting a bullet in its head? How about helping your partner up from the ground and gruffly telling them to hold still while you use your first-aid kit to heal 'em?

Forget the roses on Valentine's Day and grab a copy of Left 4 Dead instead.

Left 4 Dead is a first-person shooter featuring four survivors. Two people can play locally with two computer survivors or two online friends rounding off the team. An AI "Director" keeps the game interesting by placing weapons and enemies in different places each time you play through a level. This is not a game for people who want to wander off alone or pull selfish antics--you learn very quickly that you must stick together or die alone. There's nothing like knowing that you really need each other to survive to make a relationship last.

Platforms: Xbox 360, Windows

Honorable Mentions:

Street Fighter IV
Fighting game that is a favorite with more hardcore gamers, but has accessible moves and combos. Players can handicap themselves to make battles with those less skilled more interesting.
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Arcade

PixelJunk Monsters
A "tower defense" game that can be played two-player co-op. Comes highly recommended by a friend who spent a lot of time playing it with his girlfriend.
Platforms: PlayStation 3 (Network download)

PixelJunk Eden
I've only seen screenshots of this game but they look gorgeous. Another unique addition to the PixelJunk series, in PixelJunk Eden you play as a "Grimp" (you grip things and jump) and must maintain your gardens, collecting glowing Spectra to make plants grow and eventually facing enemies that would halt your progress. Up to three players can play local co-op.
Platforms: PlayStation 3 (Network download)

Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise
This sequel to the charming simulation game didn't make my list since the local cooperative gameplay is for one primary player and one "helper."
Platforms: Xbox 360

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
I'm a huge fan RPGs but I usually play them on my own. I can't wait to try Sacred 2, which has offline co-op available for two players on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (with four player co-op online).
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows