Finding two player games like It Takes Two is actually way harder than it looks. You’d think with the massive success of Hazelight Studios, every developer would be rushing to make mandatory co-op masterpieces. They aren't. Most games just slap a "Player 2" option onto a single-player campaign and call it a day. That’s not what we’re looking for here. We want that specific, messy, "if you don't jump now we both die" energy that Josef Fares perfected.
Honestly, It Takes Two changed the bar. It wasn't just a platformer; it was a genre-bending fever dream that forced you to actually talk to the person on the couch next to you. If you’ve finished it, you’re probably feeling that post-game void. You want something that requires genuine synchronicity, not just two people moving in the same direction.
Why "Co-op Dependent" Design is the Secret Sauce
Most games are "co-op compatible." That's a huge difference. In something like Diablo or Halo, you can technically play alone. The second player is just extra firepower. But in two player games like It Takes Two, the game literally cannot function without both inputs.
👉 See also: How to Make Ladder Minecraft Builds Actually Work Without Getting Stuck
Take A Way Out. It’s from the same studio, but the tone is totally different. It’s a gritty prison break. You aren't turning into dolls or fighting a vacuum cleaner, but the DNA is identical. One person holds the guard's attention while the other sneaks through a vent. If one of you wanders off to check your phone, the whole operation collapses. That’s the high-stakes cooperation that makes this sub-genre so addictive.
It's about the asymmetrical mechanics. In It Takes Two, Cody might have the sap gun while May has the match gun. They are useless individually. To find a worthy successor, you have to look for games that split the "power" between two people unevenly.
The Best Alternatives You Probably Haven't Played Yet
Bread & Fred: The Relationship Ruiner
Don't let the cute penguins fool you. Bread & Fred is brutal. You are two penguins strapped together by a rope. You have to swing each other across gaps. It’s physics-based torture, but in the best way possible.
If you mess up a swing, you both fall. All the way down. It captures that specific frustration and eventual triumph of It Takes Two’s harder platforming sections. It’s less about the story and more about the mechanical "click" when you and your partner finally sync your rhythm.
We Were Here (The Whole Series)
If the puzzle-solving was your favorite part of It Takes Two, you need to look at the We Were Here series. These games are built entirely on communication. Often, you are separated. One person is in a library with the instructions; the other is in a room that’s rapidly filling with water (or spikes, or fire).
You have to describe what you see over a walkie-talkie. "I see a blue bird with a hat!" "Okay, turn the middle dial to the sun icon!" It’s frantic. It’s stressful. It is the purest form of two player games like It Takes Two because it tests your ability to translate visual information into verbal commands under pressure.
Portal 2: The Golden Standard
We can't talk about this without mentioning Portal 2. Even though it’s over a decade old, the co-op campaign is still a masterclass. You play as Atlas and P-Body. The puzzles aren't just harder versions of the solo game; they require four portals to solve.
The humor is top-tier, mirroring that lighthearted but dark undercurrent found in the Rose and Cody saga. Plus, GLaDOS is there to insult your friendship the entire time. It’s iconic for a reason.
Let's Talk About the "Indie" Co-op Gems
Sometimes the big studios play it too safe. That’s where the indie scene thrives.
🔗 Read more: Uma Musume Auto Training: Is It Actually Ruining Your Gacha Progress?
- Unravel Two: This is a gorgeous, physics-based platformer where you play as two "Yarnys" tied together. It’s much more relaxing than Bread & Fred but still requires tight coordination. You can even fuse together to get through tough platforming spots if one player is struggling.
- Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes: This isn't a platformer, but it hits the same cooperative notes. One person looks at a bomb on the screen. The other has a 20-page "Bomb Defusal Manual" on their lap (or another screen). You have to talk each other through cutting wires and pressing buttons before the timer hits zero.
- Snipperclips: If you’re playing on Nintendo Switch, this is mandatory. You play as two pieces of paper that have to snip pieces out of each other to change shape. Need to pop a balloon? Snip your partner into a point. Need to carry a ball? Snip them into a bowl shape. It’s chaotic and brilliant.
Why Most "Similar" Recommendations Fail
You’ll see a lot of lists suggesting Overcooked! or Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Don't get me wrong, those are great games. But they aren't exactly two player games like It Takes Two.
Overcooked is a management sim. It’s about efficiency and yelling about tomatoes. It lacks the narrative journey and the shifting mechanics that define the Hazelight experience. Sackboy is a 3D platformer that is perfectly playable solo. The co-op is an "add-on," not the core identity.
The magic of It Takes Two is that it changes its entire genre every thirty minutes. One minute you're playing a third-person shooter, the next you're in a dungeon crawler, then a racing game. Finding a game that replicates that "variety pack" feel is nearly impossible, which is why you have to focus on the dependency factor instead.
The Nuance of Local vs. Online Play
One thing Hazelight got right was the "Friend's Pass." You buy the game, your friend plays for free. It’s a genius move that more developers should copy. When looking for your next game, check the technical requirements.
Some games, like Bread & Fred, are best played on the same couch. Others, like the We Were Here series, actually work better in separate rooms because the "blind" communication is the whole point. If you’re playing with a long-distance partner, make sure the game supports Steam Remote Play Together or has a dedicated online invite system.
🔗 Read more: Best Turn Based RPGs: Why We Are Still Obsessed With Waiting Our Turn
Actionable Steps for Your Next Game Night
If you are itching for that specific co-op high, here is how you should actually narrow it down:
- Assess your patience level. If you want a story-heavy experience that feels like a movie, go straight to A Way Out. Just be prepared—it’s much more "mature" and lacks the whimsical puzzles.
- Test your communication. If you think you're good at talking to each other, try We Were Here Explorers. It’s a short, free entry in the series. It’ll tell you within 20 minutes if your friendship can handle the stress of "information-gap" puzzles.
- Go for the physics. If you loved the movement in It Takes Two, Unravel Two is your best bet. It’s beautiful, it’s tactile, and it feels like a genuine journey.
- Look for "Asymmetry." Always check if the characters have different abilities. If Player 1 and Player 2 are identical, it's probably not going to scratch that It Takes Two itch. You want to feel like a specific "part" of a machine.
The reality is that Hazelight Studios is an anomaly. Josef Fares is a director who treats co-op like a sacred vow. While we wait for their next project, these alternatives are the closest you'll get to that lightning-in-a-bottle feeling of needing someone else to succeed. Grab a controller, pick someone you actually like talking to, and start with the We Were Here series or Unravel Two. You won't regret it, even if you end up arguing over who missed the jump.