Is It Takes Two Co-Op Only?

It Takes Two is developed by Hazelight Studios and director/writer Josef Fares, who is best known for directing Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out. In It Takes Two, players are able to invite their friends along on a whimsical platform adventure designed for cooperative play.  But you may be wondering: is It Takes Two strictly a co-op experience, or can one person handle the game alone?

In the official gameplay trailer for It Takes Two, players are introduced to the brightly-colored world of the game. Cody and May are two parents undergoing a divorce, much to the distress of their daughter. With the use of a magic book, their daughter transforms them into toy-like creatures, and they must find a way to work together to get back into their bodies.

Both local online co-op are available for It Takes Two. But not everyone who wants to play It Takes Two has someone else to play it with. Is there any way to play the game as a solo player?

Hazelight Studios and Jose Fares have dedicated a tremendous amount of its focus to two-player games. 

In 2015, Fares directed the well-received (but short) Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons for Starbreeze Studios. That game was designed for two players, but did allow for solo play. Brothers was followed by Hazelight and Fares' A Way Out, which required two players — no solo mode included. By requiring two players, the developer was able to design puzzles that could demand more of the players, in terms of collaboration and synchronized actions. 

Fares isn't alone in directing games that are made specifically for two players; the We Were Here series from Total Mayhem Games is another well-received franchise that requires two players. In a world where multiplayer is frequently tacked on, having some required co-op games might be a good thing.

So, how can you convince your friends to pick up and play It Takes Two? It may be easier than you think. According to EA, It Takes Two comes with a "Friend's Pass." Players who purchase the game are able to invite a friend to play cooperatively with them, even if the other person hasn't purchased the game. 

Well, you have to find a second player. It Takes Two does not come with any type of single-player experience. Still, a lot of work has gone into making it easier to find a friend to play the game, including both the Friend's Pass system and the ability to play with other generations of game consoles. Additionally, it can be played either online or as split-screen, in-person co-op.

It's also possible that players who don't have a second player could watch the game played on Twitch. As of 2021, Fares' A Way Out has over 300,000 followers on Twitch — and while those viewers may not have been able to experience the game as it was played, they have at least experienced the story. It Takes Two has a linear narrative that plays out over its 15-hour runtime, which may still be interesting viewing to those who don't have a partner for the game.

It Takes Two releases March 26, so get started on finding your ideal Friend's Pass partner.