Split Fiction Review – A Mind-Blowing Co-op Adventure That Redefines Storytelling
Published: March 9, 2025
What happens when two struggling authors walk into a publishing house expecting a book deal, only to find themselves trapped in a virtual world of their own creations? Split Fiction, the latest co-op adventure from Hazelight Studios (It Takes Two, A Way Out), takes this wild premise and spins it into a game bursting with creativity, satire, and non-stop action.
Mio, a disillusioned sci-fi writer, and Zoe, an upbeat fantasy novelist, arrive at Rader Publishing only to be thrown into an immersive VR simulation that quite literally steals ideas from their minds. The twist? Rader isn’t a publishing house at all—it’s a massive tech conglomerate hell-bent on turning their work into mass-produced, soulless content. In an era where AI-generated media is becoming the norm, Split Fiction’s sharp metaphor is impossible to miss.
From its ingenious level design to fluid co-op mechanics, Split Fiction never ceases to impress.
A Story That Shifts Genres on the Fly
Like Hazelight’s previous co-op titles, Split Fiction requires two players to progress—either through local or online multiplayer. The game’s levels constantly shift between sci-fi and fantasy, reflecting Mio and Zoe’s respective genres.
As players explore these semi-linear worlds, they must combine their unique abilities to progress. For example:
✅ Mio’s sci-fi skills include hacking terminals and using a gravity-defying cyber ninja suit.
✅ Zoe’s fantasy abilities let her shape-shift into magical creatures and wield enchanted weapons.
This constant evolution keeps gameplay fresh and engaging, although some puzzles suffer from vague signposting. One early section, for instance, requires Zoe to shatter an invisible glass barrier, but the game doesn’t clearly indicate that it’s there—leading to minor frustration. Fortunately, these moments are few and far between, and once players settle in, the dynamic between Mio and Zoe keeps the experience engaging.
A Love Letter to Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Gaming Itself
Split Fiction doesn’t just blend two genres—it celebrates the infinite storytelling possibilities of video games. Each main chapter is inspired by one of Mio or Zoe’s books but consistently subverts expectations.
🚀 "Neon Revenge" (Mio’s world) starts as a cyberpunk revenge thriller but quickly evolves into:
- Zero-gravity motorcycle racing
- Explosive car combat
- Cinematic, destructible environments
🧙♀️ "Hopes of Spring" (Zoe’s world) begins as a high-fantasy epic featuring:
- Shape-shifting into mythical creatures
- A magical battle against an Ice King
- An unexpected dance-off with a funky Monkey King 🎵🐵
If that genre-hopping madness wasn’t enough, Split Fiction’s side stories take things even further. These are the authors’ discarded drafts, and they provide some of the game’s most hilariously absurd and inventive moments.
🌈 Highlights include:
✔ Playing as super-powered pigs, one farting rainbows for propulsion while the other bounces like a rubber ball—complete with darkly humorous commentary on meat production.
✔ A spy-thriller mission involving glide-suiting through a mountain pass, ending in a bullet-hell boss fight.
✔ Sandsurfing across desert monsters in a world that pays homage to Dune.
✔ Competing in a chaotic game show that mashes up Smash TV, Squid Game, and Gladiators—all overseen by a totally-not-GLaDOS AI host.
Every level feels like a new, thrilling experience, packed with surprises.
A Few Narrative Stumbles, But Strong Character Development
Despite its brilliant concept, Split Fiction occasionally leans too hard into stereotypical contrasts between its leads. Mio is the cynical, brooding city girl, while Zoe is the cheerful, wide-eyed country girl. Their initial dislike of each other’s genres is almost played to parody levels.
However, thanks to strong voice performances from Kaja Chan and Elsie Bennett, the characters undergo genuine development, avoiding cliche territory.
The game also doesn’t shy away from pop culture references, sometimes a bit too obviously. One moment even has a protagonist outright comparing a level to Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, lampshading it before the player can. But rather than feeling lazy, these references reflect Hazelight’s deep love for gaming’s rich history.
Final Verdict: A Co-op Masterpiece
At its core, Split Fiction is a love letter to creativity. Its relentless pace, laugh-out-loud humor, and genre-bending mechanics make for one of the most unique co-op experiences in recent memory. Whether you’re hacking your way through a cyber-dystopia or competing in a deadly game show, the game never stops surprising you.
With stunning level variety, fantastic co-op mechanics, and a deep passion for storytelling, this might just be Hazelight’s best game yet—and a strong contender for one of the greatest co-op games ever made.
⭐ Rating: 9.5/10 – A Must-Play for Co-op Fans!