Game for anything: What to play when the conversation starts to run down
Run out of things to say to each other during lockdown? Sick of talking to yourself? Get the video games out and you’ll have a whole new conversation starter.
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Some of us can talk underwater. Others, not so much. For those people, even if lucky enough to be hibernating with others whose company they enjoy, there is a chance they’re running out of conversation.
Once you’ve covered childhood traumas, what you did at work in the other room today, and which housemate you’d eat first in a food shortage, there’s sometimes not much to say.
But there is still something comforting about being together during what can feel like the end of the world; and playing games is a good way to strengthen your bond or discover that you’re incompatible.
So, in no particular order, here are five great games to play together on the couch.
Just Dance 2020 – Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PC
Local multiplayer – 1-4 players
Whether you have the skills of Step Up-era Channing Tatum, or the grace of a wombat slipping off a log, Just Dance is a great way to learn new dance moves and get some exercise. It’s also just fun to do with friends and family.
NBA 2K20 – Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PC
Local and online multiplayer – 1-4 players
Real-life sports might be cancelled for now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the NBA season. Just jump to the “NBA Today” mode which lets you play the games scheduled for the real world that day, with the injuries and stats correct to where the real players left off.
Overcooked 2 – Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PC
Local and online multiplayer – 1-4 players
The king has accidentally raised the unbread, and now you must cook to save the world. Does it make sense? No. However it’s light, funny and deceptively difficult. The game tests relationships and patience, but if you can work as a team, you’ll find yourselves laughing about a yeasted apocalypse, and that’s beautiful.
New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe – Nintendo Switch
Local multiplayer – 1-4 players
The perfect distraction from what’s going on outside because, unless you spend a lot of your time beating up BDSM turtles, it has nothing to do with real life. It’s particularly good for an experienced player to team up with a newbie, because everyone knows and loves Mario, and playing as easier characters like Toadette or Nabbit evens the playing field for newbies.
Gears 5 – Xbox One & PC
Local and online multiplayer – 1-3 players locally, 1-5 players online
If you crave a gritty enemy you can shoot, Gears 5 is an excellent choice. There are a couple of different ways to play together on the couch; you can go through the whole campaign, battling the Swarm of aliens while discovering more about Kait’s family history, or you can do a few smaller Horde missions for bite-sized catharsis.
Originally published as Game for anything: What to play when the conversation starts to run down