---
title: "It Takes Two: Walkthrough & Tips"
game: "It Takes Two"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/it-takes-two"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Bosses", "Walkthroughs", "Co-op", "Achievements"]
summary: "A spoiler-light guide to It Takes Two. It covers how to set up co-op (Friend's Pass, Steam, split screen), each chapter's abilities and bosses, the minigames and achievements worth chasing, and tips for couples and…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/it-takes-two-walkthrough-tips-baaece10"
published: "2026-09-27T16:31:35.897Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T16:31:35.897Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# It Takes Two: Walkthrough & Tips

A spoiler-light guide to It Takes Two. It covers how to set up co-op (Friend's Pass, Steam, split screen), each chapter's abilities and bosses, the minigames and achievements worth chasing, and tips for couples and mixed-skill pairs.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the May 2024 Steam update (Steam friends invites, Steam Deck Verified, EA app no longer required). The game is complete and no longer receives content updates; check the linked sources if something differs.*

> **Status note:** It Takes Two (Hazelight, March 2021) won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021 and has sold over **20 million** copies (as of October 2024). Hazelight's follow-up **Split Fiction** launched March 6, 2025. It Takes Two is still fully playable and sold on Steam. Since **May 29, 2024**, the Steam version doesn't need the EA app. Invites go through your Steam friends list, although you still need an EA account for online play.

## Quick Start

1. **It's co-op only.** There's no single-player. You need a second person, either on your couch (split screen) or online.
2. **Only one person needs to buy it.** The **Friend's Pass** is a free download that lets a friend play the whole game with you online, as long as the host owns it.
3. **Online co-op is same-platform.** Use the **Steam version of Friend's Pass**, which works with Steam invites. The older EA app Friend's Pass still works but uses EA invites.
4. **Couch co-op works on one PC** with two controllers (or keyboard plus controller). **Steam Remote Play Together** also works for playing online with someone who doesn't install anything.
5. **Choose Cody or May carefully.** Each chapter gives them different, complementary abilities, and neither character is "harder" throughout. Many couples switch who plays whom on a second run.
6. **Look for minigames.** There are **25 hidden competitive minigames** scattered through the levels. They're great fun and tied to an achievement.
7. **Deaths don't matter much.** Checkpoints are generous, so experiment.
8. **Talk to each other.** Most puzzles need one player to set something up while the other acts.

## Setup and Technical Tips

| Setup | How |
|---|---|
| **Online, Steam** | One owner. The friend installs the free **It Takes Two Friend's Pass** from Steam. Invite through the Steam friends list |
| **Local split screen** | Launch the game, connect a second controller, and choose Local Play |
| **Remote Play Together** | The owner hosts. The friend joins via a Steam invite without owning or installing the game |
| **Steam Deck** | Steam Deck Verified since May 2024. Works well for local or online play |

**Performance:** the game is well-optimised. On lower-end PCs, reduce shadows and effects first. Split screen doubles the rendering load, so drop settings slightly if you get stutter.

## Controls Basics

- **Jump, double jump, dash, wall jump and ground pound** are core moves for both characters. A dash after a double jump carries you across longer gaps.
- **Ground pound** (crouch in mid-air) breaks some objects and triggers switches.
- Each chapter adds **character-specific abilities** on the shooting/aiming and ability buttons. The game shows prompts, so there's no need to memorise.
- **Grinding rails and swinging points** appear everywhere. Jump to swing and release at the top of the arc.

## Chapter Walkthrough Outline

The game has **seven main chapters**, and each one introduces a new pair of abilities. Here's what to expect (the story is left for you to discover).

### 1. The Shed

- **Cody:** throws **nails** into wood (to create swing points and stop objects) and recalls them.
- **May:** a **hammer** that swings on nails and smashes objects.
- Bosses: the vacuum cleaner early on, and a giant toolbox at the end of the chapter.
- **Tip:** Cody sets up nails, then May swings or smashes. Most puzzles work in that order.

### 2. The Tree

- **Cody:** a **sap gun** that sprays explosive sap.
- **May:** a **match launcher** that ignites sap.
- You fight the wasps with the squirrels' help, including a flying sequence and a boss fight against the wasps' queen.
- **Tip:** sap first, then fire. Cody paints the target and May detonates.

### 3. Rose's Room

- Several sub-areas built from Rose's toys: a pillow fort, a space station, a dinosaur land and more.
- Abilities change inside each sub-area. In the space station, for example, **Cody can change size** and **May uses gravity boots** to walk on walls and ceilings.
- The **Moon Baboon** is the big boss of this chapter.
- This chapter includes the infamous **Cutie the Elephant** scene.

### 4. The Cuckoo Clock

- **Cody:** **time control**. He rewinds objects to earlier states.
- **May:** creates a **clone** and teleports back to it.
- **Tip:** Cody rewinds platforms while May uses her clone to go through doors or reset her position.

### 5. The Snow Globe

- Icy village and lake. **Magnet abilities** let the two of you pull toward or push away from each other and from coloured magnets.
- Look for ice-skating sections and the village's side areas, which hide several minigames.
- **Tip:** magnet puzzles almost always need one player to anchor while the other flies. Agree on who holds the magnet before you jump.

### 6. The Garden

- **Cody** plants himself in soil patches and turns into different plants to attack, climb and grow.
- **May** clears the way and waters or sprays to help Cody's plants.
- Several combat arenas and a large boss at the end.

### 7. The Attic

- A music-themed chapter. **May** uses sound-based abilities and **Cody** uses a cymbal shield/throwing ability.
- The final sections bring the story to an end.

## Minigames and Achievements

- **25 minigames** are hidden through the chapters (examples: whack-a-mole, tug of war, horse derby, shuffleboard, tic-tac-toe, snowball fight). A small icon and a prompt appear when you get close.
- Winning or playing them gives bragging rights, and there's an achievement for finding all of them.
- **Tip:** explore off the main path, especially in open areas like the Snow Globe village and the Garden. Many minigames are near side paths.

### Achievement advice

- Many achievements are **side interactions** ("do something silly with an object"). They're easiest with a guide open on your second screen.
- **Chapter select** lets you replay any sub-level, so you can clean up missed achievements and minigames after finishing the story.
- Some achievements need **both players to do specific actions**, so coordinate.

## Difficulty and Accessibility

- There's **no difficulty setting**, but checkpoints are generous. Boss fights are the hardest parts.
- **Mixed-skill pairs:** give the less experienced player whichever character has the simpler ability in the current chapter. Cody's abilities are often "set up" and May's "act", but it varies by chapter.
- Take breaks between chapters. Each one takes roughly 1.5–2.5 hours, and the whole game is about 12–15 hours.

## Boss Fight Principles

The bosses change completely from chapter to chapter, but a few rules apply almost everywhere:

- **Watch for the vulnerable phase.** Nearly every boss telegraphs a window where one player's ability (nails, sap, rewind, magnets, plants) exposes a weak point for the other player to hit.
- **Split roles.** One player baits and survives while the other deals damage. Swap if one of you keeps dying.
- **Revive each other fast.** If one of you goes down, the other can usually keep going until the respawn timer ends. You only fail if you're both down.
- **Don't panic-jump.** Most boss attacks are dodged with a single dash or double jump. Spamming jumps usually lands you in the next attack.

## Tips for Couples and Mixed-Skill Pairs

- Decide on a **"caller"** for puzzles. One person says the plan out loud, and the other executes.
- The more experienced player can take on the **platforming-heavy** role in each chapter. The ability split is shown in the first minute of every chapter, so pick then.
- **Don't take the competitive minigames too seriously.** The game keeps score, and that's half the fun.
- **Swap characters on replay.** Both halves of every chapter are different, so a second run as the other character feels like a new game.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Buying two copies for online play.** Only one person needs to own it thanks to Friend's Pass.
- **Assuming you can cross-play.** Friend's Pass online play needs both players on the same platform (Steam with Steam, for example).
- **Rushing through the levels.** You'll miss most of the minigames.
- **Getting frustrated at a boss.** Checkpoints are frequent, and most bosses have simple patterns. Look for the phase where they're vulnerable.
- **Not communicating.** Even simple puzzles need coordination.

## Advanced Tips

- **Split-screen layout:** in local co-op the split is vertical, so you get a big view of each other. On a big TV, sit a bit farther back.
- **Remote Play Together** works surprisingly well if the host has good upload speed.
- **Speedrunning:** the game has an active speedrun community with categories on speedrun.com. Learn the dash and double-jump combos first.
- **Achievement cleanup:** after credits, use Chapter Select to replay sub-levels for minigames and achievements.
- **Photo moments:** the game is full of set pieces, so pause and look around. Many easter eggs are visual.

## FAQ

**Can you play It Takes Two solo?**
No. It's co-op only, local or online.

**Does my friend need to buy the game?**
No. They download the free **Friend's Pass** on the same platform and join you online. Only the host needs to own it.

**Do I still need the EA app on Steam?**
No, not since May 29, 2024. You still need an EA account for online play.

**How long is It Takes Two?**
About 12–15 hours for the story. Longer if you find all the minigames and achievements.

**Is It Takes Two on Steam Deck?**
Yes, it's Steam Deck Verified (since May 2024).

**Is there cross-play?**
Online co-op requires both players on the same platform.

**How many minigames are there?**
25, spread across all chapters.

## Sources

- [Steam Friends and Deck Verified — EA Launcher No Longer Required, Steam, May 29 2024](https://steamstore-a.akamaihd.net/news/externalpost/steam_community_announcements/5742731639326874572)
- [It Takes Two has sold over 20 million, Steam, Oct 17 2024](https://steamstore-a.akamaihd.net/news/externalpost/steam_community_announcements/6212244583176475807)
- [Split Fiction & It Takes Two soundtracks, Steam, Nov 18 2025](https://steamstore-a.akamaihd.net/news/externalpost/steam_community_announcements/1816307528974446)
- [It Takes Two – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Takes_Two_(video_game))
- [Steam store page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426210/)