Cody and May, turned into dolls by their daughter's wish. Image: Hazelight Studios / EA
It Takes Two is a co-op-only platformer from Hazelight Studios, released on 26 March 2021. Two players control a divorcing couple magically trapped in doll bodies. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021, and its Friend's Pass means only one of you needs to own it.
Two things to know before buying:
1. There is no single-player mode. It cannot be played alone. You need a second person, either in split-screen or online.
2. Only one copy is needed. The Friend's Pass lets a second player join online for free after downloading a free client. One purchase covers both of you.
At a glance
| Developer | Hazelight Studios |
| Released | 26 March 2021 · Switch version 2022 |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch |
| Players | Two — split-screen or online. No solo mode. |
| Length | ~12–14 hours |
What is it about?
Cody and May are about to divorce. Their daughter Rose, hoping to keep them together, cries over two handmade dolls — and her parents wake up inside them.
Guided (and harassed) by a talking self-help book called Dr. Hakim, they have to cooperate their way back to their own bodies. The story is a fairly blunt metaphor about a couple relearning how to work together, and the writing is uneven — Dr. Hakim in particular divides players sharply.
The narrative is the weakest part. The design is why the game won awards.
Why is the co-op design so highly regarded?
Because it never reuses a mechanic.
Almost every chapter hands each player a different, asymmetric ability, uses it for twenty minutes, and then discards it entirely. Across roughly thirteen hours you might get:
- A nail gun and a hammer, used together for climbing and combat
- Time rewind for one player, cloning for the other
- Magnetic attraction and repulsion
- Gravity boots and a grappling hook
- Full genre shifts — a top-down shooter, a side-scrolling brawler, a flight section
Most studios would build an entire game around two or three of these. Hazelight uses each once. The result is that the game never repeats itself, and the pace never sags.
Crucially, the abilities are designed so neither player can progress alone. You have to talk to each other constantly, which is the point.
Each chapter introduces new asymmetric abilities, then throws them away.
How does the Friend's Pass work?
One player buys the game. The second downloads the free It Takes Two Friend's Pass from their store and can play the entire game online with the owner, start to finish.
Restrictions: the Friend's Pass player must be invited by an owner and cannot host. Cross-platform play is supported between some platforms — check current details on your store page.
For split-screen on one console, you simply need two controllers and one copy.
This makes It Takes Two one of the best-value multiplayer purchases available, since the effective cost is halved.
Do you need to be good at games?
No, and this is part of its appeal. Difficulty is gentle, deaths are frequent but cost nothing — you respawn instantly beside your partner — and there are no lives or penalties.
It is widely used as a game to play with a partner or family member who does not usually play games. The controls stay simple even as the mechanics change, and the split-screen framing means you can see what the other person is doing and help.
Two caveats: a few timing-based sections can frustrate a complete beginner, and the split-screen boundary shifts dynamically, which takes a little adjustment.
Is it worth playing in 2026?
Yes. Co-op design of this quality is rare, and nothing since has matched its variety.
The obvious comparison is Hazelight's own A Way Out (2018), which uses the same one-copy model but is a more grounded prison-escape story, and Split Fiction (2025), their most recent. If you enjoy It Takes Two, both are natural follow-ups.
It discounts heavily and regularly, and has appeared in subscription catalogues.
Where can you buy it?
- PC — Steam, EA App and the Epic Games Store
- PlayStation — PlayStation Store (PS4 and PS5)
- Xbox — Microsoft Store
- Nintendo — Nintendo eShop
Buying advice
There is no DLC — the game is complete as sold. Only one copy is required thanks to Friend's Pass, so split the cost with whoever you are playing with. It has appeared in the EA Play catalogue, which is included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, so check there before buying.
A note on cracked builds: they are illegal, a known malware vector, and cannot connect to the online servers It Takes Two requires for remote play — which for a co-op-only game removes most of the point. The Friend's Pass already makes this one of the cheapest multiplayer games per player. IGGG Guides does not link to pirated software.
It Takes Two FAQ
Can you play It Takes Two alone?
No. It requires two players, either in split-screen or online. There is no AI partner.
Do both players need to buy the game?
No. One purchase is enough — the second player uses the free Friend's Pass online, or a second controller for split-screen.
How long is It Takes Two?
Around 12–14 hours, though it varies with how much you experiment with the minigames.
Is there split-screen on PC?
Yes, local split-screen is supported on PC with two controllers.
Is it suitable for children?
Largely, though the divorce themes and one widely discussed scene involving a toy elephant are darker than the art style suggests.
Is there cross-platform play?
Cross-play is supported between some platforms. Check your store page for current details.
The verdict
It Takes Two is the most inventive co-op game of its generation. It refuses to reuse an idea, which keeps thirteen hours consistently surprising, and the Friend's Pass makes it exceptional value.
The story is heavy-handed and Dr. Hakim will irritate some players. Neither matters much next to design this generous — if you have someone to play with, this is close to essential.
Best for: couples, siblings, friends, and anyone wanting a great game to share with a non-gamer.
Skip if: you have nobody to play with — there is no solo option.
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- Hollow Knight: Silksong review — a beautiful, brutal adventure
- Top 15 new Nintendo Switch 2 games
- Borderlands 4 review — 150+ hours of gameplay insights
Last updated: 6 September 2026