Parents' Guide to

It Takes Two

Game PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Windows , Xbox One , Xbox Series X/S 2021
It Takes Two Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Marc Saltzman By Marc Saltzman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Flawed story with mature themes has some fun co-op moments.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

  • It Takes Two Screen #1
  • It Takes Two Screen #2
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Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

seriousken
seriousken Parent of 9-year-old
April 25, 2021
age 14+

Fun game marred by upsetting tone deaf plot choices

My nine year old has been wanting a couch coop game that we could play together, and so we were excited to try it takes two. I have played teen rated games with her before and can generally avoid or contextualize the darker elements. And for the first half, it takes two fell into that camp. The characters snipe at each other — it’s about a couple planning divorce — but the gameplay is light and playful. It’s a great game! Spoilers ahead, but as a parent you should read this. A plot driver emerges where they think need to destroy one of their daughter’s toys to make her cry. Dark, yes, but given the tone so far I expected that they’d be diverted from this plan somehow. But no, you have to chase, dismember, and throw off a cliff a cute elephant with a childlike voice pleading for its life the whole way. I was shocked and my poor kid quit in tears. I mean look, I get it was rated teen, but this is beyond the indicated “fantasy violence” that is normal for a video game, and nothing about the marketing nor the rest of the game indicated something like that was waiting. Parents of smaller or more sensitive kids, learn from my mistake. And to the devs — what the hell is wrong with you? You could have use that moment as the turning point for your characters and instead you played it for a sick and upsetting gag.
Nathaniel M.
Nathaniel M. Parent of 7-year-old
February 6, 2023
age 10+

The required co-op makes parental guidance easy to dispense

This is a greatly assembled game. It is definitely appropriate for teens. A large portion of the plot revolves around "will they, won't they" divorce, so playing with small children will bring up the conversation of divorce especially if they don't skip the cutscenes. My 7 year old daughter and I enjoyed this game. This is actually this first game she was able to complete mostly playing her role without assistance. Some of the jumps are a little difficult for her, but most of the puzzles and all the boss fights were completed by the 2 of us. If your child gets frustrated with the difficulty, being a parent and shutting off the system for a few hours will help to teach them to deal with anger when they struggle to meet goals in games. Content-wise, she wanted skip just about all of the cutscenes (in many cases, we had to figure out the mechanics as we played due this 🤣.) This postponed the discussion about divorce until the end of the end when the cutscene cannot be skipped. I see several reviews complaining about the toy elephant. My 7 year old found that scene hilarious 🤣. I can see how some children would be disturbed by that as the voice actor for elephant really lays it on thick, but the scene is realistic as far as a toy is concerned and doesn't go with elaborate blood splatter imitations or anything like that. We did have to have a discussion about a portion of the music because it is laid out like heaven then requires you to fight demon-like creatures. Outside of that, the game is very tame for children under the age of 10.
See all 6 parent reviews

What’s It About?

IT TAKES TWO fuses platforming, action, and puzzle-solving with arcade-like mini-games. The game tells a story of a divorcing couple, Cody and May, who break the news to their young daughter, Rose. Not taking it well, Rose cries on small dolls she created of her mom and dad, which magically zaps her real parents into the bodies of these tiny effigies. Players take the roles of Cody and May, each controlled by one person on the same TV or PC or online. The couple must work together to navigate dangerous worlds inside and outside the house, including in a garden, in a tree, in a snow globe, under ground, and other locations. For example, Cody can wield a kind of nail gun to lock wooden platforms in place, while May carries the head of a hammer to swing on the nails across chasms. The pair must also work to take down boss characters. The goal of the game is to break the spell and return to their human bodies, and perhaps patch things up if all goes well. The game's main theme is cooperation, but there are some competitive mini-games, such as a take on tug-of-war and whack-a-mole. Additionally, a marriage counselor of sorts named Dr. Hakim, represented by a mustachioed book with a Spanish accent (er, that sometimes sounds like Italian or French), guides the duo through much of their efforts and the lessons learned by accomplishing them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (14 ):

The co-op gameplay is fun, clever, and accessible, but the mature themes and annoying story hold this adventure back from shining. It Takes Two's cooperative mechanics are skillfully designed and competently executed, with variety in the gameplay and tight, responsive controls. While couch or online co-op is mandatory (there is no single-player option, such as playing with the game's artificial intelligence), the second person you're playing with online does not need to pay for the game, which is great. So what's wrong with this title? Well, the story is about a divorcing couple. How fun do you think it is to hear a husband and wife bicker? It's not. And you can't skip through the cutscenes, which is clearly done to remind you what the story is all about. At times there's some humor in their situation, and some warm moments of reconciliation. But most of the time it's uncomfortable to watch, and repetitive in the quarreling (often about the spouse forgetting to do something).

Dr. Hakim, the book that guides you through much of your work, also proves cringeworthy and annoying whenever he appears into a scene with some words of wisdom. But there's an implication that divorce should be avoided at all costs and could be averted if only the two work together (like dated '80s and '90s movies on this topic). That message could set unrealistic expectations for younger players. Even experts agree divorce could be a healthier choice for the couple and children, in the long run, but this game seems to suggest otherwise. Also upsetting are some scenes that seem overly sadistic, like kicking a stuff animal elephant ("Cutie") over a ledge and to its death so that you can make your daughter cry (in the hopes it reverses the spell), which seems unnecessarily cruel. Those who enjoy co-op games will find this 10-hour adventure a smart pick. But the story, dialogue, and some characters (namely, Dr. Hakim) mar the overall experience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about divorce. Does It Takes Two imply that divorce is always a bad idea? Or will kids understand that it's about trying to work on the relationship, and not give up so easily?

  • Does Dr. Hakim, a self-professed expert on love and relationships, fill a positive role as a kind of marriage counselor? Does he provide the comic relief the game makers were going after? Or is his portrayal a negative one that does more harm than good?

Game Details

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