If you want a story-led campaign to play with one other person, start with It Takes Two. It is built specifically for two players and supports couch or online co-op. For a newer adventure that jumps between science fiction and fantasy, try Split Fiction. Both focus on a shared campaign rather than adding multiplayer to a primarily solo game, but their platform and online-play conditions differ.
Best picks for a shared story
It Takes Two: the best starting point for a dedicated duo
Electronic Arts describes It Takes Two as an adventure made purely for two players, with couch and online co-op. You and your partner control Cody and May, a couple turned into dolls who must work through their fractured relationship in a fantastical world. The adventure changes its gameplay challenges as you progress, so the focus is on cooperating through a sequence of shared experiences, not just following dialogue together.
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Steam lists local and online co-op, describes the game as a story-rich co-op campaign, and gives March 25, 2021 as its release date. Its listing identifies Hazelight Studios as developer and Electronic Arts as publisher: Steam store page.
For online play, the Friend’s Pass can let an invited player join without buying a second full copy, but it is not a general cross-platform pass. The players need the relevant platform accounts, online play on some consoles requires the applicable online subscription, and one player must own the full game. Check Electronic Arts’ Friend’s Pass requirements for the specific platforms before buying or setting up a session.
#1 Best Overall
- Immerse yourself in a dark, story-driven cooperative detective game set in LA-1, a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles shrouded in perpetual clouds, where teamwork and deduction are your only weapons against the Darkness.
- Play as detectives from Mace & Doyle Investigations, working together to gather clues, interrogate suspects, and conduct stakeouts in a class-divided city where every choice shapes the investigation’s direction.
- Each case offers branching paths and multiple outcomes thanks to dynamic card-driven storytelling, allowing every investigation to unfold differently and delivering exceptional replayability across standalone cases or campaigns.
- Balance time, resources, and character abilities carefully as the Darkness steadily advances, forcing strategic decisions and tense collaboration before it consumes all investigators and the case is lost forever.
- Perfect for fans of noir fiction, narrative board games, and cooperative strategy experiences, LA-1 blends cinematic storytelling with tactical gameplay for unforgettable mystery-solving sessions.
Split Fiction: a newer genre-hopping adventure
Split Fiction follows Mio and Zoe, two writers trapped in the stories they created. Electronic Arts describes an adventure that moves between science-fiction and fantasy settings, with platforming, stealth, puzzles, and other changing challenges. It is designed as a two-player co-op game, making it a natural fit if you want a structured duo campaign with a more pronounced genre contrast.
EA describes the game as a split-screen adventure that can also be played online. Its Friend’s Pass supports cross-play among PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, according to the publisher’s current Friend’s Pass details. Both players need to install the pass, have persistent internet access, and use an applicable platform account; one player must own the full game. Confirm current support for your intended platform combination before arranging online play.
Rank #2
- SIXTH ADVENTURE UNLEASHED: Dive into the thrilling sixth expansion of T.I.M.E Stories, the groundbreaking board game that takes you on time-bending adventures.
- TIME TRAVEL AWAITS: Embark on a journey through time as members of the T.I.M.E Agency, tasked with investigating a disturbance in the Time Stream.
- HAUNTED HOLLYWOOD MANSION: Step into the eerie world of 1982, where you must confront a temporal anomaly in a mansion that's rumored to be haunted.
- MATURE AUDIENCES: Please note that Estrella Drive is recommended for mature audiences due to objectionable themes that may not be suitable for younger players.
- UNVEIL DARK SECRETS: Unearth the enigmatic mysteries hidden within the shadows of Hollywood's haunted mansion in this suspenseful expansion.
How to choose between them
| What matters | It Takes Two | Split Fiction |
|---|---|---|
| Duo design | EA describes it as an adventure built purely for two players. | EA describes it as a two-player co-op adventure. |
| Playing together | Couch co-op or online co-op. | Split-screen or online co-op. |
| Story premise | A couple transformed into dolls tries to repair its fractured relationship. | Two writers, Mio and Zoe, are caught in contrasting science-fiction and fantasy stories. |
| Friend’s Pass and platforms | Online Friend’s Pass is platform-limited rather than general cross-platform play; check EA’s platform-specific requirements. | EA lists cross-play across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, subject to pass requirements. |
Choose It Takes Two if couch co-op is important, or if you want the relationship-centered premise. Choose Split Fiction if the shifting science-fiction and fantasy settings appeal more, or if you need the cross-play option EA lists. In either case, check that both players can use the same supported setup before purchasing; a Friend’s Pass does not remove the requirement for one player to own the full game.
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What about other story-driven co-op games?
A Way Out and Baldur’s Gate 3 are often raised in discussions about narrative games to play together, but the information available here does not establish their current co-op modes or platform conditions. They may suit players looking for other kinds of shared story, but verify the game’s official product information for your platforms before treating either as a ready-to-play alternative. A broad role-playing campaign is also a different kind of experience from the two purpose-built duo adventures above.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- EPIC STORYTELLING: Immerse yourself in a rich narrative-driven experience where your choices shape the destiny of the characters and the world.
- EXPLORE A VAST WORLD: Embark on a thrilling journey through a beautifully illustrated and ever-expanding fantasy realm.
- STRATEGIC DECISIONS: Engage in strategic gameplay as you navigate quests, encounters, and mysteries to fulfill your character's destiny.
- SOLO OR COOPERATIVE PLAY: Enjoy the game solo, or team up with friends for a cooperative adventure filled with twists and surprises.
- REPLAYABILITY: With multiple characters, quests, and outcomes, each playthrough offers a fresh and dynamic adventure.
Rank #3
- IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A MYSTERY: Solve gripping crimes and mysteries in this thrilling board game that blends detective work with cutting-edge technology.
- INNOVATIVE GAMEPLAY: Utlizie the free smartphone app to examine crime scenes, question suspects, and follow leads in virtual reality.
- COOPERATIVE EXPERIENCE: Collaborate with friends to crack the case as you piece together clues and work against the clock.
- MULTIPLE SCENARIOS: Explore a variety of intriguing cases with unique storylines, ensuring endless hours of engaging gameplay.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY: Dynamic storytelling and randomized elements make each playthrough a fresh and exciting challenge.
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