Ethan Crossfield 
Co-op games are still thriving, and Out of Words is aiming to stand out in a crowded field by combining It Takes Two-style two-player momentum with a Tim Burton-inspired, true stop-motion presentation—plus a story hook built around characters who can’t speak.
What happened: a two-player adventure with a stop-motion twist
Out of Words is an upcoming cooperative platforming adventure that draws clear inspiration from Hazelight’s approach to two-player storytelling. Like It Takes Two, the entire game is built around co-op play, with no single-player mode.
The pitch is simple but intriguing: two protagonists, Kurt and Karla, mysteriously lose their voices and must work together to restore what’s been taken. Their journey carries them through the odd world of Vokabulantis, where the obstacles escalate as they push forward as a pair.
Visually, the game is designed to feel handcrafted in a way that’s rare in modern releases. Rather than relying on a purely digital approximation, Out of Words uses real stop-motion techniques. Characters, environments, and animations are created physically and then animated frame by frame, giving each movement a distinct, movie-like texture. The overall look is whimsical while also slipping into eerie territory, echoing the gothic charm people associate with Tim Burton—though the stop-motion connection is what ultimately makes the identity feel concrete.
Why it matters: co-op design meets a presentation you can’t fake
Out of Words isn’t just “another co-op game.” It’s positioned as a full co-op experience, with players tackling the adventure using either local split-screen or online cross-platform co-op. The gameplay loop is built around solving physics-based puzzles, handling platforming challenges, and staying in sync while one player waits for the other to catch up.
That structure matters because stop-motion is inherently about timing, motion, and clarity. By using frame-by-frame animation crafted from physical models, the game can make co-op actions feel more readable and more expressive—especially when players are coordinating movement and problem-solving. The adventure spans locations that range from ancient catacombs to clay-built cities, and the stop-motion presentation is described as a major selling point that helps these settings feel both charming and unsettling.
The story theme also ties into the format. Kurt and Karla’s inability to speak isn’t only a narrative premise; it functions as an emotional throughline about communication, identity, and relationships—an idea that pairs naturally with a cooperative game where players must rely on each other to progress.
What to watch next: platforms, publisher, and how the co-op holds up
Out of Words is being developed by Kong Orange and WiredFly and published by Epic Games. The game is planned for PC via Epic Games Store (EGS only), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
For players deciding whether to try it, the key question will be how well the stop-motion craft supports moment-to-moment co-op gameplay. The source emphasizes that the entire experience is designed around two players, with co-op puzzles and platforming built to encourage coordination. If that balance lands, the combination of a handcrafted aesthetic and It Takes Two-like design could make Out of Words one of the more memorable co-op releases in the 2027 window.
For fans of Hazelight’s style of co-op storytelling, this is also a signal that the two-player-only adventure blueprint is still inspiring new teams—especially teams willing to differentiate through production technique rather than just theme.
Practical takeaways for co-op players
- Expect a co-op-first design: the game has no single-player mode, so plan to play with a partner.
- Coordinate using local split-screen or online cross-platform co-op while you solve physics-based puzzles.
- Use the stop-motion visuals to your advantage—frame-by-frame animation is part of how the world communicates motion and timing.
- Follow the voice-loss premise: the story centers on communication and identity, not just combat or speedrunning.
Expert View
Out of Words is betting that the next wave of co-op success won’t come only from familiar mechanics—it’ll come from distinct authorship. Hazelight-style two-player structure is the foundation, but the real differentiator is the decision to commit to genuine stop-motion production. If the studio’s handcrafted approach translates cleanly into responsive co-op platforming and puzzle readability, the game could become a standout “watch it move” experience—exactly the kind of identity-driven release that helps co-op games stay more than a trend.
