Split Fiction Delivers Inventive Co-Op Gameplay Despite Narrative Shortcomings

Hazelight Studios' latest title refines its co-op formula with creative mechanics but struggles with pacing and storytelling.

Split Fiction is a cooperative action-adventure game from Hazelight Studios, known for It Takes Two, featuring two writers trapped in a machine that turns their stories into interactive worlds.
The game alternates between sci-fi and fantasy settings, offering unique gameplay mechanics and puzzles tailored to each genre, with players controlling characters Mio and Zoe collaboratively.
Critics praised the variety and creativity of the gameplay, including inventive 'Side Stories,' but noted that some levels felt overly long and occasionally repetitive.
The narrative, tackling themes like creativity and the exploitation of ideas, received mixed reviews, with some finding the story predictable and its commentary heavy-handed.
Split Fiction's challenging co-op gameplay and polished presentation have been widely lauded, though its difficulty may be daunting for less experienced players.