Rank #1
- Available points earned
- 22% 6,420 pts
- Times picked #1
- 62
- Sources awarding points
- 67
2021 Game of the Year (GOTY) Rankings
Top game that year
It Takes Two Original
- Available points earned
- 22%
- Score
- 6,420 pts
- Sources used
- 292
- All sources checked
- Apr 24, 2026
How this year's score was calculated
Sources used for this ranking
See the sources used to calculate this year's ranking, including each source's name and type.
Collection complete
We have checked every source and possible result we found. Nothing is currently waiting for review.
- Sources used
- 292
- All sources checked
- Apr 24, 2026
Sources by type
- Editorial
- 265
- Reader vote
- 21
- Industry award
- 5
- Judges and voters
- 1
Sources by scoring method
- Published vote count
- 0
- Published vote percentage
- 0
- Top 10 list
- 10
- Winner and nominees
- 0
- Winner only
- 282
Sources used for scoring
See each source's name and type, who made the selection, and how its points were calculated.
Show sources Hide sources 292
Ranking
| Rank | Game | Available points earned | Times picked #1 | Sources awarding points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 22% 6,420 pts | 62 | 67 | |
| #2 | 14.3% 4,170 pts | 39 | 43 | |
| #3 | 12.6% 3,690 pts | 35 | 39 | |
| #4 | 10.3% 3,020 pts | 27 | 32 | |
| #5 | 8.2% 2,380 pts | 21 | 27 | |
| #6 | 7.2% 2,100 pts | 15 | 24 | |
| #7 | 7% 2,040 pts | 17 | 23 | |
| #8 | 6.9% 2,010 pts | 18 | 22 | |
| #9 | 5.3% 1,550 pts | 12 | 18 | |
| #10 | 3.3% 960 pts | 9 | 12 | |
| #11 | 2.7% 780 pts | 6 | 10 | |
| #12 | 1.5% 440 pts | 1 | 7 | |
| #13 | 1.4% 400 pts | 2 | 6 | |
| #14 | 1.3% 380 pts | 3 | 4 | |
| #15 | 1% 300 pts | 3 | 3 | |
| #15 | 1% 300 pts | 3 | 3 | |
| #17 | 0.8% 230 pts | 1 | 4 | |
| #18 | 0.7% 200 pts | 1 | 4 | |
| #19 | 0.6% 170 pts | 1 | 3 | |
| #20 | 0.5% 150 pts | 1 | 2 |
Rank #2
- Available points earned
- 14.3% 4,170 pts
- Times picked #1
- 39
- Sources awarding points
- 43
Rank #3
- Available points earned
- 12.6% 3,690 pts
- Times picked #1
- 35
- Sources awarding points
- 39
Rank #4
- Available points earned
- 10.3% 3,020 pts
- Times picked #1
- 27
- Sources awarding points
- 32
Rank #5
- Available points earned
- 8.2% 2,380 pts
- Times picked #1
- 21
- Sources awarding points
- 27
Rank #6
- Available points earned
- 7.2% 2,100 pts
- Times picked #1
- 15
- Sources awarding points
- 24
Rank #7
- Available points earned
- 7% 2,040 pts
- Times picked #1
- 17
- Sources awarding points
- 23
Rank #8
- Available points earned
- 6.9% 2,010 pts
- Times picked #1
- 18
- Sources awarding points
- 22
Rank #9
- Available points earned
- 5.3% 1,550 pts
- Times picked #1
- 12
- Sources awarding points
- 18
Rank #10
- Available points earned
- 3.3% 960 pts
- Times picked #1
- 9
- Sources awarding points
- 12
Rank #11
- Available points earned
- 2.7% 780 pts
- Times picked #1
- 6
- Sources awarding points
- 10
Rank #12
- Available points earned
- 1.5% 440 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 7
Rank #13
- Available points earned
- 1.4% 400 pts
- Times picked #1
- 2
- Sources awarding points
- 6
Rank #14
- Available points earned
- 1.3% 380 pts
- Times picked #1
- 3
- Sources awarding points
- 4
Rank #15
- Available points earned
- 1% 300 pts
- Times picked #1
- 3
- Sources awarding points
- 3
Rank #15
- Available points earned
- 1% 300 pts
- Times picked #1
- 3
- Sources awarding points
- 3
Rank #17
- Available points earned
- 0.8% 230 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 4
Rank #18
- Available points earned
- 0.7% 200 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 4
Rank #19
- Available points earned
- 0.6% 170 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 3
Rank #20
- Available points earned
- 0.5% 150 pts
- Times picked #1
- 1
- Sources awarding points
- 2
2021 Criticism and Records
It Takes Two Only Worked When Both Players Worked Together
The 2021 winner held only a 22.0% share. It Takes Two still finished first because communication and divided roles were not optional. Neither player could move forward alone.
A Low Winning Share Reflected a Strong, Varied Field
It Takes Two ranked first with 67 records and a 22.0% selection share. Resident Evil Village had 43 and Forza Horizon 5 had 39. The gap from first to third was small, and no game exceeded 25%. Strong releases were spread across horror, racing, co-op, action, and card games.
The selection of major awards ceremonies was also different. The Game Awards and D.I.C.E. Awards chose It Takes Two. BAFTA chose Returnal, and the Game Developers Choice Awards chose Inscryption. Fun together, repeated actions, and unexpected card games were the answers to different judges. [1] [2] [3] [4]
It would be inaccurate to simply say that there were no overwhelming masterpieces in 2021. One large game just didn't get all the reviews. Games of different genres and production scales were compared in the same place. It Takes Two was the game that appealed to people with the most diverse tastes.
Co-op Was the Game, Not an Extra Feature
In many cooperative games, two people do similar tasks. It Takes Two gives you different tools. If Cody drives a nail, May has to use a hammer, and so on. A problem cannot be solved by just one person. You need to ask what the other person is doing and verbally set the order and time.
Hazelight explained that it did not write the story first and attach gameplay later. Each scene's emotion and subject suggested a new mechanic. The game rarely kept one idea for too long; it moved to another genre or rule just as the current one became familiar. [5]
Change is so fast that it can feel distracting. Jump action, shooting, puzzles, fighting, and flying are constantly changing. Some rules end before you learn them in depth. Still, the experience of two people learning unfamiliar rules together continues. The important ability is the ability to think and solve problems together rather than perfect manipulation.
Shared Actions Were More Convincing Than the Marriage Story
It Takes Two follows a couple facing divorce and trying to repair their relationship. Its dialogue sometimes reduces that conflict to simple lessons, and some attempts at reconciliation become needlessly cruel or exaggerated. The marriage story alone cannot explain the game's awards.
The two players' actions are more convincing. A door will not open when one person runs ahead, and one player's mistake stops both. Building a platform for a partner or drawing danger away lets both advance. Needing to cooperate is stronger than simply hearing a speech about cooperation.
Josef Fares said a co-op-only game was a commercial risk, but the team refused to add solo play because that limit defined the project. The Friend Pass lowered the barrier by letting one owner invite a partner for free. [6]
It Was Not a Consensus Pick, but It Crossed Many Tastes
It Takes Two's 67 records include 62 editorial, 2 reader, 2 industry, and 1 mixed. It did not come in first place based on popularity votes from couples or families. The method of briefly and clearly changing several genres was chosen by many professional media.
A 22.0% share does not make the game a universal standard. Resident Evil Village was a stronger answer for horror, Forza Horizon 5 for open driving, Returnal for joining failure to memory, and Inscryption for formal surprise.
It Takes Two wasn't the deepest in every way. Instead, it allowed two people with different skills and tastes to have fun at the same time. 1st place in 2021 is not a result that everyone agrees on. A game that cannot be played alone was actually the result of connecting the most tastes.
External references
- The Game Awards 2021 winners View source
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards results View source
- BAFTA BAFTA Games Awards 2022: Winners Announced View source
- Game Developers Choice Awards 22nd Annual Game Developers Choice Awards View source
- Unreal Engine It Takes Two lovingly marries story and gameplay together View source
- The Ringer Josef Fares and the Risks of Making a Co-op-Only Game View source
How this year's score was calculated