Top 5 Alternatives to It Takes Two: Explore the Best in Cooperative Gaming

It Takes Two is a revolutionary cooperative game that has set a new standard in the gaming industry. Its unique blend of seamless gameplay, immersive storytelling, and creative settings has caught the attention of gamers worldwide. But what if you're looking for more experiences like It Takes Two? Luckily, there are plenty of other games that offer similar cooperative experiences. Here are our top five alternatives to It Takes Two.

1. A Way Out

A Unique Co-op Experience Wrapped in an Engaging Narrative

A Way Out is a cooperative action-adventure game developed by Hazelight Studios, the same team behind It Takes Two. This game offers an engaging narrative where players take on the roles of two prisoners who must work together to escape from prison and continue their lives on the run.

Gameplay

In A Way Out, cooperation between players is not just encouraged; it's necessary. Players need to coordinate their actions to overcome various obstacles and challenges. The split-screen format allows both players to experience different parts of the story simultaneously.

Story and Setting

The story revolves around Leo and Vincent, two convicts with different backgrounds and personalities but with a shared goal - escape from prison. The game's setting transitions from a strict prison environment into diverse landscapes as the duo go on the run.

2. Overcooked! 2

A Culinary Chaos That Tests Teamwork

If you’re looking for something lighter yet still challenging your teamwork skills, Overcooked! 2 might be your perfect pick. Developed by Ghost Town Games, this cooperative cooking simulation game offers chaotic and fun gameplay.

Gameplay

Players must work together to prepare and cook orders in absurdly structured kitchens. The game tests your multitasking skills, coordination, and communication as you race against the clock to serve as many dishes as possible.

Story and Setting

The story is simple yet fun: the Onion Kingdom is in peril again, and you must save it from the Unbread! The settings vary from conventional kitchens to more outlandish locations like magical schools, alien planets, or moving airplanes.

3. Portal 2

An Intellectual Co-op Adventure With a Taste of Sci-Fi

Valve’s Portal 2 is an ingenious puzzle platformer that provides a mind-bending cooperative mode. It combines clever gameplay mechanics with a witty, humorous narrative that will keep you engaged throughout.

Gameplay

In the co-op mode, players take on the roles of robots Atlas and P-Body. They must work together to solve puzzles using their portal guns which can create interdimensional gateways.

Story and Setting

The cooperative campaign takes place in the Aperture Science Laboratories - a massive underground research facility filled with all sorts of deadly traps but also hilarious scientific wonders. The story adds depth to the game's lore while providing lots of laughs along the way.

4. Cuphead

A Retro-style Run-and-Gun Extravaganza

Cuphead, developed by Studio MDHR, is a unique blend of fast-paced action and classic animation aesthetics. This visually stunning game offers a challenging but satisfying co-op experience.

Gameplay

Cuphead is a run-and-gun action game where players control the titular Cuphead or his brother Mugman. The gameplay involves navigating through multiple levels while battling bosses in order to repay a debt to the devil.

Story and Setting

The story is inspired by 1930s cartoons revolving around Cuphead and Mugman, who lose a bet with the devil. The game's setting beautifully recreates the era with its hand-drawn art style, jazz-inspired soundtrack, and vintage sound effects.

5. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

A High-Stakes Bomb Defusal Challenge

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is an engaging cooperative game developed by Steel Crate Games. It offers a unique concept where communication between players becomes crucial.

Gameplay

In this game, one player must defuse a bomb with the help of their teammates who have access to a manual containing bomb defusal instructions. However, there's a catch - only the defuser can see the bomb, while only those reading from the manual can see its contents.

Story and Setting

The game doesn't have much of a narrative, but it doesn't need one. The tension of defusing a bomb in time provides more than enough engagement for players. The setting varies as bombs are placed in different environments, adding extra layers of difficulty.

Bottom Line

All these games offer unique co-op experiences that appeal to different types of gamers. Whether you're escaping from prison in A Way Out, cooking up chaos in Overcooked! 2, solving puzzles in Portal 2, surviving retro-style challenges in Cuphead, or diffusing bombs in Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, these games prove that cooperative play can be as diverse as it is entertaining.