Two Heroes, One Screen
Hand In Hand is a 2D split screen puzzle platformer where you control two characters at once. You guide Lina and Minho through a fairytale world after an evil force has separated them. Each character has their own part of the level on their own screen, but the two areas connect in places. You can move keys and objects from one side to the other, so most puzzles only work when both characters contribute. The levels include closed doors, laser beams with reflectors, ancient mechanisms, ruins, labyrinths, and dangerous caves. The game also has boss battles where each character faces their own shadow boss on their own, without split screen.
Playing Together
You can play solo or with a friend on one device. In single-player mode, one player controls both characters with a single joystick at the same time, which takes real dexterity and quick reactions. In local co-op mode, two players each take one character with their own joystick. The game also supports Online Co-op and Remote Play Together, so you can team up with someone who is not in the same room. Either way, the core of the game is helping each other across the split screen: one character opens a path or moves something that the other needs.
Before You Start
The story follows two soulmates trying to find each other again after evil came to their world, and it leans into themes of mutual support and connection. The game is linear, so you move through the levels in a set order rather than exploring freely. Expect a mix of platforming, puzzle solving, and boss fights, with hand-drawn visuals and an atmospheric, relaxing tone between the tougher sections. Try both control modes if you can, since solo play tests your coordination while co-op lets you share the work with someone else.