Nintendo Switch 2 players discover clever It Takes Two trick that gets them a free game

Nintendo Switch 2 players have discovered a clever way to claim the award-winning game, It Takes Two, for free, and it's not the first time a trick like this has surfaced on Nintendo's hybrid console recently.

Developed by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts, It Takes Two is a critically acclaimed co-op adventure about a married couple turned into dolls who must work together to overcome puzzles and repair their fractured relationship. This is the same studio that brought us 2021's It Takes Two, 2018's A Way Out and 2025's Split Fiction.

Originally released in 2021 before coming to Nintendo Switch in 2022, the Game Awards' 2021 Game of the Year winner has finally arrived on Switch 2, and players have discovered a clever way to claim it for free.

How to get It Takes Two for free on Nintendo Switch 2

“It Takes Two (Switch 2) is free if you borrow a physical Switch 1 copy somewhere, like a public library or a friend (cart not needed after claiming the game through the in-game menu),” tweeted Wario64, sharing a Reddit post. “Though apparently you need to follow some steps to get it working.”

Here’s what you need to do to claim a free copy of It Takes Two:

• Borrow a physical copy of It Takes Two from a family member or friend. It doesn't matter where you get it from, but it needs to be the original Nintendo Switch version.
• Insert the original Nintendo Switch cartridge for It Takes Two into your Nintendo Switch 2 and launch the game.
• Once the game has loaded, select “Play Online” from the main menu.
• Now follow the on-screen instructions to set up your EA account. You may have to link your existing account or create a new one, depending on your situation.
• Once that's completed, return to the main menu after attempting to connect to the EA servers.
• Press ‘Y’ to open the Nintendo eShop through the game, where you should see an offer for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of It Takes Two.
• Now, make sure you're signed in to the correct Nintendo account and claim the free game to download it to your Nintendo Switch 2.

It Takes Two, Electronic Arts

REVIEW: Split Fiction - A tour de force with extra wow factor

Some players have reported that once the free version of It Takes Two is claimed, they no longer need the physical copy to play the game, as it essentially acts like a digital purchase from the Nintendo eShop.

It's also worth adding that this workaround is for an issue affecting physical-copy upgrades, rather than a way for everyone to get the game for free. The developers have acknowledged the issue and confirmed the workaround while they work on a fix. Still, it's a freebie for an award-winning game if you can get someone to lend you a copy of the original game.

Players have also claimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered for free

On September 29, 2026, CD Projekt RED released The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2. For those who already owned the game on a qualifying platform, the remaster is available as a free upgrade. This includes owners of the original Nintendo Switch version.

CD Projekt RED also made a very consumer-friendly decision by allowing players to claim a separate digital version of the game after using their original physical copy to access the upgrade.

This includes the original Nintendo Switch version, which was released in 2019, meaning you no longer need the cartridge once the remastered game has been claimed and downloaded to your Switch 2. In theory, that also means you could borrow a physical copy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, claim the free digital upgrade and continue playing without needing the cartridge.