How do I figure out which couch co-op games are right for my relationship?

Dear Mother,

A few years ago, I was really excited to play It Takes Two with my partner — it had won a ton of awards and was a rare couch co-op title. We loved Castle Crashers, played through all of Borderlands (for better or worse), and even bought a used second device so we could play Destiny 2 and Apex Legends together. We've even done single-player games like Blue Prince together, too, trading the controller between runs. We have so much fun when we play together, and I thought It Takes Two would be perfect.

It Takes Two started off well with amazing puzzles and an interesting approach. But the story of a fighting couple on the verge of divorce was brutal. My partner and I were having problems of our own at the time, and the game became unbearable. We did not finish the game. Years later, Hazelight released a new game, Split Fiction, and it's not about romantic relationship struggles at all! Besides, we are doing SO much better (woo couple's therapy!), so I was thrilled. However, when I showed it to my partner, they grimaced. The box remains unopened over a year later.

Should I encourage my partner to try Split Fiction with me, and if so, how should I approach it? Or is it better to just leave it and keep my eyes open for another good game for us? I of course do not want to pressure my partner into playing something they don't want to, but I wonder if they are too afraid of our shared Hazelight history.

— It Does Not Take Two