The jovial co-op platform has taken the world of gaming by storm. It seems to be everywhere these days; virtually every gaming site, Twitch stream, YouTube channel, for example. Heck, even gaming fans are talking about en masse!
It Takes Two is, without a doubt, one of the most popular co-op platformers, and while it’s good, it isn’t the only option.
Whether you’ve overplayed It Takes Two and you’re thirsty for other co-op games or you want to expand your library of options to add to the mix; either way, here’s a look at some of the alternative action games that are similar to It Takes Two.
It Takes Two Game Features
 Release Date: | March 26, 2021 |
 Developer: | Hazelight Studios |
 Publisher: | Hazelight Studios |
 Platforms: | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Nintendo Switch |
 Genre: | Action-adventure |
 Setting: | Fantasy World |
 Game Modes: | Multiplayer |
1. Portal 2
A spin-off of Half-Life, Portal 2 is the definitive of the co-op gameplay experience. It draws from the original Portal, which featured a creative formula, innovative gameplay, great music, relatable characters, and an engaging storyline; elements that allowed the original Portal to establish a cult-like following.
Essentially, Portal 2 is a 3D game that incorporates intricate mazes and complex puzzles.
Portal 2 features both a single-player and a multiplayer mode. When playing on single-player mode, you’ll experience a series of test chambers utilizing a portal gun, which can create new portals anywhere in the game. On two-player mode, new characters are introduced.
Notably, it demands players to reconsider the story presented on single player mode. To summarize, the plot of Portal 2 is deep, cynical, and melancholy.
As far Portal 2’s gameplay goes, it features a series of mazes that are located within a lab. In order to successfully pass to each new level, players must utilize their portal guns in order to pass each level while avoiding a variety of obstacles, such as turrets.
GLaDOS, the main computer in the lab’s game, will go to any length in can to defeat you.
Whether you pay on single-player or multiplayer mode, you’ll be able to experience an extensive campaign with in-depth physics systems.
The game offers fantastic creativity and an impressive variety of challenges to produce a robust, challenging game. Plus, you’ll get to use Portal 2s editing tools in order to craft, play, and share your own unique maps.
- Developer: Valve Corporation
- Publisher: Valve Corporation
- Release Date: April 2011
- Platforms: Windows, macOS X, Linux, Xbox 360, PS3
2. Psychonauts 2
Another co-op game that would be considered a great alternative to It Takes two is Psychonauts 2, an exclusive to Xbox. The game received the Golden Joystick award in 2021 as the best Xbox game.
In a nutshell, Psychonauts 2 offers great laughs, lots of suspense, and engaging and fun gameplay.
Psychonauts 2 brings together a quirky tone and disruptive missions with a comical storyline; in fact, these elements can be considered the core pillars of its platform-adventure gameplay.
It’s important to note, however, that at the same time, the gameplay features a cinematic style, comedy, intrigue, and customizable powers, which combines the story and the playtime.
You’ll play as Razputing Aquato, the main character, who is both a psychic and a young acrobat. Razputing is a member of Psychonauts, an international psychic espionage organization.
Raz (as he’s affectionately called) had always dreamed of joining the organization, but it isn’t a wonderful as he imagined it to be. Upon joining, Raz larned that the group was involved in a huge conspiracy, and he determines that he needs to help the group’s super spies from the dangers that were waiting on the headquarters.
Portal 2 features lots of one-of-a-kind environments, as well as the ability to jump into the minds of others. Raz puts this ability to use in order to unearth memories, secrets, and stories.
Essentially, it’s a third-party platform combat game that features puzzles, jumping segments, and psychic powers. The ultimate objective of the game is to defeat the psychic villain in a confrontation that is chock-full of emotional baggage, color, and awesome abilities.
- Developer: Valve Corporation
- Publisher: Valve Corporation
- Platform: Windows, Linux, Xbox 360, macOS X, PS3
- Release Date: April 2011
3. Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Another great alternative to It Takes two is Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Unfortunately, however, it’s exclusive to PlayStation, so if you don’t have access to a Sony console, you won’t be able to play.
With that information in mind, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the sequel to another PlayStation game, called Little Big Planet. Just like Little Big Planet, it’s a family friendly experience that features friendly characters.
The characterization isn’t very deep and the themes aren’t very mature; however, the game does do an exceptional job at providing great entertainment and exhilarating gameplay mechanics.
The main character of the game is Sackboy, the mascot of the franchise, and this is who you will play as. Sackboy goes on a small, yet monumental adventure in an effort to save Craftworld, his homeland, from Vex, the villain.
The game offers an experience that is similar to It Takes Two, as it merges 3D platforming with active combat, puzzles, and a whimsical tone. What’s even more important is that Sackboy is a whole lot better when it’s played with others.
You can join and play with as many as three other players. The game will modify the challenges that are presented based on the number of players that make up a party; therefore, some challenges do require more cooperation than others. If you play on your own, however, Sackboy is still tons of fun to play.
- Developer: Sumo Digital
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Platform: PS4 and PS5
- Release Date: November 2020
4. A Way Out
When It Takes Two – the game we’re looking for alternatives to, obviously – came on the scene, Hazelight Studios, the developer, garnered a tremendous amount of attention; however, It Takes Two wasn’t the developer’s first game.
A Way Out was the developer’s initial title, another co-op adventure that isn’t available as a single-player game. You can, however, play it with Steam’s Remote Play Together.
A Way Out’s main characters are two prisoners, named Leo and Vincent. The duo create an alliance, and their objective is to break out of jail.
You’ll play the game as either Leo or Vincent and you’ll attempt to break out of prison, following a tricky plan that the two create.
During the story, the characters do their own thing, independent from one another, across the prison.
Over the course of time, this third-person adventure gameplay becomes emotional, exhilarating, and packed with emotion.
The characters have strong personalities and a need and a desire to retain their freedom. They have to cooperate with one another in order to solve the several puzzles, obstacles, and challenges that are thrown their way.
A Way Out’s gameplay is dynamic and it evolves throughout the adventure. Segments of the game include stealth, melee combat, driving, running, shooting, and connecting with other inmates, as well as doing intensive research. It’s important to note that A Way Out isn’t appropriate for children, as it features mature content.
- Hazelight Studios
- Electronic Arts
- Platform: Windows, PS4, Xbox One
- Release Date: March 2018
5. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is Microsoft’s second entry of an original series and is one of the best platformers of the generation. It also has several other elements that are similar to It Takes two, such as a fanciful setting, creative abilities, and thoughtfully challenging puzzles.
Ori, the main character, is spirit that resides in a quiet forest. After he finds his friends and discovers that they are in Peril, he travels to heal the land and learn about his destiny.
The setting, which is simply stunning, creates a 2D platforming adventure that features Metroidvania elements, and it’s totally an experience that fans of platforming won’t want to miss out on.
As you make your way throughout the game, you’ll travel deep into forests and caves, where you’ll meet new friends, battle opponents, and acquire new capabilities. Each and every character and area in the game were hand-painted, so it really is simply breathtaking.
There’s also the music, which is an original score that’s performed by an orchestra, and travels along with you as you make your way throughout the game.
Finally, the story is about coming of age and it is quite emotional. It’s very relatable and it will totally suck you in.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a Metroid-inspired game. As such, all of the new abilities and upgrades that you acquire will allow you to unlock areas that were previous inaccessible on the map. To round things out, there’s a hub area, where the friends that you rescue throughout the game reside.
- Developer: Moon Studios
- Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
- Platform: Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch
6. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Prior he founded Hazelight Studios, Josef Fares was employed by another indie studio, called Starbreeze Studios AB. Around 10 years ago, Fares was the director of Brothers, a competing narrative puzzle platformer.
As Fares continued to explore the themes of Starbreeze, which he clearly applied to the award-winning co-op.
Brothers, as the title suggests, centered on two brothers as they embarked on a fanciful adventure. The goal of the brothers’ journey is to find a cure for their ailing father before he perishes.
As you can guess, it’s a pretty emotional experience, and it’s jam-packed with monumental moments, magic, pain, frustration, love, and self-discovery. It can be said that facing adversity and enduring challenges for someone else’s benefits is the theme of the game.
While playing, the brothers are guided as a single-player co-op experience. That said, however, the Nintendo Switch version enables two players on local co-op, with each player using a thumbstick to control the characters. This offers a one-of-a-kind, yet challenging experience.
Overall, this It Takes Two alternative can be viewed as the spiritual prequel of the game. The characters and mechanics are continuously developed during this co-op emotional platforming adventure.
- Developer: 505 Games
- Publisher: Starbreeze Studios
- Platform: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Nintendo Switch
7. Human: Fall Flat
Yet another platforming that has attracted a loyal, fun-loving fan base, Human: Fall Flat is a silly, physics-themed puzzle platform. Bob, a customizable avatar, is the main character. He’s a normal human, yet he doesn’t have any skills. The only things he can do are grab, climb, and move things.
The setting is whimsical and features floating landscapes; in fact, there are more than 18 dream worlds, and there are environmental challenges with each one, as well as puzzles, mechanics, and several routes.
Overall, the tone of the game is playful, and exploration, ingenuity, and creativity are encouraged, which really makes it engaging and enjoyable.
Likewise, Human: Fall Flat is an open-ended game that offers players a number of ways to solve challenges and puzzles.
Furthermore, this It Takes Two alternative features an online multiplayer feature, which makes it easy to play against challengers.
As many as eight people can join in the fun of transforming and moving through each of the areas. In other words, you can utilize a lot of the items that are presented in each area to your advantages, and as such, you change the scenarios in order to solve the puzzles.
To illustrate, you can move and use a boulder to create a make-shift catapult and launch it over a wall yourself.
Finally, Human: Fall Flat features a character creation screen, which you can use to customize Bob, your avatar, such as your head, body, and clothing. There’s also a Steam Fall Flat Workshop, which allows you to create and share game content, including different levels, skins, and lobbies.
- Developer: No Brake Games
- Publisher: Curve Digital
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
8. Overcooked 2
Overcooked 2 is a unique alternative to It Takes Two in that it isn’t a platformer, nor is it a puzzle game. With that said, however, if you enjoy the jovial fun that has made It Takes Two so appealing, than this is definitely a great choice.
Overcooked 2 is a life-sim adventure game that features a variety of everyday activities, like farming, cooking, crafting, and co-op, and presents these activities in a fun, engaging, and interactive way. It offers lots of humor, to boot.
The game is set in the Onion Kingdom, and you play as a member of a chef team, who serves as either your online or couch co-op buddies.
As many as four players can join in the fun at one time. Working together, you and your team are tasked with saving the world from the Unbread hunger. You work together in a disorganized, chaotic kitchen in order to meet the objectives that you’re presented with.
Overcooked 2 can be played on a variety of land, sea, and air maps, and you have the opportunity to prepare meals according to theme of each map; for instance, sushi eateries or even alien worlds.
This game is a lot of fun. It’s friendly, cheerful, and actually, it’s actually quite wholesome, making it a great game to play with family and friends of all ages.
- Developer: Ghost Town Games
- Publisher: Team17
- Platform: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: August 2016
Choosing Games Similar to It Takes Two
It Takes Two is an award-winning game. In fact, it’s won multiple awards, including GoTY’s Best Multiplayer Game, Best family Game, and the Best Game of the Year. The game was the recipient of the Better with Friends award presented by Steam. The Golden Joystick also named It Takes Two the Best Multiplayer Game.
With so many awards and accolades, it’s safe to say that the makers of It Takes Two, Hazellight Studios a small indie developer, have done something right.
The game, which was published by Electronic Arts on the EA Originals system, which is all about assisting talented independent studios worldwide.
As such, the title of the game is surrounded by the magic that tend to surround indie titles (Hallow Knight and Hades are the perfect examples); however, It Takes Two is backed by a huge publisher, which means that it has even more reach.
The magic surrounding the trendy indie name and the fact that it’s backed by a massive publisher aside, the fact that It Takes Two has been a smash hit (and undoubtedly would have been even if it didn’t have these two things going for it) can’t be overlooked.
When trying to find alternative co-op games, it’s important to understand what It Takes Two got right so that you can select titles that offer a similar experience.
So, why is it that It Takes Two was so appealing? Let’s take a look at some of the top elements that lead to the success of this game.
- Meaningful and delightful story. The foundation of It’s Take Two is the story. The main characters, Cody and May, are a married couple who are going through challenges with their relationship and are contemplating going their separate ways. As luck would have it, they were hit by a magical spell, which transformed them into rag dolls. In order to get back to their human bodies – and to save their relationship – the couple has to join forces and work together.
- A whimsical tone. The setting featured in It Takes Two helps to establish a playful tone and a storyline that is loaded with personality and character. Furthermore, the story characterizes the challenges that the couple – and everyday people in real life – experience, including relationships, trust, love, parenthood, and separation.
- Energetic mechanics. New mechanics are incorporated throughout the entire nine chapters of It Takes Two. The developers of the game based the idea on other genres of games; however, the dynamics are linked to the story and theme throughout each level of the game.
- Cooperative-style gameplay. An action-adventure platform, It Takes Two can only be played as a co-op experience, online, or as a local split-screen game.
- Killer skills. Throughout each level of the game, the main couple, Cody and May, acquire new skills. For instance, Cody has the ability to rewind time, while May can copy herself. Players have to cooperate and utilize the skills that the main characters acquire throughout each level in order to overcome thoughtful challenges that they encounter, mini-games, and obstacles. Cody and May acquire a new skill on each new level.
- Challenging puzzles. It Takes Two also incorporates great puzzles on every level of the game. Players are presented with elements, and they must interact with these elements as they play, use the skills the characters acquire, and research different areas to resolve the puzzles.
- Thoughtful design. Hazelight Studios, the developer of It Takes Two, added several thoughtful, fun, and engaging elements to the game’s design – which makes total sense, as you’re playing as rag dolls who are navigating through a magical world. You’ll have the chance to pilot a pair of boxers, and to join forces with a collection of sewer rats.
- Friend’s pass. In order to play It Takes Two, you need to play with someone else. If you don’t have someone else to play with, however, the developer gives you the opportunity to purchase a Friend’s Pass, which is offered for free. With the pass, you will be able to invite a friend to play the game with you, even if that friend doesn’t own the game themselves!
To summarize, It Takes Two is a fantastic game. The characters are endearing, the challenges they experience are relatable, the puzzles require you to apply critical thinking, and the storyline is fun and funny. Furthermore, the game serves as a metaphor of relationships, which smoothly combines the narrative and gameplay.
Now, with all of that said, when trying to find games that are similar to It Takes Two and that would be considered good alternatives, we looked for options that, like It Takes Two, combined gameplay and storytelling. The alternatives needed to have a message and had to be powered by a lively, action-adventure type of gameplay.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that It Takes Two is an outstanding platforming game, and it’s taken the world by storm. Whether you’re a fan of the game or you’ve heard all the buzz surrounding it but don’t have access to it, check out the titles mentioned above. This list of titles are great alternatives to It Takes Two that will be sure to provide hours of entertainment.
