Verdict № 06 · Co-op
It Takes Two review
A co-op adventure that reinvents itself every chapter, and the best deal here for couples: one copy covers two players.
Split-screen co-op: Cody and May fighting side by side in a lantern-lit cave. Official image: Electronic Arts.
It Takes Two follows Cody and May, a couple on the verge of divorce who find themselves shrunk into dolls, and it can only be played by two people, side by side or online. Every chapter gives each player different tools that only work together, and almost none of its ideas repeat. It was named Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021, scores 89 on Metacritic and has sold more than 30 million copies.
Its payment model is why it is in our twelve. Only one player needs to own it: the Friend's Pass lets a second person play the whole game free. EA says the Friend's Pass now works across PC, PlayStation and Xbox, with a Switch 2 edition arriving on 15 October 2026. It costs £34.99 everywhere, is included in EA Play and Game Pass Ultimate, and sells nothing inside the game.
The best money a couple can spend on a game: two players, one purchase, no extras.The verdict in one line
The review, milestone by milestone
- mark 9.0
Hours 1 to 2
The shed
The first chapter teaches the core idea: Cody and May get different abilities that only solve problems together. The talking Book of Love, Dr Hakim, sets a romantic-comedy tone that divides players.
If neither of you owns the game yet, the Friend's Pass lets you both play this chapter free.
- mark 9.5
The middle stretch
A new game every chapter
From a squirrel-and-wasp shooter inside a tree to time-rewinding and cloning in a cuckoo clock, each chapter swaps in new mechanics tied to its setting. The variety is the game's great strength.
One scene in Rose's Room, a darkly comic moment with a toy elephant, is the most likely reason for the PEGI 12 rating and is worth knowing about if you play with children.
- mark 6.5
The long tail
Short and complete
The story takes about 13 hours; completionists finish in under 17. Afterwards you can replay chapters, swap characters to try the other set of abilities, and hunt down the 25 optional head-to-head minigames hidden in the levels.
There is no post-game content and no paid expansion.
- mark 8.0
Craft and access
Polished, with two caveats
It looks and plays beautifully. The Switch version runs at 30 frames per second; the Switch 2 edition targets 60.
EA's accessibility options cover menu narration, subtitles, camera settings and full remapping on PC, but there is no difficulty selector, and it cannot be played alone.
The bill: what it really costs in the UK
One purchase covers two people. The only extra cost is online play on consoles.
The bill · It Takes Two
Per player that is £17.50. The soundtrack is sold separately on Steam for £8.99.
Where to buy it and how you can pay
It Takes Two is sold on every major store at £34.99 as standard. On PC it needs an EA account for online play even when you buy it on Steam.
PlayStation Store
- Card
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- paysafecard
- Mobile billing
- PS gift cards
Xbox and Microsoft Store
- Card
- Mobile billing
- Xbox gift cards
Nintendo eShop
Upgrade to the Switch 2 edition from 15 October.
- Visa or Mastercard
- PayPal (18+)
- eShop cards
Before you pay: the Steam sale at £10.49 until 28 September is the cheapest route we have seen. If you already pay for EA Play (£5.99 a month) or Game Pass Ultimate, the game is included.
How the scores add up
| How it plays | Weight | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| First hours | 15% | 9.0 |
| The middle stretch | 30% | 9.5 |
| The long tail | 20% | 6.5 |
| Craft | 20% | 8.5 |
| Access | 15% | 7.5 |
| What it costs | Weight | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Price against play | 35% | 7.5 |
| Honest pricing | 25% | 10.0 |
| Ways to pay | 20% | 9.0 |
| Protection | 20% | 7.5 |
What we rate
- Endless variety: few ideas repeat
- One copy covers two players
- No in-game purchases of any kind
- Now playable across PC, PlayStation and Xbox
What costs it
- Cannot be played alone
- Short, with little to return to
- No difficulty setting
- Online co-op on console needs a membership for each player
Buy it if
two people who want to play together; per player it is one of the cheapest acclaimed games here.
Think twice if
you mostly play alone; there is no single-player mode at all.
Final verdict
It Takes Two is a brilliant co-operative game with the fairest payment model in our twelve. Its Value score would be higher if it lasted longer, but shared between two people it costs £17.50 each at full price, and far less in the current Steam sale.
Buy one copy, share it through the Friend's Pass, and set aside a few evenings a week for a month.
Weigh it against
Sources
This review is an editorial analysis of published evidence; see how we judge. Prices checked 25 September 2026.