There’s a big difference in games where cooperation is just an add-on and where it’s the beating heart of a unique experience. Hazelight Studios, known for their standout works like A Way Out and It Takes Two, has proven more than once that cooperative play isn’t just an option—it’s the essence of the story they tell. And today, the studio brings us a new adventure called Split Fiction, which redefines cooperative gaming in a way like no other.

From the very first moment in the game, the player finds themselves immersed in a different world—a world that combines adventure, puzzles, platforming, and action in a brilliant mix that doesn’t stick to a single genre. Here, Hazelight’s magic shines in turning all these different elements into something cohesive, emphasizing that this experience can’t be played alone—you need a partner on this journey, just like in real life.

But did Split Fiction manage to balance all these elements? Did it deliver an enjoyable experience that matches the studio’s past successes? Well, let’s find out!

The Story

The game tells the story of two writers, Mio Hudson and Zoe Foster, who receive an invitation from Rader Publishing to participate in a revolutionary experience using a simulator called “The Machine,” which allows users to live in the worlds of the stories they write as if they were real. Despite their different goals—Zoe wants fame and to prove herself in the writing world, while Mio is only interested in the money—both find themselves suddenly in an adventure no one expected.

As soon as the experience begins, an unexpected malfunction traps them inside the worlds of their stories, forcing them to work together to get out of this mess. Mio’s sci-fi world intertwines with Zoe’s fantasy settings, and they find themselves in dangerous situations where they must act smartly and use their literary skills to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. Over time, they discover that “The Machine” isn’t just a simulator—it’s an advanced system that collects writers’ ideas and steals their creations, even the ones they haven’t finished yet!

Facing this danger, Mio and Zoe must cooperate on a deeper level than just helping each other—they must use their knowledge of each other’s stories to survive.

Gameplay

Split Fiction offers an innovative cooperative experience, full of variety and constant renewal in gameplay style. Each player controls one of the two main characters, Mio and Zoe, whose abilities constantly change, forcing players to cooperate and adapt to each stage to complete the adventure.

The game features smooth and varied movement mechanics, including double jumps, dashes, and wall-clinging. These movements aren’t just means of traversal—they’re creatively employed in each level, as the characters’ abilities change based on the challenges they face. The game breaks the mold by introducing new mechanics in every stage, keeping each moment full of surprises and forcing players to think differently about their strategies.

One of the strongest elements of Split Fiction is the puzzles, which blend seamlessly with cooperative challenges. Cooperation isn’t just about solving puzzles—it’s also about facing enemies and interacting with the world in unconventional ways. Some challenges require precise coordination between players, like one player disabling traps while the other moves quickly, or one opening a path while the other enters at the right moment, enhancing the sense of connection between them.

Despite its focus on platforming and puzzles, the game isn’t limited to these genres—it includes elements like third-person combat, races, and even isometric adventures. This makes each level feel like a completely new experience, and with every stage, a new element changes the gameplay, like controlling flying creatures or transforming into strange forms to face unexpected challenges, adding a sense of fun and constant renewal.

Some levels might feel a bit too long, which can affect the pacing, but overall, the design keeps the excitement and challenge alive throughout. Split Fiction offers a complete cooperative experience, where each level forces players to discover new ways to interact with the world, creating a constantly refreshing adventure that stays fun and thrilling until the very end.

Graphics and World Design

The graphics in Split Fiction are one of the elements that make the experience immersive and visually stunning. The game combines sci-fi and fantasy worlds in a unique blend, with each world having its own visual style that reflects its atmosphere and draws players into a diverse adventure.

The game doesn’t rely on static environments—it offers dynamic worlds that constantly change, ensuring every moment feels fresh and full of breathtaking details. In sci-fi worlds, you’ll find designs inspired by Cyberpunk, with glowing neon lights, massive cities filled with advanced technology, and pathways that make you feel like you’re in a futuristic city pulsing with life. On the other hand, fantasy worlds come with a completely different style, featuring enchanting forests, massive stone castles, and scenes inspired by epic tales, with warm colors and fantastical touches that give a sense of vitality and beauty.

What sets Split Fiction apart is the seamless blending of different worlds without losing their independent identities. Transitions between environments are handled in an innovative way that makes each level feel completely different from the last, while maintaining overall consistency. Each environment isn’t just a beautiful backdrop—it reflects part of the story and the emotions the characters are going through. For example, one level takes place in a futuristic city experiencing an environmental crisis, reflecting the internal conflict of one of the characters, while another level immerses you in a world where small dragons are released into the sky, symbolizing freedom and liberation.

Technically, the game boasts high-resolution graphics with intricate details, from character designs to environmental textures that make every scene feel like a work of art. The game runs at 60 frames per second, ensuring a smooth experience free of performance issues.

Additionally, colors and lighting play a big role in distinguishing the worlds from each other. For example, sci-fi worlds are characterized by cold, industrial lighting, while fantasy worlds are bright and warm with vibrant colors. Even character movements and animations reflect their personalities, adding a touch of realism that makes interacting with the world feel more natural and smooth.

A Complete and Innovative Cooperative Experience

Split Fiction is designed from the ground up as a purely cooperative game, meaning there’s no single-player option—cooperation between players is the core of the gameplay. To achieve this, the game introduces the “Friend’s Pass” feature, which allows any player to invite a friend to play online without the friend needing to own a copy of the game. This feature isn’t entirely new, as Hazelight Studios has used it before in games like A Way Out and It Takes Two, where it achieved great success by making cooperative play accessible to more players without requiring them to buy two copies of the game.

Additionally, the game supports cross-platform play (Cross-Play), meaning it doesn’t matter if one player is on PC and the other is on PlayStation or Xbox—everyone can cooperate seamlessly without any issues. To make communication between players smoother, the game uses split-screen, a hallmark of Hazelight Studios’ games. This approach makes interaction between players instant and direct, helping them coordinate strategies easily and adapt to challenges in real-time.

Final Verdict

10/10

Split Fiction proves that cooperation isn’t just an add-on—it’s the heart of the entire experience. The game delivers a unique adventure full of action, puzzles, and platforming, with everything designed to make you work with your partner at all times. The stunning graphics, diverse worlds, and constantly evolving gameplay make the experience enjoyable from start to finish. With cross-play support and the “Friend’s Pass” feature, you can easily play with anyone. If you love cooperative games or want a new experience, Split Fiction will offer you an unforgettable adventure, proving that playing with someone else isn’t just an option—it’s part of the fun of the game itself!