Friendly rivalry

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Competition where nobody stays upset for long. Mostly.

  • Switch
Mario in his red kart on Battle Course 1, holding a feather with balloons tied to the kart, as Yoshi and Peach drive behind him.
Official image via Nintendo eShop (opens in a new tab) · © Nintendo

Why couples might love it

Smart steering and auto-accelerate let a beginner race an experienced player and still have a chance. Few competitive games handle mixed skill this well.

Races take a few minutes, so it fits after dinner. Loser picks the film, winner makes the tea.

What you actually do together

  • Race split-screen and keep a running tally
  • Team up against computer racers
  • Play Battle mode for balloon fights

Best for

  • Couples who like playful competition
  • Mixed skill levels (thanks to the assists)
  • Short sessions

Things to know before playing

  • Blue shells exist. Forgive each other.
  • Turn on smart steering for the less experienced player.
  • Online play needs Nintendo Switch Online.

Our verdict

A classic for a reason. Keep it around for one-quick-race nights.

Couple compatibility
Overall 4.5/5

from our couch to yours ♡

if you liked this

Similar games for couples

All reviews
Top-down view of a poolside kitchen in Overcooked! All You Can Eat, with chefs working at counters that wrap around two swimming pools.

Expect some yelling

PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

Overcooked! All You Can Eat

Run a disastrous kitchen together. You will shout “PLATES!” and you will love it.

  • Chaotic
  • Co-op
  • Couch Co-op
Snipperclips characters Clip and Snip stacked on top of each other so Clip can carry a ball toward a basketball hoop on a graph-paper background.

Best first game together

Switch

Snipperclips

Two paper characters cut each other into new shapes to solve puzzles.

  • Puzzle
  • Couch Co-op
  • Co-op
GamePigeon app icon: a green bird wearing a white game controller on its head against a dark navy background.

Lives in your texts

iPhone

GamePigeon

Tiny games inside iMessage. Send a mini golf turn instead of a “good morning”.

  • Mobile
  • Free
  • Long Distance