TL;DR: It Takes Two is a rare masterpiece of mandatory co-op gaming that forces two players to work in perfect sync. It’s a beautiful, creative, and sometimes emotionally heavy journey through a failing marriage. It is not a game for solo play, and while it looks like a Pixar movie, it deals with divorce, resentment, and some surprisingly dark moments that might be too much for younger kids.
Quick Links for the Co-Op Curious:
- It Takes Two (The main event)
- Unravel Two (A gentler co-op alternative)
- Overcooked! All You Can Eat (For testing your family's stress levels)
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Pure, low-stakes fun)
Developed by Hazelight Studios, It Takes Two is a genre-bending platformer designed strictly for two players. You play as Cody and May, a couple on the brink of divorce who are magically transformed into small dolls by their daughter Rose’s tears (and a sentient "Book of Love" named Dr. Hakim).
To return to their human bodies, they have to navigate the oversized world of their home and garden, guided—or harassed—by Dr. Hakim. The hook? Every single level introduces a completely new gameplay mechanic that requires both players to collaborate. If one person stops, the game stops.
Most games kids play today, like Minecraft or Roblox, allow for "parallel play"—kids are in the same world, but they’re doing their own thing. It Takes Two is the opposite. It is a digital exercise in communication and empathy.
If you have siblings who constantly bicker or struggle to share the spotlight, this game forces them to actually talk to each other. "I’ll spray the nectar, you ignite it." "I’ll hold the platform, you jump." It’s a 12-to-15-hour masterclass in "we over me."
We need to talk about the theme. Unlike most kids' media where parents are either perfect or absent, It Takes Two depicts a marriage that is actively falling apart. Cody and May are often petty, they blame each other for their situation, and they are—at times—fairly unlikable.
For families who have gone through or are going through a divorce, this game can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it validates the complex feelings children have (Rose's sadness and her feeling that she is to blame are portrayed very rawly). On the other hand, the game’s ultimate goal is "fixing" the marriage, which might send a confusing message to kids in real-life situations where reconciliation isn't the goal or the reality.
Even with the heavy themes, the game is a blast. It’s like playing through ten different games in one. One minute you’re in a third-person shooter fighting space squirrels, the next you’re in a top-down dungeon crawler, and then you’re racing on the back of frogs.
The creativity is relentless. It’s visually stunning, and the "Friend's Pass" feature is a huge plus—only one person needs to own the game for two people to play together online.
The ESRB gave It Takes Two a Teen (T) rating, and for once, the rating is pretty spot-on.
- Ages 5-9: Generally not recommended. The themes of marital collapse will go over their heads, but the difficulty of the platforming and some specific "dark" scenes are likely to cause frustration or nightmares.
- Ages 10-12: The sweet spot for playing with a parent. It opens the door for great conversations about relationships and teamwork.
- Ages 13+: Perfect for siblings or friends. They’ll appreciate the humor and the high-quality gameplay mechanics.
The "Elephant" in the Room (Content Warning)
There is one specific scene involving a stuffed elephant named Cutie that is... well, it’s traumatizing. Without spoiling too much, the main characters believe they need to make their daughter cry to break the spell, and they do something genuinely cruel to her favorite toy to achieve it. It’s played for dark comedy, but for many kids (and parents), it feels mean-spirited and can be hard to watch. If your child is sensitive to "toy cruelty" or animal-adjacent distress, be warned.
Learn more about the specific content warnings for It Takes Two
If you love the idea of co-op play but aren't ready for the "divorce drama" or the intensity of It Takes Two, check these out:
This is the closest "vibe" to It Takes Two but much gentler. You play as two "Yarnys" connected by a single thread. It’s beautiful, physics-based, and emphasizes connection without the heavy dialogue.
Pure platforming joy. It supports up to four players and is much more forgiving for younger players who might struggle with precise jumping.
While primarily a single-player game, the second player can control "Cappy" (Mario's hat). It’s a great way for a parent to "assist" a younger child without the pressure of the mandatory co-op in It Takes Two.
Once you unlock "Gooigi," this becomes one of the best co-op experiences on the Nintendo Switch. One player is the muscle (Luigi), and the other can slip through grates and spikes (Gooigi).
If you decide to let your kids play this, or if you play it with them, keep these things in mind:
- The "Book of Love" is polarizing. Dr. Hakim is a flamboyant, hip-thrusting book that some find hilarious and others find incredibly grating. He’s the "narrator" of the experience.
- It’s a commitment. This isn't a "pick up for 20 minutes" kind of game. Levels are long, and because it’s co-op, you need to coordinate schedules.
- The difficulty spikes. While it starts easy, some of the boss fights require genuine coordination and quick reflexes.
- Language. There is some mild profanity (hell, damn, shit) used in the heat of Cody and May’s arguments.
If you’re playing It Takes Two with your child, use the downtime between levels to check in:
- "Why do you think Cody and May are so frustrated with each other?"
- "Do you think Rose is right to feel like it's her fault?"
- "What was easier: doing that puzzle yourself or having us work together?"
It Takes Two is a 10/10 game from a technical and creative standpoint. It’s one of the few games that truly understands how to make two people feel like a team. However, its narrative is "adult" in a way that isn't about sex or gore, but about the messy, painful reality of relationships.
It’s a fantastic game for a parent and a middle-schooler to tackle together, or even for you and your partner to play after the kids are in bed. Just be prepared for some heavy conversations—and maybe a few arguments about who messed up that last jump.