Split Fiction

About Split Fiction

Split Fiction is a co-op adventure game from Hazelight Studios, released in 2025 on PC, consoles, and Switch 2. You play as two writers trapped in their own fictional worlds, one sci-fi, one fantasy, stranded in a machine that steals creativity. The game blends platforming, puzzles, and split-screen teamwork. Hazelight and EA positioned it as a sequel to It Takes Two, but it’s a standalone experience with its own story and mechanics. Expect fast-paced cooperation, diverging environments, and timed challenges. If you’ve played It Takes Two, you’ll recognize the DNA but with new twists.

Gameplay

The core loop involves solving environmental puzzles by switching between sci-fi and fantasy realms. Each world has unique physics, like gravity shifts in sci-fi or elemental magic in fantasy. Players control separate characters, requiring constant communication. Split-screen supports up to four, but co-op is best with two. Sessions mix platforming (jumping through shifting levels) and logic puzzles (aligning gears in sci-fi, summoning constructs in fantasy). Mechanics emphasize timing and coordination. Controls are responsive, with quick loadouts for abilities. Expect 2-3 hour sessions to finish a chapter, but some puzzles can take longer.

What Players Think

The PlayPile community rates Split Fiction 90.6/100 (IGDB), with 85% positive moods and 12% mixed. Average playtime is 12 hours, though 67% complete it. Reviews praise the “tight co-op” and “creative level design” but note some puzzles feel rushed. 150 achievements exist, with an average of 9.5 hours to 100%. Critics highlight the “emotional story” and “polished mechanics.” 3% of players are negative, citing “repetitive mid-game segments.” Completion rate spikes in the final act, where 83% finish.

PlayPile's Take

Split Fiction is worth playing if you enjoy co-op puzzle-platformers. It’s priced at $49.99, with 150+ achievements that reward patience. While not as impressive as It Takes Two, it’s a polished, fun experience. Best for players with a partner and 10-15 hours to spare. Skip if you dislike split-screen or struggle with communication-heavy co-op. The community is largely positive, and the sci-fi/fantasy duality adds fresh variety.

Storyline

Mio and Zoe are contrasting writers – one writes sci-fi and the other writes fantasy – who become trapped in their own stories after being hooked up to a machine designed to steal their creative ideas. They’ll have to rely on each other to break free with their memories in-tact, working together to master a variety of abilities and overcome diverse challenges while jumping between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in this unexpected tale of friendship.