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With only a second to spare, my co-op partner opens the barrier in front of us. The attacking mechs fall through, giving a moment’s respite. Noting the color coordination for the symbols on the wall, we then alternate our fire, sealing off the hatch and keeping more mechs from joining in.
That’s just one of the dozens of gameplay scenarios you’ll encounter in Split Fiction, the latest co-op game from developer Hazelight Studios.
Split Fiction is a triumph, a game that builds on what’s come before while still finding time for new ideas. The sheer range of innovative concepts explored in gameplay is astounding to watch unfold, and it’s some of the most fun I’ve had playing couch co-op in years.
The choice to focus specifically on science-fiction and fantasy setups could’ve been limiting, but the developers navigate the genres with ease, finding room to explore and change things up on a whim.
For anyone looking for a co-op gameplay to play, Split Fiction will stand out as one of the year’s finest.
I’ve loved co-op games from the first time I played Halo 2 almost two decades ago, and I’ve mourned the seeming loss of these types of games over the years. I’ve played tons of games since then, but I still appreciate new couch co-op games when they arrive.
This review was made possible thanks to a review code provided by Electronic Arts. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.
What is Split Fiction?
- Split Fiction is a co-op game developed by Hazelight Studios.
- Split Fiction must be played in co-op
- Split Fiction has a Friend Pass, so only one player has to own the game.
Split Fiction is a third-person co-op adventure game developed by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts.
Split Fiction
• Price: $50 at Amazon
• Release date: March 6, 2025
• Developer: Hazelight Studios
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Genre: Action-adventure
• Players: 2 player co-op (required)
• Install size: 85 GB
• Playtime: 12-13 hours
• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PlayStation 5
• Xbox Game Pass: No
• Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
Like its two predecessors A Way Out and It Takes Two, Split Fiction requires you play the game entirely in co-op, and I have to commend Hazelight and Electronic Arts for outright recommending that you play the game in couch co-op with a friend or family member.
That meant I got to play this game with my brother for review, a kind of rare opportunity given the nature of most game review periods.
Again mirroring its predecessors, Split Fiction includes a Friend Pass, meaning that if you want to play online with a friend, only one player actually has to own the game, and the other can join in for free.
New to Split Fiction is cross-platform support for the Friend Pass, meaning someone on Xbox that buys the game could invite a friend on PC or PlayStation without issues.
Over the course of Split Fiction, you’ll go through eight different chapters, with several “Side Stories” scattered throughout the chapters. Each chapter generally introduces new gameplay mechanics, meaning you’re never doing the same thing for too long.
With these new mechanics, the genre of the game can shift from moment to moment, but as you’d expect, it’s constantly exploring some version of fantasy or science-fiction.
Split Fiction review: Story and characters
- The main protagonists in Split Fiction are two writers, Mio and Zoe.
- Split Fiction’s story is sometimes a bit cheesy, but also heartwarming.
- There’s a strong emphasis on the wonder of human creativity.
The main characters at the center of Split Fiction’s plot are Mio and Zoe, who are performed by actresses Kaja Chan and Elsie Bennett, respectively.
These two couldn’t be more of an odd pair. One writes science-fiction, the other enjoys fantasy. One likes revenge stories filled with killing, the other wants delightful stories stacked with whimsical fun.
Both are draft to the mysterious Rader Corporation in hopes of being published, when things go horribly wrong. From there, Mio and Zoe have to work together to escape the Matrix-like world they’ve become trapped in, while also keeping Rader from taking every last idea in their heads.
Over the course of the game, as they go through each other’s stories, Mio and Zoe draw closer, learning to respect what they have in common but, more importantly, finding appreciation in what they don’t.
Sometimes the writing veers into clichés, but it feels appropriate given the setting, and there are plenty of self-aware jabs traded between the two leads.
The core push for the story — two aspiring writers pushing back against having their work stolen by a massive corporation — feels especially poignant given the rise of generative AI and the well-founded concerns that companies will try to undermine creatives.
Split Fiction review: Gameplay and features
- Split Fiction is a third-person adventure game.
- New gameplay mechanics are rapidly introduced every level.
- Careful coordination between co-op partners is constantly required.
Split Fiction is built as something of a spiritual successor to It Takes Two, a fact that becomes obvious the moment you start controlling Zoe or Mio. Both characters can double jump, dash, and grapple to specific points, a simple but effective movement kit that stays throughout the game.
Like It Takes Two, Split Fiction constantly changes. Every chapter introduces a new gameplay mechanic or three. One moment, Zoe and Mio might be riding guiding a shuttle and shooting down attacking aircraft. The next, the pair could find themselves shapeshifting between different magical creatures.
It’s that consistent creativity that makes Split Fiction shine. Even if you’ve played It Takes Two, there are tons of new ideas here, and while I don’t want to spoil some of the wilder surprises, you have to work together with your co-op partner in order to succeed.
That might mean shooting color-coordinated targets to destroy enemy mechs and solve puzzles, or using more unique abilities to solve puzzles in outside-the-box ways.
One big change from It Takes Two is the removal of minigames. Instead of having smaller activities to compete in, the side content in Split Fiction takes the form of “Side Stories,” smaller worlds that can optionally be accessed throughout a few specific levels.
These Side Stories are like mini-chapters, usually taking a few minutes to complete (though a handful are longer) and they shed further light on Mio and Zoe’s ideas, revealing extra tidbits in their lives that have shaped them as writers.
I enjoyed these Side Stories and I like the change, though the spacing is a tad strange, as you’ll have completed every Side Story in the game hours before it’s over.
Split Fiction review: Visuals and audio
- The screen is usually divided in half, but occasionally combines for cutscenes.
- Split Fiction is generally a visual step up from It Takes Two, with far better human character models.
- The game’s performance remains at a solid 60 FPS throughout on Xbox Series X.
Split Fiction is a good-looking game, with art direction that shifts constantly. One minute, you’re watching the rain pour down in a cyberpunk-esque city. The next, you’ll see gentle brooks bubbling in a fantastical realm of dragons.
That ostensible lack of focus could’ve been a detriment, but instead, the game looks all the better for it, with the reveal of a new location being exciting, and I never got tired of wondering just what the next level would look like.
Indeed, this is part of where the game’s Side Stories shine the most. By providing breaks in the pacing for a few of the game’s chapters, the change in scenery feels fresh, and a couple of the Side Stories are actually my favorite sections in the entire game.
Generally, the screen is divided in half, and while it would be easy for this to feel claustrophobic, the game does a fairly good job keeping you centered so you always have a good line of sight.
The camera will sometimes connect for particular set pieces or for the frequent cutscenes that are scattered throughout the story. It Takes Two handled things marginally better here, with a few more natural segues between camera shots, but the work here is still solid.
Despite something near-constantly attacking, collapsing, or just exploding the background, the game’s framerate is well optimized, and I never noticed any meaningful drops in the 12+ hours I was playing on Xbox Series X.
I also have to praise the human character models, which are a significant step-up in quality over Hazelight’s previous work. Zoe and Mio look great, and every line the actresses deliver is made more believable for it.
The soundtrack stays fun throughout the game, shifting tone to match the changing environments. It’s firmly backdrop music, but it always suits the action on screen.
Split Fiction review: Accessibility and approachability
- Split Fiction has a handful of good accessibility options.
- Quick-time event options can help for anyone that doesn’t want to mash buttons.
- Larger subtitle font size options are needed.
Split Fiction has a handful of accessibility options, many of which will be beneficial for less experienced with video games or with some form of physical impairment.
In particular, the ability to swap quick-time events from button mashing to holding a button down is extremely useful, and is a great way to keep anyone from wearing out their fingers.
You can also swap and rebind different buttons or keys as you see fit, as well as reducing enemy damage. Bear in mind that due to how the game works, damage can’t be reduced for just one player, so this is a setting you’ll need to agree on with your co-op partner before enabling.
While Split Fiction does naturally have subtitles, it does not support larger font sizes, and the subtitles are definitely on the smaller side. This could definitely be a problem for anyone with weaker vision, and I’d like to see subtitle font size adjustments added in the future.
As mentioned before, my brother and I both found this game to be a bit more difficult than It Takes Two, requiring even more careful coordination and split-second timing.
I don’t think that’s a negative at all, but it’s worth noting that in general, Split Fiction is a hair less approachable for a newcomer than the studio’s prior games.
Split Fiction review: Final thoughts
You should buy this if …
✅You want a gameplay-focused experience.
Split Fiction, like It Takes Two, introduces dozens of unique gameplay mechanics across the game’s eight chapters. These ideas constantly shift, meaning no one element overstays its welcome or feels particularly overused. This is a fantastic game to play if you want to see new ideas not explored in games before.
✅You want a co-op game that was truly designed around co-op.
Unlike many games that can be played in co-op, Split Fiction is built around the concept of co-op, requiring players to work together in unique ways. Trying new things never gets old, and it’s super-rewarding to solve puzzles and figure things out at the same time. That’s especially true if you’re playing in couch co-op, and this is a great game to play if you have a friend or partner that isn’t used to playing games, but wants to learn.
You should not buy this if …
❌You don’t have someone you can play in co-op with, or don’t like co-op games.
Split Fiction is a co-op game, and you can’t play it in single-player. If you don’t enjoy playing games in co-op for whatever reason, or finding timing that lines up across schedules isn’t possible, then this isn’t a game for you.
Going into Split Fiction, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. It would’ve been easy for the novelty of constantly-shifting gameplay to wear off just a bit, but the team at Hazelight kept finding new ideas and ways of pushing the boundaries.
I’m happy there’s a still a team out there prioritizing co-op, building a game not with co-op as an option but at the forefront of every game design facet. Being able to play this with my brother has been a fantastic experience.
Yes, the writing occasionally made me roll my eyes, and you can see a dozen moments coming well in advance, but that’s all by design. It doesn’t change the heart and soul present here; a defiant note that human creativity is what drives genres forward, not the ability to steal random ideas and mash them up into slop.
Split Fiction builds on what’s come before, especially It Takes Two, but ultimately it can stand on its own two feet with pride.
There are a handful of bugs to tackle, and I’d also like to see some additional subtitle options added in the future. These are only minor issues, however, and don’t detract too much from the overall experience.
Split Fiction now takes its place as one of the best co-op games of the last several years, and I’m looking forward to replaying it in the future.
Split Fiction launches on March 6, 2025 across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Steam and the EA App), and PlayStation 5. The game includes a Friend Pass, meaning if one player buys the game, they can invite a friend to play with them for free, even across platforms.
Anyone looking for a great new co-op game to play needs to pick up Split Fiction. Fun level variety and a heartwarming story that emphasizes the need for people to tell stories is the perfect combination, whether you’re going through the experience with a friend, sibling, child, or partner.
