You're playing Hazelight’s masterpiece. Cody and May are bickering. Dr. Hakim is thrusting his hips in a way that makes you slightly uncomfortable. You realize you’ve missed a dozen shiny trophies because you were too busy trying to nail the platforming in the Cuckoo Clock section. It happens. Honestly, It Takes Two is a rare breed where the achievements aren't just "kill 500 enemies." They're weird. They're specific.
Most people think they can just stroll through the story and the Platinum will pop. Nope. Aside from the mandatory story beats, every single achievement is a missable mini-game or a hidden interaction tucked away in a corner of the map you probably sprinted past. This It Takes Two achievement guide focuses on the stuff that actually trips people up—the "where the heck is that?" moments that make you want to restart the chapter.
The Secret Sauce of It Takes Two Achievements
First off, don’t panic about missing something. The Chapter Select menu is your best friend. It shows you exactly how many mini-games and achievements are in each sub-section. But if you're trying to do this in one clean sweep, you need to keep your eyes peeled for things that look "extra." If there's a path that doesn't lead to a puzzle, go there.
Take the "Fried Friendship" achievement. It’s in The Tree chapter. You’ll find a torture chamber (yes, really) with a button. If you both jump on it, you’ll torture a poor little plushie. It’s dark. It’s funny in a twisted way. It’s also 100% missable if you’re just rushing to fight the wasps.
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Why the Mini-Games Matter
You need all 25 mini-games for the "Minigame Megalomania" trophy. Some are out in the open, like the Whack-a-Cody. Others are devious. In the Rose’s Room chapter, specifically the Spaced Out section, there’s a portal that leads to a volleyball game. If you don't fly up to the hidden platform, you’ll never see it.
The game doesn't track these across different save files easily, so try to grab them on one main run. You don't have to win them. Just start them.
Breaking Down the Hardest Trophies
Most achievements in this game are basically "interact with this specific toy." But a few require actual coordination.
The Cuckoo Clock: A Lesson in Patience
The "Triangular Force" achievement is a classic. In the Gates of Time section, you’ll see a town area. There are little figurines of Cody and May. If you position yourselves right in front of them and emote, you trigger a Zelda-style musical cue. It’s a neat Easter egg. But the real kicker in this chapter is "A Daring Devil." You have to find a literal toy bird, hop in, and fly through a ring of stars. If your partner is a bad pilot, you're going to be there for a while.
Snow Globe Shenanigans
The Winter Village is a goldmine. "A Fried Fish" is probably the one people Google the most. You’re at the lake. There’s a harpoon. You have to catch a fish and feed it to a seal. Simple? Kinda. The aiming is janky.
Then there’s "Mood Swing." You’ll find a swing set with a person on it. You need to use your magnets to spin them faster and faster until they literally loop the loop and fly off. It’s hilarious and slightly morbid, which seems to be a recurring theme for Josef Fares and his team.
Rose’s Room: The Achievement Hub
This chapter is massive. If you’re looking to pad your trophy count, this is where you do it.
- Stargazing: Find the telescope in the Space sub-section. Look at the stars. Done.
- Snackosaurus: In the Dino Land part, one person controls a big T-Rex. The other person stands on a platform. The T-Rex player has to literally eat the other player.
- Realize Your Art: This one is in the back of the Magic Castle. There’s a painting area. You just need to jump into the printer.
The "Platforming" Trophies
A few achievements require you to actually use the mechanics rather than just pressing a "Use" prompt. "On Rails" in the Cuckoo Clock chapter is a prime example. You have to grind on a rail and avoid all the obstacles without falling off or getting hit. It’s not "Dark Souls" hard, but if you’re playing with someone who isn't a "gamer," it can take a few tries.
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"Towering Trio" is another one. In the Rose’s Room (Spaced Out) area, there are blocks you can stack. You have to stack them to a certain height and then climb to the top. It requires some finesse with the physics engine which, let’s be honest, can be a bit floaty.
The Tricky Mini-Games You Probably Missed
The "Minigame Megalomania" is the real grind. Here are the three most commonly missed ones:
- Birdstar: In the Garden chapter (Weed Whacking). Look for a TV and some buttons. It’s a rhythm game.
- Plunger Tower: This is in the Cuckoo Clock (Gates of Time). It’s hidden behind some buildings in the town square.
- Track Runner: In Rose's Room, after the first space section. It’s on a side path before you enter the giant robot.
If you hit the end of the game and the trophy hasn't popped, check the "Spaced Out" and "Garden" sections first. Those are the biggest maps with the most nooks and crannies.
Dealing with the "F-Word" (Fares)
Josef Fares, the director, actually put himself in the game. In the "Rose's Room" chapter, specifically the "Spaced Out" part, you can find a hidden satellite dish. If you rotate it correctly, you can pick up radio frequencies. One of those frequencies plays his infamous "F*** the Oscars" speech from the Game Awards. Finding this nets you the "Faraway Frequencies" achievement. It’s a meta-joke that perfectly encapsulates the energy of this game.
Common Pitfalls and Misconceptions
People often ask: "Do both players get the achievement?"
Yes. If you're playing local co-op or online, both players get the trophy. However, if you are playing via the Friend's Pass (where only one person owns the game), the person playing for free does not earn trophies on most platforms like PlayStation or Xbox. This is a huge bummer for trophy hunters. If you want the Platinum, you basically have to own the game or be the host.
Another misconception is that you can do this solo. You can't. The game literally won't start without two inputs. Even if you’re a wizard with two controllers, some achievements like "Snackosaurus" require simultaneous movement that’s nearly impossible for one human brain to coordinate.
Detailed Chapter Checklist for Completionists
If you’re serious about the It Takes Two achievement guide life, follow this mental map:
The Shed
There are no "extra" achievements here, just the story ones. Use this time to get used to the movement.
The Tree
- Fried Friendship: Find the vacuum-looking toy near the start of the "Captured" section.
- Stung Video: Look for a camera and a stage. Pose.
Rose's Room
This is where the bulk of your work is. Don't leave the "Dino Land" or "Spaced Out" sections until you’ve checked every corner. The "Force Force" achievement (the one with the space-themed toy) is tucked away in the back of the starry room.
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The Cuckoo Clock
Focus on the town square. Almost every achievement here is located within 100 yards of each other. Look for the "Heavens's Door" (the bell) and the "Triangular Force" (the figurines).
The Snow Globe
The water is the key. Swim around. Find the sunken ship for one achievement and the seal colony for another. Don't forget to go into the ice cave for the "Something Fishy" achievement.
Wrapping It Up Without the Fluff
Getting the Platinum in It Takes Two is actually one of the more enjoyable hunts in modern gaming because it doesn't feel like a chore. It feels like finding little secrets the developers hid for you. It celebrates the "toy-box" nature of the game.
If you've missed things, don't restart the whole game. Go to the main menu, hit Chapter Select, and look for the icons that haven't been filled in. It’ll tell you exactly which sub-chapter has the missing mini-game or achievement.
Next Steps for Your Platinum Run:
- Check your Mini-game list: Open the menu and see how many of the 25 you have. If you’re at 24, it’s almost certainly "Birdstar" or "Plunger Tower."
- Verify the Friend's Pass status: If your partner isn't getting trophies, make sure they actually own the game. If they don't, you'll have to play through their save later.
- Chapter Select Cleanup: Tackle "Rose's Room" first. It has the highest density of missables and will knock out 30% of your remaining list in twenty minutes.