Split Fiction Review Thread

Game Information

Game Title: Split Fiction

Platforms:

  • Xbox Series X/S (Mar 6, 2025)
  • PlayStation 5 (Mar 6, 2025)
  • PC (Mar 6, 2025)

Trailers:

Developer: Hazelight Studios

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 91 average - 100% recommended - 45 reviews

Critic Reviews

Atarita - Atakan Gümrükçüoğlu - Turkish - 100 / 100

If you're wondering how to push the boundaries of imagination in a game, you might want to check out Split Fiction. Gorgeous and always surprising level designs, masterfully designed platforms, and an intriguing story ending. You should definitely play this game, and if possible, bring your best friend with you.

But Why Tho? - Arron Kluz - 9 / 10

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.

CGMagazine - Justin Wood - 10 / 10

Split Fiction reminded me how fun games can be, and was like rediscovering video games as fun as an adult. It let me forget the world around me and lose myself in this incredibly emotional, fun, and engaging game.

Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 9.5 / 10

Split Fiction is Hazelight Studios at its most ambitious, delivering a bold, inventive co-op adventure that pushes boundaries. Every level introduces fresh mechanics, keeping gameplay dynamic and challenging. The writing is sharp, the world design is stunning, and the boss fights are some of the most creative in years. While the villain falls flat, the emotional depth of Mio and Zoe's journey makes for a compelling story about creativity, identity, and collaboration. It's a must-play for co-op fans who love a challenge. Hazelight Studios proves once again that no one does co-op better.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 9 / 10

Hazelight Studio's Split Fiction elevates the co-op experience to new heights while telling a touching story about loss and friendship.

Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - 5 / 5

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Digital Spy - Jess Lee - 4 / 5

While Split Fiction doesn't necessarily break new ground, it's an entertaining ride and delivers a polished co-operative experience with an infectious level of enthusiasm.

Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 3.5 / 5

Split Fiction is hokey, muddled, and needlessly self-defeating. It’s also lively, inventive, and so earnest that it’s hard to be mad at it for long. These aren’t opposing forces that tear Hazelight’s latest apart; the clumsiness is inseparable from the delight. Both are born from the ambitious vision of artists who still believe in the magic of creativity and are willing to take big swings in its honor. Sometimes it absolutely whiffs. We all do. Fail again. Fail better. But it’s those moments where it connects, where simple ideas turn into unforgettable spectacle, that remind us why art can’t be automated. Even the most advanced machine can never dream bigger than a human with a heart.

Digitec Magazine - Philipp Rüegg - German - 5 / 5

The amount of ideas would have been enough for ten games, whereby the novelty would have quickly evaporated. And that is exactly what makes the game so appealing. As soon as you get used to one scene or mechanic, the next one follows. It never gets boring. The game moves at an incredible pace.

DualShockers - Ethan Krieger - 9 / 10

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GAMES.CH - Olaf Bleich - German - 87%

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GRYOnline.pl - Krzysztof Mysiak - Polish - 9 / 10

Split Fiction is yet another triumph for Josef Fares. In the area of co-op experiences, nobody has even come close to what Hazelight proposes. No one can top this brilliant and incredibly difficult to execute gameplay formula. I can’t wait to hear the developers fiery speech at this year’s Game Awards, when he will undoubtedly receive another trophy.

GameSpot - Jessica Cogswell - 10 / 10

Split Fiction is more than a hilarious, compassionate, and delightful new benchmark for multiplayer experiences--it is a remarkable love letter to creativity, video games, and companionship.

Gameblog - French - 9 / 10

The stakes were high after It Takes Two. How to get past GOTY 2021? Hazelight found the answer with Split Fiction. A true gameplay success, it's never a pleasure to hold the controller in your hand. Josef Fares' teams have not lost any of their inventiveness, either, and manage to offer us a gameplay experience we never tire of. Most of the storyline could have done with a bit more surprise, but it's a solid one that works from start to finish. What more could you ask for? It's another nugget from a studio that puts the pleasure of playing above all else.

Gamepressure - Matt Buckley - 9 / 10

Split Fiction is another jewel in Hazelight Studio’s ever-growing crown of co-op adventures. This game constantly introduces new mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh, and each new story feels unique, despite continually returning to the same two genres. There are random difficulty spikes that can easily trip up inexperienced players and lead to frustration, but this was some of the most fast-paced, light-hearted fun I’ve had in a long time.

Gamer.no - Espen Jansen - Unknown - 8 / 10

Despite its somewhat lackluster story and a few wearisome sci-fi sequences, Split Fiction is a solid next outing for Hazelight. The game delivers a plethora of charming vistas, some truly engaging gameplay mechanics and great co-op innovations through most of its 12 hour journey.

Gamers Heroes - Johnny Hurricane - 95 / 100

Split Fiction is truly a blast to play and is one of the only games this year that I recommend to everyone. Needless to say, 2025’s Game of the Year discussion just got even more complicated with Split Fiction.

Gaming Age - Matthew Pollesel - 8.5 / 10

Regardless of whether you want to play with someone else in-person or online, Split Fiction is well worth your time. It’s an excellent co-op adventure, and it’s easy to imagine the game garnering the same kind of following – and accolades – as It Takes Two.

Gaming Nexus - Joseph Moorer - 10 / 10

Split Fiction is one of the best genre crossing, action packed, adrenaline rushing, heart wrenching games both Jason and myself have ever played. A few hours in, we were dodging ogres and shooting down ships. By the end of the game, our friendship became stronger, our hearts grew three times larger, and we realized that Split Fiction is one of the best games of this era. Anyone saying otherwise, is spitting fiction.

IGN Deutschland - Achim Fehrenbach - German - 9 / 10

Colossal co-op entertainment: The action-adventure Split Fiction ignites a veritable firework of gameplay in breathtakingly beautiful game worlds - and tells a touching story along the way.

Kakuchopurei - Lewis Larcombe - 80 / 100

At the end of the day, Split Fiction is exactly what co-op gaming should be—fun, engaging, and just frustrating enough to make you want to throw the controller, but not the relationship, out the window. It’s not a revolutionary experience, but it’s a damn good one. And in a world where split-screen co-op is becoming rarer than a good Nicolas Cage movie, that’s worth celebrating.

MKAU Gaming - Dylan Kocins - 10 / 10

Hazelight Studios has once again proven with ‘Split Fiction’ that they are masters of the co-op genre, crafting an experience that is both emotionally resonant and mechanically brilliant.

Noisy Pixel - Azario Lopez - 8 / 10

Split Fiction is a wildly imaginative co-op adventure that thrives on unpredictability. Hazelight Studios masterfully blends platforming, puzzles, and genre shifts into a thrilling yet sometimes overwhelming experience. While its narrative structure can feel disjointed, the inventive gameplay and forced collaboration make it a must-play for co-op fans.

One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 8 / 10

Split Fiction presents a blend of game mechanics, story ideas, and narrative elements that offer an entertaining and engaging affair from start to finish. The main campaign deserves to be followed, with numerous intriguing side stories that enrich the overall experience.

Although the title starts slower than It Takes Two, Split Fiction ultimately delivers the same signature, satisfying co-op adventure that can only be experienced through the creative vision of Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight Studios.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 10 / 10

Cooperation at the highest level with interesting stories of the main characters and a bit silly main plot, but.... how it all comes together well. The finale will make you want to play again. At least a second time.

PSX Brasil - Marco Aurélio Couto - Portuguese - 100 / 100

Split Fiction cements Hazelight as one of the best studios today and proves that creative freedom and fun are still essential concepts for the gaming industry. With unique gameplay that never stops introducing new ideas, an engaging narrative and exemplary technical execution, Split Fiction is not only the pinnacle of cooperative games, but also an unforgettable experience.

Press Start - 9.5 / 10

Split Fiction is a masterclass of game design, and is yet another instant classic from a team who have, across a span of three games, rewritten the handbook on how to develop fun and insanely inventive stories that'll be remembered for one thing, among others: spotlighting the power of friendship.

Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 10 / 10

Split Fiction is Hazelight Studios' best game yet, and stands out as one of the most accomplished and fun co-op titles on PS5 to date. Its peerless variety means there's never a dull moment, and all of its different mechanics are consistently well-executed. There are one or two minor complaints you can throw at this, but they all fade into the background when the game is constantly showing you new ideas and almost never pausing for breath. This is proof, if more was needed, that Josef Fares and his team has found a really special formula, one that allows them to explore an incredible range of gameplay that's only enhanced by its singular co-op vision.

Quest Daily - Julian Price - 10 / 10

Split Fiction isn’t just one of the best co-op games I’ve played — it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played, period. A truly unforgettable experience, its relentless creativity, thrilling set pieces, and emotional storytelling set a new bar for co-op adventures.

SECTOR.sk - Matúš Štrba - Slovak - 9 / 10

In the end, you won't even know how the 15 hours of Split Fiction have flown by as you immerse yourself in worlds of boundless imagination. Perhaps no game has ever offered so many ideas at once. Yes, not everything works 100%, and occasionally something could use a little more attention, but it's still an experience you'll enjoy and return to again and again.

SIFTER - Gianni Di Giovanni, Adam Christou - Loved

Asymmetrical design really stands out with some funny and absolutely unforgettable gameplay that had us cackling when we just lost ourselves in play. The story merely serves as the thinnest veneer to get you from one set piece to another but that's fine, SPLIT FICTION might not have the same emotional resonance of previous Hazelight games, but we couldn't wait to switch characters and try it again.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 8 / 10

The game is brimming with ideas and homages and bombards you constantly with new gameplay styles, with varying degrees of quality, but the good outnumbers the bad easily.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 9 / 10

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Sirus Gaming - Lexuzze Tablante - 10 / 10

Split Fiction goes beyond just another great co-op game from Hazelight; it reignites the importance of couch co-op. It's a reminder that truly memorable co-op experiences are built in the living room, sharing laughter, brainstorming, and emotional moments together. This game is a grand spectacle of co-op.

TechRaptor - Erren Van Duine - 9 / 10

Split Fiction is one of the most ambitious games ever made. Despite its lofty goals, the team at Hazelight has put together a solid character narrative, with so many fun gameplay mechanics to help the protagonists on their big adventure.

The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 10 / 10

Split Fiction goes beyond offering the greatest co-op adventure this year. It is a love letter to many game genres and franchises that reminds us that games can be all about having fun with someone else.

Tom's Hardware Italia - Giulia Serena - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Split Fiction is an experience that celebrates creativity and human connection, immersing players in the role of two young writers tormented by their inner demons. It's precisely the differences between the two that give rise to worlds totally distinct from each other, allowing players to enjoy gameplay that is always diversified, fresh, and fun. In this, the title from Hazelight Studios is nothing short of excellent, continuously proposing new game mechanics within graphically and technically spectacular levels. However, the narrative is lacking, generally of a lower standard compared to It Takes Two and at times banal and predictable. In any case, if you're looking for a local or online co-op experience, Split Fiction is highly recommended, representing the perfect title to entertain the whole family.

Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 9.1 / 10

Whether you're being propelled through the air with the power of pig farts or tearing up thanks to an emotional reveal, Split Fiction is so densely packed with hilarity, heart, and hectic action that you'll never forget every moment you spent playing it with a friend. 📚

WellPlayed - Adam Ryan - 8.5 / 10

Building off the strong foundation that is It Takes Two, Split Fiction is a consistently charming and entertaining co-op adventure that doesn't take a single second to rest between its frankly insane number of unique and well-designed gameplay mechanics.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 9 / 10

Split Fiction is fantastic. The story and characters are great thanks to the nuance sprinkled throughout to give everything and everyone some unexpected depth. The constant switching of various genres keeps the game fresh, since none of the tales linger for too long, and the same can be said for the various gameplay additions in conjunction with the solid platforming. Combined with the cross-platform play and accessibility features to ensure that everyone can get through the title, the only reason to not pick up Split Fiction is if you despise co-op play. For everyone else, grab this early contender for "Best Of" lists for 2025.

XGN.nl - Luuc ten Velde - Dutch - 8.8 / 10

Split Fiction is an excellent follow-up to It Takes Two. Though the very similar concept loses its shine a little bit, constantly changing gameplay, a heartwarming story and plenty of memorable moments make up for that. As does the plethora of easter eggs that can be found throughout the game.

Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 88%

Director Josef Fares' studio Hazelight has carved itself out quite the niche. A Way Out and It Takes Two demonstrated how adept the developer i...

XboxEra - Jon Clarke - 10 / 10

Split Fiction is, at its heart, a celebration about how wonderful, imaginative and downright clever videogames can be when they choose to embrace what they are – an art form that thrives on interactivity, creativity, and boundless possibility. Hazelight have proven that once again, when it comes to building distinct experiences that blend storytelling, mechanics, and player agency – they have no equal.

Spectacular.

ZTGD - Terrence Johnson - 9.5 / 10

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