Renowned for their revolutionary two-player adventures, A Way Out and It Takes Two, Hazelight Studios has been pushing the envelope in co-op gaming since 2018. Split Fiction is the third title from this celebrated developer, which thrusts you and a friend into a genre-bending journey with an emphasis on action and visual spectacle. Cinematic, narrative-driven, and packed with exciting gameplay, Split Fiction takes the best aspects of It Takes Two and wraps them up in a story that’s part blockbuster and part heartfelt buddy comedy. Assuming you have a friend to play it with, Split Fiction should not be missed, as this bombastic co-op title is a cut above the rest.
Into an Author’s Mind
Split Fiction is all about two fiction authors, Mio and Zoe, who are invited to the futuristic Rader Publishing company with promises of getting their novels published. Mio, guarded and pessimistic, is mostly interested in a payday; a stark contrast to Zoe, who’s notably upbeat and excited to share her stories. Strangers at first, the pair bump into each other on the elevator as they arrive, and are introduced to the boilerplate businessman antagonist, J.D. Rader. Obsessed with technological power, Rader convinces Mio and Zoe to test out his fancy machine, designed to recreate their stories as personal simulations. Of course, things get out of hand and the two authors become trapped in one simulation, causing irreparable harm in the process.
So begins a wild tale of begrudging cooperation, as Mio and Zoe have no choice but to set aside their differences and work together to escape Rader’s simulation. To do so, the pair must travel through their own stories as the lead heroes, discovering disruptive glitches that may carve a path back to reality. Purely a sci-fi writer, Mio’s stories frequently entail space wars and other explosive conflicts, as opposed to Zoe’s bubbly and kindhearted fantasy tales. However, both hide repressed trauma and darker secrets, which the pair must work through together when they inevitably surface.
Alongside a slew of flashy set piece moments, some inspired visual design, and countless pop culture references, Split Fiction delivers a surprisingly effective and touching story about friendship. In the beginning, Mio and Zoe couldn’t be more different, but through obstacles both physical and emotional, they become one hell of a team. The natural evolution of their relationship is the fulcrum of the story, and thanks to the competent script, both characters are relatable and easy to root for. Ultimately, the leads end up carrying the story, as Rader is pretty cookie-cutter when it comes to villains.
That said, the real magic of the narrative is how it mirrors the ups and downs of the player experience. The growth seen in the story is reflected in the growth between you and your co-op partner, with Mio and Zoe’s triumphs and failures echoing your own. Best of all, Split Fiction absolutely nails the landing, with one of the most visually stunning and engaging final sequences of this generation.
Every Kind of Action Hero
It’s easy to call Split Fiction a 3D action-platforming game, as you spend a significant amount of time running and jumping through linear levels full of obstacles, but it’s a game that defies categorization. A buffet of gameplay variety, Split Fiction jumps between so many sub-genres that it’s hard to keep track, where two stages can feel like vastly different games. One stage sees you soaring through the skies on jetpacks, while another has you blasting enemies in an arcade-style shoot ’em up, all before wrapping things up with one of several fantastic boss fights. Unrestricted by the shackles of reality, things get crazier as the game progresses, resulting in shape-shifting, size manipulation, and much more, but I’ll leave the most impressive stuff to your imagination.
The first hour or so can feel slightly repetitive, with an overabundance of chase and slide sequences, but it doesn’t take too long for the action to kick in. After that, Split Fiction takes off at a breakneck pace and rarely slows down, except for important storytelling beats, keeping up the excitement until the very end. It’s easy to understate just how much variety is packed into this roughly 15-hour-long experience. While exploring, you may also discover one of the several brief “side stories”, which serve as quick gameplay diversions with a narrative palette cleanser, and contain some of the best moments in the entire game.
There’s also a healthy balance of challenge and leniency, as abundant checkpoints ensure that you never lose too much progress if you die. When it’s time to solve a perplexing puzzle or beat a tough boss, the game won’t spoil the solution, but it will try to shorten moments of frustration through frequent auto-saves. Above all else, Split Fiction is designed to be fun, its difficulty curve only defined by the needs of its story.
I also have to give credit to Hazelight Studios for the “Friend Pass” feature, which means that only one player has to purchase Split Fiction. As long as you own the game, you can invite any of your friends to play online free of charge, all they need to do is download the “friend pass” version of the game. With its non-offensive difficulty, wildly imaginative design, and clear emphasis on fun and quality storytelling, Split Fiction is a co-op gem for any type of player.
The Bottom Line on Split Fiction
With Split Fiction, Hazelight Studios proves that, even after making It Takes Two, they still have tons of creativity left for amazing co-op games. Pacing slumps and repetitive chase sequences aside, this is a two-player adventure that remains remarkably engaging for its entire 15-hour runtime. Overflowing with cool gameplay ideas, epic boss fights, and beautiful art direction, it’s as memorable as it is fun. If you like co-op games or are looking for a perfect title to play with a relatively new player, Split Fiction sits near the top of its class.
