You’re sitting on the couch, joy-cons in hand, looking at a tiny dollhouse that’s somehow become a death trap. It's chaotic. It’s loud. Honestly, it’s probably the most stressful "fun" you'll ever have with a partner. When Hazelight Studios first announced they were porting their Game of the Year winner to Nintendo’s handheld, people were skeptical. I was skeptical. How do you cram that much visual fidelity into a tablet that runs on a mobile chip from 2015? But It Takes Two Switch exists, and it’s a weirdly impressive technical miracle that most people don't give enough credit to.
It’s a game about divorce, which is a heavy start. You play as Cody and May, a couple on the brink of calling it quits, who get magically shrunk into handmade dolls by their daughter’s tears. A sentient, slightly annoying self-help book named Dr. Hakim then forces you to fix your relationship through platforming, puzzles, and occasionally killing a giant clockwork bull.
Why the Switch Port Matters More Than You Think
Most people assume the PC or PS5 versions are the only way to go. They’re wrong. Well, partly. If you want 4K at 60 frames per second, yeah, don't buy the Switch version. But there is something about the "Switch-ness" of this console that fits the vibe of It Takes Two Switch perfectly. This isn't a game you play alone in a dark basement. It’s a social experiment.
💡 You might also like: Online computer games free: Why we stopped paying for the best stuff
The port was handled by Turn Me Up Games. These are the same folks who brought Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 and Borderlands to the Switch. They know how to squeeze blood from a stone. To make it work, they had to make compromises. The textures are muddier. The resolution drops when things get busy. Sometimes, the lighting looks a bit flat compared to the lush, ray-traced glory of other platforms. But the soul is there. Every mechanic, every joke, and every tear-jerking moment made the transition intact.
The Technical Reality Check
Let’s talk numbers, but keep it casual. On the dock, you’re looking at a target of 1080p, but it rarely hits that natively. It uses dynamic resolution. When the screen splits—which it does for 90% of the game—the Switch has to render two different perspectives at once. That is a massive tax on the hardware.
Handheld mode is where things get dicey. The resolution can dip quite low, making some of the finer details in the background look like a watercolor painting that got left out in the rain. Yet, it holds 30fps surprisingly well. Is 30fps enough for a precision platformer? Usually, I'd say no. Here? It works. The input lag is minimal enough that you won't be blaming the hardware when you inevitably miss a jump and fall into a bottomless pit.
Couch Co-op vs. The Friend's Pass
Hazelight did something brilliant with the Friend's Pass. If you buy It Takes Two Switch, your friend doesn't have to. They just download the trial version, you invite them, and boom—the whole game is playable for free for the second person. This is huge. Most Nintendo games force everyone to own a copy, but Josef Fares (the game's director) basically said "no" to that.
You’ve got options for how to play:
📖 Related: Marvel Ultimate Alliance DLC: The Complicated History of Content That Simply Vanished
- Local split-screen: One console, two people. (Classic, but the screen gets tiny in handheld).
- Local wireless: Two Switches, two people, one room. This is the gold standard for the Switch version. No lag, full screens for both players.
- Online: Standard internet play. You’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for this one.
One thing to watch out for is the Joy-Cons. This game uses every single button. Playing on a single sideways Joy-Con is technically possible but practically a form of torture. If you’re planning a marathon session, get a Pro Controller or at least a decent grip. Your hands will thank you after the third hour of swinging from rafters.
The Design Genius of It Takes Two Switch
The most amazing thing about this game isn't the graphics; it's the fact that it never repeats a mechanic. You’ll spend twenty minutes using a sap-firing gun and a matchstick launcher to blow up wasps. Then, the game takes those away. Suddenly, you're playing a top-down dungeon crawler. Then you're riding a fidget spinner. Then you're in a fighting game.
It’s relentless.
This variety is what makes It Takes Two Switch so addictive. Just when you think you’ve mastered a skill, the game throws it out the window. It keeps the power dynamic between players shifting. In one level, May is the muscle and Cody provides support. In the next, Cody is the one with the "cool" powers. You have to talk. You have to coordinate. You will probably argue about who didn't jump at the right time.
A Masterclass in Narrative Pacing
Usually, platformers have a "story" that’s just an excuse to get to the next level. Not here. The narrative of Cody and May is genuinely messy. They aren't always likable. In fact, there’s a specific scene involving a plush elephant (if you know, you know) that is genuinely traumatizing. It’s a brave choice for a game that looks like a Pixar movie.
The Switch version handles these cinematic transitions beautifully. There’s a seamlessness to how the camera pulls out from a cutscene right into gameplay. You don't feel the "seams" of the port during these moments. It feels like a cohesive experience, even if the grass textures aren't as sharp as they are on a high-end PC.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room (No, Not That One)
Is it better than the other versions? No. If you have a PS5 or a powerful PC, play it there for the visual splendor. The world is so creative that seeing it in high definition is a treat.
👉 See also: Andrew Wilson EA Sports: Why the Most Polarizing CEO in Gaming is Finally Selling
However, if the Switch is your only console, or if you want the portability to play while traveling with a partner, the It Takes Two Switch version is a masterclass in porting. It doesn't feel like a cheap cash grab. It feels like the developers actually cared about making it playable. They added voiceovers in multiple languages (Japanese, French, German, Spanish) which weren't in the original launch, making it even more accessible.
What Most Reviews Miss
A lot of critics focused on the resolution drops. What they missed was the "latency of communication." When you play this on a Switch in local wireless mode, the lack of input lag compared to playing online on a PlayStation is noticeable. In a game where timing is everything—like the boss fight against the vacuum cleaner—that millisecond of difference matters.
Also, the HD Rumble on the Switch is utilized quite well. It’s subtle, but you feel the "thud" of the character landings and the tension of the ropes. It adds a layer of tactility that isn't quite the same on other platforms.
Real-World Performance Expectations
If you’re going to pick this up, keep these things in mind:
- Storage Space: It’s a big game. You’re going to need around 9.5 GB of space. If you’re buying digital, make sure your SD card isn't at its limit.
- Battery Life: This game pushes the Switch hard. On an older V1 Switch, you’re looking at maybe 2.5 hours of playtime. On an OLED model, you’ll get closer to 4 or 5.
- The Split-Screen Factor: On a Lite, split-screen is basically impossible to see. Don't even try it. Use the Friend's Pass and play on two separate devices.
Actionable Tips for New Players
- Don't Rush: There are minigames hidden everywhere. They don't give you trophies or gear, they're just there for fun. From tank battles to literal games of chess, these are often more fun than the main objectives.
- Switch Roles: If you ever replay the game, swap characters. The experience of being Cody is fundamentally different from being May.
- Communicate Constantly: This sounds obvious, but you cannot "carry" a bad player in this game. You both have to be competent. Talk through the puzzles before you start jumping around.
- Adjust Your Settings: Go into the options and tweak the camera sensitivity. The default can feel a bit sluggish on the Joy-Con sticks.
The magic of It Takes Two Switch is that it proves you don't need the most powerful hardware to have a world-class experience. It’s about the design, the heart, and the sheer audacity of the puzzles. Whether you’re trying to fix a fictional marriage or just looking for a way to kill twenty hours with a friend, this is arguably the best co-op game on the Nintendo eShop.
Grab a partner. Expect to argue. Expect to laugh. Just make sure your Joy-Cons don't have drift before you start the clock tower level. You're going to need every bit of precision you can get.
Next Steps for Success:
To get the most out of your experience, first verify your internet NAT type in the Switch settings if you plan to play online; a "Type C" or "D" will cause major connection issues with the Friend's Pass. Once confirmed, download the Friend's Pass version on the second console before buying the full game to ensure your local connection can handle the data load without lag. Finally, dedicate at least a two-hour block for your first session—the opening tutorial and the first boss are best experienced in one continuous flow to nail down the rhythm of the mechanics.