
Hazelight Studios is known for creating exceptional cooperative games. Titles like A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction are brilliantly designed for two players and truly showcase the power of playing together. These stories wouldn’t work as well – or capture the same feeling and fun – if played solo. While all three games are excellent, It Takes Two was the breakthrough hit that established Hazelight as a leader in co-op game design, raising the standard for the genre. A Way Out and Split Fiction are fantastic, but often compared to the immense success of It Takes Two.
Truly special games like It Takes Two are rare, and there’s nothing quite like it. Luckily, more and more local co-op games are being developed – partly because of the success of games like It Takes Two – which means we can look forward to exciting new adventures focused on creative stories, clever puzzles, and playing together. Since It Takes Two really shines with its originality, let’s take a look at some promising 2026 co-op games that also aim to be unique and stand out.
Two upcoming games have been added: Hela and Together: Moon Escape.
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Hela
A 2026 Co-Op Game That Shows The World From A Tiny POV
One of the things that makes It Takes Two so enjoyable is the chance to see the world differently – the characters Cody and May are magically reduced to the size of dolls. Even with all the fantastical elements, the game keeps the story relatable by setting it in familiar places like greenhouses, bedrooms, and backyards. This brings us to Hela, a new game coming in 2026 where you play as tiny mice exploring what appears to be a garden. While you can play alone, Hela is best experienced with others – it supports up to two players locally or four players online.
From what we know so far, the game Hela will emphasize puzzles and exploring large, open environments instead of following a set path. The visuals look realistic, and the game’s settings are based on landscapes from Scandinavia. Although it appears grounded in reality, the game also includes “magical forests,” hinting that fantastical elements will be introduced as you play.
Ikuma – The Frozen Compass
Best Co-Op Game For Players Who Loved The Emotional Journey Of It Takes Two
Although a specific release date hasn’t been announced yet, IKUMA is shaping up to be a very exciting co-op game to look forward to in the coming years. Unlike It Takes Two, you don’t need two players, but IKUMA is definitely built for cooperative play—and it won’t be two people controlling humans! The game follows Sam and his husky, Ellie, as they get lost in the Arctic and try to find their way home. One player will control Sam, and the other will play as Ellie, who is a fully developed character, not just a helper. IKUMA will also feature split-screen, giving players the freedom to explore independently.
Though it doesn’t feature fantastical travel, IKUMA creates a strikingly alien atmosphere – the frozen landscape feels like another planet entirely. The game centers around a mystery, with Sam and Ellie trying to uncover what’s happening in this unusual place – a curse is at the heart of it. IKUMA beautifully portrays the strong bond between people and their animal companions, a relationship often as deep as family. Gameplay-wise, it’s a story-driven adventure with some survival elements, rather than a puzzle-platformer like It Takes Two.
Together: Moon Escape
A Story-Driven Co-OP Adventure Inspired By It Takes Two
Steam has a ton of games you can play with friends. Many popular titles offer cooperative gameplay, but they’re usually open-world or horror games, not story-driven adventures. Hazelight Studios is different – their games are specifically designed to make co-op really shine, with puzzles and challenges that require teamwork. You’re not just wandering around waiting for something to happen; the game constantly moves you towards exciting, shared experiences. Their new game, Together: Moon Escape, looks to be the same.
If you enjoyed the unique style of We Were Here and the heartwarming teamwork in It Takes Two, you’ll definitely want to experience this new adventure set on the moon!
This new indie game shares a similar cooperative spirit with It Takes Two. Both games are story-focused adventures where players have to work together, with each player having unique roles and experiencing emotional moments. The game’s Steam page even specifically mentions It Takes Two as a source of inspiration.
The game plays very differently from It Takes Two, with a much greater emphasis on puzzle-solving. It’s presented from a first-person perspective and feels like one large, elaborate escape room.
The demo is available on Steam.
Orbitals
A Space-Traveling Co-Op Adventure All About Two Explorers
The Game Awards delivered a nice surprise with the reveal of Orbitals, a new game coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch 2. It boasts a striking art style and focuses heavily on cooperative gameplay. Right now, it appears Orbitals is designed solely for two players, though details are still limited, so a single-player option hasn’t been ruled out. The debut trailer clearly emphasizes the co-op aspect, telling the story of two space explorers working together to save their planet. Players can expect split-screen action, with each person taking on unique roles – for example, one controlling the ship while the other handles weapons.
It’s still early days for Orbitals, but what we’ve seen so far is promising. The game has a lovely, nostalgic look that feels fresh, and the story idea could lead to a really exciting and imaginative adventure. We don’t know much about how it will actually play yet, but it seems like solving puzzles and navigating platforming challenges will be key parts of the experience.
Haunted Paws
Best Cozy Co-Op Option
Don’t like scary games? Then check out Haunted Paws, a cute and cozy horror game! You and a friend play as puppies – yes, really! That alone might be enough to grab your attention, but let’s take a closer look at what this game has to offer.
In Haunted Paws, you play as adorable puppies who bravely enter a spooky haunted mansion to find their owner. Along the way, they’ll encounter creepy creatures and have to work together to solve puzzles and mysteries – all while trying to survive! Yes, you really do play as puppies.
Awaysis
A Co-Op Physics Brawling Adventure
I really enjoyed It Takes Two, though I’ve noticed a lot of people connect with it more for how fun it is to play than for Cody and May’s story. What Hazelight did so well was make the gameplay and the narrative work together seamlessly. I’m hoping Awaysis delivers on that same awesome gameplay front, and that it also has a really engaging story, maybe a classic good versus evil setup!
Based on what we’ve seen, Awaysis takes place on a beautiful, floating mountain. The game follows a team of animal-like characters on a dangerous quest to protect their home, and they’ll fight their way through plenty of enemies. What sets Awaysis apart is its physics-based combat system, which promises a fresh and different experience. While the game seems to be heavily focused on action, it will likely include platforming elements and possibly some puzzles as well.
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2026-03-29 16:35