REVIEW: ‘Split Fiction’ Is Co-Op Bliss

Split Fiction is the newest co-op adventure game from Hazelight and published by Electronic Arts’ EA Originals program. It continues the evolution of what has becoming Hazelight’s trademark co-op style in titles like It Takes Two and A Way Out.  And it very well could be the best the studio has made thus far.

Split Fiction continues Hazelight’s tradition of seamlessly combining layered co-operative gameplay and a thematically heavy story. It is a compelling mixture that only Hazelight offers up at such an exciting production level, and with Split Fiction, it seems that Hazelight has mastered it.

The game’s story lays the foundation for its gameplay and structure, so it is easiest to start there. Split Fiction follows two writers, both desperate to be published, named Mio and Zoe. Mio is a city-dwelling science fiction writer, while Zoe writes fantasy and loves the quiet of the countryside. The pair are both tricked into giving all of their story ideas to a nefarious tech company under the pretense of being published. Before they are both put into the company’s machine that somehow steals their ideas by simulating them with the artist, however, Mio panics and tries to leave, resulting in her and Zoe being jacked into the machine together by both being suspended in a weird techno-bubble.

This results in Mio and Zoe experiencing a blend of their stories that the machine is trying to extract. Luckily, glitches appear throughout the stories because the two are unexpectedly connected together, allowing them to try and find a way to escape before the company can steal their stories. With this foundation, it is no surprise that the story heavily explores the nature and impact of its characters’ creativity and does so to great effect.

Split Fiction understands art and creativity are lifelines. 

Throughout the story, Mio and Zoe grow to understand and appreciate one another right alongside the player. Experiencing their stories slowly peels back the layers of each character, revealing why they think and act the way they do and how writing has helped them cope with life. Not only does it make the characters more interesting, but it is also a beautiful love letter to the power of creativity and art. It showcases just how much being creative can do for a person throughout their lifetime, both for them and their relationships, as the player watches Mio and Zoe’s friendship grow.

Then there is the gameplay. Split Fiction can only be played with two players, either in local split-screen or online. Luckily, anyone who buys a copy doesn’t have to convince a friend to pick it up. The game continues Hazelight’s friend pass feature, which allows players to invite a friend to play with them even if they don’t own the game themselves. In Split Fiction, this can even be done if they are playing on a different platform.

Co-op play is required here because each level is intricately built. Each level places the players in an entirely different world, with each Zoe and Mio having a unique set of abilities that must be combined to defeat enemies, navigate areas, and solve puzzles. Playing through the game as each character is almost an entirely new experience.

Explore a plethora of worlds with Mio and Zoe. 

For example, one early level focuses on a story by Mio where the players are cyber ninjas fighting for revenge because of receiving a parking ticket in a neon-soaked cyberpunk dystopia. For the level, Mio is equipped with a laser katana that can be used to attack enemies, cut cords, and teleport her to pads placed throughout the level. Those pads can also switch Mio’s gravity, allowing her to run on walls or the ceiling. Meanwhile, Zoe is given a gravity whip, allowing her to move, lift, and throw particular objects around the level.

With these weapons, Mio and Zoe navigate a highway of racing hovercars, fight off pursuing police, destroy a giant parking-enforcing robot, and solve many puzzles. On top of that, the level frequently mixes things up with segments of sliding and dodging obstacles, flying a car, and shooting at enemies, and a segment where Mio drives a gravity-defining motorcycle. At the same time, Zoe navigates a captcha on a cell phone to stop it from self-destructing.

Levels constantly mix things up and challenge players with new mechanics and ideas in a way that keeps things fresh and a lot of fun. During missions, players can also find optional segments called side stories based on Zoe and Mio’s smaller ideas. These offer minor diversions focused on either a wacky idea, like running around on pigs only to be turned into hot dogs, or a fun minigame, like an SSX-inspired futuristic snowboarding competition. Each one offers a fun, unique diversion from the main game, and finding one always brings a rush of excitement.

The most impressive element of Split Fiction is how well it ties everything together. Its disparate locales and subplots all share a beautiful, unified art style with a story that melds perfectly with its gameplay. And each of its different mechanics and unique moments help make the others feel special since they are all so unique and fun. It is an absolute must-play for fans of co-op games and shows that Hazelight’s signature style has plenty to offer.

Split Fiction releases on March 6 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.