- Worse: overall quality The reviewer ultimately preferred Split Fiction over It Takes Two.
- Compared: difficulty The reviewer found Split Fiction harder than It Takes Two.
- Similar: platforming feel The reviewer compared its platforming favorably with It Takes Two.
Split Fiction Review
Bottom Line
Choose Split Fiction for inventive two-player co-op, rapid gameplay variety, and memorable set pieces. Skip it if you need solo play, polished writing, or an easier casual-partner experience.
Best for
Best for two players who enjoy active communication, puzzle-platforming, rapid genre shifts, and set-piece-driven co-op. It especially suits pairs who can laugh through trial-and-error moments.
Not for
Not for players who need a solo mode, deep progression, open exploration, or consistently strong writing. Casual partners may also find some combat, platforming, and boss sections more demanding than expected.
Verdict
Split Fiction’s reviews point to a standout co-op adventure built on constant reinvention, generous checkpoints, strong presentation, and unusually committed two-player design. Reviewers repeatedly praised the side stories, puzzle cooperation, set pieces, and finale as inventive highlights that keep the experience fresh. The main tradeoff is that the same maximalist pace and co-op dependence can expose weaker writing, predictable character beats, and tougher demands on less experienced partners. Switch 2 impressions add another caveat: portability and local convenience are valuable, but visuals and frame rate take hits. Overall, the evidence favors Split Fiction as a highly polished, joy-forward co-op showcase with storytelling and platform-specific rough edges.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
God Of War 2
- Similar: boss presentation The reviewer said some bosses had a God Of War 2 flavor.
Metroid Prime
- Similar: rolling ball puzzle mechanics The reviewer compared one rolling-ball chapter to Metroid Prime.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
59 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 46% 27 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 32% 19 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 17% 10 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 5% 3 features
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
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Co-op experience was the strongest consensus point, repeatedly described as excellent, accessible, communicative, and central to the fun.
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Content variety was a major strength, especially side stories, genre shifts, and constantly changing mechanics.
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Puzzle design was consistently praised for co-op dependence, teamwork, and creativity, with only occasional simplicity noted.
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Level design stood out for memorable finales, strong set pieces, and mechanics that could sustain larger ideas.
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Performance optimization was praised across several reviews, with smooth operation on consoles and strong overall polish.
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Innovation was strongly praised through creative levels, final sequences, and inventive co-op design.
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Fun factor was consistently high, even among more critical reviewers.
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Art direction was widely praised for striking worlds, scale, and strong creative environments, even on compromised hardware.
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Graphics were usually praised as gorgeous or stunning, with Switch 2 visual compromises noted by one reviewer.
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The checkpoint system was consistently praised for generosity, fast respawns, and reducing frustration.
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Cross-play support was praised as player-friendly and helpful for Friend’s Pass co-op.
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Emotional impact landed for several reviewers, especially through friendship themes and later character moments.
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Character development earned praise from reviewers who felt Mio and Zoe’s relationship and emotional growth paid off.
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Controls were generally seen as responsive and intuitive, with one Switch 2 local controller setup working without issue.
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Couch co-op quality was praised for local convenience and the way Hazelight supports shared-play experiences.
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Movement received strong praise for added weight, consistency, and approachability.
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Platform-specific support stood out on Switch 2 through kickstand/tabletop play and Game Share functionality.
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Platforming was repeatedly called precise and immediately satisfying.
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Animation quality was praised in the technical review, especially for effective character animation.
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The core loop was praised as gameplay-first, using its premise mainly to enable new co-op situations.
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Cross-save/progression support was praised where non-host progression carried over.
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Environmental detail was praised for keeping varied worlds visually interesting.
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Facial animation/lip sync received specific praise from one reviewer.
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Handheld play suitability was praised for portable convenience despite technical tradeoffs.
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Multiplayer design was praised for fitting the exclusively co-op approach and supporting differing skill levels.
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Side-story quests were considered worthwhile and rewarding to find.
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World-building was praised for immersive, explorable worlds built from the protagonists’ imaginations.
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Reviewers broadly praised the constantly changing mechanics and strong moment-to-moment play, though a few found some actions forgettable or simple.
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Polish was generally strong, though some reviewers mentioned rough gameplay stretches or platform-specific compromises.
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Originality was mixed: some called it audacious or original, while another argued it was polished more than new.
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Online stability was generally positive, with rare lag or strong latency reports.
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Pacing was one of the most praised areas, though a minority felt certain ideas lingered too long or were not flawless.
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Boss design was often praised for imagination and spectacle, with some caveats around daunting or repeated patterns.
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Split-screen quality was useful for coordination, though small handheld details could still be harder to read.
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Difficulty was seen as forgiving but more demanding than earlier Hazelight games, especially for casual or unseasoned partners.
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Frame rate stability was platform-dependent: strong on most versions, but Switch 2 had noticeable dips in demanding moments.
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Value for money was helped by Friend’s Pass and sharing features, though one review noted it was shorter and more expensive than its predecessor.
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The learning curve was approachable for experienced players but could require adjustment for casual players.
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Age appropriateness was considered fitting for a Teen rating, with some language and blood but nothing gratuitous.
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Combat was described positively when the game shifts into shooter and action-platforming sequences.
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Family friendliness was supported by forgiving co-op design that can work across different skill levels.
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Mission variety was strong overall, but a few sci-fi sections were called less memorable.
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Replay value was mixed: alternate characters and modes help, but some reviewers still saw it as a one-and-done game.
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Camera behavior was split between praise for clear tracking and complaints about awkward perspective shifts.
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Soundtrack quality was mixed: some heard an upgrade or strong genre styling, while another found it forgettable.
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Accessibility support was praised for options like damage reduction and checkpoint skipping, though one review encountered a failed QuickTime accessibility workaround.
Cons
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Onboarding was praised for intuitive design but criticized on Switch 2 crossplay setup for poor in-game explanation.
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Voice acting was mixed, with some praise for performances but criticism that delivery did not elevate weaker writing.
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Narrative quality divided reviewers: some liked the human story and concept, while others found the plot predictable or forgettable.
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Matchmaking quality was limited because finding a partner could still be a challenge.
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Progression was intentionally minimal, with no score tracking or skill leveling, which some players may find limiting.
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Dialogue drew mixed responses, ranging from thoughtful and believable to painfully uninspired or full of cliches.
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Protagonist appeal was mixed because several reviewers needed time to warm up to Mio and Zoe, or never found them interesting.
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Flying was more divisive, with reviewers citing some early flying sections and dragon flight as weaker or imprecise.
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Bug frequency was low for some but notable in reviews citing glitches, snags, and a specific failed checkpoint interaction.
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World interactivity was limited because some props amused briefly but did not reward or advance players.
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Writing quality was the most common weakness, with repeated complaints about dull characters, cliches, and amateurish story beats.
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Side character depth was weak, especially around the one-dimensional CEO/villain.
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Exploration was criticized where invisible walls and glitches undercut curiosity.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Video Games, this product is above average in platforming precision, puzzle design, cross-play support, below average in exploration quality, side character depth, world interactivity.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 38% 3 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 63% 5 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| exploration quality | 2.2 | 4.1 | -1.9 |
| side character depth | 2.3 | 3.9 | -1.6 |
| world interactivity | 2.5 | 4.0 | -1.5 |
| writing quality | 2.4 | 3.6 | -1.3 |
| platforming precision | 4.5 | 3.1 | +1.4 |
| puzzle design | 4.8 | 3.6 | +1.2 |
| protagonist appeal | 2.8 | 3.9 | -1.1 |
| cross-play support | 4.5 | 3.5 | +1.0 |
FAQ
Can Split Fiction be played solo?
No. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as a co-op-only game built around two human players working together.
Is Split Fiction good for couch co-op?
Yes. Reviews praised both local and online co-op, with several calling the shared-play experience the game’s main strength.
How difficult is Split Fiction?
It is forgiving thanks to fast respawns and generous checkpoints, but reviewers also said it is more demanding than It Takes Two and can challenge casual partners.
Are the side stories worth playing?
Yes. Multiple reviewers called the side stories some of the most creative, memorable, or joyful parts of the game.
How strong is the story?
Reviewers were split. Some liked the friendship arc and emotional moments, while others criticized the predictable plot, cliches, and weak villain.
How does the Switch 2 version hold up?
Switch 2 impressions valued portability, tabletop play, and Game Share, but noted lower visual detail and occasional frame-rate dips.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Digital Foundry
- Review score
- 4.7
Article Reviews
theverge.com
- Review score
- 4.1
gamingtrend.com
- Review score
- 3.8
purexbox.com
- Review score
- 4.5
Consider This Instead
If you want better writing quality
Choose Hollow Knight: Silksong. It scores 5.0 vs 2.4 for writing quality, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better exploration quality
Choose It Takes Two. It scores 5.0 vs 2.2 for exploration quality, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better side character depth
Choose Goodnight Universe. It scores 5.0 vs 2.3 for side character depth, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better bug frequency
Choose Pragmata. It scores 5.0 vs 2.5 for bug frequency, with a 4.1 overall score.
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