Finding a partner who actually wants to play video games with you is a minor miracle. It’s even harder when you’ve finished Hazelight’s masterpiece and realize most "multiplayer" games are just two people doing the same thing in the same space. It Takes Two on the Switch changed the bar. It wasn’t just a game; it was a collaborative puzzle that forced you to actually talk to the person sitting on the couch next to you. If you’re hunting for games like It Takes Two Switch edition, you’re likely looking for that specific "asymmetric" magic where my ability is useless without yours.
Most lists will just point you toward Mario Kart or Smash Bros. Honestly? Those aren't the same. Those are competitive or loosely cooperative. To find the real successors, we have to look at titles that prioritize mechanics over high scores. We're looking for games that make you argue, laugh, and eventually high-five when a plan actually comes together.
The Asymmetric Hook: Why We Crave This Style
Hazelight Studios, led by the perpetually energetic Josef Fares, figured out a secret sauce. They realized that "couch co-op" shouldn't just be Player 2 tagging along. In It Takes Two, Cody and May have entirely different toolsets. This isn't just flavor text. It is the literal foundation of the level design.
When searching for similar experiences on Nintendo's handheld, the hardware matters. The Switch is built for this. Its Joy-Cons are tiny, sure, but they are built-in controllers for an impromptu session. However, the technical limitations of the Switch mean that some ports of heavy 3D games can feel a bit muddy compared to their PC counterparts. You’ve got to pick the games that actually run well in handheld or docked mode without dropping to 15 frames per second when the action gets intense.
Unravel Two: The Physics of Connection
If you want the closest mechanical cousin, Unravel Two is basically mandatory. Developed by Coldwood Interactive and published by EA, it follows two "Yarnys"—creatures made of thread—who are literally tied together.
This isn't just a metaphor.
The physics engine is the star here. You use your partner as an anchor to swing across gaps. You tie knots to create bridges. If one person falls, the other has to haul them up. It lacks the cinematic bombast and 100-mini-games-in-one feel of Cody and May’s adventure, but the core feeling of "I cannot get there without you" is identical. It’s also frequently on sale for a few bucks on the eShop, making it a low-risk experiment for a rainy Sunday.
Beyond the Platformer: Portal 2 and Communication
You can't discuss games like It Takes Two Switch enthusiasts should play without mentioning Portal 2. Specifically, the Companion Collection on Switch. It’s a flawless port. Valve managed to make the co-op campaign feel like a distinct, separate game from the single-player story.
You play as Atlas and P-Body. You have four portals instead of two. This doubles the complexity and quadruples the potential for accidentally dropping your friend into a pit of acid.
What makes it a great follow-up? The humor. It has that same biting, witty dialogue that keeps the mood light even when a puzzle is melting your brain. It demands a level of spatial reasoning that few games dare to ask of players. You aren't just jumping on platforms; you're calculating trajectories and momentum. It’s pure, distilled cooperation.
Snipperclips: The Underrated Gem of Logic
Let's talk about Snipperclips: Cut it out, together! It looks like a "kinda" cute, simple paper game. It’s not. It is a psychological test disguised as a puzzle game. You play as two paper characters, Snip and Clip, who can cut pieces out of each other to change their shapes.
Need to carry a ball? Cut a bowl shape into your partner's head.
Need to pop a balloon? Sharpen your friend into a point.
The simplicity is the genius. Because there are no complex "combat" mechanics, the entire focus is on the "how." You’ll find yourself shouting "No, stand still! I need to trim your edge!" more often than you'd expect. It’s a Nintendo-published title, so it has that polished "it just works" feel that third-party ports sometimes lack.
The "Stressful" Co-op Category
Some people loved It Takes Two because it was a journey. Others loved it because it forced them to perform under pressure. If you fall into the latter camp, the Overcooked! All You Can Eat edition is the logical, albeit stressful, next step.
Overcooked is famously a "relationship tester." You’re in a kitchen. The kitchen is on a moving truck. Or an ice floe. Or in space. You have to chop tomatoes, fry burgers, and wash dishes while the world literally falls apart around you.
- Communication is mandatory: You cannot win by being a "solo carry."
- Roles emerge naturally: One person becomes the "chef," the other the "runner."
- The Chaos Factor: Just like the boss fights in It Takes Two, things go wrong fast.
Another one that often gets overlooked is Moving Out. It's basically the same concept but with furniture. You're trying to haul a sofa out of a house while ignoring the laws of physics and property damage. It’s less about precision and more about the slapstick comedy of two people trying to fit a L-shaped couch through a narrow door.
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Luigi’s Mansion 3: The Asymmetric Power Dynamic
If you’re playing with someone who might be a bit less "hardcore" of a gamer, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a brilliant pivot. Once you unlock Gooigi—Luigi’s ectoplasmic doppelgänger—the second player can join in.
Gooigi can walk through spikes and slip through grates that Luigi can't. However, Gooigi dies instantly if he touches water. This creates a fascinating dynamic where the two players have to protect each other's weaknesses. It’s a 15-20 hour adventure that feels like a high-budget animated movie. It doesn’t have the "divorce drama" plot of It Takes Two, but the exploration and ghost-hunting are top-tier.
The Indie Dark Horse: Blanc
Have you heard of Blanc? It’s a stark, hand-drawn game about a wolf cub and a fawn lost in a snowstorm. There is no text. No dialogue. Just two players navigating a monochromatic world.
It’s much shorter than the other games mentioned here—maybe two or three hours total—but it hits that emotional resonance. It’s peaceful. If the frantic pace of Overcooked or the difficult platforming of Portal is too much, Blanc is the "cool down" game. It’s about companionship and the visual storytelling is genuinely moving.
A Way Out: The "Older Sibling" of It Takes Two
Wait, isn't A Way Out too heavy for the Switch? Actually, it's not on the Switch natively. But since we are looking for the feel of these games, it’s worth noting that if you have any other hardware, this is the literal predecessor to It Takes Two.
Same director. Same "co-op only" philosophy.
You play as two prisoners, Leo and Vincent, breaking out of jail. It’s a gritty 70s crime drama. One person might be distracting a guard while the other steals a tool. It’s the game that proved Josef Fares wasn't crazy for demanding a two-player-only experience. If you’re restricted to the Switch, however, the closest vibe to this narrative-heavy cooperation is probably Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
Brothers was originally designed for one person to control two characters with two thumbsticks. On the Switch version, they added a "Two Player" mode where each person takes one Joy-Con. It’s a bit janky because it wasn't built for it, but the story is legendary. Be warned: it will wreck you emotionally.
Why 3D Platformers Struggle to Match the Vibe
It’s surprisingly rare to find games that use the camera and perspective as well as It Takes Two did. Many Switch games opt for a shared screen (where both players are on one screen and can't move too far apart) or a vertical split.
It Takes Two used a dynamic split-screen that would merge and divide based on where you were in the level. That’s a massive technical hurdle for the Switch’s mobile processor. That’s why games like Super Mario Odyssey only offer a "Cappy" mode for Player 2, which feels more like a "helper" mode than a true partnership.
If you want 3D movement and true collaboration, you might have to look toward Kirby and the Forgotten Land. While Player 2 is Bandana Waddle Dee—who is admittedly less powerful than Kirby—they still have a full moveset and can participate in every boss fight. It’s "Co-op Lite," but in the desert of quality cooperative titles, it’s a refreshing oasis.
Stardew Valley: The Long-Term Relationship
Maybe you don’t want a puzzle. Maybe you just want to exist in a world together. Stardew Valley’s multiplayer on Switch is phenomenal. You share a farm. You decide who handles the crops and who goes down into the mines to fight monsters.
It’s not "like" It Takes Two in terms of genre, but it fulfills the same social need. It requires planning. "Do we spend our gold on the stable or the coop?" "Who is going to water the blueberries while I'm at the beach?" It’s a slower burn, but the sense of shared ownership over your digital farm is a powerful bonding tool.
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Summary of What to Pick Based on Your Mood
- If you want the exact same mechanics: Unravel Two.
- If you want to laugh and solve puzzles: Portal 2 or Snipperclips.
- If you want a high-production "movie" feel: Luigi’s Mansion 3.
- If you want to test your relationship's stability: Overcooked! All You Can Eat.
- If you want a short, beautiful artistic piece: Blanc.
Actionable Next Steps
Don't just buy the first thing you see. The "best" game depends entirely on the skill gap between you and your partner.
- Check the Skill Level: If one of you isn't great at 3D platforming (the "falling off ledges" problem), start with Snipperclips or Stardew Valley. They are 2D and much more forgiving.
- Download Demos: Snipperclips and Unravel Two almost always have free demos on the eShop. Use them. See if the "vibe" clicks before spending $20-$40.
- Invest in a Pro Controller: If you're playing docked, the Joy-Cons can be cramp-inducing for long sessions. Even a cheap third-party controller makes a huge difference in games that require precision, like Portal 2.
- Look for "Friend Pass" options: While rare on Switch, always check if a game requires two copies for local play. Most of the ones listed here only require one console and one copy of the game.
The magic of these games isn't the code or the graphics; it's the fact that you're doing something together. It Takes Two set a high watermark, but the Nintendo Switch is probably the best place to find developers who still care about the "person sitting next to you" experience. Go grab a second controller and start arguing about whose fault it was that you died. That’s the real fun.