It Takes Two, the highly anticipated co-op game developed by Hazelight Studios, is finally out. It's already getting great reviews and is establishing itself as one of the best co-op games out there, which is no surprise considering it's made by the same team as A Way Out, another popular and unique co-op experience.
RELATED: Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games On Xbox Game Pass (May 2021)
It Takes Two requires multiplayer and has gamers play as Cody and May, an estranged couple considering divorce. When a magical spell transforms them into dolls, they must use their individual skills to navigate creative platforming levels to escape. Along the way, they attempt to mend their broken relationship. It Takes Two hardly ever uses the same mechanic twice, making it an unpredictable and exciting adventure for friends and couples to enjoy together. It's a pretty unique co-op game, but there are a lot of other amazing cooperative experiences to dive into after completing it that are just as special.
Updated June 16th, 2021 by Russ Boswell: It Takes Two has truly taken the gaming world by storm, proving that Couch Co-Op is alive and very well. The iconic characters, incredibly colorful world, and focus on team-based coop content are some of the best the gaming world has ever seen. It's been a few months since It Takes Two released and now that many players have made their way through the story-driven adventure, they're hungry for more cooperative content. Because of this, we decided to revisit this list and take a look at even more games like It Takes Two that offer a similar design, gameplay aesthetic, and cooperative experience.
Unravel 2 is the sequel to Coldwood Interactive's highly acclaimed single-player platformer, Unravel. The premise is fairly simple: gamers play as one of two small dolls made of yarn who are connected to each other. 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 play with a friend. Unravel 2 depends on the collaborative aspect, and most puzzles will require some teamwork. The levels are beautifully designed and the soundtrack is amazing, so 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. As an added bonus, it can usually be bought as a bundle with the first Unravel game.
Unravel 2 is available on PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.
Overcooked 2 is a fast-paced co-op game developed by Team17 and Ghost Town Games. As the title implies, it is the sequel to Overcooked. Both are essentially the same game and have similar mechanics, but only Overcooked 2 has an option to play with friends online. In Overcooked 2, teams of up to four players must join together and save the Onion Kingdom by successfully running restaurants set in wild, imaginative kitchens. It also has a ton of DLCs, so there's a lot of content to explore with this one.
The levels are completely unpredictable; sometimes players will be isolated to one side of the kitchen and have to pass ingredients back and forth, and in others the kitchen may be constantly shifting. Delegation is extremely important in Overcooked 2, and while it can technically be played with only one or two players, it's much harder to get the scores required to get to the next level without the full four players. That said, Overcooked is commonly cited as one of those games that can ruin friendships, so proceed with caution.
Overcooked 2 is available on PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.
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.
RELATED: 10 Incredibly Fun Action Games With Co-op To Play If You Love Resident Evil 5
If players prefer to play on their own, they can and will partner with an adorable AI space pet to help them. But similar to Overcooked, it's 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.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is available for PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.
The fourth installment of the popular Trine 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: The Nightmare Prince is available for PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.
A Way Out is much more mature than It Takes Two or any of the other games on this list, so it's probably not a game to be enjoyed by the family. With that said, a lot of adult fans who haven't played A Way Out will probably turn to it after finishing It Takes Two. A Way Out is developed by Hazelight Studios and directed by Josef Fares, the same team that put It Takes Two together. Josef Fares also previously directed Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, another popular co-op game.
A Way Out is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, and includes options for both couch co-op and online.
It Takes Two is available now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, with specific PS5 and Xbox Series X editions.
Much of the charm in It Takes Two stems from its beautifully designed worlds and story-book-like visuals. Not only is the game a great way for two people to connect from an emotional level, but the lightheartedness of it all both visually and from a gameplay perspective makes it a wholesome experience that should be experienced by everyone. Thankfully, there are even more games out there that feature similar aesthetics.
RELATED: 15 PS3 Games that Still Need to be Remastered
Sackboy: A Big Adventure oozes the same doll-like visuals as It Takes Two and gives players even more imaginative worlds to platform their way through. The best part about the release is that it has received some multiplayer-friendly updates after its release. Crossplay and Online Cooperative modes will give players a chance to connect from all over the world (and up to four players can play at one time). It also features a well-made local Co-Op mode for those looking for a more personal couch-based experience.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is available now on PS4 and PS5.
ARPGs are a ton of fun, especially for cooperative play, but it can definitely be difficult to get into for players who aren't familiar with the genre. Titles like Diablo 3 and Path of Exile were built with fans of ARPGs in mind, which can present a steep learning curve for those outside the know. Things like "min-maxing," and trying to understand what loot works best with which skills can be overwhelming.
Minecraft Dungeons offers up an underrated ARPG experience while also crafting a user-friendly space for people who are new to the genre. It's a blast to play solo but it's a lot more fun and rewarding when played with friends.
Minecraft Dungeons is available now on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Fans of It Takes Two will find a lot of familiarity and comfort in the epic adventure of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, considering it is crafted by the same developer. Like It Takes Two, the adventure is told through the perspective of two characters and features a heartwarming storyline that players are sure to enjoy.
The original release was meant to be a solo affair, even though it includes two characters. This is because the control scheme was built around the idea that one player would be controlling both brothers. That said, the newest release for Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, on the Nintendo Switch, features a fleshed-out multiplayer control scheme that will allow players to enjoy the adventure cooperatively. If you're looking for games like It Takes Two, this should be your first stop.
Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons is available now on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and even Android and iOS devices.
Players that love 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 whether or not they enjoy the aesthetic of the series. For those that strike gold and are looking for an even bigger experience, there are sequels with We Were Here Too and We Were Here Together.
We Were Here is available now on Xbox One and PC.
Those who loved It Takes Two but are craving an experience where they can flex their brain muscles a little bit harder will love 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.
Portal 2 is available now on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.