It Takes Two Guide#
This guide covers every chapter walkthrough, boss tips, collectible locations, minigame strategies, and hidden content. Whether you are new to co-op games or a seasoned veteran, everything you need is here.
Game Overview#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Hazelight Studios |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Release date | March 26, 2021 |
| Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| Genre | Co-op action adventure |
| Mode | Two-player co-op only |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
It Takes Two was developed by Hazelight Studios under director Josef Fares. It carries forward the co-op core of A Way Out, but on a larger scale with far more varied gameplay.
The Friend’s Pass#
It Takes Two uses a unique Friend’s Pass:
- Only one player needs to buy the full game
- The other player can download the Friend’s Pass version for free and play every level
- Cross-platform support: Steam and Origin players on PC can play together
- Consoles support cross-generation online play
- Both local split-screen co-op and online co-op are supported
Awards and Reception#
It Takes Two earned widespread acclaim after release and swept a long list of major awards.
Major Awards#
- TGA 2021 Game of the Year
- TGA 2021 Best Multiplayer Game
- D.I.C.E. Awards 2022 Game of the Year
- D.I.C.E. Awards 2022 Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
- BAFTA Games Awards 2022 Best Multiplayer Game
- Game Developers Choice Awards 2022 Best Design
Media Scores#
| Outlet | Score |
|---|---|
| IGN | 9/10 |
| GameSpot | 9/10 |
| Metacritic (PC) | 88/100 |
| Metacritic (PS5) | 88/100 |
| OpenCritic | 89/100 |
Sales#
By 2024, It Takes Two had sold more than 16 million copies, making it one of the most successful co-op games in history.
Story Summary#
Cody and May are a couple on the verge of divorce. Their daughter Rose cries over her parents’ arguing, and her tears fall by accident onto two handmade dolls representing them, trapping Cody’s and May’s souls inside the dolls. Guided by Dr. Hakim, a mysterious book of love therapy, the two must cooperate through a series of fantasy worlds, repair their broken relationship, and search for a way to become human again.
Core Gameplay#
The core of It Takes Two is forced co-op: nearly every puzzle, platforming section, and fight requires both players to take part at once. Each chapter hands Cody and May a brand-new set of abilities; the abilities reset when the chapter ends, and the next chapter swaps in an entirely new combination. This design keeps the game fresh from start to finish and makes every chapter feel like a standalone new game.
Level design revolves around three co-op patterns: synchronized actions (both players hit switches at the same moment), relay sequences (one player creates the condition, the other uses it), and split-then-merge paths (the two players take separate routes and reconvene). Understanding these three patterns is the key to getting up to speed quickly.
Chapter Rhythm#
| Chapter | Puzzle focus | Combat intensity | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Shed | Tutorial puzzles | Low | On foot |
| The Tree | Exploration and chases | Medium | Sap bouncing |
| Rose’s Room | Fantasy puzzles | Medium | Teleporting and launching |
| Snow Globe | Ice-field mechanisms | Medium | Grapple swinging |
| The Garden | Aerial collecting | High | Gravity and gliding |
| The Attic | Musical machines | High | Clones and transformations |
| The Finale | The final showdown | Very high | All abilities combined |
Co-op Mechanics#
- Synchronized switches: both players must hold switches or stand on pressure plates at the same time; letting go or stepping off cancels the effect.
- Complementary abilities: Cody creates (nails, sap, matches, time-stop, gravity, clones) while May executes (hammer, bouncing, water gun, grapple hook, gliding, transformations).
- Co-op interactions: the game is full of interactions that require both players to trigger something specific together, and pulling them off earns achievements.
- Unlimited retries: death carries no penalty — you respawn on the spot at the nearest checkpoint, so you can experiment boldly.
Chapter Themes and Abilities Quick Reference#
| Chapter | Theme | Cody’s ability | May’s ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hedge | Garden nature | Hive attack | Melt clay |
| The Venus Flytrap | Plant jungle | Slime launcher | Slime grapple |
| Snowball Fight | Winter ice fields | Magnet attract/repel | Freeze control |
| Clock Master | Machine workshop | Magnetic control | Time slow |
| The Garden Maze | Miniature garden | Shrink to explore | Flame attack |
Chapter Walkthrough Overview#
The story runs seven chapters, setting out from the shed in the real world, passing through the tree, Rose’s room, the snow globe, the garden, and the attic, and finally reaching an ending that symbolizes the couple’s relationship. Each chapter is a complete themed world with its own set of mechanisms, one boss fight, and several minigames; a single chapter takes roughly one to two hours. After clearing the game you can use chapter select to return to any chapter and finish collecting, with all abilities and equipment retained.
Full Minigame List#
| Minigame | Chapter location | How it plays | Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopscotch | The Hedge | Classic hopscotch | Yes |
| Whack-a-Mole | The Hedge | Two-player whack-a-mole duel | No |
| Ski Race | Snowball Fight | Snow racing | Yes |
| Bowling | Clock Master | Two-player bowling duel | No |
| Billiards | The Garden Maze | Two-player pool duel | No |
| Chess | Multiple chapters | Challenge matches against AI opponents | No |
| Racing | Multiple chapters | Kart and bumper-car races | Yes |
Platform and Performance Comparison#
| Platform | Resolution | Frame rate | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (max settings) | 4K (3840×2160) | Stable 60 FPS | Keyboard/mouse, ultra-wide, custom quality settings |
| PlayStation 5 | 4K dynamic | 60 FPS | Haptic feedback + adaptive triggers |
| PlayStation 4 | 1080p dynamic | 30-60 FPS | Fully featured baseline |
| Xbox Series X|S | 4K dynamic | 60 FPS | Smart Delivery auto-upgrade |
| Xbox One | 1080p dynamic | 30 FPS | Fully featured baseline |
Practical Tips#
- Voice communication is key
- Explore every corner
- Take turns trying both roles
- Don’t skip the minigames
- Be patient with your partner
Guide last updated: 2026
Related Games#
- Palworld — creature collecting fused with survival crafting, playable in co-op
- Roblox — a multiplayer creation platform full of pick-up-and-play two-player experiences
- Escape the Backrooms — co-op horror survival that rewards constant communication
- Phasmophobia — co-op ghost hunting built entirely around teamwork under pressure
- Satisfactory — cooperative factory building where two players split the work naturally
Related Rankings#
Best Co-Op Games · Best Indies 2026
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics and co-op setup, a full Cody walkthrough, a full May walkthrough, the fantasy worlds and their puzzles, boss fights, items and collectibles, skills and tools, the minigame collection, secrets and Easter eggs, and the trophy list — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s It Takes Two section.