5 Best Video Games Like A Way Out

The genre of co-op video games was completely redefined when Hazelight Studios developed and released "A Way Out" in 2018. Instead of players only seeing their side of the screen when playing a co-op game, Hazelight Studios made it so that two players always play in split-screen and can see what each other is doing at all times. This is one of the core elements in "A Way Out," and players have been chasing a similar co-op gameplay experience ever since the game was released.

Luckily for any co-op fans, there are a few distinct games that are just like "A Way Out," offering the same split-screen mechanics. However, if you're willing to go outside the box a tiny bit, you can also find some other co-op games that allow you to work closely together with a partner to reach the end, just not in split-screen. 

Whatever your fancy, you can check out the five games most like "A Way Out" in the list below.

It's only right that the list starts with the most iconic game from Hazelight Studios: "It Takes Two." This game has consistently been rated as the top Hazelight Studios game, as it won the 2021 Game of the Year award at The Game Awards and features one of the most memorable experiences in any game in recent years. Just like "A Way Out," "It Takes Two" allows you and one other person to play as two separate characters in split-screen co-op.

Together with your partner, you'll control your character separately, and sometimes the characters won't even be in the same area as each other. In "It Takes Two," you play as Cody and May, a married couple on the verge of divorce, when they are sucked into an alternate reality as their daughter's clay dolls. As dolls, Cody and May must overcome a number of obstacles and find their way back to each other in a journey of true love. Compared to "A Way Out," "It Takes Two" is even more emotional but also features some light-hearted and hilarious moments. You'll also encounter far more mini-games that are separate from the story, which are perfect to enjoy competitively with your partner. While "A Way Out" is a fantastic game, "It Takes Two" is a step up in just about every facet.

"Split Fiction" is the most recent game from Hazelight Studios, and it follows the same core gameplay experience as "A Way Out" and "It Takes Two." You and a partner play as two separate characters in split-screen co-op and control your characters independently. However, "Split Fiction" features a much more varied level design than its predecessors, and there are some seriously difficult and immersive puzzles to solve and areas to navigate.

In "Split Fiction," you and a partner play as Zoe and Mio, two authors who are invited to participate in a science experiment. In a mishap, though, Zoe and Mio are virtually thrust into the very story worlds that they have created, and together, they must figure out how to escape and return to their bodies.

There are two main level settings, as Mio is a science-fiction writer while Zoe is a fantasy writer, so you spend most of your time in worlds set in those genres. The story in "Split Fiction" forces Zoe and Mio to face their inner demons, mentally and physically, and there are plenty of heart-wrenching cutscenes. Of course, you'll also have plenty of lighter moments, including flying a dragon, riding on a pig, and soaring underwater on a jetski chasing a massive octopus.

It's widely known that "A Way Out" was the first game released by Hazelight Studios. However, what's a little less known is that the executives at Hazelight, including Josef Fares, were actually part of another studio previously, and that team released "Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons," which can be seen as the spiritual predecessor to "A Way Out." "Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons" doesn't feature the traditional split-screen co-op we're used to seeing from Hazelight, but it does offer two-player co-op that takes players on a grand adventure involving two brothers.

You and a partner control both brothers at the same time, which means you have to meticulously work together if you want to make any progress at all. The game is set in a fairy tale world, and you'll encounter plenty of fantasy creatures as the brothers attempt to save their dying father. There are certain situations where one brother might be proficient at a task, while the other is weaker, and that factors deeply into the gameplay. "Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons" is arguably more co-operative than "A Way Out," and it still features the same kind of puzzles and level navigation that you've come to expect from Hazelight Studios.

Naturally, this list can't just be games from Josef Fares, but there are plenty of co-op games that offer a similar experience to "A Way Out." One of the best ones is "Unravel Two," which lets you and a partner control separate characters, called Yarnys, that are attached to one another. You can also play the game solo but still control two Yarnys, which is arguably even more difficult. In any case, your Yarnys must support each other through a variety of puzzles and obstacles.

While there is a story that takes place in "Unravel Two," it's not the focus of the game, as it's more of a puzzle simulator than anything else. However, the puzzles are not to be trifled with, as they get increasingly more difficult and rely solely on your teamwork with a partner or strategy as a solo player. The puzzles are set against the backdrop of real Scandinavian locations, and there are plenty of varied levels that look gorgeous. "Unravel Two" is great for players who enjoyed the co-op puzzle-solving in "A Way Out," but it's also quite a fun game for two friends or a couple.

"Portal" is one of the most popular puzzle video game franchises ever made, but "Portal 2" takes everything to a new level compared to the original game. For starters, "Portal 2" offers full co-op, letting you and a partner tackle all the puzzles as a team. Of course, if you've ever played a "Portal" game before, you know just how difficult and detailed some of the puzzles can be, as there are some that can take players hours to solve.

The main mechanic in "Portal 2" is the two portal guns that players have access to, which are required to solve every single puzzle. Using these portal guns, you and your partner must navigate through walls and other surfaces while contending with lasers, platforms, and other obstacles to reach the end of a puzzle. There's also a story that plays out in the background of "Portal 2," which adds another layer of depth to the gameplay. The puzzle-solving in "Portal 2" can be seen as an inspiration for the puzzles in "A Way Out," and they are noticeably more difficult, but that's all part of the fun.