I was talking to a friend the other day, and she told me about this moment she had with her boyfriend last week.
They were sitting on the couch, scrolling through Netflix for the third time that evening, both of them saying, “I don’t know, what do you want to watch?” in that tone that means they’re both bored but can’t figure out what they actually want to do instead.
Immediately, she thought to herself: When did couples stop playing together?
Not playing games on their phones while sitting next to each other, but actually engaging — laughing until their stomachs hurt, being silly, competitive, and truly present with each other. Somewhere between adulting, routines, and the general heaviness of life, many couples forget how to just… have fun together.
If you’re looking for ways to reconnect, laugh more, and create those cozy night-in memories that make a relationship feel special, here are some of the best activities and games you can try.
1. Cook Something New Together
Pick a recipe neither of you has tried before and tackle it as a team. The beautiful thing about cooking together is that it’s collaborative and creative. You’re working toward the same goal, problem-solving together, and you get to enjoy the results of your teamwork. Plus, there’s something intimate about being in the kitchen together, tasting as you go, and figuring things out side by side.
2. Have a Dance Party in Your Living Room
Create a playlist that makes you both happy and just dance. No rules, no choreography, just moving to music you love.
You’ll look ridiculous, laugh at each other’s moves, and probably discover that one of you has secret rhythm while the other… doesn’t. The beautiful thing about dancing in your living room is that there’s no audience, no pressure, just pure joy and connection.
3. Play Card Games
Simple card games like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, or even War can be surprisingly entertaining when you’re focused on each other instead of distractions.
There’s something so intimate about playing cards across from each other. The gentle competition, the quiet moments of concentration, the celebration when someone gets a good hand. It creates your own little bubble of calm in the middle of a busy world.
4. Create Art Together
Get some canvas, paints, markers, or even just paper and colored pencils. Paint the same subject and see how differently you interpret it. Or work on one piece together, taking turns adding elements.
You don’t need to be artists to have fun creating something together. The goal isn’t to make something museum-worthy. It’s to be playful, to see how your minds work together, and to have something beautiful to remember the evening by.
5. Build a Blanket Fort
Yes, seriously. Use couch cushions, chairs, and every blanket you own to create the ultimate cozy hideaway in your living room.
Once it’s built, crawl inside with snacks, drinks, and maybe some fairy lights if you want to get fancy. There’s something magical about creating your own little world together, especially one that feels like a return to childhood wonder.
6. Have a Trivia Night
Create questions about each other, your relationship, your families, or your shared experiences. Or find trivia apps and see who knows more random facts about the world.
This works whether you’re competitive or collaborative. You can keep score and declare a winner, or just enjoy learning new things about each other and laughing at the ridiculous answers you both come up with.
7. Play Charades or Acting Games
Write down movies, books, songs, or inside jokes on pieces of paper and take turns acting them out for each other to guess.
The sillier you’re willing to be, the more fun this becomes. You’ll discover new sides of each other’s personality and create inside jokes that will make you both laugh for weeks.
8. Do Puzzles Together
Choose a jigsaw puzzle that’s meaningful to you both. Maybe it’s a picture of a place you want to visit together, or artwork that captures something you both love.
There’s something meditative about working on a puzzle together. You can talk or be quiet. You can collaborate or work on separate sections. It becomes this ongoing project that gives you a reason to sit close together and create something beautiful.
9. Play Video Games
If you have a gaming console, try cooperative games where you work together toward a common goal, or fun competitive games like dancing or sports games.
Even if one of you isn’t usually into gaming, there are plenty of simple, entertaining options that focus more on fun than skill. The key is finding games that make you both laugh rather than frustrate you.
10. Create a Scavenger Hunt
One person creates a scavenger hunt around your home for the other person, with clues leading to small treats, funny notes, or meaningful items.
This works especially well if you take turns creating hunts for each other. It’s a way to be thoughtful and creative while adding an element of adventure to your regular space.
11. Have Indoor Picnics
Spread a blanket on your living room floor, make sandwiches or order takeout, and eat sitting on the floor together.
Sometimes changing your usual dinner setup is enough to make an evening feel special. Add some candles or fairy lights, play soft music, and suddenly your living room becomes a romantic restaurant.
12. Play Question Games
Take turns asking each other deeper questions. You can find lists online or apps designed for couples, or just make up your own.
Start with lighter questions and work your way to more meaningful ones. This is perfect for couples who want to learn new things about each other or have conversations that go beyond daily logistics.
13. Try Karaoke at Home
Use a karaoke app, YouTube karaoke videos, or just sing along to your favorite songs with lyrics pulled up on your phone.
You don’t need to be good singers to have fun with this. In fact, being terrible at it often makes it more entertaining. Take requests from each other, do duets, or have themed karaoke nights.
14. Play Board Games
Classic two-player games like Scrabble, chess, checkers, or any board game you both enjoy can create hours of entertainment.
The key is choosing games that match your mood. Competitive games are great when you both want to engage your strategic thinking. Cooperative games work well when you want to work together toward a common goal.
15. Have Storytelling Nights
Take turns telling each other stories. They can be real stories from your past, made-up adventures, or collaborative stories where you each add a sentence or paragraph.
This is especially fun when you challenge yourselves with prompts like “tell a story that involves a purple elephant and a missing sock” or share childhood memories you’ve never told each other before.
The Real Game Is Connection
At the end of the day, the best couples’ activities are the ones that help you see each other fresh, that create opportunities for joy and surprise and connection.
Put away the phones. Make some snacks. Create a playlist that makes you both feel relaxed and happy. The atmosphere matters as much as the actual activities.
And remember: the goal isn’t to become entertainment experts or to find the perfect activity. The goal is to play together, to laugh together, to be present with each other.
