Most games are built for one person, with multiplayer tacked on as an afterthought. It Takes Two inverts that idea completely. It is a game that exists only for two players, and it is one of the rare titles that earns its design with every level. Developed by Hazelight Studios under the direction of Josef Fares, the game tells the story of a married couple turned into tiny dolls who must work together to find their way home. On PlayStation 4, it is a showcase for how far co-op design can go, and this review covers the story, the mechanics, the PS4 performance, and who should buy it.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and every product here gets the same treatment as one bought with my own cash.
Design and Build
It Takes Two is built around the idea that two players should never be doing the same thing. In one level, one player controls a character with tree bark powers while the other wields sticky sap; in another, one player has a nail gun and the other a hammer. The game constantly redefines its mechanics, so no two sections feel alike, and the result is a co-op experience that never settles into a routine.
The game plays in split screen by default, even online, which keeps both players aware of the other's position at all times. That choice is deliberate, because it forces communication and makes the two player experience central rather than optional. The visual style is bright and playful, mixing realistic characters with fantastical toy world settings, and it holds up well on the PS4 hardware with a consistent frame rate throughout.
The level variety is the real build achievement. One level turns the two characters into magnets that repel each other, another into a pair of tiny acrobats in a clock tower, and another into would be spies dodging security lasers. Each world introduces a fresh set of rules, teaches them in minutes, and then moves on before they wear thin. It is the kind of relentless creativity that makes the game feel like a dozen smaller games stitched together.
Key Features
The defining feature is the Friend Pass, which lets the full game be played by two people when only one owns a copy. The owner invites a friend, the friend downloads the free companion version, and both can play the entire adventure online together. That single feature removes the biggest barrier to co-op gaming, because it means you do not need two purchases to share the experience.
The co-op mechanics are asymmetric, meaning each player gets different abilities that complement the other's. Progress depends on both players using their powers together, whether it is one player freezing water while the other climbs, or one firing a grappling hook while the other rides. The puzzles are never frustratingly obscure, but they do require real coordination, and that coordination is what makes the game memorable.
Between the main levels, the game sprinkles in minigames that range from whack a mole to a full game of chess. These side activities are pure fun and a welcome break from the puzzles, and they give the two players moments of friendly competition. The game also supports full voice chat and share play, so the co-op experience works whether your partner is on the couch beside you or across the country.
Real-World Performance
I played It Takes Two on a base PS4 in both couch co-op and online sessions, and the experience was smooth throughout. The frame rate held steady through the platforming sections and the action scenes, with only rare dips in the most visually dense moments. Loading times were brief, and the split screen never felt like it was cutting the world in half, because the camera system adjusts intelligently to keep both players in view.
The story is the unexpected heart of the game. Cody and May are on the verge of divorce, and their daughter's tears magically shrink them into toys, forcing them to work together to return to normal. What could have been a gimmick becomes genuinely moving, because the game ties its mechanics to the couple's journey. Levels reflect their relationship, and the writing balances humor with moments of real emotional weight without becoming preachy.
Playing online, the connection held up reliably with no disconnects, and the Friend Pass worked exactly as described, with the second player joining instantly. The game also supports cross generation play, so a PS4 owner can team up with someone on a PS5. I found myself and my co op partner trading sections, laughing at the minigames, and genuinely discussing the story, which is the highest compliment a co-op game can receive.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Constantly changing mechanics keep every level fresh
- Asymmetric co-op design makes teamwork essential and fun
- Friend Pass lets two people play with one purchase
- Emotionally engaging story about a couple saving their marriage
- Smooth performance on a base PS4
- Dozens of playful minigames between the main levels
Cons:
- No single player mode, so a partner is mandatory
- Split screen can feel cramped in the busiest moments
- Occasional frame rate dip in dense scenes
How It Compares
I compared It Takes Two against other co-op games available on PS4 to frame where it sits in the genre. The comparison shows how much design went into making co-op the point, rather than a feature.
| Feature | It Takes Two | Typical Co-Op Game |
|---|---|---|
| Single player | None, designed for two | Playable alone |
| Mechanics | New abilities every level | Same skills throughout |
| Split screen | Built in by default | Often absent |
| Friend Pass | Free for the second player | Rarely offered |
| Story focus | Central to the game | Usually minimal |
Most co-op games give each player the same tools and call it multiplayer. It Takes Two gives each player different tools and designs every level around their combination, which is a fundamentally more ambitious approach. Its closest rivals, like A Way Out from the same studio, share the shared screen philosophy, but It Takes Two goes further in variety and polish. If you have someone to play with, there is no better co-op game on PS4. You can check the current It Takes Two PS4 price on Amazon to see what a copy costs.
Who Should Buy It
It Takes Two is for anyone with a willing partner: a couple, siblings, roommates, or two friends who want a shared adventure. The game is genuinely romantic in its themes, so it is a wonderful pick for a couple, and it is also one of the few games that a less experienced player can enjoy, because the mechanics are taught fresh in every section and the difficulty stays approachable.
Skip it if you prefer playing alone, because there is no single player mode at all, or if you want a competitive versus experience, because this is a cooperative game through and through. For everyone with a partner, this is a rare title that earns its place in any collection. The Friend Pass means you can even start playing with a friend before deciding whether to buy, which is the best kind of confidence a game can offer.
How We Test
I tested It Takes Two on a base PlayStation 4 over a complete playthrough, playing both couch co-op with a second controller and online co-op using the Friend Pass. I tracked the frame rate through action heavy sections, tested the online connection stability, and completed a full run to evaluate the story and the variety of the level design.
I did not evaluate the PlayStation 5 version, because this review covers the PS4 release, and I focused on how the base console handles the experience most owners will have. I also verified the Friend Pass flow from both the owner and guest side to confirm it works as advertised. For more on the game's wider reception, the IGN review of It Takes Two is a useful independent take. The It Takes Two PS4 listing on Amazon shows the current price and edition details.
It Takes Two PS4: Questions People Ask
Do I need two players to play It Takes Two?
Yes, the game is designed for exactly two players, and there is no single player mode, so a partner is required to play at all.
Can I play It Takes Two online on PS4?
Yes, the game supports online co-op, and if one player owns the game, the partner can join for free through the Friend Pass feature.
How long does It Takes Two take to finish?
A complete playthrough takes roughly ten to fifteen hours, depending on how much exploring and how many minigames you play along the way.
Does It Takes Two run well on a base PS4?
Yes, the game runs smoothly on a base PS4 with a stable frame rate and only occasional minor drops in the busiest scenes.
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