Lately, my husband and I have both been playing Breath of the Wild, which is really nice because we can talk about it with each other and share tips and hints. The downside is that we’re currently sharing the Switch and have to plan when I get to play and when he gets to play. This got me thinking about the pros and cons of being a gaming couple!
Pro: Co-op partners for life
In addition to being able to talk about games with each other, we always have someone to play co-op games with! It’s great since we’re sitting next to each other, and we don’t have to worry about using a headset or typing to chat. It also guarantees that we’re always playing with a competent co-op partner. We don’t have to deal with the frustration of finding someone random online. Playing a good co-op game together is one of our favorite ways to spend time together!
Con: Having to plan our games around each other
This is what we’re doing now with the Switch. We have to plan when each of us gets a turn, and we have to do this whenever we play any console game. With PC, we’ll both buy a copy, so we don’t have to share, but it’s not very reasonable to buy two of every console. Most of the time, we plan our games so we aren’t on the same console and have to switch discs. For example, if I know he’s using the PS3, I’ll play a PC game or use a different console. (We also have to split up our consoles on different TVs, so they can be played at the same time.)
Pro: Understanding gaming moments
When you really get into a video game, interruptions are super annoying, especially if it’s something that can’t pause (online games or a cinematic). Fortunately, my husband and I understand that. For example, if he’s in the middle of an online match, I’ll wait until it’s finished or a good time (like during a respawn) to bug him, and he’d do the same for me.
An early memory was back when we were dating in college. He came over to pick me up for dinner to find that I was the only healer in a MMO group. It would be a jerk move to leave them in the middle of a boss fight! Though it was my fault for not timing it better, he didn’t mind at all and waited for me to finish. A++ boyfriend move.
Con: It’s hard to hide spoilers
Not only do we have to plan our console use, but sometimes we have to plan when we finish a game. I tend to stay up later, and he tends to wake up earlier, so we try to beat games while the other is asleep. It doesn’t always happen that way though, and even though we try to warn each other or use headphones, it’s still easy to see something. For example, I’ve already seen some of Bayonetta 2’s ending, and he saw some of Bioshock Infinite’s ending before he played it. Oops. (We’re also having problems hiding Breath of the Wild spoilers from each other right now.)
Pro: We influence each other’s gaming
Though we love a lot of the same games, some of our gaming preferences differ, and we often play different games. (You can see the similarities and differences in our favorites lists.) Thanks to this, we’ve introduced each other to games we might not have played otherwise! I feel like we expand each other’s experience with video games, and I love that.
This is also the main hobby that we share. (Other than eating good food – does eating count as a hobby?) I tend to like creative hobbies (photography, cosplay, etc), and he tends to like competitive ones (sports). Of the hobbies that we do, I’m really glad that gaming is the one we overlap on and that we can share our love of gaming with each other!
I love how you and your husband play games together! I do see some pros and cons but feel like the pros outweigh the cons. Playing with your partner means you always have someone who has your back (unless they’re on the other side of the team :p). Having to plan your gaming around each other’s schedule doesn’t sound too bad considering how you have different consoles to choose from.
It’s great to have someone who understands the need to work as a team in raids or something that can’t be paused. Good on him (and you) for waiting until you could be at a stopping point! Hope the spoilers aren’t too bad :I. Though, that is one trade-off.
Even though there aren’t any other hobbies that you both share, one is always good enough. It’s so cool that you’ve expanded on that and hit a home run with all of your gaming gear :D.
This is so cute that you do this together! I think it’s important to have different hobbies to your SO, but when you have some things in common it’s always special.
I was notorious for interrupting during my last relationship. My ex was really into gaming, and I’m not going to lie, I didn’t get it for a while and would be like, “Baaabeeeee, pay attention to meeeee.” After a while, I was just like whatever – I did attempt to play a few games with him, but it’s not my thing. The only thing I’m into is Sims. Legit. That’s it. And Kingdom Hearts on PS2 ?
Aww, you and your husband are goals! I especially love that you’re both “co-op partners for life.” It sounds sweeter than a wedding vow, tbh ?
My boyfriend and I are also gamers and I strive to achieve your organization in gaming.
When we’re both gaming, we don’t talk to each other because we understand that we wouldn’t want to be bothered. I know how hard it is not to be spoiled about a game!
It just shows that being a team-player really is the key in being a relationship, isn’t it? ?
That’s really awesome that you guys share the same interest! I remember when my sister was dating someone who enjoyed playing games (and she doesn’t), she always hated it whenever he was playing a game during the time they were supposed to be hanging out together. I imagine it would make things a lot easier if they both enjoyed playing games, haha.
Breath of the Wild sounds really fun! It looks really fun too, haha. I probably won’t get the switch though so I’ll have to live vicariously through you LOL The pros and cons were really interesting to read! Setting a schedule so that you guys don’t overlap sounds like a really efficient way of sharing.
It’s so great that you’re both gamers. And that date story was so lovely. Definitely a winner if he lets you finish the game before you go out!
Me and Andy are both into gaming, but he spends a lot more of his time doing it than I do. I have loads of different hobbies, while he mainly just enjoys gaming, so he spends most of his free time doing it. Unfortunately, this means I get so many game spoilers, because he’s always ahead of me, which is so annoying.
It’s great to have someone to talk about different games with though. That’s definitely something I love about sharing a love for gaming with Andy. It’s great to have someone to look forward to new games with too.
My main negative about sharing consoles is running out of storage space. Our PS4 is so full because we’re both playing different stuff. It’s so annoying!
I love how you guys plan things out. Super cute!
Being able to play games with my BF is one of my favorite things. Since we don’t live together, we have yet to have some of the cons you and your husband have. We both have 3DS’ so we’ve both purchased games for co-op fun. He usually plays games on PC, and I’m more console. But I haven’t had a new console since the Wiiu came out and the only game I have is Splatoon. I didn’t really keep up with it and instead focused on my DS. So I’ve grown accustomed to just watching playthroughs on Youtube. I also grew up with two sisters so I had to learn to take turns and that’s also why I can enjoy watching games. My BF bought a Switch so he’s playing Zelda and I just watch…and then after a bit we end up playing DS for some co-op. But he always suggests me starting my own game of Zelda, so he’s willing to let me have a turn on it which is nice. Can’t wait for Splatoon 2 though!
I know how you feel. My husband and I play big games or even indie ones together. Of course we have other games that we play from each other and it’s fine. I mostly stick to JRPGs and whatnot and he usually tries different games like Breath of the Wild or FFXV.
Hahaha I’m trying to think of some hobbies that my husband and I have in common and I’m coming up blank. Yikes. We both like Star Trek but it’s hard to watch these days with the kiddos. Haha, better think on it some more!
The Switch has been so hard to find. I haven’t really been a gamer since the GameCube (lol). I had the Wii, but it ended up collecting dust since I didn’t have the attention span anymore, so I ended up giving it away to a less fortunate family that my Dad knows.
This is such a neat post! I never thought about the pros and cons of being a gaming couple, but what you wrote makes sense! Having a co-op partner works out well, but I wonder how that will work out if a couple is into vastly different games . . . though I can see it being good that they share their tastes!
Buying two gaming system is a bit much, so it’s understandable that you’d be planning your game time around each other. It’s good you and your hubby communicate and plan it well 🙂 Even better that you guys understand gaming moments and know when it’s hard to stop in mid-play!
This was a fun post to read about the life of a gaming couple 😀 Thanks for writing this!
Oh this was so fun to read! 🙂 It’s so nice that you and your husband are both gamers, and I love how you guys understand each other’s gaming needs. I really like your story about the time he waited for you to finish playing before going out for dinner, not all couples can be that understanding with each other (especially when one is a non-gamer!).
I think your pros outweigh your cons by a mile. “Co-op partners for life”… Couple goals! <3
This is so cute. Honestly you and your husband are goals. I have always loved my previous relationships when we are both gamers because there really was a level of understanding that non-gamers would never get. I especially can relate to “I’ll wait until it’s finished or a good time (like during a respawn) to bug him, and he’d do the same for me.” This is SO cute and I do fondly remember in my previous relationship, I had done this myself.
Having similar hobbies is always fun – you can develop and grow together! Thanks for writing this, it was a fun read!
It’s really fantastic that you can share this hobby with each other and really enjoy it. The fact that you also understand and respect the play of each other is probably what makes it work so well. 😀
This is such a lovely post – and it’s so nice that you can share such an interesting hobby. Understanding gaming moments was the best thing for me, especially when your husband waited for you to finish your healing! As understanding as Matt is, there’s no way he’d let me finish a dungeon on WoW if he wanted to go out! Always having a good co-op partner is great though, what a fantastic team you must make!
With Matt being on tour, I don’t have to share any games so I have BoTW all to myself! I miss playing games alongside him though, playing through DragonAge Inquisition together was so nice.
Eating is 100% a hobby. ?
I really enjoyed this post – in fact, I wish it was a little longer and that you had found more pros and cons to match up! I was sort of waiting for a post like this from you especially. ?
I think gaming should be taken very seriously, and since you and your husband game a lot, I am not surprised that the respect for each others’ gaming habits and progress has been existent throughout your whole relationship even from the beginning. 🙂 As someone who used to play a lot of games and compete with her brother, I can understand the importance of not spoiling a game for someone who is a little behind in progress, or when you are in a REALLY IMPORTANT MOMENT in the game! That is something I found that parents never understand… sometimes you really, seriously, cannot stop a game part-way through. ?
That is pretty awesome how well you guys work together on doing all of that. I don’t game so I can’t say much about all this but at least you guys have a way to try and work out the cons. 🙂
You guys are so cute! I was expecting you to say that a pro is that you can play a solo game together 😛 but maybe that’s just not for you guys! My first Zelda game experience was with my best friend and it was an awesome thing to share, which is why I wouldn’t mind playing Breath of the Wild with someone (one day when I have time and money to get it – it looks AMAZING though).