Split Fiction Review – The Best of All Worlds

Split Fiction on PS5

The narrative has always been an integral part of the gaming experience, even when games were delivered with just text, and in 2025, that has not changed. For the most part, a gripping story can capture players’ imaginations and keep them going even when gameplay falters. Thankfully, with Split Fiction, EA Original and Hazelight Studios have gone the extra mile for both aspects, creating a tale of friendship that works hand in hand with stellar co-op gameplay, and probably their best work yet.

As with every other game coming out from the acclaimed studio, it’s all about co-op gameplay, and we get to live everything through the dual protagonists of Mio Hudson and Zoe Foster. Aspiring writers hoping to get their stories published, their distinct personalities are immediately apparent at first sight, setting the stage for an uneasy coexistence that eventually grows into a budding friendship.

Without going into spoilers, Split Fiction is all about getting the pair into unique and creative situations that serve as fertile ground for the relationship to be nurtured and grown. Just as players will undoubtedly learn more about themselves and their co-op partners, the same applies to the fleshing out of Mio and Zoe’s characters. The excellent writing may play into tropes at times, but there is an obvious care being put into the pair and their backgrounds, which continuously provided the impetus to keep going.

Obviously, all of that development would be wasted if the gameplay didn’t match up, but that is a worry that no one should have coming into the game. After all, the same folks who have given us Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, A Way Out, and It Takes Two have had plenty of practice in crafting gameplay sequences that are unequivocally fun and engaging. More importantly, that level of quality applies on both ends, be it playing locally in couch co-op or online.

As our heroines jump through various fantasy and sci-fi worlds plucked from their imaginations, it gives the Split Fiction developers the opportunity to throw in wild ideas and mechanics that just seem to work seamlessly, and that’s no mean feat. Every single level contains new elements of play for the pair, and in turn, you and your partner, and there isn’t anything significant that you can do on your own.

And variety truly is the spice of life here, with everything from shooters, platformers, stealth, to action cobbled together for an unforgettable journey. You could be wielding a laser whip that grants telekinesis while your partner uses her futuristic sword to play with gravity, leading to action and platforming sequences that continue to boggle the mind. In another level, you might become a shapeshifter that transforms into a giant ape and a spritely water-loving creature, whereas the other half is a faerie and a towering treant.

That’s before we even step into the territory of side stories, where I imagine is how Hazelight Studios get their kicks by creating the most insane scenarios that are delightful, funny, and wonderfully weird at times. If you ever told me that I enjoy playing as a rainbow-farting pig that eventually becomes a sausage, and also grilling myself for a picnic party, I would have called you crazy, but alas. Expectations were surpassed, and brilliantly so, in these supposed diversions. It is highly recommended that you hunt these down when you can.

Split Fiction is unabashedly pushing the limits of a co-op adventure and making sure players are coordinating and cooperating to make it through. It is already an arduous task trying to have players contend with mind-bending puzzles and challenging combat on their own, but throw in another person who has their part to play, and it creates room for chaos.

But within this chaos comes the beauty of involvement, where working hand in hand is the only and right way to overcome the obstacles standing in your way. And through Mio and Zoe, it holds relevancy to how we handle relationships in the real world, and despite how each of us has our own way of dealing with problems, it never hurts to have someone lend a helping hand.

That commitment to making things work continues with how accessible the game can be. There are various ways to customise the experience to work for players of different abilities, which is always a good thing. Then there is the fantastic Friend’s Pass, which essentially lets someone play the entire game for free as long as the partner owns the game. Add in cross-platform play across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, and there is almost no excuse for anyone not to try out Split Fiction and be enamoured.

Perhaps the only aspect that works against the game is that sense of waste when each primary level is such a wonderfully realised space, but other than story progression, there really isn’t much to do or see. Granted, some interesting environmental interactions make for quirky observations and conversations, but beyond that, it feels like the levels could have had more to do that breaks up the linearity.

From a visual standpoint, the world design is immaculate, instantly immersing the player in whatever world Zoe and Mio happen to visit. Character designs are also gorgeous in their many forms, adding to the enjoyment of the special abilities and gameplay mechanics that help each experience stand out. The only parts that didn’t have the same impact are the ones that see the heroines outside of the fantastical worlds, but that is negligible for the most part.

What Hazelight has done with Split Fiction is simply amazing, using their expertise to craft a co-op adventure that feels just right. There are all sorts of gameplay sequences that can appeal to different tastes, an engrossing story told through the characters and the worlds, and splendidly propped up by imaginative cooperative interactions that have none of the frustration and all of the charm. It might not be the best co-op game for everyone, but from a design perspective, there are no split opinions; this is Hazelight Studios’ best work yet.

Split Fiction will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on March 7.