Important Notes
Critical Warnings & Pitfalls
- Mandatory Co-op Only: It Takes Two cannot be played solo. You must have a second player locally (split-screen) or online. There is no AI partner, no single-player mode, and no way to control both characters yourself.
- Friend's Pass: Only one person needs to buy the full game. The other player can download the free Friend's Pass version on the same platform (Steam, Origin, Xbox, PlayStation). However, cross-platform play is not supported—both players must be on the same platform family (e.g., both on PC or both on PlayStation).
- EA Account Required: Even on Steam or console, you must link an EA Account to play. Make sure this is done before launching the game to avoid login errors.
- No Offline Mode: The game requires a constant internet connection for online co-op, and even local co-op may need periodic online validation. If your internet drops, you may be kicked back to the main menu.
- Linear Story with No Branching: The main plot is completely linear. There are no dialogue choices or story-altering decisions. You cannot change the outcome of the story—it's a fixed narrative.
- Collectibles & Minigames: Each chapter contains collectibles (e.g., hats, minigame trophies) and optional minigames. These are missable per chapter. Once you progress past a chapter's point of no return (usually marked by a "Chapter Complete" screen or zone transition), you cannot return to that area. To 100% the game, you must replay chapters via Chapter Select after finishing the story.
- Achievements/Trophies: Many achievements require completing all minigames, collecting all hats, or discovering all optional interactions. If you skip them during your first playthrough, you will need to replay chapters. No achievements are permanently missable—Chapter Select lets you clean up later.
- No Skill Reset: You cannot re-spec or change the order of ability upgrades. Each character's abilities are automatically unlocked as you progress through the story. There is no leveling system or skill tree to regret.
- Chapter 3: The Toolbox (Vacuum Cleaner Boss): The first major boss fight requires both players to coordinate movement and timing. One player distracts while the other activates switches. Many first-timers get stuck here—communication is key.
- Chapter 5: The Wellspring (Elephant Section) : A notorious emotional and gameplay spike. You must kill a toy elephant ("Cutie the Elephant") by tearing off its limbs. The sequence is mechanically demanding and requires precise timing to avoid frustration.
- Chapter 7: The End (Final Boss): The final boss has multiple phases requiring perfect synchronization. If you and your partner have poor communication, expect many retries.
- No Grinding Necessary: There is no experience points, currency, or gear to grind. All abilities are story-gated. You can never be underpowered or overleveled.
- Optional Minigames are Purely Cosmetic: The only "grind" is for achievements/trophies. Don't feel forced to win every minigame on your first attempt—you can replay chapters anytime.
- Communication is Mandatory: This game is designed around verbal (or text) coordination. Use voice chat or a call system. Never assume your partner knows what to do—many puzzles require explicit callouts.
- Patience with Puzzles: If you or your partner are stuck, take turns trying. Avoid back-seat gaming—let the other player experiment.
- No Anti-Cheat: The game has no anti-cheat software. It uses EA's online services for matchmaking only. Cheating is not a concern in a co-op game, but be aware that mods may cause desyncs or bans.
- Disconnection Protocol: If one player disconnects online, the session ends. You can rejoin by re-inviting. Save data is managed by the host's save file. If the host loses internet, the guest is kicked. Always have the host's connection be stable.
- Autosave Only: The game saves automatically at checkpoints. There is no manual save or multiple save slots. Be careful: if you start a new game with a different partner, it overwrites your previous save on the same platform profile.
- Chapter Select Saves Progress: Once you complete the story, you can use Chapter Select to replay any chapter. This does not erase your collectibles count—everything accumulates. However, if you start a brand new game, all progress is wiped.
- Backup Your Save (PC): For PC (Steam/Origin), locate the save file in `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\It Takes Two\` and back it up regularly. On consoles, cloud saves are automatic but you cannot revert to a previous state without manual backup.
- Host Saves the World: Online co-op progress is saved on the host's account. The guest player's progress (collectibles, chapter unlocks) is not stored locally unless they also host. If you always play as guest, you will need to redo chapters if you later host.
- Friend's Pass Confusion: Many players buy two copies of the game unnecessarily. Always check if your platform supports Friend's Pass (all major platforms do).
- No Crossplay: If you and your friend are on different platforms (e.g., PC and PS5), you cannot play together unless you both use the same platform family via remote play or similar.
- Accessibility Options Exist: The game includes options for adjusting subtitles, contrast, and control stick sensitivity. Use the pause menu settings to enable larger UI or reduce motion blur if you get motion sick.
- You Can Swap Characters at Any Time: There is an option in the pause menu to swap control of Cody and May. This is useful if one player is struggling with a specific ability or just wants a change.
- Most Puzzles Have a Hint System: If you're stuck for 30+ seconds, the game often shows a vague hint on the screen or via character dialogue. Don't ignore those visual/audio cues.
- Collectibles Are Visible on the Mini-Map: You can toggle the mini-map to see the location of nearby collectibles. Use this to avoid missing them.
- Minigames Can Be Replayed Immediately: After finding a minigame location, you can return to that spot later within the same chapter to replay it. You don't need to wait for chapter select.
- The Story Is Heavy: Prepare for emotional themes about divorce and childhood. The game handles these seriously despite the whimsical presentation. It may be uncomfortable for some players.
- Performance: On PC, the game is well-optimized but can stutter during large open sections (e.g., snowball fight). Lower shadow quality and post-processing for stable 60 FPS on mid-range hardware.
- Local Co-op Requires Full Controllers: Each player needs a controller. Keyboard + controller works on PC, but two keyboards do not.
- Online Input Lag: If lag occurs, try lowering graphics settings or switching to a wired connection. The game uses peer-to-peer connections—no dedicated servers.
- Have Fun with It: It Takes Two is designed to be playful and creative. Don't rush through it yelling instructions. Embrace the chaos, laugh at your deaths, and enjoy the ride. The game is short (around 12-15 hours) so savor each chapter.