Games Like It Takes Two: 8 Co-op Games for Two Players

The best game like It Takes Two is Split Fiction, Hazelight Studios' next game, also built only for two players. Right behind it are A Way Out, from the same studio, and Portal 2's co-op campaign. Here are 8 co-op games where you really have to talk, help each other and fail together to make progress, on the same couch or online.

Why It Takes Two works so well as a duo

It Takes Two is an adventure designed exclusively for two players, in local split-screen or online. You play Cody or May, a married couple on the verge of splitting up who get turned into dolls and travel through fantastical worlds drawn from their home and their relationship.

Its big strength is how it swaps mechanics every chapter: platforming, puzzles, shooting, racing, flying. Each character gets different abilities, so neither of you can move forward alone. It creates real moments of teamwork, and a few arguments too.

How to choose your next co-op game

First, figure out if you'll share a couch or play remotely. Then think about each player's skill level: some games are very forgiving, others need sharp reflexes. Finally, if the story was the hook, go narrative, and if it was the chaos, pick something fast and action-packed. For more ideas, see our couch co-op guide.

1. 

   1. Split Fiction

   2025 · Main story 14 h

   The spiritual follow-up to It Takes Two, from the same studio. Two writers, Mio and Zoe, get trapped inside their own stories, one sci-fi and one fantasy. Same recipe: mandatory co-op, mechanics that never stop changing, and wild ideas in every chapter. The most obvious pick on this list.

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2. 

   2. A Way Out

   2018 · Main story 5 h

   Hazelight's earlier game, also playable only by two. Leo and Vincent, two inmates, plan a prison break and then go on the run together. It's more serious and more cinematic than It Takes Two, with scenes where each of you lives your own action on screen. Ideal if you love buddy stories.

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3. 

   3. Unravel Two

   2018 · Main story 5.5 h

   Two little yarn creatures tied together by a thread, working as a team to get past obstacles. You swing, climb and pull each other out of trouble using that link. It's gentle, gorgeous to look at and not too hard, perfect for playing with someone who's new to games.

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4. 

   4. Portal 2

   2011 · Main story 4.5 h

   Its co-op campaign is a gem: two robots, Atlas and P-body, and four portals to combine to solve increasingly twisted test chambers. You have to talk and think things through together. GLaDOS's dark humor makes it even better. Top tier for duos who love puzzles.

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5. 

   5. Overcooked! 2

   2018 · Main story 5 h

   A kitchen, orders piling up and countertops that move under your feet. Overcooked! 2 turns co-op into total chaos, where you split up tasks and shout out orders. Levels are short and very funny. Perfect for a night that ends in fits of laughter, or mild shouting.

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6. 

   6. Cuphead

   2017 · Main story 8 h

   A 2D run-and-gun shooter drawn like a 1930s cartoon, made almost entirely of boss fights. You can play together on the same screen, and you'll need the teamwork, because it's very hard. For duos who love a challenge and the shared glory of finally winning after twenty attempts.

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7. 

   7. Grounded

   2022 · Main story 25 h

   Shrunk down to the size of insects, you have to survive in a backyard that's suddenly huge. You gather resources, build a base and fight giant spiders. Like It Takes Two, everyday life becomes an adventure. It's longer and more open, for duos who want a project to share over several weeks.

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8. 

   8. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

   2015 · Main story 6 h

   You pilot a bubble-shaped spaceship together, running between stations: turrets, shield, engine. It's colorful, frantic and demands real coordination. A small couch co-op gem that often gets overlooked, perfect for one or two evenings with a partner or a friend.

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FAQ

What game is most like It Takes Two?

Split Fiction is the closest: same studio, the same two-player-only co-op design and mechanics that keep changing. A Way Out, older and more serious, also follows the idea of an adventure built entirely around two players working together.

Can you play It Takes Two with only one copy?

Yes. With the Friend's Pass, the person who owns the game can invite a friend who doesn't own it to play online together. Locally, one copy is all you need to play split-screen on the same couch.

How long is It Takes Two?

According to players on IGDB, it takes about 11 hours to finish the story, about 14 and a half hours if you enjoy the minigames, and close to 20 hours to do everything. That's around ten evenings together, a great length for a couple's game.