Games Like It Takes Two: 14 Co-op Picks on Steam

If you came for games like It Takes Two, you probably loved the same things many players did: a partner on the sofa or on voice chat, a new idea every level, and a story that gives the teamwork a reason to exist. The good news is that a lot of Steam games chase that feeling in different ways.

Here is a quick comparison of the 14 picks below, with the strongest fits first. Player modes come from each game’s Steam page.

What makes It Takes Two what it is?

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Hazelight Studios released It Takes Two on Mar 25, 2021, and Electronic Arts published it. Steam describes it as a genre-bending platform adventure created purely for co-op. You play Cody and May, a clashing couple turned into dolls by a magic spell, who have to work together to repair their fractured relationship.

Three things set it apart, and they are the yardstick for everything below:

• It is built for two. There is no single-player mode, and each of you has a role in every challenge.
• The mechanics keep changing. Steam says each new level brings unique, connected character abilities, so the game rarely repeats a trick.
• It is easy to share. Friend’s Pass lets a friend join for free, and Steam lists online co-op, split screen and Remote Play Together (Steam’s feature for streaming a local co-op game to a friend so they can join from their own PC).

It also holds an Overwhelmingly Positive Steam review summary from over 272,000 reviews. No other game below matches all of those points, but each matches some of them.

Which games like It Takes Two come from the same studio?

The most direct route is to follow the developer. Hazelight Studios has two other co-op adventures on Steam, and both are built around the same idea: two players, two roles, no single-player mode.

Split Fiction

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This is the closest match of all. Split Fiction is a co-op action adventure from the studio behind It Takes Two. You play Mio and Zoe, two writers with opposite tastes: one writes sci-fi and the other fantasy. They get trapped in their own stories after being hooked up to a machine meant to steal their ideas.

The fit is the constant switching. You jump between sci-fi and fantasy worlds, learning new abilities and meeting new challenges as you go. If you loved how It Takes Two never stayed in one groove for long, start here. Steam lists online co-op, split screen co-op, cross-platform multiplayer and Remote Play Together, and its reviews are Overwhelmingly Positive from over 128,000 players. It suits couples, friends and siblings who want a bigger, flashier version of the same recipe.

A Way Out

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A Way Out takes the same two-player structure and moves it into a prison escape. You are Leo or Vincent, two inmates in a reluctant alliance to break out and gain their freedom. Steam says it must be played with two players and cannot be played alone.

It is the more grounded and dramatic pick. Expect a story that starts as a breakout and turns emotional, rather than a playground of silly mechanics. It suits partners who liked the story side of It Takes Two more than the platforming. Steam lists online co-op, split screen co-op and Remote Play Together, with a Very Positive review summary.

What are the best co-op games like It Takes Two that keep changing the rules?

These are the picks that borrow the heart of the original: two characters whose abilities fit together, and levels that ask for new thinking.

Unravel Two

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Unravel Two puts two small yarn creatures called Yarnys on a journey through a land that blossoms as you progress. Steam lists local split screen co-op and single-player, so you can share it on one couch or take it on alone. Its store page leans on friendship and an unbreakable bond, which makes it a gentle, warm choice for pairs who want puzzle-platforming without the stress. Reviews are Mostly Positive, a notch below the others here, so it is worth watching the trailer first.

Biped

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In Biped you guide two little robots, Aku and Sila, walking side by side. Each player controls one robot’s two legs, using two sticks or the left and right mouse buttons. It sounds odd and it is: walking in step is the puzzle. Later moves include operating machinery and cutting wood.

It suits players who loved the physical, silly teamwork of It Takes Two and want something short on story but long on laughs. Steam lists online co-op, split screen co-op, cross-platform multiplayer, a level editor and Steam Workshop support, plus a single-player option. Reviews are Very Positive.

Portal 2

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Portal 2 is the puzzle classic, and its two-player cooperative mode has its own separate campaign with a unique story, test chambers and two new player characters. You are working through Aperture Science labs together, so the fit is the shared problem-solving rather than platforming.

It suits pairs who enjoyed the puzzle sections most. Steam lists online co-op, split screen co-op, Steam Workshop and a level editor, plus a single-player campaign. With over 468,000 reviews, it is Overwhelmingly Positive.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

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Trine 4 is a physics-based puzzle platformer in 2.5D (a 3D look with 2D movement). You track down a haunted prince as a wizard, knight or thief, solving puzzles built around fire, water, light, magnets and electricity. Steam says the challenges adapt to the number of players.

It suits a small group that wants a storybook look and clever puzzles. Play solo or with up to three friends, online or local. Reviews are Very Positive.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

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Brothers is the odd one out, and it matters to be clear about that: Steam lists it as single-player only. What it borrows is the two-character idea. You control both brothers at once, one with each thumbstick, as they travel to find the “Water of Life” for their ailing father.

It suits anyone who wants the emotional pull of a two-character story with nobody else in the room. The Steam summary is Very Positive.

Which two-player puzzle games are all about communication?

If the part you loved was the talking, the pointing and the “wait, what do you see?”, these three lean into it. They are among the best 2 player games like It Takes Two for pairs who like to think out loud.

Death Squared

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Death Squared is a co-op puzzle game about cooperation, communication and robot explosions. It has a cheerful, joking tone and suits friends who want quick puzzle rounds. Steam lists split screen co-op, split screen PvP, Remote Play Together and single-player, and recommends a gamepad. Reviews are Very Positive, though from a smaller group of players.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

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One player is alone with a bomb, and the others are “Experts” holding the manual. Nobody can see the other’s material, so you have to talk it out fast. Steam describes rounds as tense, occasionally silly and almost always loud.

It has no platforming at all, but it captures the shared panic of working together. Steam lists split screen co-op, Remote Play Together, VR support and Steam Workshop. It suits groups of two or more who like a party feel. Reviews are Overwhelmingly Positive.

We Were Here Too

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This is a first-person online adventure set in a medieval castle. You and a partner are trapped in different parts of it and can only use walkie-talkies to figure out how to escape. Steam notes that both players need a working PC-compatible microphone, and it is online only, with cross-platform multiplayer. It suits pairs who enjoy atmospheric puzzles over action. Reviews are Mostly Positive.

What are the best chaotic couch co-op games for more than two?

It Takes Two is strictly a two-player game. If a third or fourth friend wants in, these keep the teamwork and add more hands.

Overcooked! 2

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You assemble a team of chefs in the Onion Kingdom and cook against the clock, in classic couch co-op or online play for up to four players. It is mostly about shouting orders and dodging each other in tight kitchens. It suits groups who like their cooperation frantic. Steam also lists PvP modes and single-player. Reviews are Very Positive.

Moving Out 2

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A physics-based moving simulator where you work as a F.A.R.T. (Furniture Arrangement and Relocation Technician), solo or with up to three friends. Inter-dimensional portals lead to sillier worlds. Steam lists local and online play, with cross-platform multiplayer. Reviews are Mostly Positive from a smaller group of players.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

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A couch co-op space shooter where you control a neon battleship together by manning turrets, lasers, shields and thrusters. You dash between stations as a team, and a solo player can bring along an AI space-pet. It is local only, for one to four players. Reviews are Very Positive.

Cuphead

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Cuphead is a run-and-gun game focused on boss battles, with 1930s cartoon art. You play Cuphead or Mugman, solo or in local co-op. It is more about reflexes than puzzles, so it suits a partner who wants a challenge to beat together. Reviews are Overwhelmingly Positive.

Are there games like It Takes Two for single player?

Not in the strict sense, since the original needs a partner. Closest are Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, where you control both characters, and Unravel Two, Portal 2, Biped and Death Squared, which all list single-player alongside co-op. Those are good fallbacks when your co-op partner is busy.

How do you pick the right co-op game for your partner?

A few quick checks save a lot of frustration.

• Match the skill gap. Fast action like Cuphead can sour a night if one of you rarely plays. Biped, Unravel Two and Death Squared are friendlier starts.
• Check how you will play. Some picks are local only, such as Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. Others, like We Were Here Too, are online only and need microphones.
• Ask about copies. Only some games have a Friend’s Pass. Remote Play Together is Steam’s fallback for many local co-op titles, so look at the features list.
• Do not pick on fame alone. The games like It Takes Two with the biggest names are not always right for your pair. Think about what you enjoyed: story, puzzles or silliness.

For more ideas like this, browse our games like the ones you love pages, or see the best games on Steam by genre. If you want to know what is coming next, check upcoming games and release dates. You can also read how Gamescape works.

Where should you start?

If you only play one of these games like It Takes Two, make it Split Fiction. For a darker story, choose A Way Out. For quieter co-op, try Unravel Two or Biped. For puzzle fans, Portal 2 and Death Squared are the safest bets, and Overcooked! 2 is the pick when the group grows past two. Whatever you pick, check the store features first so you know how you will play together.

Questions and answers

Can you play It Takes Two online co-op?

Yes. Steam lists It Takes Two with Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op and Remote Play Together. Its Friend's Pass lets you invite a friend to join online for free, so only one of you needs to own the game. It is built for two players working together.

What is the closest game to It Takes Two?

Split Fiction is the nearest match. It comes from Hazelight Studios, the developer of It Takes Two, and it is also a co-op action adventure where two characters with different abilities move through very different worlds. A Way Out, from the same studio, is the more grounded alternative.

What are good 2 player games like It Takes Two?

Split Fiction, A Way Out, Biped, Portal 2 and Death Squared all suit two players. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes and We Were Here Too work well if you prefer talking through puzzles over platforming. All of them have co-op listed on Steam.

Are there games like It Takes Two for single player?

Not exactly, since It Takes Two has no single-player mode. Closest are Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, where you steer both brothers yourself, plus Unravel Two, Portal 2, Biped and Death Squared, which Steam lists with single-player alongside co-op.

Do you need two copies for these co-op games?

It depends on the game. It Takes Two uses Friend's Pass, but for other titles Steam's Remote Play Together lets a friend join online from your copy, and many picks here also support local split screen. Check each store page before buying.