Beginner’s Guide#

Game Overview#

It Takes Two is an action-adventure game with forced two-player co-op. You cannot play it solo — you must play with another player, whether in local split-screen or online. The pacing is lightning fast, and every chapter introduces brand-new mechanics and abilities to keep things fresh.

How to Start#

Local Split-Screen#

1. Make sure you have two controllers connected to the same device
2. P1 uses the main account, P2 uses a guest account
3. The host player advances progress in-game, and the guest player’s progress is saved too
4. Launch the game and select Local Co-op
5. P1 uses the main account, P2 uses a guest account
6. The host player advances progress in-game, and the guest player’s progress is saved too

Online Play#

3. The Friend’s Pass player joins automatically after accepting the invite

4. Only the host player’s save records progress

5. The Friend’s Pass player joins automatically after accepting the invite

6. Only the host player’s save records progress

The Friend’s Pass Explained#

The Friend’s Pass Includes#

• All story chapters — no content restrictions whatsoever

• All minigames — every one of the 25+ minigames is fully playable

• All achievements/trophies — Friend’s Pass players can earn achievements too

• Full online features — voice chat, invites and the complete social feature set

Things to Note#

• The Friend’s Pass requires an always-online connection for verification
• A Friend’s Pass player cannot create a lobby themselves — they can only accept invitesto create a lobby, they can only accept invites
• Saves are tied to the Friend’s Pass player’s account and keep all collection progress

Basic Controls#

PC Keyboard & Mouse#

Controller#

Visual & Accessibility Settings#

The game offers several accessibility options

• Adjustable subtitle size
• Colorblind mode
• Crosshair color
• Camera sensitivity
• Invert Y-axis
• QTE prompts

Almost every puzzle in It Takes Two requires two players acting in sync. For example, one player holds a mechanism while the other passes through; both stand on pressure plates at once to open a door, and so on. Use voice chat to stay in real-time communication.

Beginner Co-op Tips#

• During platforming, the player controlling the camera should zoom out so their partner can see the landing spots
• Don’t both spin the camera at once — it causes motion sickness and misinputs
• In combat, try to keep both enemies inside the screen’s range

Communication Comes First#

Almost every puzzle in It Takes Two requires two players acting in sync. For example, one player holds a mechanism while the other passes through; both stand on pressure plates at once to open a door, and so on. Use voice chat to stay in real-time communication.

Many areas have two branching paths — explore them separately, then share what you found. It’s the fastest way to locate hidden minigames and collectibles.

Camera Co-op#

• Don’t both spin the camera at once — it causes motion sickness and misinputs
• In combat, try to keep both enemies within the screen

The game has unlimited retries. On death you respawn instantly at the last checkpoint with no penalty. So experiment boldly!

• Vertical split-screen suits ultrawide monitors better

• Horizontal split-screen gives a wider view on standard 16:9 screens

• You can switch any time based on preference

Exploring Divided#

Many areas have two branching paths — explore them separately, then share what you found. It’s the fastest way to locate hidden minigames and collectibles

Dying Is Fine#

The game has unlimited retries. On death you respawn instantly at the last checkpoint with no penalty. So experiment boldly!

About Split-Screen#

• Vertical split-screen suits ultrawide monitors better

• Horizontal split-screen gives a wider view on standard 16:9 screens

• You can switch any time based on preference

FAQ#

Q: Can I play with someone on a different platform? A: No. PC can only match with PC, and consoles only within the same platform. PS cannot play with Xbox.

Q: Does the Friend’s Pass require EA Play? A: No. The Friend’s Pass is completely free — no subscription needed.

Q: Where are saves located? A: Steam saves live in %USERPROFILE%/Documents/My Games/It Takes Two/.

Recommended Settings#

It Takes Two is one of the finest co-op games of recent years. Its demands on coordination are steep, and that’s exactly why the sense of achievement when you and your partner overcome a challenge together is unmatched. Enjoy the journey!

Chapter Select#

After finishing the game, you can return to any level via Chapter Select in the main menu to mop up collectibles. Progress is saved independently per player. Chapter Select keeps all your current abilities and equipment.

Closing Words#

It Takes Two is one of the finest co-op games of recent years. Its demands on coordination are steep, and that’s exactly why the sense of achievement when you and your partner overcome a challenge together is unmatched. Enjoy the journey!

End of the Beginner’s Guide

Early-Game Essentials Checklist#

1. Learn the controls before pushing progress: every chapter’s new ability comes with a tutorial — read the prompts patiently, practice a few times in a safe area, then move on.
2. Take turns leading: let the more action-savvy player lead the way first; when stuck, swap who controls which character — a fresh perspective often reveals the solution.
3. Build the exploration habit: side paths hide minigames, hats and collectibles — every suspicious passage is worth a look.
4. Lean on checkpoints: death has zero penalty, so attempt hard jumps freely; you respawn in place and continue.

Advanced Co-op Techniques#

• Divide roles: in combat one player tanks and repositions while the other focuses on damage or puzzle duties — avoids both panicking at once.
• Call positions precisely: direction words beat vague descriptions every time.
• Count down to sync: for mechanisms that need simultaneous presses, a three-two-one countdown dramatically raises success rates.
• Don’t steal the camera: don’t move the camera while your partner is crossing a narrow beam or mid-jump — wait until they’re stable.

Two-Player Division of Labor Quick Reference#

Split-Screen Settings Explained#

Local split-screen defaults to horizontal, which balances the view on standard 16:9 monitors. On ultrawide screens (21:9 or wider), vertical split provides more vertical vision and suits vertical platforming better. Both modes can be switched any time in the settings without exiting the game. Adjust dynamically per level: use vertical split in chapters full of vertical platforming, horizontal split for horizontal chase sequences.

Online Stability Tips#

When playing online, let the player with the more stable connection host — it noticeably reduces disconnects. If you hit stutter, try lowering graphics quality or disabling vsync. Friend’s Pass players require an online connection throughout, and a mid-game disconnection kicks them out — check both players’ network conditions before starting a session.