It Takes Two Quietly Influenced The Future Of Narrative Co-Op Games

In an industry dominated by battle royales and massive open-world grinds, It Takes Two felt like a surprise hit when it first came out. But this 2021 co-op adventure didn’t just win hearts with its adorable art style or witty dialogue; it reshaped how players and developers view narrative co-op gaming. Fast forward to 2025, and its influence is more obvious than ever, especially in its developers’ next hit this year: Split Fiction.

While many games still chase single-player storytelling or competitive multiplayer, It Takes Two found a sweet spot and powered an attempt to combine the best aspects of single-player and co-op experiences. And whether you noticed it or not, this quirky platformer may have just redefined the blueprint for co-op storytelling.

Co-Op, But Make It Meaningful

Traditionally, co-op in narrative games was an afterthought. One player got the main experience, while the second was lucky to tag along. But It Takes Two flipped that script. Every puzzle, boss fight, and cutscene demanded two players working together—not as an optional feature, but as the core of the experience.

Developers saw the impact. Suddenly, narrative co-op didn’t have to mean splitting the story awkwardly between players. Instead, It Takes Two proved that designing around partnership can create a deeper, more memorable story. Think about it: how many times did you and your partner blame each other for failing a timed jump… then laugh about it?

It’s no wonder more studios are exploring co-op-first narratives. With co-op titles becoming common additions to subscription libraries—where gamers are more likely to experiment thanks to the affordable Xbox Game Pass core price—developers realize there’s an eager market waiting for fresh takes on teamwork-based storytelling.

The Rise Of Co-Op Storytelling Experiences

Post-It Takes Two, we’ve seen an influx of titles leaning into co-op storytelling. Indie studios and AAA developers alike are crafting experiences that prioritize communication, coordination, and shared narratives.

Games now borrow mechanics from It Takes Two: constantly shifting genres, interactive dialogue between players, and split mechanics requiring teamwork to progress. Whether it’s puzzle-solving or epic battles, co-op partners feel like co-protagonists, not backup characters.

Why is this trend growing? Simple: gamers are craving meaningful ways to connect. Multiplayer doesn’t always have to mean competitive stress or endless grinding. Sometimes, people just want to share a story with a friend (or significant other) and work through it together.

And It Takes Two showed that there’s serious emotional payoff in that experience.

Partner and I just finished playing It Takes Two: It is an absolutely amazing, beautiful and varied co-op game with a small handful of incredibly weird writing choices that leave me wondering what the hell the devs were thinking
byu/AliceTheGamedev inGames

Beyond gameplay, It Takes Two demonstrated that players appreciate creative risk-taking. Its whimsical art, unpredictable level design, and unapologetically personal story (about a failing marriage!) proved that co-op games don’t need to play it safe.

More importantly, It Takes Two wasn’t bloated with filler or microtransactions. It was a contained, handcrafted experience—something sorely missing in many modern titles. Its Game of the Year win wasn’t luck; it was validation that narrative co-op could be innovative and profitable.

Now, studios view co-op storytelling as more than a niche. It’s a viable market, especially with the rise of digital subscriptions encouraging players to try games they might not have bought outright.

Conclusion

It Takes Two didn’t just tell a heartwarming story, but it sparked a shift in game design. By proving that co-op gameplay and storytelling could be seamlessly integrated, it inspired developers to rethink how players experience narratives together.

If you’re looking to explore more innovative co-op games without breaking the bank, affordable subscription services help make that possible. And for everything from subscriptions to DLC, the digital marketplace offers gamers a one-stop solution for finding deals, whether you’re chasing new co-op adventures or topping up your next game pass subscription.