Category Archives: Blog

Last year, TikTokker Avery Steeves posted a video asking why no one talks about how there’s an entire generation of teenage girls who taught themselves to code HTML on Tumblr. “People are like, ‘Oh, there’s no girls in STEM,'” she says, imitating the faceless internet mob. “No, there were! They were just making pale blogs,” an emblem of the washed-out, soft-grunge aesthetic popular on the platform in 2014.

The comments section bloomed with notes from women who credited Tumblr with jump-starting their careers in technology: “I wrote my college app essay on learning to code on Tumblr and got accepted into college for a cs [computer science] degree,” wrote one; “And now I project manage website design,” said another. 

As typical of most online discourse, there were also some replies sneering with disdain: “Front end is not actual coding you know,” a user commented, alongside scornful remarks like “Html/css isn’t really coding just saying.” 

I asked Maxine Hood, a 25-year-old Software Engineer at YouTube, what she thought about those comments. “That’s like looking at the sky and being like, ‘The sky isn’t blue. How can you say it’s blue?'” she laughs. “That’s a ridiculous statement trying to demean teenage girls [and keep them] from getting credit for doing something difficult… HTML is a coding language. It is coding.”

From 2011 to 2015, Hood ran a fan Tumblr for South Korean girl group f(x). “My youth was being a fan of f(x) and running this fan site specifically for [f(x) member] Victoria. I worked really hard to try to be the best Victoria fan page on the site. You could do a lot with the Tumblr themes back then, they gave me so much control with editing the HTML.” 

As a 14-year-old, “I had no experience coding at all,” Hood says, “so what I remember doing was copying the HTML from a different theme someone had posted and then going in and making changes to the color or trying to add plugins or APIs [an interface that enables two applications to talk to each other].” She would often update the theme to match the aesthetics of f(x)’s latest musical release. “I remember really struggling adding this chat box feature. I eventually got it working, but it was only in the bottom right corner when you scrolled all the way down. That was my first experience in the programming world.”

Hood’s high school didn’t offer computer science classes, but in her first semester at Wellesley College she signed up for an introductory course that would set her on a path to majoring in the subject. “I knew I’d be interested in it because of my coding on Tumblr,” she says, “without editing themes, I don’t know if I would have been.”

HTML is a coding language. It is coding.

Dimitra Zuccarelli, 26, owes her career to Tumblr, too. She joined the platform around 2009, using it first as “a proper blog” before the site evolved into the photo-and-GIF-rich multimedia mecca that is “the Tumblr that we know now.” When it came to coding, the arctic-themed multiplayer game “Club Penguin was literally my origin story,” she says, but Tumblr opened up a different world of possibilities.

“I was so obsessed,” she adds. “It was very formative for me and a lot of other people. It was the equivalent to what TikTok is now for the younger generation: a free space to learn about your style and your interests. I had a strong sense of style, and I really wanted to express that.”

Zuccarelli and her identical twin sister Milena “grew up on Tumblr together. She would design [themes] on Photoshop, and then I would go off and code them,” Zuccarelli recalls. “As a teenager, I was very, very, very tunnel visioned. If I wanted to do something, I was going to figure it out… I basically just put my head down Googling everything…going into the source code of other people’s websites, copying and pasting everything, and then literally just going line by line, deleting stuff, copying small bits, seeing what that would do. By tweaking something here, how would that look on the page? It was a lot of trial and error, but I would come home after school every single day and work on it to the point where you start to see patterns, and it becomes second nature.

“Once you understand how something works, then it’s kind of easy to start applying those principles to something from scratch.”

Zuccarelli says she and her sister excelled in a style of template that was “niche at the time, very minimalistic. It was hard to find stuff that fit exactly that aesthetic.” They began selling HTML templates and opened a small business building websites. Then, “I started to realize that while I did really enjoy designing the websites, understanding how the [programing language] PHP in WordPress themes worked was way more interesting to me,” she remembers. “I absolutely loved the logic side of it… and that’s when I realized that I could go into coding as a career. I knew because I spent my life on the computer and was chronically online that it would be a good career path.”

It was a lot of trial and error, but I would come home after school every single day and work on it.

Zuccarelli now works in backend development for a fintech startup in London, while her sister, who studied interactive design at Glasgow School of Art, works in front-end engineering. Zuccarelli says learning to code on Tumblr is now a badge of honor she finds “hilarious.”

“I didn’t used to tell people [about learning on Tumblr] because, up until a few years ago, it had so much stigma,” she explains. “Like, ‘Oh my gosh, you were on Tumblr, you’re like an SJW snowflake who had an eating disorder.’ There’s loads of stereotypes attached to it. Now I think I wouldn’t be embarrassed at all.”

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She sees Tumblr as a rich soil for formative creative growth — if you have the time to invest. “I would spend so much time just doing research and discovering new things and learning about photography and graphic design and user experience. I wish I had that again because I miss being able to just dive head on into things that I’m interested in. It’s harder now with a nine-to-five.”

For 23-year-old Shanaia Ramirez, coding was her main creative outlet. “I can’t draw, I can’t paint…my creative side comes out with coding,” she says. She joined Tumblr in sixth grade, in 2010 or 2011, lured by the One Direction (she’s a Zayn girl) and Percy Jackson fandoms. Ramirez dabbled in HTML editing to create Hogwarts houses widgets and themes dotted with carrots, an early inside joke within the Directioner fandom later deigned cringey.

But things got serious with “the rise of aesthetic Tumblr” when “everything was minimalist, everything was beige,” she laughs, and she chased after a “cleaner look and better flow.” Ironically, “I was able to get more creative with minimalism: make the colors pretty, the transitions, the effects, when I repost, when I hover over posts,” she tells me, her voice warm with memories. “I got addicted to learning… And when I couldn’t solve a problem, it would irk me. I’d do research outside of Tumblr, ‘How does HTML work?'” 

In high school, Ramirez abandoned Tumblr to pour her energy into studying and college applications. “I’m Asian. So you know there’s a whole stereotype about going into nursing…” but she didn’t think a career in healthcare was the right fit. When she asked herself, “What did I do before this when I had time?” — the answer felt natural: “I love technology. Why not code?” It satiated her need for constant change and evolution. “I get bored easily [but] with comp sci you have to keep up. I’m always learning. It’s always changing.” 

She’s learned programming languages Java, C, C++ and is working on mastering Python. “It’s always different every day, there’s always some new language. I can’t get bored.”

Ramirez will graduate with a degree in computer science this year from California State University San Marcos. It can be a lonely trail to blaze, but she says being one of just a handful of women in her major pushed her to stick with it. “You can count how many girls are in my class on one hand. I would step foot into a coding class and all the men, they’d look at me like, ‘Oh, girl, are you lost?’ I’m like, ‘No, I’m actually here to do the same thing you’re doing.'” 

At the end of my call with Hood, I christened this mini phenomenon the “Tumblr girl-to-engineer pipeline.” But then I backtracked — maybe “Tumblr girl” felt reductive. “Oh, you can call me that!” Hood assured me, proudly. “I’m fine being called a Tumblr girl.”

Facebook’s feeding the meme beast.

The company that keeps trying to make Meta happen announced Tuesday morning it had changed the name of its controversial News Feed product. Say goodbye to the stale News Feed of old, and say hello to the shiny new “Feed.”

“Starting today, our News Feed will now be known as ‘Feed,'” announced the company on Twitter. “Happy scrolling!”

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Twitter users responded to the name change with less happy scrolling than sustained eye roll — with a few memes tossed in for good measure.

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Clearly, when it comes to Facebook’s rebranding its News Feed to just Feed, not everyone’s ready to eat it up.

SAVE $54: The Nebula Anker Capsule Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector is 18% off at Amazon as of Feb. 15. Get it for $245.99, which is $54 less than its regular price of $299.99.

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Whether you want to project a 12-hour video of the night sky in your room or watch Encanto on a camping trip, the Nebula Anker Capsule mini projector has you covered.

This powerful little cylinder is WiFi-enabled and can access streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu directly. You can also connect HDMI and USB devices using its two rear ports. It also has a 360-degree speaker, so you won’t have to fight over who gets the prime spot in front.

One thing to note: Its battery life only lasts up to four hours in battery mode and up to 2.5 hours in standard mode. But if you’re planning on using it close to an outlet or don’t mind the extra weight of a small power bank (it recharges fully in just 2.5 hours), then you won’t have any problems.

Explore related content:

• Samsung Freestyle portable projector lets you take movies and music with you

• Want to see a brilliant star nursery and vivid planets? Look up in February.

• 10 best free movies included on Prime Video

There’s a beautiful new grouch in the neighborhood. His name is Brett Goldstein.

The die-hard Muppets fan who plays Roy Kent, Ted Lasso‘s most famous grump, visited Sesame Street to chill in a trash can alongside his “kindred spirit,” Oscar the Grouch.

On Tuesday, Goldstein tweeted a stunning 16-second clip of the delightful crossover. The snippet shows him and Oscar sitting side-by-side in bins. Big Bird saunters over to the two while singing and stops to ask: “Isn’t it a beautiful day?” In response to the walking ray of sunshine before them, Goldstein and Grouch exchange a look of mutual loathing and seek refuge in their trash cans. It’s a truly glorious sight.

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The official Sesame Street Twitter account tweeted the clip with the caption, “Grouches gonna grouch on Sesame Street. 💚 Thanks for visiting our neighborhood @BrettGoldstein! We love you!”

Goldstein replied, “I met a kindred spirit the other day. I told him we had a lot in common. He told me to scram.”

It only makes sense that Goldstein and Sesame Street‘s lovable trash dweller finally met, since it’s not Goldstein’s first time in a bin. As Ted Lasso fans will recall, in Season 1, Episode 9, “All Apologies,” Goldstein’s character Kent is seen chilling a trash can ice bath while wallowing over his performance in the last game. Then Ted walks in and says, “Look at you in there, looking like a brunette Oscar the Grouch.” And you know what? He did.

This incredibly rude friendship completes us and we need more footage immediately. We only hope that Goldstein (who’s clearly channeling the sweary Roy Kent in this video) remembered to use Sesame Street-worthy language during his visit.

You Got This is a series that spotlights the gear you need to improve one area of your life.

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Whether you have kiddos in school or are currently crushing your own online coding courses, the right tech is key when it comes to keeping up. Learning new things is hard enough without your monitor lagging or laptop battery dying every two hours, right? 

If you’re serious about upgrading your skills — or just want to get your kids’ homework done faster — this Lenovo gear will give your entire family a big leg up.

Help your kiddo finish first

This machine runs all the Google Play apps, making it ideal for your kid who’s already smarter than you are. Get it with the 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and watch the reading homework get done quicker than ever.  

Play for hours

The no-frills Android interface on this tablet is perfect for young learners, and the price can’t be beat. It’s lightweight but sturdy, which is ideal for fumbly little fingers, and the TÜV-certified display cuts back on blue light.

Make your study space bigger

From homework to WFH, this tiny powerhouse fits almost anywhere and is a solid upgrade from a massive dinosaur of a desktop. The super-fast Intel Core processors and baked-in ThinkShield security won’t disappoint either.

Stop the squints

The pixel-perfect visuals on this slim display are easy on the eyes, whether you’re writing code or book reports. The 2560 x 1440 resolution makes small fonts clear and sharp, and the USB-C 3.1 ports charge your laptop while you work.

Get your creative juices flowing

If you consider yourself the creative type, the Intel Iris Xe graphics on this peppy convertible will inspire great things. The chassis is made from sandblasted metal, which is very cool, and the 13-hour battery lets you work — or stream and game — all night.

Protect your tech

This stylish sleeve fits your Yoga 14-inch snug as a glove and is made from real leather and spill-resistant wool felt — a nice perk if you study in coffeeshops or just a bit accident prone. Dual magnet buckles and an accessory pocket allow quick and easy access.

Ditch the cords and clutter

Untangle your family’s scary cord monster once and for all. Simply connect your non-touch 13-inch or 14-inch laptops to the USB-C dongle on this unit and start cordless charging at an impressive clip.

Cram it all in here

Forget the backpack, this 15.6-inch top loader keeps your gear organized between classes or gigs. There’s a cushy space for your laptop and phone — plus a wireless mouse and analog headset that’s included in the bundle.

Popular word-guessing game Wordle has spawned clones ranging from guessing prime numbers to NSFW words. Now the global phenomenon gets two appropriately global spin-offs: Worldle and Globle.

Here’s how you can play both.

Worldle

Worldle, created by game developer teuteuf, is essentially a combination of Wordle and GeoGuessr. The goal is to correctly guess the mystery country of the day when given a shaded-in outline of the answer.

Like the original Wordle, Worldle gives you six chances for success. However, while Wordle gives its hints in the form of gray, yellow, and green squares, Worldle operates by a slightly different set of rules. When you make a guess, you’ll see five squares pop up: the number of green squares corresponds to how close your guess was to the answer. The squares quickly disappear and are replaced with other useful information: how geographically far your guess is from the answer and what direction the answer is in in relation to your guess.

For example, in the Worldle puzzle above, we can tell that the country of the day is 4175 kilometers north of my initial guess of Uruguay.

Worldle‘s settings also offer opportunities to customize your country-guessing experience. You can toggle between getting hints in kilometers or miles, depending on what unit of measurement you’re most comfortable with. Geography whizzes in search of a greater challenge may also choose to hide the country image entirely, or randomly rotate the image.

Since its launch on Jan. 24, 2022, Worldle has already garnered quite a following, with half a million players on Feb. 13.

Globle

Developed by Abe Train, Globle also prompts you to figure out the mystery country of the day. However, you have unlimited guesses and use a globe to deduce the correct answer instead of an outline.

Globle functions similarly to a game of Hot and Cold. When you guess a country, it gets filled in in varying shades of red. The darker the shade, the closer you are to the right country.

In the above image, you can tell that Italy is closer to the country of the day than Turkey or Pakistan, since it’s a darker shade. Globle also offers a color-blind mode with high-contrast colors for those who need or prefer it.

The humble browser address bar just got an emoji-forward glow up.

Opera announced Monday that it has fully integrated with Yat, an emoji-based identification system that involves people buying and selling emoji. The latest version of the Chromium-based browser now lets users enter emoji in place of standard domains in the web address bar.

If the string of emoji corresponds to an existing Yat, the browser will take users to the associated website. For example, instead of typing out the URL of digital asset management firm Arrington XRP Capital, an Opera user could, if so inclined, enter 🚀🌕 into their web address bar.

“All Opera browsers have, in partnership with @whatsyouryat, become the first and only web browsers to enable emoji-only based web addresses,” wrote Opera. “Give it a try by visiting ⛓🕸👀!”

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How does any of this work? Well, Opera’s desktop web browser essentially now integrates with Yat’s API.

That people can even buy emoji in the first place might come as a surprise, but Yats aren’t themselves new (and to be clear: Yat users are paying to have Yat, a Nashville-based private company, associate them with its emoji; and crucially not claiming the emoji as their own in any context that doesn’t involve Yat or the Yat API). Emoji strings have sold from anywhere from a few dollars to, in rare cases, hundreds of thousands. And, since July of 2021, people have been able to use emoji in the web address bar of the mobile Opera Browser on Android and iOS.

Making this available on the desktop version of Opera shows that Yat is serious about expanding the use case for its emoji identifiers. We reached out to the company to see if it has plans to work with other browsers (perhaps ones with larger market shares), but received no immediate response.

While emoji web addresses might seem “fun,” security experts might understandably raise an eyebrow at the idea of replacing traditional web addresses with emoji. After all, scammers have long used lookalike web addresses to trick people into entering, say, their banking details into a hacker-controlled website. Won’t emoji in the place of standard web addresses make that easier?

Maybe. Yat has thankfully given this issue at least some thought, and its API documentation details how it hopes to prevent these types of attacks. A lot of that prevention has to do with being intentional about what emoji were included, and which were excluded.

“10% of men are colorblind so color is a phishing attack vector,” it explains in one specific example. “For example, we included ❤️. So we should exclude other colors like 💙 and 💜.”

As to whether or not any of this will take off, we can only say: 🤷❓

Sure, romantic nights out on the town for Valentine’s Day are great and all. But have you tried staying indoors to cuss profusely at video games you’re bad at together?

In all seriousness, the act of play can be essential to maintaining a healthy, loving, long-lasting relationship. The right cooperative video game often helps players strengthen our bonds to one another, test our ability to communicate in high-pressure stressful situations, teach us how to work together to meet challenges, and (best of all) provide hours upon hours of shared laughter. 

I mean, a couple that can survive a zombie apocalypse in Resident Evil or the betrayal of stealing each other’s stars in Mario Party is a couple that’s built to last.

Sadly, local multiplayer (otherwise known as “couch co-op,” where you play in the same IRL space together, often on the same device through split screen) is something of a dying category in modern gaming. Relatedly, online multiplayer games like Fornite simply don’t invest much into designing a good split-screen mode, rendering many a bit glitchy. 

Despite those challenges, we’ve assembled the cream of the crop of couch co-ops, online multiplayer games you can play locally together through split screen, online multiplayers better suited to long-distance couples on virtual dates, and even solo games where it’s fun to watch each other as you take turns playing.

Don’t worry if one partner has less experience playing video games. We’ve included many beginner-friendly titles, along with cooperative campaigns featuring secondary protagonists who play more passive roles, and single player experiences where a partner can just sit back and vicariously take it all in without ever needing to touch a controller themselves. 

If one partner is less into gaming than the other, remember that they’re going outside their comfort zone to participate in something you love. So be grateful for the effort and as welcoming as possible. Avoid all pressure to win or “get good,” encouraging them as they overcome the steeper learning curve. For heterosexual couples especially, be mindful of gatekeeping gender dynamics often embedded into gaming culture. You should always be receptive to feedback about any unconscious behaviors or aspects of gaming that can feel hostile toward non-dominant genders. 

So go on, you crazy kids! Forget the fancy clothes for an overpriced dinner and enjoy a romantic night in pajamas that guarantees you both score 😉

1. It Takes Two

Together, players embody wife May, a witty engineer, and husband Cody, a warm-hearted gardener. At the start, our couple is raising their daughter Rose in an idyllic countryside home, complete with some amazing toys and a jungle-like greenhouse. But the pair’s impending divorce and a bit of better-left-unspoiled magic soon turn the family’s world upside down and the central quest of It Takes Two begins.

In an instant, May and Cody are just a few inches tall, and made of clay, yarn, and other crafting supplies. They’ve inexplicably transformed into two of Rose’s handmade dolls, and their only hope for getting back to reality depends on the two soon-to-be-ex-spouses working together. … The experience of playing It Takes Two is remarkably varied, equipping you and your partner with new, complementary abilities and tools in each level. Experiencing both sides of gameplay is a great argument for playing twice. You’ll sling, jump, glide, fly, and swim your way through tons of challenging obstacles, some magical and some not, but each creative and rewarding for players to overcome.

[From our It Takes Two review, by Alison Foreman]

Price: $19.99

Is it multiplayer?: Ideal for couch co-op, but playable solo and through online multiplayer.

Platforms: Playstation 4 and 5, Xbox, Windows

2. Spiritfarer

We should never face the grief or dying process alone — and that’s exactly what this acclaimed, self-described “cozy management game” is all about. In Spiritfarer, you play as ferrymaster Stella, who helps spirits cross over into the afterlife by keeping them comfortable and making peace with what they’re leaving behind. Aside from the beautiful art style and story, getting to know each character truly feels like caring for a friend.

With the optional two-player couch co-op, a partner can join as Stella’s adorable cat, Daffodil. While it’s definitely the more passive, supporting role, it’s a big help for the mini-games, and the themes are engaging enough to make for intimate conversations on topics we don’t talk about enough.

Price: $29.99

Is it multiplayer?: There’s optional two-player local co-op where one partner plays as a cat (!)

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Mac, Windows, Google Stadia

3. Heave-Ho!

Hold hands and launch each other into space in this couch co-op designed to make your hands hurt. With adorable animations and standout humor, Heave Ho! harnesses simulated physics to create a surprisingly endearing journey full of teamwork, betrayal, and costume changes. Hurl yourself onto ledges, make human chains, and cling to whatever you can grab. There’s only one goal: Don’t fall before you reach that flag.

[From our Best Cozy Games to Play with Your Loved Ones roundup]

Price: $9.99

Is it multiplayer?: Playing this one as a two to four-player couch co-op is essential.

Platforms:  Windows, Mac, Nintendo Switch

4. Mario Party Superstars

It’s Mario Party. Need we say more? While this classic Nintendo franchise has a very hit-or-miss Switch-exclusive Super Mario Party, stick with Superstars. The return to classic boards and minigames from the N64 and GameCube eras cuts some fluff added to the original format that still reigns supreme as one of the best local multiplayer games. Both this one and Mario Kart would make for great double-date nights, too.

Price: $59.99

Is it multiplayer?: It’s one of the last remaining great couch co-op franchises left, playable by 1-4 people.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

5. Overcooked 1 & 2

There are too many cooks in this kitchen, but that’s the appeal of Overcooked! Pick your chef and step up to the counter as you fulfill customer orders in this culinary setup from hell. The more happy guests you can feed, the higher your ranking and the faster the game’s narrative will progress. The name of the game is teamwork, so talk often and stay alert.

For more fun, check out Overcooked! 2. It’s just as enjoyable, but with even more chefs and themes.” But couples be warned: The stress of this game can be a real test on how your relationship holds up under pressure.

[From our Best Video Games to Play with the Family roundup]

Price: $24.99

Is it multiplayer?: Couch co-op and online multiplayer for 1-4 players.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows, Mac

6. Wattam

Wattam is a heart-warming game unlike any other. You bring the world back from apocalyptic nothingness by helping a growing cast of anthropomorphized inanimate objects work together to fix each other’s problems. It’s odd and delightfully surprising at every turn.

When you play couch co-op, you and your partner can jump into the various delightful weirdo characters — from a piece of poo to a square with a mayor’s hat. As a playful game that’s all about healing through friendship and love, it’s sure to bring out the best in both of you. You can check out our full review of Wattam if you’re still not sold.

Is it multiplayer?: Playable solo, but also an organic local co-op (with split-screen) experience.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows

7. Until Dawn

2015’s Until Dawn is a natural matchmaker, especially for the horror-movie lovers looking to be eased into the world of video game horror. It’s less difficult to play, but just as stimulating.

In the game, a terrifying playground of scary movie tropes and archetypes, you play as eight different teens. Their secluded cabin getaway quickly turns into a game of don’t-get-fucking-murdered, and you’re tasked with keeping them all alive. Every choice you make — even a seemingly irrelevant one like shooting a squirrel — has a butterfly effect on both your #RelationshipStatus with the rest of the group, and also your #MortalityStatus.

If you mess up a button prompt, fail to evade an enemy, or make a bad decision, it can lead to any one of your characters dying and permanently altering the story. So, like, basically a very accurate exercise to determine whether or not your partner would be a good protector in a crisis situation.

But seriously — you really do get to know who someone is through the snap-judgment moral decisions they make under dire circumstances. Maybe you never had the occasion to know whether or not your boyfriend would shoot you in the face if he thought you were infected by a monster… What makes Until Dawn the most ideal game for couples though is how you can share the story, choosing who gets to control each character and switching off between their sections.”

[From our Best Horror Video Games to Play on Valentine’s Day roundup]

Price: $19.99

Is it multiplayer?: Single-player, but a great spectator game and amenable to co-op if you just pass the controller to one another.

Platforms: Playstation 4

8. The Dark Pictures Anthology 

This follow-up anthology series to Until Dawn formally adds the multiplayer functionality that players inserted in the earlier game by just passing the controller around. Launching in 2019 with Man of Medan (its weakest title so far), the season will soon finish in 2022 with four unique storylines that last about 4-6 hours each.

Be warned: playing together through online multiplayer is a bit wonky, since you only experience about half the story. But the Movie Night couch co-op mode is perfect for a romantic night in for horror-lovers, as you and a partner (and up to three other players) can take turns controlling the handful of characters. We highly recommend the most recent release, House of Ashes, which takes some pretty big narrative swings that impressed us.

Price: $19.99 for each title

Is it multiplayer?: You can play solo and online multiplayer, but Movie Night local co-op mode feels tailor-made for couples.

Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

9. Minecraft

Minecraft is the game that needs no explanation, not only because of its popularity but because its premise is truly whatever you want to make of it. Building a world together with a partner or a friend group over time can become a deeply intimate experience.

While getting into Minecraft can be a little daunting and maintaining everything is certainly a project, there’s piles of information online to help you along and even just the act of learning together makes it ideal for even long-distance relationships. Somewhere along the way, it stops being about the world itself and becomes much more about the hours you spend talking, vibing, cutting down trees, and making villagers procreate.

Price: $26.95

Is it multiplayer?: Yes, very much! You can build a server together — which, take note, carries some extra costs — while playing at the same time or solo, too. So, even when you’re not technically playing co-currently, it’s still a form of multiplayer.

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

10. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

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While you will need two Switches for this to be multiplayer, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is ideal for long-distance couples. There’s something so incredibly sweet, vulnerable, and revealing about sharing your island with your significant other, especially if you create specific date areas or even recreate IRL places you’ve gone on dates before. Heck, some folks were even getting married in the game at the beginning of the pandemic!

Price: $59.99

Is it multiplayer?: Unlimited players of any age, connecting locally or online, all with their own copy of the game. Note: Only 8 players can meet up on an island at any given time — but you can have any number of friends!

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

11. Snipperclips

Known best for its mobility, this co-op game makes you work together to figure out a series of logic and physics puzzles. Each solution is delightfully surprising, requiring genuine ingenuity and creativity.

[From our Best Video Games to Play with the Family roundup]

Price: $19.99

Is it multiplayer?: It’s a 2-4 person co-op puzzle game, so great for double date nights too.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

12. Fortnite

Battle royale games dominate online multiplayer these days, and Fortnite is the king of them all. While initially panned by older players as a stupid thing for kids and teens who love TikTok dances, the game’s demographic has matured a lot overall. The cross-play online multiplayer lets you team up with up to three other players across whatever platforms they have on hand (though we do suggest using Discord over the in-game voice chat).

While the split-screen used for couch co-op is a little glitchy, there is nothing more exhilarating than working alongside your partner to be crowned the last duo standing. Player progression in Fortnite is tied entirely to cosmetic items that don’t affect how you play and each new season rewrites or introduces all kinds of different gameplay ideas, ensuring that new players aren’t too intimidated or overwhelmed by catching up on all the updates. There are also some themed Valentine’s Day skins and accessories you can buy for each other.

Price: Free to download, though you’ll undoubtedly want to spend some cash on all the skins, emotes, and other customization options.

Is it multiplayer?: It’s great for cross-platform online multiplayer, and a fun (if less optimized) experience as a split-screen couch co-op.

Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Android,  Mac, Windows

13. Portal 2

Two heads are always better than one in a puzzle game like Portal — and two sets of portals makes for doubly mind-bending solutions. While it’s one of the oldest titles on our list (with no modern remaster version), the brilliance of the Portal games remains ageless. The hijinks you can get into as the two robots who star in this beloved sequel to the iconic original cannot be beat by any other more modern couch co-op puzzler. 

Price: $19.99

Is it multiplayer?: While playable solo, Portal 2 is the kind of cake that really should be shared with a partner-in-crime.

Platforms: Xbox, Windows, Mac, Linux

14. Stardew Valley

Pelican Town is a lovely place to live on your own — and, thanks to a 2019 update, just as delightful with friends. Farm, mine, fish, fight, and socialize together in Stardew Valley multiplayer. Grandpa’s farm can support multiple cabins, allowing you and your fellow farmers to grow and harvest crops at a much faster rate. Of course, cooperation presents new challenges…but you’ll always have a date to the Flower Dance! 

Just be careful of making your partner jealous by romancing every single datable NPC in Pelican Town (unless you’re into that kinda thing).

Price: $14.99

Is it multiplayer?: One to four players can build a farm together with their own copy of the game, but the co-op is online only. 

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

15. The Sims 4

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So the Sims isn’t a multiplayer game, but there’s still a lot a couple can enjoy by playing the OG life simulator together. Some might even enjoy taking my neurotic approach of recreating your relationship (along with any children, pets, and cohabitation space) in the Sims — you know, for the sheer chaos of it all. However, be prepared to withstand inevitable betrayals from the Sims version of your partner (after I lit the kitchen on fire, mine grabbed the pets so the whole family could watch me burn alive from a safe distance outside. No, I’m not still holding a grudge about it…)

There’s sure to be some expansion packs out there to help customize the experience to suit your specific relationship’s vibe, too. Are you the Get Famous power couple, the fur parents who can’t live without their Cats and Dogs, or cottagecore queers who just want to play out the Cottage Living fantasy? The possibilities are endless! But we all know the night is ending in at least one WooHoo.

Price: $39.99  

Is it multiplayer?: Not necessarily, but you can share the same Sim or household you can then play simultaneously together, or at different times with separate characters who live in the same neighborhood (or shared household).

Platforms: Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

16. Push Me Pull You

The odd wholesomeness of the award-winning Push Me Pull You is unparalleled. Yet as whacky as the core idea sounds — of two-headed mutants wrestling and playing soccer — you stop asking any questions after you actually start playing. Teams of two players share a controller (which is part of the fun), each operating one end of the adorably awkward worm person to bring down the other team. It’s a game that wears its heart on its sleeve, with buttons specifically dedicated to expressions of love.

[From our Best Video Games to Play with the Family roundup]

Price: $14.99

Is it multiplayer?: This two to four-player cooperative game only requires one controller per couple, which encourages a delightful amount of physical proximity and intimacy.

Platforms: Playstation 4, Mac, Windows

17. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Another Nintendo classic, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a bit more fun and interesting to watch even if you’re not playing. Like Super Mario Odyssey, there’s a co-op mode, but this time the second player gets to play as a true star: Gooigi (yes, that’s just a goo version of Luigi).

Since Gooigi has his own special skills, this co-op adventure feels more equal than other two-player adventure games on this list.

Price: $59.99 

Is it multiplayer?: You can play with one to eight players, on both local and online multiplayer (though Nintendo still struggles with online functionality). But it’s ideal for couples as a rare modern title specifically designed for a two-player couch co-op.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

18. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 

Not to be confused with the more recent Resident Evil 2 remake released in 2019, this 2015 title is an objectively worse game in almost every way. Part of a series within the franchise, it’s a follow-up to Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil 5 – but the story is really just background noise you can jump into at any point.

That said, it does offer local couch co-op, by letting a second player tag along as a more passive sidekick (Moira) to the main protagonist’s (Claire) dominant role. In general, Resident Evil is such a fun series to watch other people play, if only to see them in their most vulnerable moments of total terror and panic.

Price: $5.99  

Is it multiplayer?: While it’s a great couch co-op game, one player needs to be cool with having a lot less to do.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Windows

19. BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!

Spare and charming, BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! expands the BoxBoy universe into the world of co-operative puzzle madness. Playing as cubes Qbby and Qucy while they shepherd around their tiny Qbabies, adventure through levels and battle against that mysterious mist. With limited moves and over 270 puzzles, this is the perfect pick for twiddling away time. Plus, box costumes!

[From our Best Cozy Games to Play with Your Loved Ones roundup]

Price: $9.99

Is it multiplayer?: This version is all about couch co-op for 1-2 players.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

20. A Way Out

As we’ve mentioned, finding a great modern split-screen couch co-op game is increasingly difficult. But A Way Out is a singular exception. In this two-player game about two men breaking out of prison, you and a partner-in-crime play as inmates playing on parallel tracks to accomplish the same goal of escaping together. As one of the most cinematic uses of split-screen we’ve ever seen, it plays with aspect ratio to artfully redirect players’ attention to the character’s narrative they should be paying attention to during scenes.

While the game does rely heavily on rote, bland quick-time events, the collaborative stealth puzzles are nothing short of thrilling. It’s a forgiving game. too, with lots of save points and leeway for mess ups — making it ideal for beginners. The writing can be quite cheesy (and outdated). But you have to respect A Way Out for putting its whole heart into trying something different and ambitious.

Price: $29.99

Is it multiplayer?: It’s designed top to bottom as a couch co-op narrative, with split-screen adding some wonderful dramatic tension.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

21. We Were Here series

Puzzle-loving couples rejoice (especially if you’re long-distance)! This online co-op series is about working together to unlock the secrets of various mysterious environments like castles and caves. But the catch is that you’re almost always separated in different locations, able only to communicate via Walkie-Talkie.

While the first title, We Were Here, is the leanest in the series (and free-to-play on PC), the more expansive follow-ups We Were Here Too and We Were Here Together provide more dynamic environments and gameplay. We don’t know much about the upcoming We Were Here Forever, set to release in 2022, but it’s sure to build on this solid foundation.

Hey, you may even learn a thing or two about how to best communicate with your partner to reach a common goal. Since there’s no local co-op option whatsoever, though, you’ll need to be on two separate computers or consoles to play with your significant other. The game also doesn’t support crossplay, either, so they’ll need two systems of the same platform. One last tip: Some stores sell co-op packs, so you can buy two copies of the game at a cheaper price.

Price: $4.99-$12.99 (depending on the game)

Is it multiplayer?: Since it’s an exclusively online co-op with no local multiplayer mode, this one works best for long-distance couples (or couples experienced at setting up a LAN).

Platforms: Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows, Linux, Mac

It’s been four years since a shooter killed 14 students and 3 staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. And ever since, gun reform activists, survivors, and the students’ parents have continued to demand tangible gun reform from their representatives.

To honor this mission, the shooting’s anniversary, and pressure action from President Joe Biden, a coalition of activists have launched a new website, “Shock Market,” which tracks and shares the amount of gun-related injuries and deaths since Biden took office, according to CNN. The website is a live update of gun violence numbers across the country and reminder of the increasing rates of gun-related violence, especially in schools.

“Shock Market” was created by student gun reform group March For Our Lives, gun violence prevention group Guns Down America, and political youth advocacy organization Change the Ref.

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The website displays a multitude of tallies sourced from the Gun Violence Archive, including the number of gun deaths, gun injuries, mass shootings, the specific number of minors killed and injured because of gun violence, and even unintentional shootings. Alongside the startling numbers, the gun reform coalition has listed its demands for the Biden administration, which include establishing a National Office of Gun Violence Prevention, investing in community violence prevention programs, and the appointment of a new director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to regulate gun manufacturers and dealers.

In a statement about the website’s launch, March For Our Lives wrote that the coalition wants to ensure Biden lives up to his campaign promises. “What we are asking for is simple: That the President treats the gun violence epidemic like the emergency that it is, not a to-do list item to get to when he can,” the organization wrote.

The website encourages visitors to take action themselves, using a simple button to Tweet specific numbers directly to politicians. Recipients include Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, and even White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain. 

The numbers are paired with pre-written messages, like: “.@POTUS, the Shock Market is in desperate need of a correction. Please nominate a new ATF director to effectively regulate firearm manufacturers and dealers, and guide ongoing efforts to reduce trafficking. “

“Survivors and advocates have been clear that prioritizing gun violence prevention means establishing a national office of gun violence prevention to coordinate and proactively drive the government’s response to this public health crisis,” wrote Igor Volsky, co-founder and executive director of Guns Down America, in the website’s press release. “It means appointing a leader to the ATF who will not cozy up to the firearms industry. And it means using the full power of the presidency to fight for and win community violence intervention funding. We are still waiting.”

Not long after the website’s launch, Biden tweeted his recognition of the Parkland shooting and released an official statement, which called on Congress to act on the “epidemic of gun violence” and pass a budget for “proven strategies we know reduce violent crime — accountable community policing and community violence interventions.”

“We can never bring back those we’ve lost. But we can come together to fulfill the first responsibility of our government and our democracy: to keep each other safe. For Parkland, for all those we’ve lost, and for all those left behind, it is time to uphold that solemn obligation,” Biden wrote in the White House release.

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Meanwhile, gun reform activists are calling out the Biden’s slow progress and demonstrating outside the White House in Washington, D.C. “Young people marched, we voted, we did what was asked of us. It’s time for the President to deliver for us,” said David Hogg, Parkland survivor and gun reform activist, in a statement to the press.

And parents and survivors are mourning their losses alongside them. Earlier in the morning, Manuel Oliver, father of former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Joaquin Oliver and founder of Change the Ref, demanded a meeting with Biden after climbing to the top of a construction crane. Oliver posted a video of his request in honor of his son.

Fred Guttenberg, father of former student Jaime Guttenberg and gun reform activist, also shared his own reflections and demands on the anniversary via Twitter, including a long list of “what if” questions that continue to rack his mind four years after his daughter died. “It is now 4 years since I last had the typical parental worries about you and how your day was going? What kinds of things you were learning?  Whether you were happy?  Whether you were safe?” he wrote in a Twitter thread. “What if you were sick that morning and we never sent you to school? What would your day have been like then?”

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Using digital tools like “Shock Market” and social media, Parkland activists, families, and survivors have not let up on their cause, even as gun violence numbers continue to increase across the country. Instead, they’re demanding even more from government leaders and ensuring we never forget those who were killed.

UPDATE: Feb. 14, 2022, 2:00 p.m. EST This story has been updated to include new discounts on the Petcube Bites 2 Lite, the Eufy Pet Camera, and more.

• BEST PET TECH DEAL: Whistle Smart GPS Pet Trackers — save 25% on all devices

• BEST DNA KIT DEAL: Wisdom Panel Premium — $129.99 $159.99 (save $30)

• BEST PET TOY DEAL: Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Game, a challenging brain game for smart pups — $14.95 $24.99 (save $10.04)

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Got a pandemic puppy or a quarantine cat? You’re not alone. Tons of people are adopting new pets — and figuring out that the cost of buying toys, beds, treats, and pet tech adds up quickly. To keep you from spending your entire paycheck on your four-legged friend, we’ll be compiling a list of the best pet deals weekly so you can be the best pet parent ever — even if you’re on a budget.

Pet tech deals

Why we love it

For a limited time, you can save 25% on all Whistle Smart GPS collars. Choose from the Whistle Fit, the Whistle Go Explore, or the Whistle Switch — and take up to $49.99 off. Choose the option that’s best for your pup’s lifestyle, and keep an eye out for features like activity tracking, GPS location tracking, escape alerts, and more.

More pet tech on sale

• Fi Smart Dog Collar — $49 $149 (save $100 with code VDAY100)

• Petcube camera — $35.99 $49.99 (save $14)

• PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Programmable Dog and Cat Feeder — $109.95 $129.99 (save $20.04)

• Owlet Home Pet Camera with Treat Dispenser — $84.95 $159.99 (save $60.04)

• PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder — $54.95 $69.99 (save $15.04)

• PetSafe WiFi-connected ScoopFree Self Cleaning Cat Litter Box — $209.95 $229.99 (save $20.04)

• PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Pet Feeder for Cat and Dog — $129.95 $172.64 (save $42.69)

• Petcube Bites 2 Lite — $99.95 $124.99 (save $25.04)

• eufy Pet dog Camera — $169.99 $249.99 (save $80 when you apply on-page coupon)

• Tractive Waterproof GPS Dog Tracker — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

Pet DNA kit deals

Why we love it

While Embark Dog DNA kit discounts have remained pretty steady since the holidays, Wisdom Panel discounts have been virtually nonexistent — until now. All Wisdom panel kits are discounted by around 20%, but the standout of the pack is the Wisdom Panel Premium dog DNA test. Not only will this kit check your dog’s breed across 350 breeds, but it’ll also look for the presence of up to 200 genetic conditions — great info to take to the vet for further screening. Grab it at Amazon for $129.99, or use code LOVE30 at Wisdom Panel to score the discount.

More pet DNA kits on sale

• Wisdom Panel Essential — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Wisdom Panel Complete for Cats — $103.99 $123.99 (save $26)

• Embark Dog DNA test — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Embark Breed + Health Dog DNA Test — $149 $199 (save $50)

• Basepaws Cat DNA Test — $109 $129 (save $20)

Pet toy deals

Why we love it

If you have a genius dog on your hands, a puzzle toy is one of the best ways to release some of that mental energy. This well-rated Nina Ottosson toy has multiple compartments that hold treats, and your pup will learn to flip, slide, and lift the pieces to reveal their snacks. It’s sure to keep boredom at bay, so you can get some work done while your dog plays.

More pet toys on sale

• Sign up for a multi-month BarkBox subscription and get a free toy every month

• Petstages Cat Tracks Interactive Cat Toy — $4.79 $24.99 (save $20.20)

• KONG Squeezz Ball Dog Toy — $2.19 $5.99 (save $3.80)

Other pet deals

Why we love it

If your pet is your valentine, take advantage of this Chewy deal that gives you a free product of your choice when you buy three other qualifying products. With options from dog toys and cat scratching posts to bird and hamster accessories, every type of pet parent will find a deal for their furry (or feathery) friend.

More pet deals

• Animaze Double Gray Cat Condo — $49.99 $77.99 (save $28)

• Buy a Disney cat or dog bed from Chewy, get a free Disney toy

Explore related content:

• 5 of the best automatic dog feeders to keep your BFF fed on time

• The best automatic cat feeders to keep your pet fed while you’re away

• 6 of the best dog beds to help your pup rest easy