Split Fiction
Split Fiction is probably the best game to play next if you liked It Takes Two. Split Fiction is the newest game by It Takes Two's developer, Hazelight Studios. It follows two writers who team up to stop a corporation from stealing their ideas, all while traversing through (and solving puzzles in) virtual worlds based on their fantastical ideas. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Platformer, action-adventure
A Way Out
A Way Out is Hazelight's first game, released before It Takes Two. While A Way Out is also a co-op game, it's not super similar to It Takes Two, so you'll be treated to an entirely new gaming experience. A Way Out focuses on two convicts who are trying to plan a prison break—already a stark tone shift from the premise of It Takes Two. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox Genre(s): Action-adventure
Grounded
One aspect of It Takes Two that we haven't discussed is how the two main characters are shrunk down in size. While it might seem obvious why this hasn't been touched on yet, we find a similar thread in Grounded, a game where you and your friends must survive in your own backyard when being shrunk down to a minuscule size. While this game is a survival game and doesn't involve puzzles like It Takes Two, it has some of the same beats and requires teamwork to get the job done. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Survival
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a spinoff of the LittleBigPlanet series. While this platformer was designed as a solo-player experience, it's still a whole lot of fun to play co-op—and the game even features some optional (but very enjoyable) co-op exclusive levels. It also has a similar aesthetic to It Takes Two, if that's something that you really enjoyed. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation Genre(s): Platformer
Unravel 2
If you're looking for another whimsical game with puzzles and platformer aspects, look no further than Unravel 2. In Unravel 2, you and a partner play as little creatures made of yarn, and you must work together to complete puzzles, traverse the landscape, and build structures like bridges. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Puzzle, platformer
Overcooked
If you haven't played Overcooked yet, we must warn you that playing this game with your friends, family, or loved ones might seriously test your relationship. However, if you're sure you can handle the heat, then get in the kitchen. Overcooked is a wildly popular game that doesn't have puzzles like It Takes Two, but it definitely requires teamwork and creates a whole lot of chaos. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Simulation
Moving Out
Moving Out is a game where you must do just that—move out. You're tasked with moving items out of a house, and you must cooperate with your other players to get that task done. While this might sound simple in concept, it usually ends up a little more chaotic than you might think. This game is great for people who love the teamwork aspect of It Takes Two. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Puzzle
Moving Out 2
Moving Out 2 is a sequel to 2020's Moving Out, and while it has the same premise, it expands on the first game and adds even more puzzles to complete. And for lovers of It Takes Two, teamwork is still tantamount in this furniture-moving game. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Puzzle
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
If you're looking for a wholesome, cute, and fun co-op game to follow up to It Takes Two, look no further than Kirby and the Forgotten Land. While this game is designed as a single-player game, you can play co-op with one player controlling Kirby and another controlling Bandana Waddle Dee. One downside is that Waddle Dee definitely feels more like a sidekick next to Kirby. Platform(s): Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Action, platformer
Knights and Bikes
Unlike some of the other games on this list, Knights and Bikes was designed as a co-op game first, but it just so happens to support solo play. Knights and Bikes follows two little girls as they explore their town, imaginations running wild. This game is full of puzzles, teamwork, and story-driven gameplay—a perfect game to play if you loved It Takes Two. Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Action-adventure
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. has been a co-op series for a long time, but Wonder is the most beginner-friendly installment yet. This game is great for people who aren't great at platformers or for little kids just learning how to play games. And while it's not as story-driven as It Takes Two, it's a fun co-op game with beautiful visuals to keep you entertained. Platform(s): Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Platformer
Phogs!
In Phogs!, you and your partner each control one head that's connected to the same dog (like CatDog, but both ends are dogs). While this game isn't story-driven at all, it's full of puzzles and will require a lot of teamwork between you and the person playing the other end of the dog. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Puzzle, platformer
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
While this game is a little bit older, it's still one of the best co-op platforming experiences around. In Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, one player will control Donkey Kong while the second can control Dixie, Diddy, or Cranky Kong. Lovers of It Takes Two will enjoy the gameplay that requires teamwork between both players. Platform(s): Wii U, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Platformer
As Dusk Falls
As Dusk Falls is a little more serious than It Takes Two, but it focuses on a similar topic: familial relationships. This game follows two families that become intertwined after the Walkers and the Holts get into a car accident in Arizona in 1998. This game is more of an interactive fiction game, and instead of players taking control of one character, everyone has to vote on the best option to progress the story. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox Genre(s): Adventure, interactive fiction
Nikoderiko: The Magical World
In Nikoderiko: The Magical World, you and a partner play as two adventurers who need to get a dangerous relic away from the big bad evil guy of the game, Grimbald. While this game is a platformer that feels more similar to Crash Bandicoot and Donkey Kong Country, It Takes Two fans will enjoy the teamwork aspect as well as the fun, brightly-colored world that Nikoderiko takes place in. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Platformer
KeyWe
In KeyWe, players play as Jeff and Debra, two kiwi birds who run a post office. This game can be played solo, but was really designed for co-op gameplay. This game isn't story-driven, but it does involve puzzles and a lot of communication, so It Takes Two fans will enjoy the teamwork required to complete the game. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Puzzle-platformer
Biped
While Biped is actually quite different from It Takes Two (both narratively and gameplay-wise), it has a fun and unique mechanic—your character's legs are each controlled by one analog stick or mouse button. And while it's not super similar to It Takes Two, it blends adventure and puzzle elements into one game that It Takes Two fans will enjoy. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Action-adventure, puzzle
Guacamelee!
Guacamelee! is an indie action platformer that has a lot to offer. It's best played co-op (though it's even better if you can play with two or three other players) and it has a very gradual learning curve. Since the game is nonlinear, you can always go back to older areas to find new things and learn some interesting secrets. It Takes Two fans will enjoy the teamwork and the game's awesome art style. Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Wii U Genre(s): Platformer, metroidvania
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
If you want a couch co-op game to play with a loved one, try Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. This game is a shooter, but it also has cooperative aspects. Each player must protect one side of the spaceship, and they unite to fight off the forces of Anti-Love. While this game isn't inherently romantic, it is a good game to play with your significant other. Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Action, platformer
Haven
If you liked the relationship aspect of It Takes Two, you'd probably enjoy Haven. Haven is a survival game that follows Yu and Kay, who must work together to survive on a new planet that isn't particularly hospitable to them. Teamwork is key if you want to survive on this alien planet. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Roleplaying
Trine
This is less a recommendation for one particular game and more a recommendation for an entire series. Trine is a series that has spanned over an entire decade, with the release of the first Trine in 2009 and the latest installment, Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, in 2023. These games are full of adventure, puzzles, and teamwork that will keep you and a partner engaged for hours. Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Wii U Genre(s): Puzzle-platformer, action-adventure
A Hat in Time
A Hat in Time is a co-op platformer inspired by games like Banjo-Kazooie, Spyro the Dragon, and Psychonauts. In this game, you must help Hat Kid, an alien, return to her home planet by collecting various items throughout the game. A Hat in Time was an indie success in a faltering co-op landscape when it was released, and It Takes Two fans are sure to enjoy the whimsical nature of the game. Platform(s): PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Platformer, action-adventure
We Were Here
If you loved the puzzles in It Takes Two, the puzzles in We Were Here will be right up your alley. And the best part is that if you enjoy the first We Were Here game, you can play the sequels We Were Here Too and We Were Here Together for even more puzzle-solving goodness. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox Genre(s): Puzzle
Portal 2
While Portal 2 (sequel to Valve's insanely popular release Portal) has a dedicated single-player campaign, there is an entirely separate co-op mode that you can play with a partner. In Portal 2's co-op, each player controls one side of a portal gun. You must work together to complete the puzzles—some of which can be quite challenging to figure out. Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Puzzle-platformer
Castle Crashers
While Castle Crashers is pretty different from It Takes Two, it's still an incredibly fun co-op gaming experience. It's a hack n' slash game where you and your partner(s) play as knights trying to rescue princesses that have been captured by a wizard. This game can be a little challenging, but it's fun nonetheless. Platform(s): PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Hack n' slash
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley isn't a platformer, nor does it have puzzles to solve. However, it is an incredibly cozy and fun game that has a multiplayer option. Stardew is a farming sim, and it's pretty open-ended as far as what you can do. There are tons of different activities to complete every day, and you'll spend hours perfecting your farm with your partner. Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android Genre(s): Farming sim
Escape Academy
In Escape Academy, you and your partner play as students training to become Escape Room Masters. In this game, you'll be solving puzzles in order to get out of an Escape Room. Some puzzles are logical, while others require some creative thinking. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Genre(s): Adventure, puzzle
Human: Fall Flat
Human: Fall Flat is a physics-based game where you must get from one end of a level to the other—which sounds simple in concept, but in practice isn't that easy. This game is funny, has a ton of replay value, and is great if you want to follow It Takes Two with something a little goofier. Platform(s): PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android Genre(s): Puzzle-platformer
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Before Josef Fares founded Hazelight Studios, he worked on a game called Brother: A Tale of Two Sons with Starbreeze Studios. While the original version of Brothers didn't have co-op support (save for the Switch version), it was added when Avantgarden remade the game in 2024. However, it should be noted that this game works better as a single-player game, and you might find the co-op lacking. Platform(s): PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android Genre(s): Adventure
Myrmidon
Myrmidon is kind of an outlier on this list, simply because it's a free student project available to play for free on Steam. While this game has a lot to love, it's best to remember that it won't have the same polish as the other games on this list. That being said, Myrmidon is definitely a game to check out if you enjoyed It Takes Two. In this game, one player is a puppeteer and the other is a puppet, and you must work together to create and navigate through levels. Platform(s): PC Genre(s): Adventure, puzzle platformer
What's next?
Truth be told, Hazelight's co-op gaming experiences are truly one-of-a-kind, and there aren't many games that capture the exact same essence as It Takes Two, Split Fiction, and A Way Out. However, new co-op games come out every year, and before long, Hazelight will likely be back with a new installment in their growing library of co-op games. Here are a few upcoming co-op games to keep an eye on: Stage Fright Popucom Biped 2 Little Nightmares 3
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