<em>It Takes Two</em> Won Game of the Year in 2021. Is It Still Worth Buying?

It Takes Two is an unusually confident answer to a simple question: what if a game were built from the ground up for two people? Hazelight’s 2021 adventure won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, and its central idea still feels distinctive: every chapter introduces new abilities, puzzles, and playful challenges designed around cooperation.

But an award-winning game is not automatically the right purchase for every pair. Maybe you want a relaxed evening together, not a long campaign. Maybe you’re deciding between playing on the same couch or connecting online. Or maybe you’re asking the practical question behind a It Takes Two couples review: will both people enjoy it, even if one of them doesn’t usually play games?

In most cases, yes—if you want a lively, structured co-op adventure and can set aside several sessions to finish it. Its story can be sentimental, its humor can be broad, and its best moments rely on both players joining in. Here’s what to know before you buy.

Why It Takes Two Won at The Game Awards

It Takes Two follows Cody and May, a couple on the verge of separation who are magically transformed into small dolls. Their daughter, Rose, is caught up in the story, while the couple is guided through a series of imaginative worlds by a talking book. The setup is deliberately theatrical: expect big personalities, exaggerated situations, and a plot about communication and repairing a relationship.

The game’s most important achievement is that its co-op is not an optional extra attached to a single-player adventure. Hazelight designed the whole experience for two players. One person cannot simply take over both characters, and the game doesn’t ask one player to trail behind while the other does all the interesting work. You need each other to move forward.

That design helps explain the it takes two game awards 2021 headline. The game keeps changing the way the pair collaborates. One section might ask you to coordinate movement, another to combine different tools, and another to compete in a quick minigame. The specific mechanics keep shifting, so the adventure is less about mastering one elaborate system and more about discovering how the current one works together.

What Playing Together Actually Feels Like

The campaign is a colorful parade of settings and mechanics: toy-sized rooms, outdoor environments, fantastical machines, and plenty of side activities. Some sequences are platforming challenges; others feel closer to a light puzzle game, a boss fight, or a brief arcade diversion. This variety makes the game easy to recommend to pairs who like trying new things but might not want to spend a whole campaign learning a complicated combat system.

It’s also forgiving about expertise. Players still need to jump, move, and pay attention, but the game does not demand that both people arrive with the same gaming background. The more experienced player can help with controls or explain a puzzle, while the other person still has a meaningful role. That’s a major strength for couples, siblings, friends, or parents and kids playing together.

Not every couple will love the tone. The relationship story gives the action an emotional frame, but the characters can be frustrating, and some jokes or scenes may not land for everyone. If you’re hoping for a quiet, realistic relationship drama, this is not that. Think animated adventure with a message about listening to each other—and enough slapstick to keep the mood light.

Couch Co-op vs. Online Co-op: Choose Your Setup First

One of the game’s best features is that it supports both local and online co-op. In couch co-op, both players share one screen in split-screen view. It’s the simplest setup when you’re in the same room: connect two controllers, start a session, and play side by side. You can point things out, laugh at a failed jump, and solve puzzles through conversation without a headset.

Online co-op lets two people play from separate locations. One person can use the Friend’s Pass to invite a friend to join, so both players may not need to purchase a copy. Check the store listing for your specific platform before buying, and confirm that you and your partner are using compatible versions. Don’t assume cross-platform play is available just because online play is.

Setup Best for Things to check Couch co-op Partners or friends playing in the same room Two controllers and a screen with comfortable split-screen visibility Online co-op Players in different homes Internet connection, compatible platform versions, and Friend’s Pass details

Before purchasing, decide which setup you’ll use and check that it suits both players. If one person is on a different platform, verify compatibility rather than guessing. That quick check can prevent the classic co-op disappointment: buying a game, setting aside an evening, and discovering the two systems won’t connect.

How Much Replay Value Does It Have?

The main campaign generally takes around 12 to 15 hours, depending on how quickly you solve puzzles and how often you stop for optional activities. That gives the game enough room to feel like a proper adventure without asking for a hundred-hour commitment. It works well as a multi-night project for couples who like having a shared game to return to.

When people ask about co-optimus.com it takes two replay value, the honest answer is that it’s stronger as a first-time experience than as an endlessly replayable game. The story and surprises are a big part of the appeal, and once you’ve seen the major mechanics, a second playthrough may not feel as fresh. You can revisit chapters, hunt for missed minigames or collectibles, and swap roles, but those extras won’t necessarily add a whole new campaign’s worth of content.

That’s not a flaw so much as a matter of expectations. If you want one polished co-op adventure to play through together, the amount of content is substantial. If you want a game you can replay every weekend for months, a competitive party game or a longer progression-focused title may be a better fit.

Match the Game to Your Mood and Your Available Time

The best way to get value from a co-op game is to choose it based on the evening you actually have, not the evening you imagine having. It Takes Two is a good pick when both players are ready to pay attention, communicate, and try a succession of new challenges. It’s less ideal when one person is exhausted, wants a quick five-minute activity, or would rather watch than participate.

A shared list can make that choice easier. I’ve kept a co-op notes list for years, with quick reminders about player count, couch or online support, session length, and mood. Instead of scrolling through a store together for twenty minutes, you can pick from a short list of games you’ve already checked.

A quick shared-list entry for It Takes Two

Players: Two, throughout the campaign
Best mood: Playful, curious, and willing to collaborate
Session: Plan for a substantial chapter, rather than a tiny drop-in activity
Setup: Couch split-screen or online co-op; check platform compatibility
Replay appeal: Moderate; strongest on a first playthrough

Use the same format for other games you’re considering. Add a note such as “good after work,” “short rounds,” or “needs two controllers.” Over time, your list becomes a simple menu for matching a game to your time and energy instead of restarting the search every night.

Is It a Good Couples Game?

As a It Takes Two couples review, the most important point is that this game gives both partners a job. You’ll talk through obstacles, test ideas, and occasionally rescue each other after a mistake. That shared problem-solving can make for excellent couple time, especially if you enjoy laughing together when a plan goes sideways.

Still, it isn’t a relationship test or a substitute for a shared gaming preference. If one person loves platforming and the other dislikes using a controller, the game may feel like work. Take turns with the controller in another game first, or watch a short gameplay video together. And agree that asking for help is part of the fun, not a sign that someone is “bad” at games.

For a calmer evening, it can help to make the rest of the setup comfortable: take breaks, keep drinks away from the controllers, and pick a stopping point before you begin. If you already use products from a wellness brand such as Joy Organics as part of your wind-down routine, read the label carefully and distinguish THC-free products from full-spectrum ones; they are not interchangeable. No supplement is necessary for enjoying the game, and it’s worth keeping the focus on a routine that works for both players.

Who Should Buy It—and Who Might Skip It?

Buy it if:

You have one reliable partner for co-op and want a game made specifically for two.
You enjoy variety, playful puzzles, platforming, and occasional minigames.
You want a campaign with a clear ending rather than an open-ended grind.
You can play locally or have confirmed that your online setup is compatible.

Consider another game if:

You need a solo mode or want to play at different times without your partner.
You prefer short, casual rounds over a story campaign.
You want deep character progression or lots of reasons to replay the full game.
Your partner dislikes action games and isn’t interested in learning the controls.

Final Verdict: Still Worth Buying?

Yes. It Takes Two remains worth buying for two people who want a creative, genuinely cooperative adventure. Its Game of the Year win at The Game Awards in 2021 wasn’t just recognition for a charming story; it celebrated a game whose structure depends on two players working together. Hazelight’s changing mechanics keep the campaign lively, and its length is substantial without becoming an overwhelming commitment.

The main caveat is that it’s a one-campaign experience with limited replay value, and it only works if both players are on board. Check couch versus online setup, confirm platform compatibility, and put it on your shared list for a night when you have time to settle in. If that sounds like your kind of evening, the game’s central promise still delivers: two players, one shared adventure, and plenty of reasons to say, “Okay, your turn.”