Hazelight Studios has been a pioneer in cooperative gaming for over a decade, with unforgettable experiences like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons , A Way Out , and It Takes Two . Now they’re back with Split Fiction , once again setting a new standard for the genre.
An unparalleled collaborative adventure
Split Fiction has already received rave reviews. With an impressive Metacritic score of 91 out of 100 based on 90 reviews, and a solid 8.1 from gamers, it’s clear that Hazelight has hit the mark – again.
Each subsequent game from the studio receives increasingly higher ratings, and Split Fiction is no exception.
Critics describe the game as one of the most inventive cooperative games ever, and players seem to agree. Our playthrough took around 20 hours, a time that flew by in a rollercoaster of intense challenges, magical moments, and a touch of frustration – in a good way.
Explosive development
When the first trailer for Split Fiction was released, it generated mixed reactions. The main characters seemed uncharismatic, and the visual style appeared to be a mix of Tron -inspired sci-fi and classic fantasy – a seemingly safe but unexciting choice. After the creative madness of It Takes Two and the cinematic experience of A Way Out , Split Fiction initially seemed like a step back.
But expectations would turn out to be turned upside down. Game creator Josef Fares had promised revolutionary mechanics and a shocking ending in advance – and although he may have exaggerated a bit, Split Fiction delivers on most fronts.
Slow start, but a strong finish
The game introduces us to Mio and Zoe, two young aspiring writers who arrive at a publishing house to sign their first book contracts. Despite their shared goals, the two are very different: Mio writes for money and creates futuristic action stories, while Zoe dreams of living in her own fantasy worlds.
When a scientific experiment takes an unexpected turn, the two become trapped in each other’s dream worlds – something that neither the girls themselves nor the scientists behind the experiment like.
MIO and ZOE
While the beginning of the story feels somewhat predictable – classic “enemies become friends” dynamic – the characters grow as they go along, and we get a deeper insight into their personalities and inner conflicts. They may not quite reach the level of A Way Out ’s Leo and Vincent or It Takes Two ’s May and Cody, but by the end of the game it’s hard not to root for them.
A crazy pace
If the story takes time to find its footing, the gameplay is a completely different story. From the very first moment, we are thrown into an action-packed and creative cooperative game with no dead ends. There are hardly any unnecessary sequences that feel like time delays – instead, the game offers an explosion of variety.
Each chapter presents a new setting, a new gameplay concept, and a new challenge. One moment you’re in a high-intensity sci-fi world where precise reactions make all the difference, and the next you’re thrown into a fantasy world where you’re petting dragons and solving magical puzzles. The constant shift between settings and mechanics makes Split Fiction an unpredictable and engaging experience.
The first few hours of the story feel extremely stereotypical, repeating stories of strong friendship through initial hostility.
Hazelight builds on the foundation of It Takes Two , with platforming, double jumping, dashing, and grappling hooks as its core elements. But where many games had struggled to maintain variety, Split Fiction uses its mechanics in ever-new and creative ways.
Magical moments and unforgettable challenges
One of the most impressive things about Split Fiction is how it allows the player to create memorable moments through interactivity, rather than through pre-determined cutscenes. You’ll constantly have to adapt to new forms, control the environment in creative ways, and face unique bosses – all presented with an impressive amount of variety.
Split Fiction
Even when the main areas start to feel a bit repetitive, the game’s side missions and mini-games save the experience, providing some of the most bizarre, funny, and memorable scenes in the game – often with a playfulness that allows the player to take a breather from the main story.
Difficulty and flow
Split Fiction masters the balance between challenge and accessibility. The game’s progression feels natural, and near the end, inexperienced players will have to sweat a little to keep up. Yet it’s never frustrating – deaths are minimally punishing, checkpoints are clever, and the game always facilitates cooperation.
Split Fiction review. The biggest collaborative adventure of the year
Conclusion – a worthy successor to It Takes Two
With Split Fiction, Hazelight has once again delivered a world-class co-op game. While the story doesn’t quite reach the same heights as the studio’s previous titles, this is more than made up for by a gameplay experience that is so varied, entertaining, and creative that it’s simply unmatched.
Yes, some of the platforming sequences can get a little monotonous after a while, but that said: where else do you get the feeling of playing 20 different games over the course of 15-20 hours – and still have a coherent and memorable experience?
Split Fiction is arguably the best cooperative adventure of the year, and a strong candidate for Game of the Year .
