It Takes Two Co-Op: Split-Screen, Online, Friend's Pass

It Takes Two is co-op only, and you cannot play it alone. Game Scout's data lists Multiplayer, Co-operative, and Split screen among its modes, with no Single player entry, which matches how Hazelight built it: leads May and Cody carry separate abilities that only clear a level when both players work them together.

That is not a soft recommendation to bring a friend, it is a hard requirement. Every chapter assumes a partner, so you need a second player, on the couch or online, from the first level to the credits.

It Takes Two is a strict two-player game. Game Scout's data caps it at two local players in split-screen and two players online, and there is no three or four-player mode. It does not scale past a pair in either direction.

Locally the screen is always split between the two characters. Online each player gets a full screen while the game keeps both views in sync. Either way, the player count is fixed at two.

Only one player needs to buy It Takes Two. The owner invites a second player, who downloads a free Friend's Pass from their platform store and joins the full game online at no cost. A single purchase covers both people, which is the cheapest co-op deal on the platform and the reason so many pairs pick it.

EA's setup pages are specific about the flow: the invite has to come from the player who owns the full version, both players need their own EA account, and the Friend's Pass is for online play. For couch co-op on one console, a single copy already runs two players in split-screen, so no pass is involved there.

Local co-op is built into both the PS5 and PS4 versions. Pick play local from the menu, connect a second controller on the same console, and the screen divides between May and Cody for the whole adventure. Split screen is one of the game's listed modes, so couch co-op needs nothing beyond that second pad.

Each half of the screen tracks one character, and most puzzles ask both players to watch both sides at once, coordinating abilities across the divide rather than playing in parallel. It is the version to pick if you and your co-op partner are in the same room.

For online co-op, the owner opens the play online menu, selects invite a friend, and sends the invitation, which pops up for the second player to accept. If that player does not own the game, the invite points them to the free Friend's Pass download first. Both players need to be on the same platform, and each needs an active PlayStation Plus membership, since EA's help pages note both players require their own online subscription.

Online is the way to play when you and your partner are apart, and the two-player cap is identical to local: the online session is still just the pair of you, each steering one of the leads.

No. It Takes Two does not support cross-play, so both players have to be on the same platform. EA's Friend's Pass documentation is explicit that the pass works within a platform, not across them, which means a PlayStation player cannot pair with someone on PC or Xbox.

In practice, plan the session around one ecosystem: two PlayStation consoles for online, or one console with two controllers for split-screen. There is no way to bridge platforms in a single co-op run.

It Takes Two runs about 15 hours for a typical playthrough. Game Scout's tracked times put a hasty run near 11 hours, a normal run around 15 hours, and a full clear closer to 20 hours once you chase the optional minigames scattered through every chapter.

The gap between the 15-hour finish and the 20-hour full clear is the Rock, Paper, Scissors stations and other side minigames, and they are genuine extra content, not padding: each is a short competitive detour built for the pair, so tracking them down is worth the time if you want everything the game holds. The main path itself rarely reuses a mechanic, so the length is variety rather than filler.

I read through the player reviews, and they tally up the same way: It Takes Two is a co-op standout. The recurring praise is the innovative co-op design, the beautiful level variety, and how strongly the format bonds two players, which is why reviewers keep recommending it for couples and friends. The consistent complaint is the story and dialogue, which some find over-written, plus the odd online connectivity hiccup.

None of that dents the core verdict. For two people who want a co-op showcase, this is one pick I couldn't recommend more, and it is a poor fit only for anyone hoping to play solo, which the game simply does not allow.