Split Fiction maybe 2025’s most demanding game – not because it requires powerful hardware, but because it needs something more precious: another human being. This spiritual successor to It Takes Two continues Hazelight Studios’ tradition of creating cooperative experiences that are genuinely worth finding a partner for.
A Constant Stream of Joy
What makes Split Fiction exceptional is its relentless ability to surprise and delight. The game alternates between Mio’s sci-fi world and Zoe’s fantasy realm, constantly shifting gears just as you’re getting comfortable. One moment you’re a cyber ninja in an apocalyptic action sequence, and the next you’re transformed into a pig experiencing its entire life cycle from mud puddle to hot dog.
This game refuses to let you settle into any routine. Each level introduces unique themes and mechanics, ensuring your attention never wanders. The variety is staggering – you’ll tame and raise dragon babies, avoid sandworms on Arrakis-inspired dunes, navigate space while solving oxygen puzzles, and visit worlds reminiscent of Hogwarts and Norse mythology.
Visual Spectacle After Spectacle
Each environment could stand alone as a visual showcase, but Split Fiction delivers them in rapid succession. The game employs constantly shifting perspectives too – 3D exploration gives way to top-down challenges, side-scrolling sequences, and more. This approach, reminiscent of short-form video content, proves surprisingly satisfying in maintaining engagement.
Boss fights exemplify this commitment to variety. The Mega Man-inspired robot boss features not the standard two or three phases, but six distinct stages of combat, keeping both players completely absorbed in the action.
Easter Egg Extravaganza
Split Fiction fills every corner with cleverly implemented references. Fans will spot nods to Hazelight’s previous games (elephant dismemberment), gaming classics (Dark Souls bonfires, Donkey Kong barrels, Death Space transformations), and popular media (Dune’s sandworm riding, Akira’s iconic bike slide, Sailor Moon transformations).
Cooperative Gameplay Evolution
What truly elevates Split Fiction is its sophisticated approach to cooperative play, which can be categorized into three types:
- Parallel Cooperation – Both players use similar tools to face the same challenges simultaneously, such as most boss fights.
- Sequential Cooperation – Players take turns helping each other progress, like boosting a partner to a high ledge who then drops a ladder for you.
- Simultaneous Cooperation – The most innovative type, requiring perfect synchronization. Standout examples include the “Isolation” level, where one player becomes part of the environment as defensive turrets while the other navigates through, and the “Void” section featuring a two-headed creature controlled by both players simultaneously.
This third type creates genuinely special moments that test your partnership and deliver a unique sense of accomplishment when mastered. As the game itself suggests: “It takes two to tango.”
Worth Every Minute
My only complaint? It’s too short. After 15 hours of non-stop innovation and joy, I wanted more. Hazelight Studios has accomplished something remarkable – a cooperative experience so meticulously crafted that no other studio has managed to create anything comparable.
The four-year wait since It Takes Two was worth it for this condensed 15-hour adventure that feels more epic than most games twice its length. Whether you’re renting a console, visiting a gaming café, or borrowing a friend, don’t miss this shot of “cyber caffeine.”
Accessible Challenge
While slightly more challenging than It Takes Two, Split Fiction never aims to frustrate. The developers fine-tuned the difficulty right up to release, adding helpful dialogue cues and adjusting boss health to ensure players can progress smoothly without blaming their partners.
Remember to encourage rather than criticize your co-player – the human interaction is as much a part of the magic as the game itself. After all, creating genuine moments of connection between players is Split Fiction’s greatest achievement.