The Flood of It Takes Two-Like Local Co-Op Games is Happening

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Co-op games have existed for a long time, but Hazelight Studios has quickly become a major force in the genre. They developed their unique style with games like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out, culminating in the release of It Takes Two in 2022. This game wowed players with its smart puzzles, constantly changing gameplay, and creative levels, and is considered their greatest achievement.

I rediscovered how much we need more games like It Takes Two while playing Split Fiction. It Takes Two was a truly special experience for my partner and me – it constantly required us to collaborate and communicate, and it felt great when we did! It really set the standard for cooperative games, and thankfully, there are a lot of exciting and new co-op games coming out soon. Here are some of the most promising ones.

Hela

  • Hela release date: TBA 2026

Windup, the developer of Hela, says the game is all about playful fun in a charming world, and it certainly delivers on that promise. You and up to four friends play as magical mice—the familiars of a sick woodland witch—working together to help her recover. These little rodents can climb, jump, and even glide using a special backpack, plus they can create bridges and swings with a lasso.

One of the most exciting parts of Hela is its open-ended ‘forest sandbox’ area, which lets players creatively use teamwork. For instance, you can throw a lasso to a teammate to create a bridge across gaps, or use each other’s backpacks as trampolines to reach new areas or avoid danger. These kinds of playful, cooperative interactions look really promising, and we hope the final game delivers on this potential.

WheelMates

  • WheelMates release date: TBA 2026

As a kid, I always imagined RC cars doing crazy things – zipping around the house, jumping over obstacles, even driving on walls! That’s exactly what WheelMates feels like. It’s a video game where you and a friend control RC cars, and it’s all about doing wild platforming and solving puzzles. It really captures that over-the-top, anything-is-possible feeling I had when I was a kid playing with RC cars.

The game features teamwork where players solve puzzles together – for example, one player might activate something to help another progress. Exploring the game world will also require cooperation, with some areas only accessible with a friend. With a fun, playful vibe reminiscent of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Hot Wheels, WheelMates looks incredibly charming.

Orbitals

  • Orbitals release date: Summer 2026

At first glance, Orbitals feels a lot like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, but it stands out with its captivating 90s anime style and thrilling sci-fi story. Similar to games from Hazelight, Orbitals is specifically made for two players—it’s not a single-player game with a co-op option. This means all the puzzles and challenges are designed to be solved and overcome through teamwork.

Orbitals follows Omura and Maki, two astronauts whose space station is caught in a dangerous, otherworldly storm and is about to fall apart. They must journey into deep space together, facing many challenges, to find a way to save it. While still fun and lighthearted, the game offers a more exciting and dramatic experience, promising a thrilling and engaging cooperative adventure.

Orbitals will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.

IKUMA – The Frozen Compass

  • IKUMA – The Frozen Compass release date: TBA 2026

If you’re after a really relaxing and atmospheric game to play with a friend, you should definitely check out IKUMA – The Frozen Compass. The developers, Mooneye Studios, are known for making games that are all about peaceful exploration and just feeling good to move around in – they don’t really focus on intense challenges or scary moments. And IKUMA feels exactly like one of those games – super chill and enjoyable.

In this game, you control a boy named Sam and his dog, Ellie, as they journey through the harsh Arctic landscape to find their way home. You can switch between playing as either Sam or Ellie, making it a great game for teamwork. Given the developers’ past work, it will be exciting to see how unique and different the gameplay is for each character – how Sam and Ellie play compared to each other.

Haunted Paws

  • Haunted Paws release date: TBA

Even though a release date isn’t set yet, I had to mention Haunted Paws. This charming-but-scary co-op game lets two players create and play as puppies on a dangerous quest to rescue their owner from a haunted house. They’ll need to work together, using their puppy powers to solve puzzles and face spooky monsters. The game aims to be both heartwarming and frightening.

and I, for one, will be watching it with great interest.

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2026-02-25 18:34