Split Fiction sees an unlikely pair work together for a common goal. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying

Split Fiction Review Overview

What is Split Fiction?

Split Fiction is an action-adventure co-op game developed by Hazelight Studios, known for titles like It Takes Two and A Way Out. Scheduled for release on March 6, 2025, it continues the studio’s focus on delivering cooperative multiplayer games.

The game focuses on two aspiring writers, Mio and Zoe, who become entangled within their own stories after a technological mishap at Rader Publishing, a company capable of "bringing narratives to life". The two must now work together in their overlapping stories, which span both sci-fi and fantasy genres, as they attempt to reclaim their creative works from the publishing company.

Split Fiction supports "Friends Pass," which allows owners to invite a friend to play for free, and offers cross-platform play across PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X|S.

Split Fiction features:
　⚫︎　Focuses on Cooperative Play
　⚫︎　Play With Others Using the Friends Pass
　⚫︎　Each Level Has Unique Gameplay Mechanics
　⚫︎　Explore Imaginative Levels and Side Stories

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Split Fiction’s gameplay and story.

Steam		Epic		EA
PlayStation			Xbox
$49.99

Split Fiction Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Chaotic Gameplay Experience With Friends Simple Yet Fun Level Designs Side Stories Are as Entertaining as Main Levels Breathtaking Presentation	Story Beats May be Too Cliché Somewhat Short With Little Replay Value

Split Fiction Overall Score - 90/100

Split Fiction is an absolute joy to play—pure, unfiltered fun that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It has all the makings of a game that could follow in It Takes Two’s footsteps. With any luck, it could even potentially sweep awards for its co-op design and creativity just like its predecessor. Sure, the game leans into genre clichés at times, and it occasionally feels like it’s holding back from going all-in on its themes, but Mio and Zoe’s heart more than makes up for it. My friend and I had an incredible time playing through the game, laughing, failing, and celebrating our victories together. Even at times when the game faltered, the sheer fun of playing together kept us going.

Split Fiction Story - 7/10

Split Fiction centers around two authors, Mio and Zoe, who find themselves trapped in a simulation created by a machine siphoning their stories. To escape, they must traverse the sci-fi and fantasy worlds born from their own writings. As the narrative unfolds, Mio and Zoe’s stories explore personal trauma, and these emotional beats carry much of the game’s narrative weight. It has a strong core, sure, but the game veered too much into genre clichés, especially within the sci-fi and fantasy stories. This isn’t necessarily a flaw, but it does make it feel predictable at times. Mio and Zoe at least are endearing, and their personalities inject life into a story that’s otherwise worn out.

Split Fiction Gameplay - 10/10

It’s truly impressive how my friend and I never once grew tired of playing Split Fiction over the course of 15 straight hours. The gameplay remained fresh, largely thanks to its levels and side stories introducing unique mechanics that elevated the experience beyond simple platforming. One moment, we’re soaring through the air with jetpacks, and the next, we’re playing a 2D side-scroller. Sure, it can often feel simple, but simplicity is beauty, as they say. This makes the game accessible to all players of all skill levels, yet it never sacrifices fun or depth. It never felt as though it insults the player’s intelligence to figure things out on their own, a quality that speaks volumes about its thoughtful level design.

Split Fiction Visuals - 9/10

I’ll get straight to the point: Split Fiction is an absolute visual feast. Every world bursts with detail, brimming with color and life, making it nearly impossible to resist stopping just to take in the breathtaking scenery. The sci-fi levels are undeniably impressive, with neon-colored cityscapes and appropriately metallic factories. However, they can sometimes blur together, as many of the areas in different sci-fi worlds share similar aesthetics. Thankfully, the game alternates between the sci-fi sections and the fantasy worlds, so it at least wouldn’t feel too repetitive.

Split Fiction Audio - 10/10

Its spectacles wouldn’t be nearly as impactful without an equally stellar sound design. Each world has a soundtrack that complements its setting, from orchestral scores to synth beats. But what truly elevates the experience is the subtle audio details: the way the music fades out when both players die, how everything sounds muffled inside a spacesuit, or even the satisfying bounce of landing on a giant gummy candy. These moments add texture to every moment. Even more impressive is the voice work. Kaja Chan and Elsie Bennet deliver performances that infuse their characters with personality, warmth, and humor. Their banter feels natural, and their shared frustration, especially when aimed at JD Rader, made me root for them wholeheartedly.

Split Fiction Value for Money - 9/10

Split Fiction isn’t the kind of game you’ll be sinking hundreds of hours into, like Monster Hunter Wilds. It’s a compact experience, with our initial playthrough wrapping up in about 15 hours. And while it delivers an incredible ride, it also doesn’t offer much in the way of replay value. Once you’ve explored every level, uncovered all the side stories, and enjoyed the character interactions, there’s little incentive to return—aside from reliving the fun or swapping roles to see how the other character plays. However, for $49.99, the game delivers an experience that feels just as polished and cinematic as something like Uncharted, while also being too fun to play—to the point where we didn’t want to put our controllers down. It’s just plain fun and is the perfect choice for a lighthearted weekend or a memorable bonding experience with a friend or partner.

Split Fiction Review: It Takes Two to Split Fiction

We live in a time dominated by single-player adventures, live-service gachas, and online co-op games that keep us perpetually online, watching others scream like a maniac over the most random nonsense on Twitch. Nowadays, local multiplayer feels like an endangered species. Sure, every now and then, a game rekindles that proverbial couch co-op flame. Overcooked tests friendships; Mario Kart ruins them. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 somewhat sneaks in split-screen; and Baldur’s Gate 3 lets you roleplay among friends. But, really, only a few of these had couch co-op in mind in their designs.

Few developers have fought harder to keep the cooperative spirit alive than Hazelight Studios. Unlike most studios that merely offer a co-op option, Hazelight builds its entire identity around mandatory teamwork. It all started with A Way Out, a game that, in all honesty, felt more like a proof of concept for what would come next—It Takes Two. That game perfected the formula, so much so that it won over critics and took home The Game Awards’ coveted Game of the Year in 2021.

Now, Josef Fares and his team are back with Split Fiction, and all I have to say is—these mad men did it again!

The Writer’s Dilemma

In Split Fiction, you and another player step into the shoes of Mio and Zoe, two aspiring writers who land what seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Handpicked by Rader Publishing, they’re invited to test a revolutionary machine that promises to bring stories to life—literally, as the device transforms written worlds into simulated experiences for readers.

Mio, the ever-cautious realist, recognizes the machine’s potential but can’t shake a nagging sense of unease. Zoe, on the other hand, is just thrilled to be there—her excitement fueled by the dream of seeing her work published at last. But what starts as a golden opportunity quickly spirals into something far more sinister.

One thing leads to another, and suddenly, the two find themselves trapped inside the same simulation, their separate stories colliding into a blend of sci-fi and fantasy. But the real danger isn’t just the worlds they’ve been accidentally placed in. Rader Publishing actually plans to siphon the creativity of its test subjects and steal their ideas. If Mio and Zoe want to escape with their stories intact, they’ll have to set aside their creative differences and find a way to shut the machine down from the inside.

To be completely honest, the story in Split Fiction didn’t grab me the same way It Takes Two did. That’s not to say it’s bad—far from it, really. Mio and Zoe are well-written, believable protagonists, and their journeys explore personal trauma in a way that highlights the power of friendship. Having someone by your side through life’s struggles is a core theme, and it resonates with me deeply. What really sold me, though, was their banter. Their conversations during each level felt natural, like two real people—polar opposites—learning to understand each other’s quirks.

However, Split Fiction never quite reaches the emotional heights of It Takes Two, which tackled the raw, deeply personal topic of divorce and its impact on both a couple and their child. At times, the game leans on familiar genre clichés, both in its simulated worlds and overarching narrative. There were plenty of times when me and my friend would find ourselves predicting plot points based on these clichés with a knowing smirk, only to have them unfold exactly as we’d anticipated.

Even so, I appreciate how its story reflects the contemporary literary climate, where writers are undervalued, underpaid, and, with generative AI on the rise, increasingly seen as disposable. And it’s not just the writers—the entire creative industry is under threat from automation, which is why writers’ and actors’ strikes have become so common.

Hearing JD Rader, the owner of Rader Publishing, spout the same tired rhetoric about his machine replacing creatives is infuriating and mirrors real-world debates. But that’s also what makes it so satisfying to watch Mio and Zoe push back and fight not just for their escape, but for their own stories—those tiny, precious pieces of themselves they pour into every word.

Gameplay That Tests Friendships

But the true heart of Split Fiction lies in its cooperative gameplay, and oh boy, is it absolutely glorious. Every chapter follows a three-act structure, with a boss fight punctuating the end of each one. Almost always, the stages in these levels introduce inventive mechanics that shake up the gameplay, which ensures that no two areas or worlds feel the same. One moment, Mio is wielding a gravity katana, flipping the laws of physics to walk on walls, while Zoe swings around with a laser whip, tossing objects left and right. Next, you’re shapeshifting into fairies, gorillas, and tree creatures. The creativity on display here is staggering, and my friend and I often found ourselves fighting over the other’s controller just to try their character’s mechanics.

Like It Takes Two, Split Fiction is a cooperative experience, meaning every single challenge is built around teamwork. You’ll constantly rely on your partner, whether it’s using complementary abilities to create pathways for one another, synchronizing actions with perfect timing, or pulling off puzzle solutions that require both players’ reflexes. And thanks to the Friend’s Pass, only one player needs to own the game. This makes it even easier to dive in with a friend.

And trust me—you’ll want a friend, partner, or loved one to play with. Not just because it’s required, but because Split Fiction is an incredible bonding experience. My co-op partner and I spent as much time laughing at our own fumbles as we did progressing through the game. Sometimes, we were so hilariously uncoordinated that the second the game handed us the ability to sabotage each other, we took full advantage—spending a solid five minutes slashing, blasting, and hurling each other into oblivion. Really, it’s all in good fun… until your friend keeps messing up on a puzzle.

Simplicity is Beauty

Even if you mess up, however, death in Split Fiction is little more than a slap on the wrist. The game’s checkpoints are so forgiving that you’ll respawn almost instantly near where you died. This keeps the momentum going and encourages players of all skill levels to experiment and fail without fear.

That doesn’t mean the game is mindlessly easy, though. My co-op partner and I still found ourselves falling from heights from time to time, especially when tackling puzzles that required a bit of trial and error.

That being said, the game can sometimes feel a bit straightforward. There’s not much strategy beyond working with your partner to solve puzzles. Mio interacts with objects glowing in red or violet, while Zoe engages with those glowing in blue or green. It’s a simple system, but it works. Besides, I’m here for a good time, not a hard time.

This simplicity actually plays in the game’s favor, as it prevents frustration and keeps things going. It’s part of why Split Fiction, like It Takes Two, is so accessible; these are games that anyone can jump into, regardless of experience or skill level. You don’t need to be a seasoned player to enjoy it. There’s no pressure to scour every inch of a level for hidden collectibles or grind for upgrades. Honestly, it’s just nice to play something that lets you simply enjoy the ride. No stress, no pressure—just you, your partner, and a game that’s designed to be played for the sheer joy of it.

More Side Stories, Please

One of the best parts of Split Fiction, though, is discovering the side stories—quirky, delightful anomalies that arise from Mio and Zoe being trapped in the same simulation. These side stories transport players into the unfinished worlds Mio and Zoe created when they were younger—glimpses of their past creative endeavors, juvenile or otherwise. Each side story is such a joy to explore that my friend and I always made a point to find them. And luckily, they’re not exactly hidden away.

There are three side stories per level, and aside from one, they’re almost always directly in your path. Mio and Zoe will frequently mention that a side story is nearby, so it’s hard to miss them unless you’re actively avoiding them.

Each one transports you into a wildly different setting, and we always wish we could stay in them longer. One had us playing a deadly game of hot potato in a game show; another transported us into a hand-drawn world that was still being written; yet another threw us into the infinite darkness of space. There was even one where we transformed into pigs and… well, it’s best you find out for yourself what happens next. These side stories are so simple yet so fun that we were often reluctant to leave these little worlds. It’s a nice change of pace from the main narrative that complements the game’s core experience.

This Game Is Just Plain Pretty

But all of these are best complemented by probably one of the game’s better qualities: its presentation. The game is simply stunning, with visuals so gorgeous that we found ourselves repeatedly gasping in awe. The spectacles within each world are nothing short of breathtaking, and it’s impossible not to feel immersed in the sheer beauty of it all. It’s a feast for the eyes, and the beauty of the game is only amplified by its wildly creative worlds. Every level feels like a sci-fi or fantasy-themed amusement park, where the rides grow wilder, the vistas grander, and the scale ever more staggering as the story unfolds. This all culminates in a chef’s kiss of a climax that crescendos to a spectacle so unforgettable that it cements itself as one of the most memorable finales I’ve ever played.

To add to all of this, Split Fiction is packed with visual nods to pop culture, from Akira and Alita: Battle Angel to Sonic, Dark Souls, and even a cheeky reference to an infamous E3 2006 meme. Spotting these homages became a game in itself during our game night.

However, the sci-fi levels do start to feel a bit repetitive as they lean into almost the same futuristic aesthetic. It’s a common issue in the genre, really, and it’s a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things. What truly saves the day, though, are the fantasy levels, which are so diverse and rich in detail that they easily make up for the occasional monotony of the sci-fi sections. Lush forests lead to icy castles; caves filled with bones of dragons eventually lead to flying above stormy skies. There are almost always new wonders at every turn to look at.

Is Split Fiction Worth It?

Grab Your Friends, Grab Your Neighbors, Grab a Stranger

Yes! A million times yes! Hazelight Studios took everything they learned from It Takes Two and expanded it into something even more enjoyable with Split Fiction. This game is an absolute blast, and the new mechanics they play around with are so well-made that they could be their own games. It’s beautiful, fun, and the characters are so relatable and lovable that you'll want to comfort them through their most vulnerable moments.

There’s so much to love about Split Fiction that it left us feeling bittersweet when we wrapped up the game in about 15 hours. For a game priced at $49.99, it’s on the shorter side, and beyond replaying our favorite moments, there’s little incentive to go back for a second round. It felt like a one-and-done deal, which is a shame because we were hungry for more. But honestly, that should tell you just how enjoyable the game is—it leaves you wanting more, which, I’d say, is a good problem to have. If it’s any consolation, Split Fiction makes for a perfect game night pick, and you can always lend your copy to friends so they can dive into the fun themselves.

Still, what I’ll remember most is the time spent with friends, laughing, solving puzzles, and sharing in the joy of playing. If Split Fiction was able to create such memorable moments for me and my friends, then I’d say Hazelight Studios achieved exactly what they set out to do. And really, that’s what matters most.

Steam		Epic		EA
PlayStation			Xbox
$49.99

Split Fiction FAQ

What are Split Fiction’s PC System Requirements?

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Split Fiction Product Information

Title	SPLIT FICTION
Release Date	March 6, 2025
Developer	Hazelight Studios
Publisher	Electronic Arts
Supported Platforms	PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store) PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X|S
Genre	Action, Adventure, Co-Op
Number of Players	Two-Player Only (Local and Online Co-Op)
ESRB Rating	ESRB Teen 13+
Official Website	Official Website for Split Fiction

L A R Opalec

Lloyd grew up bonding with his big brother over video games. While RPGs like Disco Elysium and Final Fantasy IX hold a special place in his heart, he's always up to try new genres.