Growing up with two brothers, I've played many co-op games in my day. While Nintendo is great at publishing family-fun games, Hazelight knocks many of them out of the park with It Takes Two. It has exceptional game design, both mechanically and visually. The game reinvents itself at every turn, refreshing the players' engagement and excitement to play it. Its gameplay breathes nostalgia, but not in a parasitic sense. Instead, it improves on so many platformers' formulas, making it stand out in a dominant entry on many levels, not only for this year but for all of gaming history. It Takes Two is hands down my 2021 Game of the Year and one of the best co-op experiences of all time.