Best Co-Op Games Like It Takes Two

It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios is arguably the best co-op game of the 2020s so far. While plenty of great projects support cooperative multiplayer, very few implement the feature as a built-in requirement. Yes, Hazelight opted against providing a single-player option for the campaign; if somebody wants to experience It Takes Two, they will need to find someone willing to tag along for the ride. Such a risky move could have backfired, but this co-op exclusivity meant the game could be designed specifically to prioritize and highlight two-player coordination.

Narratively, It Takes Two revolves around a couple who are on the verge of a divorce, a situation that troubles their young daughter. In a strange supernatural turn of events, the parents find themselves inhabiting their child’s dolls, an inciting incident that leads them on a creative and absurd adventure that regularly throws out new ideas and mechanics.

Fantastic co-op games are not infinite, and few of these releases scratch the same itch as Hazelight’s masterpiece. That said, there are enough platform, puzzle, or adventure projects to keep fans busy for a while. These titles emphasize coordination and communication, and they help bring people together. Let’s take a look at some of the best co-op games like It Takes Two.

Updated on October 6, 2024 by Mark Sammut: September 2024 did not produce any co-op games all that similar to It Takes Two, at least not to the point of warranting individual recommendations. That said, the following titles all have decent co-op and are worth a try if somebody is just looking for something to play with a friend (or two):

• Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 – An over-the-top third-person shooter/slasher, Space Marine 2 drops three players into an all-out war across multiple planets. The campaign is bombastic, exhilarating, and relentlessly gruesome. There is also an online mode revolving around co-op.
• Ravenswatch – After a long stint in early access, Passtech Games’ Ravenswatch launched fully on September 26, and it is a great option for roguelike fans who want fast-paced action and a project specifically intended for co-op.
• Funko Fusion – A fun little family adventure, Funko Fusion is a fine enough alternative to Lego, albeit one that does not support local co-op.

Also, Phogs! has been added as a general recommendation.

A Way Out

Hazelight’s Other Co-Op Masterpiece

As Hazelight’s only other game, A Way Out is the most obvious recommendation for It Takes Two fans. The 2018 project is built on the same co-op foundation as the developer’s subsequent title, which means it also requires two players to be experienced. Both games deliver puzzles, mini-games, diverse gameplay, and character-driven stories; basically, if two players enjoyed It Takes Two, they are likely to get from A Way Out.

Despite obvious overlap in some areas, these games are hardly carbon copies of each other. In fact, their stories are nothing alike, both in terms of content and tone. A Way Out revolves around two convicts who are planning a prison break, and the presentation reflects that relatively major setting. Vincent and Leo are both complex and ambiguous, and their dynamic is nothing like Cody and May’s relationship.

Just to be clear, all of the above are positives. It Takes Two and A Way Out are a fantastic double act due to both their similarities and differences.

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons Remake

Better Solo, But Co-Op Is An Option (& The Story Is Powerful)

Before establishing Hazelight, Josef Fares worked with Starbreeze on Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, a project that shares a few things in common with the creator’s subsequent releases. Brothersfocuses on two siblings as they go on a dangerous journey to find a cure for their father’s alignment, and their fragile bond is tested and strengthened along the way. The game tells a powerful family story, and it highlights a different dynamic than It Takes Two while still hitting similar highs. Unlike Hazelight’s masterpieces, the original version of A Tale of Two Sons was specifically designed to be a single-player experience, despite featuring two playable characters. Players are expected to simultaneously use each thumbstick to control one sibling, a format that can take some getting used to at first; however, this decision complements and enhances the story brilliantly.

In 2024, Avantgarden released a remake with a graphical upgrade and tweaked controls, along with one significant alteration: co-op support. Now, this feature was already implemented in the Switch port of the 2013 original, but it was kept away from the other versions; consequently, the remake represents the first time that PlayStation, PC, and Xbox users can experience Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons in co-op. And, it is a fine option that could help encourage a second playthrough, especially since the campaign does not otherwise have all that much replay value. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons should first be experienced as a single-player game. Co-op is a bonus but not the default.

Knights And Bikes

Child-Like Wonder

An endlessly charming blend of suburban culture and fantasy, Knights and Bikes follows two girls as they explore their town in search of a mysterious treasure, a journey driven out of desperation and fueled by imagination. While their dynamic is obviously different from It Takes Two‘s couple, Nessa and Demelza nevertheless make for an endearing duo, and their relationship is both wholesome and fairly realistic.

Similar to Hazelight’s masterpiece, Knights and Bikes sends its characters on an over-the-top and fantastical adventure that grounds its emotional core in relatable and mature themes like grief. The title combines puzzles, combat, and exploration, all the while including fun mechanics like upgradable bikes. While supporting solo play, Knights and Bikes is designed with co-op in mind, especially since the story is driven specifically by two friends.

Moving Out 1 & 2

Coordination Is Key

Players who want to truly test their cooperative skills should look into Moving Out or its 2023 sequel. This multiplayer moving game sees colorful characters band together to move furniture, boxes, and other items from a variety of locations.

Each level rewards players for moving items to a nearby truck as quickly as possible and there are tons of replayability with special tasks and challenges that unlock for each level after players complete it for the first time. With up to four players at a time, Moving Out is a chaotic blast that rewards cooperative play, planning, and execution.

Kirby And The Forgotten Land

Nintendo’s Charming 3D Plarformer

Those looking for a fun and wholesome experience that’s just as colorful and endearing as It Takes Two will want to go through Kirby and the Forgotten Land with a friend or loved one. This Kirby adventure is unlike any other, pitting the pink puffball (and a friend in Bandana Waddle Dee) up against a colorful cast of enemies in a 3D-styled adventure similar to Super Mario Odyssey.

Kirby is no stranger to multiplayer games in general, with the franchise even releasing a couple of spin-offs specifically designed around co-op; however, The Forgotten Land is a full-blown single-player adventure that just happens to support a partner. The second player takes charge of Bandana Waddle Dee, a spear-wielding fighter who lacks most of Kirby’s unique abilities. Although fairly fun to use, Bandana Waddle Dee very much feels like a sidekick who is along for the ride but will never overshadow the main hero. Disappointing as this can be at times, The Forgotten Land is such a fun co-op platformer that it is still an easy recommendation.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Made For Co-Op

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is just as polished and charming as any other mainline entry in Nintendo’s franchise. After roughly a decade, Mario and friends finally returned in October 2023 for a new 2D adventure, and Wonder serves as a great evolution of this formula. While a great pick for solo runners, the game also supports 4-player co-op, with the participants being able to pick from 12 playable characters such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, and Light-Blue Yoshi.

Accessibility is a cornerstone of most of Nintendo’s primary franchises, none more so than Mario. Consequently, Wonder is designed to be as beginner-friendly as possible, including the incorporation of an invincibility feature that can be assigned to individual characters. As such, parents can introduce their young children to the magic of gaming through Wonder, all the while removing the frustration that might come from a mistake.

It Takes Two and Super Mario Bros. Wonder are very different games in the grand scheme of things, with the latter largely disregarding its story. However, they both take players on visually gorgeous adventures filled with memorable characters and locations.

Phogs!

Two Heads On The Same Dog(s)

Sure, many co-op games permit two players to go on a joint journey, but how many titles allow them to take charge of the same body? Kind of like Nickelodeon’s CatDog, Phogs! features a protagonist consisting of animals seemingly stitched together, albeit this cute creation consists of two canines. As Red and Blue respectively, players get to explore a series of stages across three worlds, all the while engaging in puzzles, mini-games, and (hopefully) a lot of laughter.

Now, compared to It Takes Two, Phogs! basically has no story, even if there is some world-building courtesy of NPCs. Still, if someone is specifically craving a narrative, they will need to look elsewhere. On the other hand, this project warrants a mention due to its puzzle-based gameplay, well-implemented co-op that requires both parties to actively discuss solutions and work together, and vibrant visual style. Phogs‘ presentation and stages feel almost abstract at times, like they are fun fever dreams brought to life by the developers.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Beat ‘Em Up Throwback

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and It Takes Two are widely different co-op experiences, but they both execute what they are trying to achieve extremely well. Tribute Games’ title is a beat ’em up that takes inspiration from the Turtles’ storied history in the genre, particularly during the ’90s. Utilizing a gorgeous pixel art style, Shredder’s Revenge pays loving homage to the past without sacrificing modern quality-of-life improvements required to make a modern package deliver more than just a nostalgia trip.

While enjoyable solo, Shredder’s Revenge is at its best when played with friends. The game has seven playable characters, each of whom has unique attacks, strengths, and weaknesses. As the stages can get quite challenging, players will need to learn to work together, and they can even execute a few co-op moves.

As fun as this game is, Shredder’s Revenge will probably not change the minds of people who do not like beat ’em ups.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

One Of The Best Co-Op Platformers

As its 10-year anniversary slowly approaches, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze might soon be described as a “classic,” a label the game fully warrants. One of the best titles on the Wii U, Retro Studios’ project was eventually ported to the Switch, where it immediately established itself as one of that console’s premium titles. In the grand scheme of things, Tropical Freeze is a relatively safe entry in the Donkey Kong Country canon as the game does not deviate too significantly from the beaten path; that said, the platformer is about as polished of an experience as they come.

The AAA Nintendo game can be played single-player without any issue, and most people will undoubtedly have a blast going through the campaign’s fantastic stages on their own. That said, co-op is an option and a pretty good one at that. While Donkey Kong is the primary playable character, players do eventually unlock Dixie, Diddy, and Cranky as support figures. All three of them have unique abilities that come in handy when traversing levels, and co-op allows a player to take charge of one of these characters. Their main function is to aid Donkey Kong, but they should still be kept busy throughout most of the game.

As Dusk Falls

Family Drama

As Supermassive Games has proven, interactive dramas can be a good fit for co-op experiences. While Until Dawn, The Dark Pictures Anthology, and The Quarry are all fun, they are horror games and quite far removed from It Takes Two. Consequently, Interior Night’s As Dusk Falls is a more complementary recommendation since, similar to Hazelight’s title, it also deals with family relationships.

Solo players can enjoy As Dusk Falls‘ gripping narrative, but the game’s multiplayer feature adds a fresh dimension to the experience. Rather than assign players to different characters, everyone gets to vote on the choices made in the story, with the most popular pick transpiring.

KeyWe

Cute Co-Op

A puzzle-platformer that can be played solo but is really meant for co-op, KeyWe‘s charm goes beyond a clever pun. Players are cast as Jeff and Debra, two kiwi birds operating a busy post office. In order to manage an avalanche of letters and responsibilities, Jeff and Debra must efficiently split the workload to ensure they are covering all their bases.

Although not story-driven, like It Takes Two, both games emphasize communication. In KeyWe‘s stages, players will be off doing their own thing as they need to work independently to achieve most objectives; however, these actions need to be well coordinated.

Grounded

A Shrunken Co-Op Adventure

Somewhat like It Takes Two, Grounded shrinks down its main characters and drops them into a wild adventure. Unlike Hazelight’s title, Grounded is a survival game set within the protagonists’ backyard, which proves to be quite treacherous when experienced from a different perspective than usual.

The title mostly follows the genre’s standard gameplay loop, tasking players with acquiring resources, building a base, and fighting off a few predators. While playable solo, Grounded supports co-op, permitting friends to work together as they try to survive the challenges offered by an unkempt lawn.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

A Well-Crafted Platformer With Co-Op Stages

LittleBigPlanet is historically a great franchise for co-op; however, the older games are quite hard to access nowadays. Fortunately, the same cannot be said for the 2020 spin-off, Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Beyond its availability on more modern systems (and PS Plus Extra), Sumo Digital’s project is a 2.5D platformer with gorgeous visuals, solid controls, great music, and a decent length. The game is even set in a craft-themed world that is not too far removed visually from It Takes Two.

For the most part, Sackboy is promoted as a single-player experience, and it is an absolute blast when played solo. However, the game also supports local and online co-op, allowing up to four players to join forces. Furthermore, each world has a couple of co-op-exclusive stages that are generally a lot of fun, even if they are optional. The standard levels can also be taken on with friends, allowing for the full campaign to be experienced in co-op.

Biped

A Fun Little Adventure With Dedicated Co-Op Levels

Biped‘s unique feature is not directly related to its co-op: the playable character’s legs are mapped to the two analog sticks. As such, players will be moving their cute character forward by just pushing the sticks back and forth, which is a cool concept that has surprisingly not been explored all that much by the gaming industry. In terms of multiplayer, Biped supports 2-player local co-op, with levels catering specifically to the feature. That said, solo runs are also possible.

Narratively, this indie title is nothing like It Takes Two, and the gameplay is not particularly similar either. However, they are both creative co-op games that blend adventure, platforming, and puzzle elements. Biped is a fairly short sit, so players can run through it within a few hours.

Cuphead

Boss Rush & Awesome Visuals

This 2D side-scrolling platformer has a unique style that borrows a lot from cartoons from the 1930s. Not just the style but the whole Cuphead package is quite unique, from the boss battles to how the puzzles are performed. However, where Cuphead truly shines is that it’s an extremely difficult game.

When teaming up with another player via couch co-op or multiplayer, Cuphead gets even harder as the boss’s health doubles and everything gets turned to eleven. However, this shouldn’t deter anyone from playing the game; in fact, it only inspires players to think quicker every time they screw up.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Family-Friendly Fun

Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is serving as a placeholder for most of the Lego games since they typically include co-op as an option. The campaigns are not written around the concept of there being more than one player, but a second person can drop in whenever they want and go along for the ride.

The Skywalker Saga covers the nine main Star Wars movies, and players are free to pick and choose which trilogy they focus on. Along with featuring expansive environments that can be explored, the game comes with a massive roster of playable characters, so it is very likely that most people’s personal favorite is included in the game.

Guacamelee!

Great Indie Action

Guacamelee is a 2D action platformer that is best played with another player (or three). It offers countless hours of fun and is very accessible because of how gradual its learning curve is. Also having a nonlinear gameplay style means players can revisit areas in Guacamelee to unlock secrets.

Once players learn how to combo properly, Guacamelee‘s combat becomes incredibly fluid and impactful. What will pull players in the most, however, is the game’s art, rich world, characters, and interesting boss battles, proving things that are in triple-A games can also be found in indie games like Guacamelee.

Rayman Legends

Beautiful Visuals & Addictive Gameplay

Playing Rayman Legends with a friend is the best way to enjoy it. A simple game to learn, Rayman Legends is all about maintaining the player’s momentum. The levels are designed to trip up players, so timing is literally everything.

Rayman Legends gets more and more complicated as it goes on, and levels gradually become more abstract, so much so that players are unlikely to find the same style anywhere else. What is cool about Rayman Legends is that, unlike other platformers, the world changes, offering more challenges and things to do.

Unravel 2

Cozy Puzzle-Platformer With Co-Op In Mind

Unravel 2 is the sequel to Coldwood Interactive’s highly acclaimed single-player platformer, Unravel. The premise is fairly simple: two small dolls made of yarn who are connected to each other go on an adventure. The yarn can be used to lasso and swing from trees, build bridges, and drag objects from one place to another.

In Unravel 2, players can play alone and switch between the yarn dolls, but it’s much more enjoyable to partner up with a friend. Unravel 2 depends on the collaborative aspect, and most puzzles require some teamwork. The game’s levels are beautifully designed and its soundtrack is amazing. Players who want to dive into another whimsical platformer with their friends after completing It Takes Two should definitely take a look at Unravel 2.

Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime

Perfect For Local Co-Op

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a space shooter, but it’s not just any space shooter. One to four players play in a condensed spaceship to navigate through neon galactic environments to destroy the powers of Anti-Love. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is often cited as a great game to play with a significant other on Valentine’s Day, but there’s not really any romance going on. Instead, the premise of the game is simply to eliminate Anti-Love, which everyone should be in favor of.

If players prefer to play on their own, they can and will partner with an AI space pet to help them. But similar to Overcooked, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is truly meant to be a cooperative gameplay experience. Each player has a job or protects a side of the spaceship, and having to do it all alone is much more difficult. Unfortunately, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is not equipped with online features, but for gamers who have someone nearby to play with, this whimsical space shooter is a great game to play after finishing It Takes Two.

Haven

A Happy Couple

Yu and Kay are traveling the stars in search of a new home, which they find in the form of Source. Gorgeous as this planet can be, it is also not particularly welcoming to visitors, and the couple have their work cut out for them if they want to set up roots on this naturalistic terrain.

Like It Takes Two, Haven revolves entirely around the relationship between the central couple; in fact, progression reflects the strength of Yu and Kay’s bond. As a survival game, Haven dedicates quite a bit of time to menial tasks like collecting resources, which can get a bit tedious after a while. Thankfully, these sections are broken up by battles that are quite a lot of fun, and they allow players to synergize Yu and Kay’s attacks to create devastating combos. The campaign can be played in co-op.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

A Quintessential Co-Op Franchise

The fourth installment of Frozenbyte’s popular series, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince sends three heroes on a journey to save Prince Selius from his dark visions that are beginning to spill into reality. Trine 4 can be played in couch co-op, online, or a combination, so there are no obstacles preventing gamers from enjoying this magical platformer together.

Trine 4 is one of few puzzle platformers with an interesting story that develops as players progress through the levels. Fans who enjoyed the emphasis on storytelling in It Takes Two will probably appreciate Trine 4’s as well, and the game environments and art style are captivatingly beautiful. The levels require players to use the heroes’ different abilities to accomplish goals, so players who enjoyed that aspect of It Takes Two can experience it again with Trine 4.

A Hat In Time

Endearing 3D Platformer

Released in 2017, A Hat in Time instantly attracted praise for being a charming addition to the 3D platformer genre. These types of games might have been a dime-a-dozen in the early 2000s, but modern releases that gain mainstream attention are few and far in-between, especially ones that are not associated with established brands like Super Mario or Kirby. A Hat in Time defied all odds, showing that these projects can find an audience even when they are not backed by Nintendo.

At launch, Gears for Breakfast’s game did not include local co-op, but this was added later down the line. Presented in split-screen, two players can work through the campaign together, with each person receiving the same abilities, moveset, and responsibilities. As such, both parties are on equal footing, which makes for a balanced experience. A Hat in Time also has an online multiplayer option, although this is not treated as co-op. Essentially, players share the same world while still going on solo adventures. There is also the Vanessa’s Curse DLC for those who want a PvP multiplayer option.

We Were Here

Clever Co-Op Puzzles

Anyone who loves the puzzle-like mechanics of It Takes Two will definitely want to check out the We Were Here series. The franchise is a cooperative puzzle-lovers paradise, launching two players into an array of locations and forcing them to work closely together to escape situations.

The original release, We Were Here, is a free experience that will help players get an idea of whether they enjoy the aesthetic of the series. For those who strike gold and are looking for an even bigger experience, they can try the game’s sequels, We Were Here Too and We Were Here Together.

Cat Quest 2

Strange Bedfellows

OK, this recommendation is only a borderline case since the gameplay is nothing like It Takes Two, nor is the story, to be honest. However, Cat Quest 2 deserves a mention for the simple reason that it is a ton of fun to play. Unlike the first entry, which is just single-player, the sequel is specifically designed around co-op, with the story revolving around a cat and dog that need to work together to protect both of their kingdoms.

Advertisement

Related

10 Mobile Games For Cat Lovers

From challenging puzzles and arcade games to relaxing idle games, there’s something for all cat lovers in need of a new mobile game to pass the time.

Advertisement

An isometric action RPG with dungeon-crawling elements, Cat Quest 2 is relentlessly charming, delivering cute character designs, cheesy but endearing dialogue, and accessible combat that has just enough depth to remain interesting throughout the not-so-long campaign. Aesthetically, the game opts for vibrant and solid colors, which adds a lot of personality to the otherwise flat world.

TimeSplitters 2 And Future Perfect

A Time-Hopping Split-Screen Adventure That Is An Absolute Blast

• 	TimeSplitters 2	TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
  Platform(s)	PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox (Original), GameCube, PlayStation 2	PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox (Original), GameCube, PlayStation 2
  Developer(s)	Free Radical Design	Free Radical Design
  Genre(s)	FPS	First-Person Shooter

OK, TimeSplitters plays very differently from It Takes Two. Radical’s trilogy consists of first-person shooters, with all three games being fairly fast-paced and action-packed. While their core mechanics are nothing alike, both IPs shine in their epic campaigns that guide players through an array of wildly unique locations, creating a journey that feels expansive and unpredictable. It Takes Two consistently throws out surprises during Cody and May’s relationship-mending adventure; meanwhile, TimeSplitters 2 and Future Perfect live up to their names by setting their stages in different eras, all of which have singular identities that make them fun to experience for the first time or revisit.

No offense to the original TimeSplitters, but new players might just want to jump into the sequels. TimeSplitters 2 has arguably the best gunplay in the trilogy, and its campaign can be played in co-op. However, Future Perfect has a stronger overall story that is more coherent rather than coming across as a series of maps that are loosely connected. That said, both games are great.

Portal 2

Brainteaser

Those who loved It Takes Two but are craving an experience where they can flex their brain muscles a bit harder will adore the challenge and ingenuity presented in Portal 2. The sequel to the hit release, Portal, gives a truly unique cooperative experience like no other, where two players are forced to operate the varying sides of a portal gun. Gamers familiar with the franchise will once again find themselves trapped in a series of tests, where they must use portals to escape each level, all while dodging hazards, turrets, and other unique obstacles.

Portal 2 also features an engrossing single-player experience that’s completely separate from the cooperative playthrough. This means that those who have already beaten the title alone can find an entirely new storyline to play through with a friend, and vice versa.