Split Fiction: Co-Writing an Adventure into a Split Reality

What happens when two writers are forced to combine a nitty gritty science fiction novel and a light hearted fantasy one? You get Split Fiction, Hazelight Studios newest multiplayer game. 

Split Fiction was released in March 2025 and takes roughly 12 to 16 hours to complete. A unique thing about Split Fiction is that you have to play with a second person, making it multiplayer only. Developer, Hazelight Studios, has done this format of multiplayer two previous times in both It Takes Two and A Way Out. 

You might find yourself asking what kind of game is Split Fiction. Well, that’s a trick question. Is it a platformer? A puzzler? Action-adventure? An extreme sports game? Or a twin stick shooter? The answer to all those questions is yes, thanks to its one of a kind plot. You can find the answer to the question yourself by playing on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Windows, or Steam.

After the massive success of It Takes Two (Previously reviewed here), Hazelight Studios had a lot to live up to with their next game: Split Fiction. Did they manage to pull off yet another phenomenal two player game?

Fresh Book Smell

The story follows two young and unpublished authors—Mio and Zoe—who the players control is their choice (I took Zoe and my friend took Mio). Both are lured to a tech company with the promise they’d get published. They aren’t the only writers snared in this trap, but they’re the only two that matter to the players. Obviously this mysterious and too good to be true offer goes south and Rader (the head of the company) plans to use his machine for his own gain—there's a few other twists here and there, but that’s the basics of the plot.

After Mio is accidentally thrown into Zoe’s simulation, the duo are forced to jump back and forth between their two stories (one sci-fi and the other fantasy), in order to make it out of the simulation, and hopefully reclaim their stories.

The whole idea of Mio and Zoe being stuck in a virtual world is a commentary on the AI slop that is being forced fed into our literature and how writers are beginning to fear for their passion. At its heart, Split Fiction is two big middle fingers to the AI world that has decided art is a commodity that can be “replicated” by their plagiarism engines (AI).

Do It For The Character Development

Both characters are immediately established as polar opposites, which makes their dynamic throughout the game interesting to watch. Mio is a realist who never looks on the bright side and never trusts anyone. She keeps her emotions locked in her head and doesn’t open up to anyone. 

Zoe is the opposite, wearing her emotions on her sleeve and rambling so much you could easily convince me she has the most lines in the whole game. Zoe also constantly looks on the bright side, much to her detriment. But maybe in some ways they’re more similar than you initially think? 

One similarity I’ll point out, without any spoilers, is they both have a devastating secret. While I guessed Zoe’s almost immediately (don’t ask me how, I have no idea), you can find clues to their secrets through their respective stories. At the end of the game, the duo are forced to confront what they’ve worked so hard to keep buried and that only makes their bond grow closer. 

Turn The Page

The platforming is immediately on point. With controls like double jumping, air dashing, and wall scaling at each character’s disposal, Split Fiction matches and goes above and beyond the aerial maneuverability of It Takes Two. Everything flows beautifully. From wall runs to grappling hooks, the movements of the characters and the easily understood controls makes the game a smooth and seamless experience. 

There is, however, one “issue” with the platforming. You must keep up with your partner otherwise it can become quite tricky, but I feel that only adds to the communication and synchronization needed to play a multiplayer game. 

One thing I need to point out is how the characters can’t run into each other and that keeps chase sequences easier since you can’t accidentally block your other half. But don’t worry, there are instances in which the two characters can interact or interfere with each other, which can add some funny moments between you and your companion.

The platforming aspect of Split Fiction is perfect for all players; while it's challenging, it's also easy for those who aren’t as advanced. If you die, your progress doesn’t get reset—as long as your partner doesn’t die as well. Meaning, you can respawn at the next check point once your partner gets there (much like Human: Fall Flat). That’s another bonus, checkpoints are rather frequent leading to a quick, smooth, and seamless respawning. 

Split Fiction isn’t a complicated game, which makes it an easy and nice experience with a lot of interesting environments and mechanics (like It Takes Two). Split Fiction soars thanks to its satisfying focus on collaboration and variety.

Jumping Genres

Split Fiction never stays the same long enough for it to become boring. Every hour or two there's something new, like a setting, plot point, weapon, or mechanic, that keeps the game snowballing into a great ending. The visuals help keep you engaged as well, the entire game is eye-catching and stunning. 

Just because the story bounces between sci-fi and fantasy doesn’t mean you’re stuck with singular ideas. Mio (Sci-fi) has stories ranging from cyber ninjas to a space complex with a dying star, and Zoe (Fantasy) has stories featuring dragons, giants, trolls, and somehow hot dogs…? 

If I’m being fully honest for a moment, Zoe’s stories are basic and somewhat boring in the beginning. They’re light hearted and silly, making them seem not all that important to the plot, but I can promise you they are. Later in the game, the fantasy side of things begins to darken and in that darkness you learn a secret from Zoe’s past that explains why she has such a bright outlook on life. 

Plot Holes

A game as dense as Split Fiction has to have a short coming somewhere, right? Wrong. There’s nothing negative to say about Split Fiction. The only thing is that I wish there was more. I can see there being downloadable content (DLCs) in the future based on the stories of the other writers stuck in simulations. 

One Last Chapter

With no blatant issues in Split Fiction, and a slight bias because I’m a writer myself, Split Fiction is one of my favorite recent games. The story and mechanics blend seamlessly together and I would consider it a perfect two player game. 

I also love the two main characters. While they both can get annoying, I love that you eventually understand why the characters are the way they are. Which makes the story all that more impactful in the end. 

So pull out your controller and get ready for the story of a lifetime. 

My Rating