Is It Takes Two okay for kids?
Cautious yes for ages 10 and up with the divorce framing acknowledged up front. It Takes Two is genuinely brilliant co-op design, but the story is heavier than the cartoon visuals suggest.
Parents also ask about It Takes Two
Why is It Takes Two rated T?
For thematic content. It Takes Two's story is about two parents working through a divorce while transformed into dolls; the framing includes marital conflict, separation, and several emotionally intense scenes. There's no graphic violence; the rating is for the divorce themes, not for action content.
What is the elephant scene in It Takes Two?
About an hour into the game, the parents (as dolls) encounter a stuffed elephant that the daughter has loved since infancy. The elephant is sentient in the game's logic, and what happens to it is upsetting in a way the game's overall tone doesn't prepare players for. Worth knowing about before the kid plays.
Do I need two copies of It Takes Two for couch co-op?
No. It Takes Two ships with a Friend Pass feature: a second player can play from a free version of the game without buying their own copy. One household purchase is enough for two-player co-op, whether local on the couch or remote with a friend.
What to watch for in It Takes Two
- Content your child may seeCaution
Marital conflict throughout · wrenching elephant scene · mild language
- Chat and messagesLow
No in-game chat · local or Friend Pass co-op · no stranger contact possible
- Contact with other playersLow
Two-player co-op only · no matchmaking · no public lobbies
- Spending and extra purchasesLow
One-time purchase · Friend Pass for free second player · no DLC pressure
- Stopping and playtimeLow
Ten-to-twelve hour campaign · clear ending · no live-service hooks
Before you start
The full review
Why kids want to play It Takes Two
It Takes Two is the parent-and-kid co-op game that broke through to a wider audience because the gameplay design is genuinely original. Every level introduces new mechanics built around two players cooperating in completely different ways. A magnet and a nail. A clock that controls time and a clock that controls space. A snow globe and a flame. The game gives a parent and kid something new to figure out together every fifteen minutes for ten or twelve hours.
For kids who already play co-op games like Overcooked or Snipperclips, It Takes Two is the longer, more story-driven version of the form. For kids who don't, the gameplay is approachable enough to work as their first real co-op adventure, as long as the parent is okay with the framing.
Why this verdict
- It Takes Two is two-player co-op only. No solo mode, no online matchmaking with strangers; the second player is always someone the family knows.
- Genuinely award-winning game design (Game of the Year 2021); the co-op puzzles are some of the best ever shipped.
- Rated T for Teen for thematic content (divorce, marital conflict) and brief intense moments.
- One-time purchase from Hazelight; no microtransactions, no battle pass, no DLC pressure.
- The Friend Pass feature lets a second player join from a different copy of the game without buying their own copy.
Who it fits
Best for
- Parent-and-kid pairs who want a substantial co-op story together (10+)
- Households where the kid is old enough to engage with the divorce framing thoughtfully
- Players who want a deep, finite co-op adventure with no live-service nonsense
Less suited to
- Kids under 10 who can't engage with the divorce framing
- Households uncomfortable with the divorce-driven plot
- Solo players; the game requires two and doesn't allow single-player progression
Detailed risk notes
- Marriage and divorce themes throughout; the entire game is structured around a couple's separation
- The elephant scene early in the game (a wrenching moment that startles parents who walk in)
- Mild language and adult relationship references
- Two-player only; a third sibling will need to watch
- Marriage and divorce themes throughout
- The elephant scene (a wrenching moment that startles new players)
- Brief mild language
- Several emotionally intense moments in the second half
Chat and messages
It Takes Two has no in-game chat surface. Local couch co-op players talk in person. Remote co-op via Friend Pass connects two specific players who already know each other; there's no matchmaking, no public lobbies, and no chat between strangers. Voice happens through Discord or similar off-platform apps if the family wants it.
Contact with other players
It Takes Two has no online matchmaking with strangers. The two-player requirement is filled by either a couch co-op partner or a specific Friend Pass invitee. Both are people the household already knows. The risk surface here is essentially zero by design.
Spending and extra purchases
It Takes Two is a one-time purchase from Hazelight, published by EA. No microtransactions, no battle pass, no DLC, no premium currency. The Friend Pass feature lets a second player join from a free version, which means a household only needs one copy. Spend pressure is zero after the initial purchase.
Stopping and playtime
It Takes Two has no live-service hooks of any kind. The game is a finite ten-to-twelve hour campaign with a clear ending. No daily challenges, no streak rewards, no replayability mechanics designed to keep a kid logging back in. A family plays through It Takes Two and is done.
Content your child may see
It Takes Two is rated T for Teen. The thematic content (marital conflict, divorce framing, separation, wishing parents transformed) is the entire point of the story. There's no graphic violence; the few combat moments are cartoonish. The elephant scene is the most-discussed intense moment, and warrants a heads-up. Mild language appears occasionally between the parent characters during arguments. Younger kids who don't have the emotional context for divorce will find the framing baffling rather than meaningful.