It Takes Two
GROUNDBREAKING COOPERATIVE-ONLY VIDEO GAME (2021) by JOSEF FARES + HAZELIGHT STUDIOS. Two players (SPLIT-SCREEN required, no solo mode) play as CODY + MAY — a couple magically transformed into dolls by their daughter's tears + must reconcile their marriage to become human again. Genre-jumping platform-adventure — every chapter introduces new mechanics (magnetism, gravity, time, sound). Won GAME OF THE YEAR at THE GAME AWARDS 2021 + BAFTA GOTY + DICE GOTY. Set the modern standard for coop game design.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Team sport
Players
2–2
Duration
~900 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇸🇪 Sweden
Estimated origin
2021 release (March 2021 PC/PS/Xbox)
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Reconcile Cody + May's marriage + become human again via cooperative puzzle-solving.
Rules
Basic rules
Two players work in tandem — each has unique mechanic per chapter
Signature asymmetric coop.
Genre changes constantly: platformer, third-person shooter, driving, rhythm, mini-games
Constant variety.
SPLIT-SCREEN REQUIRED — no solo mode; ONLY playable with 2 people
Design purity.
'Friend's Pass' allows free download for second player — need only 1 copy
Signature accessibility.
25+ optional mini-games in world for coop competition
Side content.
Scoring
Not competitive; measured by main-story completion + mini-game high scores.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Complete main story | ~14 hours |
| Find all mini-games (25+) | Optional content |
| Complete all mini-games (2-player) | Extended play |
Win condition · Complete Cody + May's journey.
Equipment
PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, PC (Windows), Switch (2022)
Multi-platform
2 controllers OR local + online split-screen
1 copy grants free 'Friend's Pass' to second player
Terminology
- Cody + May
- The 2 player characters — an unhappy married couple.
- Dr. Hakim
- Bizarre self-help book character who catalyzes the plot.
- Friend's Pass
- Free second-player download when 1 person owns the game.
- Hazelight
- The Swedish studio; also made Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons + A Way Out.
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Hazelight Studios (developer)
Founded 2014 · Stockholm, Sweden
Electronic Arts (publisher via EA Originals)
Founded 1982 · Redwood City, USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Josef Fares (director + writer + spiritual leader of Hazelight)
- Hazelight team (~50 developers)
Frequently asked
Why did It Takes Two win GOTY 2021?+
It DEFINED the modern cooperative game — every chapter introduced NEW mechanics, GENRES, + INTERACTIONS between the two players. Combined with EMOTIONAL storytelling about a marriage in crisis, gorgeous visuals, + the FRIEND'S PASS (free second-player copy) making coop accessible, it won BAFTA, DICE, + The Game Awards' Game of the Year 2021. Sold 20M+ copies + inspired numerous coop games since.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — It Takes Two— Wikipedia