Split Fiction, made by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts, grabs my attention fast. Since Hazelight won Game of the Year for It Takes Two in 2021, expectations run high. Players rave about 50% puzzles, 50% chaos, and 100% blaming your friend, which says a lot. Moreover, I loved the way combat and puzzle tools connect. The game forces teamwork with clear roles. Additionally, controls feel tight, and you switch between abilities cleanly when the level demands it. Mechanically, the sci-fi and fantasy swaps let designers mash two rulesets together. Consequently, that mash-up pushes the action-adventure genre in fresh, focused directions. If you like high-skill play, the combo windows and ability timing reward practice. Quick studio fact: Josef Fares leads Hazelight and focuses on co-op-first design, which clearly shows here.
I dug into the worlds and collectibles right away. The art hides lots of tiny secrets. Furthermore, the game gives vaults, lore pages, and world-specific trinkets to track, and those feed completion goals. Players who praised visuals and varied gameplay hit the mark. Each world looks distinct and purposeful. One user said cutscenes are minimal; therefore, completionists can stay in the action. However, I want a clearer completion tracker and more meta-maps, since those would help 100 percent runs. Hazelight tends to build levels that hide clever routes, and you see that in Split Fiction too. The fantasy zones hide platforming collectibles, while the sci-fi zones hide tech modules and nodes. Studio fact: Hazelight designs set-pieces to force co-op solutions, which in turn increases collectible creativity.
From an explorer view, Split Fiction feels like a string of mini-open worlds. Each scene invites a look. Because the worlds switch from dragon valleys to neon streets in moments, exploration stays fresh. I loved finding tiny easter eggs that nod to It Takes Two and other Hazelight touches. User praise for constantly varied gameplay scenarios is accurate, since you almost never see the same formula twice. The game does not feel fully open-world; instead, it gives sandbox-like pockets to roam and experiment. For secrets, push physics toys and test ability combos, because you often break obvious paths. Quick fact: Hazelight likes to surprise players with genre-mixing scenes, according to developer interviews, and it shows here.
As a speedrunner, I see clear routes to shave time. Checkpoint placement feels fair. Because physics chaos can help or hurt a run depending on predictability, that matters a lot. The ability swaps let you sequence-break if you time jumps and attacks perfectly, which opens runs. Look for reusable movement tech, like boosted dashes or dragon mounts used for skips, and memorize those. A user asked for launcher removal, and fewer launchers mean easier setup for speedruns and community runs. Hazelight’s prior titles had tight checkpoints, and that design encourages speedrun communities to form. Tip: record splits at world swaps, since those transitions hide the biggest time saves.
Let’s dig into story hooks. Two authors, Mio and Zoe, get trapped in their own fiction, and that premise sells tension. Because Hazelight often uses personal relationships to drive gameplay, that emotional core powers the whole experience. Players complained characters can be grating. Nevertheless, dialogue is snappy and short overall to keep pacing tight. Developers told press they wanted surprise and friendship at the core, which aims at emotional beats. Moreover, pacing keeps moments short and memorable. You rarely sit through long exposition, and that suits co-op play.
Story reveals tie into hidden lore collectibles. Finding memory fragments enriches character backgrounds. Since the worlds reveal backstory through objects rather than walls of text, that suits my collecting habit. However, I want more optional side scenes for lore, as that would please completionists hungry for depth.
Dialogue quality stays punchy, and the banter fits couch co-op reactions. Although some players find characters loud, minimal cutscenes keep exploration active. That matches players who want action over long story beats. Developer interviews stress playable drama over long monologues, and Hazelight said they prefer gameplay-first moments.
The visuals jump between warm fantasy palettes and cold neon palettes, and that contrast helps gameplay readouts. The engine feels smooth; animations respond quickly. Therefore, I expect Unreal-like tech under the hood. Art direction borrows from toylike, cinematic design, similar to It Takes Two, which creates charm. Performance varies with chaotic physics scenes, since large particle effects can drop frame pace briefly. Quick studio fact: Hazelight uses cinematic tools and strong color contrast to sell each world’s identity.
The animation on creatures is great. Dragons feel weighty, and small props have readable shapes. Because color choices guide you to interactables, designers use tint and contrast to hint secrets. On consoles, textures look crisp, whereas PC owners can push settings for higher fidelity.
I noticed level art cues that signal safe exploration zones. That design helps new players roam boldly. Inspirations feel like a mix of fantasy platformers and cyberpunk action set-pieces, and the mash-up works.
Sound design mixes orchestral fantasy with synth-driven sci-fi, so the soundtrack matches each world. Furthermore, sound effects tell you when environmental hazards reset or when a puzzle accepts an item, which is smart feedback. Voice acting is energetic. Although some players call the characters annoying, the delivery fuels the chaotic tone. Hazelight often prioritizes expressive performances to heighten co-op reactions, and that shows here.
Music cues help locate secrets. I often followed a theme to hidden rooms, and that’s smart audio design. Yet a few lines repeat during longer sessions, so more line variety would help the completionist ear.
Environmental audio cues help hunting. Because you hear dragon wings before you see them, tension and reward build naturally. The soundtrack also keeps the mood alive during swaps between genres.
Audio cues help timing in runs. For instance, footstep cadence and enemy sounds give real-time info, so you should learn them. Lowering some music layers in runs can expose critical audio ticks for perfect splits.
Characters Mio and Zoe are written as contrasting voices, which creates natural push-pull gameplay. Their skills mirror their genres, so cooperation feels meaningful beyond simple roles. Representation feels focused on personality diversity more than identity politics, and the cast serves the story. Character arcs tie to memory recovery, which stakes player choices emotionally.
I liked finding small diary notes about each author, because those deepen their motivations. For completionists, character-driven side items reward curiosity and empathy.
Their banter sets the tone. It often reads like two friends arguing while saving the universe, which can be funny. However, if you dislike loud characters, you can skip most cutscenes and stay in gameplay, which helps.
Character abilities affect routing. Some paths only open with specific skill combos. That changes replay routes. Knowing the arc of abilities helps plan runs and practice strats.
Challenge balance mixes combat, platforming, and puzzle timing. That keeps combat fluid and tactical. Some players reported spikes in difficulty during boss set-pieces. Those spikes demand coordination. Overall, the curve feels designed for co-op learning and experimentation. That fits Hazelight’s co-op focus.
Puzzles reward exploration and item use. The more you probe, the more solutions you find. Achievements and hidden rooms encourage replay hunting. The completion path feels rewarding.
Exploration challenges feel fair. Enemy layouts allow creative avoidance or direct confrontation. If you love variety, the game gives it. You face trolls, cyborgs, and environmental hazards in one hour.
For accessibility, I’d like adjustable enemy HP and puzzle hints toggles. That would widen the player base. Checkpoint and assist options make or break community runs. Hazelight could publish an official assist mode.
Replay value comes from cooperative chemistry, hidden routes, and alternate ability combos. The game’s short, punchy scenes encourage multiple sessions and exploration replays. Compared to It Takes Two, Split Fiction leans more chaotic and less linear in set-piece variety.
Multiple collectibles, optional fights, and lore seeds invite replay. Collectible trackers would help planning runs. The game length supports a couple of full revisits to get 100 percent.
Replayability hinges on how much your partner explores. Different partners lead to new discoveries. The variety of worlds makes each run feel like a new mini-campaign.
Speedrun leaders will find route diversity fun. The physics and swaps create many categories. Community challenges and time trials could boost long-term engagement.
Final thoughts: Split Fiction pushes co-op with bold genre shifts and tight teamwork. Hazelight and Electronic Arts backed a risky, creative idea. It stands out by swapping rules mid-level and by keeping players active and laughing. Similar games: It Takes Two — a must-play if you like inventive co-op puzzles and deep relationship stories. A Way Out — another Hazelight title focused on cooperative story beats and shared solutions. Portal 2 — offers brilliant co-op puzzles and tight design that rewards coordination.
Final thoughts: The game shines for completionists who love hidden lore and varied collectibles. Hazelight’s set-piece design fills each world with discoverable content. That’s a big win. Similar games: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons — strong narrative puzzles and emotional moments. Unravel Two — charming co-op platforming with collectible-driven exploration.
Final thoughts: If you love exploring themed worlds, Split Fiction keeps surprising you every hour. Developer interviews confirm Hazelight wanted to shock and delight players. They achieved that. Similar games: Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart — dimension-hopping action with bold art and toylike set pieces.
Final thoughts: The game offers speedrun potential and varied route choices. Timing and physics mastery help. Removing extra launcher friction helps community growth, as users praised. That matters. Similar games: Portal Knights or any timed co-op challenge title for practicing fast routing.
Overall, Split Fiction rewards cooperation, experimentation, and curiosity. Hazelight and Electronic Arts delivered a brave co-op adventure.
Look for collectibles, track your progress, and enjoy each world’s secrets.
Bring a friend who loves to explore and laugh at chaos.
Practice movement tech, learn audio cues, and you can shave serious minutes.
