Summary
- It Takes Two is a unique co-op game where players guide an estranged couple through creative puzzles to mend their relationship.
- Several similar games offer a more adult-themed co-op experience.
- Most of these titles feature co-op support and offer a touching narrative and unique gameplay mechanics for players.
It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios is among the best co-op games 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.
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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, and 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 May 26, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Co-op games similar to It Takes Two are fairly rare, especially if the criteria involve sticking specifically to 3D projects. However, the options expand when 2D titles are included. As such, two more side-scrolling puzzle games have been added: ibb & obb and Pikuniku.
Split Fiction
Hazelight's Newest Co-Op Masterpiece
Split Fiction
- Released
- March 6, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- 2-Player Local Co-Op
- 2-Player Online Co-Op
Some recommendations are almost too obvious. Anyone who loves It Takes Two will want to prioritize Split Fiction, Hazelight's latest co-op masterpiece that covers fairly identical ground. Once again, the campaign guides players to different dimensions, and the worlds are this time based around stories created by the two protagonists. Mio and Zoe are unpublished writers who accept an opportunity from a company, but they quickly learn that the latter's goal is to steal their ideas. They get stuck in a machine that brings to life their sci-fi and fantasy narratives, and they must pursue glitches and complete their stories to preserve their creations and, hopefully, get out.
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Similar to It Takes Two, Split Fiction grounds an over-the-top concept in relatable emotions, with both characters going through personal hardships that could hit close to home with viewers. The story is fantastic and completely fits the gameplay, which is Hazelight's best to date. Refusing to stick to just a handful of ideas, Split Fiction introduces mechanics in each level, and that goes even for short stages that only last 10–15 minutes. Beyond just the worlds themselves, the game constantly throws fresh ideas at players, ensuring that nothing outstays its welcome.
A Way Out
Hazelight's First Co-Op Masterpiece
A Way Out
- Released
- March 23, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- 2-Player Local Co-Op
- 2-Player Online Co-Op
As Hazelight's first game, A Way Out is one of the most obvious options 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.
Despite overlap in some areas, these games are hardly carbon copies of each other. 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)
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake
- Released
- February 28, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avantgarden Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
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. Brothers focuses 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
Knights and Bikes
- Released
- August 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- 2-Player Local Co-Op
- 2-Player Online Co-Op
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
Moving Out 2
- Released
- August 15, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- SMG Studio, Devm Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- 4-Player Local Co-Op
- 4-Player Online Co-Op
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
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- Released
- March 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- HAL Laboratory
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- 2-Player Local Co-Op
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.
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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
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- 4-Player Local 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)
Phogs!
- Released
- December 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bit Loom Games
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle
- 2-Player Local Co-Op
- 2-Player Online Co-Op
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 discuss solutions and work together actively, 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.
Ibb & obb
Defying Gravity Together
ibb & obb
- Released
- August 6, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Sparpweed Games, Codeglue
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Platformer
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Switch
- 2-Player Local & Online Co-Op
- Co-Op Campaign
Something of a cult classic by this point, ibb & obb is a charming co-op puzzle game that primarily revolves around one concept/mechanic: Gravity. Divided by a threshold, the screen is always split into two halves, with their gravitational pulls being flipped. Nearly all the game's puzzles challenge players to coordinate and use both gravities to get past obstacles, be it difficult jumps or enemies. Ibb & obb is 100% intended to be played with a partner, as single-player is not offered as an option; unsurprisingly, the title emphasizes communication, and most of the puzzles are borderline unbeatable if players do not have a way to talk to each other (via online co-op).
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ibb & obb does not quite have the visual diversity or story nuance of It Takes Two, but it is nevertheless a highly effective cooperative game that takes full advantage of that feature. The graphics and color palette are also quite nice and have aged pretty well over the last decade or so. For those who have never played this release and are looking for something to pass a couple of hours, they can do much worse than ibb & obb.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
One Of The Best Co-Op Platformers
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- Released
- February 21, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Retro Studios
- Platform(s)
- Switch, Nintendo Wii U
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- 2-Player Local Co-Op
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.