A Way Out

A Way Out came before Hazelight figured out the tricks that make It Takes Two and Split Fiction so good, and it shows. The story, a prison escape told entirely through two perspectives that constantly swap who's doing the interesting thing, is exactly the kind of two-player-only design I want more studios to attempt. It's also rougher: shorter, less polished, and the gameplay variety that makes the newer Hazelight games sing hasn't fully arrived yet. I'd still recommend it to any couple who finished It Takes Two and wants to see where this all started. Just don't expect the same production values, and expect a shorter night than the newer entries above it on this list.

A Way Out is older than everything else on this list and it shows in places. The production feels rough compared to Split Fiction, and the mechanics shift around in ways that don't always land. But the mandatory two-player design, you literally cannot start the game without a second player, gives it a purity of intent that most games on this list don't match. One player owns it, the other plays free via the Friend's Pass. If you've exhausted It Takes Two and Split Fiction and want another story-driven two-player campaign, this fills that gap adequately even if it doesn't surpass the leaders.

A Way Out predates It Takes Two and comes from the same director, which tells you roughly what to expect: mandatory two-player co-op, a story that moves the experience forward, split-screen kept on at all times so you are always aware of what your partner is doing. The campaign runs about six hours, which is shorter than Split Fiction or It Takes Two. It also shows its age in places, running via backward compatibility on PS5. Still, for readers who want a narrative co-op experience and have already played through the Hazelight games above, this is a natural next choice.

A Way Out is maybe six to eight hours long. You finish it. That matters more than it sounds when you're talking about couples' gaming, where campaigns stretch for months and enthusiasm fades before the credits roll. It's a prison break story built for exactly two people, and the direction keeps throwing co-op set pieces at you that require actual coordination: one person distracts a guard while the other picks a lock, two characters cross a highway simultaneously, and so on. The tone is more cinematic thriller than the warmer entries above it, but if your partner likes a story with stakes, this delivers that without demanding anything unreasonable from either player.

A Way Out is the original Hazelight co-op campaign and it still holds up as a brisk, cinematic experience built entirely around split-screen storytelling. The mandatory side-by-side presentation, both players always on screen, creates a sense of shared momentum that feels distinct from anything else on this list. At six to eight hours, it's one of the most immediately finishable options here. The story has some genre-thriller roughness in its later act that I know divides people, and the PS4 backward-compatible version lacks the native PS5 polish of newer entries. Still, for a first co-op campaign together, it remains a strong starting point.

A Way Out is one of the rare games designed exclusively for two people — you literally cannot start it alone. The prison break setup gives each player a distinct role throughout, and the split-screen presentation (which stays on even when playing online) creates a shared cinematic feel that's genuinely unlike anything else on this list. Friend's Pass means only one player needs to own it. The honest caveat is replay value: most people finish it once and that's it. There's no endgame, no alternate routes worth revisiting. Treat it as a five-to-seven-hour shared experience you'll actually remember, rather than a game you'll return to. That framing makes it excellent.

A Way Out earns its spot for how the dynamic split-screen cinematography ties narrative tension directly to cooperation. Tasks often happen in parallel—one distracts, the other acts—making both players responsible for pacing and outcomes. The straightforward mechanics and clear direction make it welcoming, while the structure ensures you both witness key moments from different perspectives. It’s shorter and less replayable than others, and Switch performance is adequate rather than pristine, but as a tightly paced, cinematic co-op story, it remains a standout.