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.
Compared to Hazelight’s Game of the Year-winning It Takes Two — which never fully resonated with me — Split Fiction surpasses it in every way.
I didn’t really know what to expect, but after just one session, my co-op partner Shaun and I struggled to put it down. We were eagerly awaiting every level, seeing it through to the end — and what an ending it was. It was said to include things never seen in a video game before, and that’s an understatement. Without going into detail, the endgame completely blew me away.
Zoe & Mio
Zoe and Mio, two very different writers, meet with Rader Publishing, hoping for a payday and the opportunity to get their stories published. But instead of a simple deal, they find themselves hooked up to a machine designed to steal their creative ideas. Trapped within their own creations, they must work together to escape with their minds intact. To crash the system that holds them captive, they’ll need to overcome their contrasting personalities and uncover the secrets and personal struggles hidden within their own fiction — it’s the perfect concept to bring these worlds to life.
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Mio Hudson is a no-nonsense city girl who loves to write sci-fi. Her stories transport readers to neon-lit cyberpunk cities, high-tech weapon factories, and the vast expanse of space. Zoe Foster, in contrast, is a small-town dreamer who’s desperate to prove herself. Her fantasy tales feature trolls, frozen forests, and the last surviving dragons.
At first, Mio and Zoe don’t get along at all, but as the story unfolds, they become each other’s only hope. Thrown into bizarre and unexpected situations, they’ll need to rely on one another to survive. Together, they’ll navigate through worlds born from their wild imaginations — facing challenges that force them to confront their differences and learn to have each other’s backs.
While some story beats felt a tiny bit cliché, the way the game introduces new mechanics and perspectives at every turn keeps it feeling fresh.
Opposite personalities Mio and Zoe complement each other well, but it takes them a while to realise that for themselves. Their journey together eventually leads to them to opening up in meaningful ways — I found that the more they were honest with each other, the more I resonated with them as characters.
A Small Slice of the Action
The game wastes no time throwing players into the action. Within the first 30 minutes, the entire story premise was established, and the pace was relentless.
We were running from trolls, watching them smash people to paste, cutting off limbs, escaping military cyberships, running along walls a la Star Wars Jedi, frantically navigating underwater currents, sprinting through Crash Bandicoot-style escape sequences, and leaping off ledges in a full Assassin’s Creed-style leap of faith — it’s a whirlwind introduction to what Split Fiction had in store.
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The action only escalates from there. You soon take on the roles of Cyber Ninjas, Zoe armed with a gravity whip and Mio a perspective switching katana. After that, you become fantasy shape shifters, executing chaotic Donkey Kong-style action sequences and infiltrating the dreaded Ice King’s domain — it’s all completely wild and exciting. Every major moment is unique and meticulously crafted to deliver something special.
There’s something new in each level, and the transition between split-screen and cinematic moments is seamless. One major boss saw Shaun and I running through a 2D Metroid-like platformer, before taking on the perspective of the baddie himself — another had us in a bullet-hell battle, dodging hurled cars and laser beams fired from a homicidal, robotic parking inspector!
Some bosses are much easier than others, but the game ensures that every major encounter brings fresh mechanics, whether through shifting camera perspectives or unique abilities.
There are moments where one player might feel a little short-changed. In a level featuring dragons, one player gets to fly around and spit corrosive acid, while the other is stuck rolling along the ground and climbing… Not exactly what I picture doing when riding on the back of a dragon. Thankfully there’s a decent level select menu with plenty of checkpoints, so you can replay levels at any time.
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The absence of traditional collectibles means there’s no pressure to hunt for hidden items, allowing your focus to remain on the journey and not feel like you’ve missed anything.
That said, I’m a sucker for a good collectible and would have loved something small to find along the way. There’s also some cool easter eggs hidden away around the levels which can be easily missed. Whether it’s something a character says, a billboard in the cyber world or a statue on a building — it’s worth keeping your eyes and ears peeled!
Rest stops scattered through the world give players a chance to take in the scenery and listen to Mio and Zoe’s conversations, adding an extra layer of depth to their relationship. There’s even a trophy for sitting on every single bench.
Side Stories
Throughout the game, Zoe and Mio stumble across side stories built around their unfinished story ideas — concepts they had imagined but never fully developed. This was mirrored by a couple of the side quests — cool concepts, but not explored to their full potential.
These side stories take the game to another level, and while you don’t have to play them all, I highly recommend you do. They break up the larger narrative with these smaller, ten-minute (or so) adventures.
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One of the first side stories, set in the Sands of Time, makes major references to Dune with rideable sand sharks. Later, there’s a brilliantly quirky segment where Zoe and Mio are transformed into pigs — one with the ability to fly with farts, the other can turn into a spring.
Shaun and I also went head to head in a number of epic races, including a hoverboard trip down a snowy mountain and a zipline kite experience.
A personal favourite side story of mine was the Moon Market, a Hogwarts fan’s dream and the ultimate magical sandbox. Then there’s the big, sweet-tooth finale that puts the icing on the cake — literally. To share more would be a disservice. Play this game.
While these stories take the game mechanics to another level, I was often left wanting more! There’s 12 side stories all up, each one vastly different than the next.
Technical Design & Accessibility
The technical design of Split Fiction is unlike anything I’ve ever played before, and its incredible ending ties everything together in a way that left a lasting impression. Every level feels deliberately designed, with careful attention to even the smallest details.
Running at a smooth 60 frames per second in 4K, it’s an impressively polished experience. In our 15 or so hours with the game, we didn’t encounter any major bugs or real glitches.
A bonus touch is the way the DualSense controller’s LED changes to match the character you’re playing as — a small but thoughtful detail that adds to the immersion.
To make the game more accessible to a wider range of players, Split Fiction includes several assist options, such as reduced damage for individual players, control assists, and targeting assists.
My partner enjoys the occasional game but generally prefers cosier experiences. Thankfully, Split Fiction isn’t overly punishing when you fail, with generous checkpointing, and offers enough variety to keep things engaging for players of all skill levels.
Should I Buy Split Fiction?
Split Fiction is an achievement in co-op gaming, blending heart, creativity, and thrilling action in a way that very few games manage.
From its jaw-dropping set pieces to its meaningful character moments, it constantly surprises and delights — the sheer variety and polish make it an unforgettable experience.
The best thing about buying this game is you only need to grab it once for you to play online with a friend, friend pass is a fantastic addition — and with crossplay, you’re not limited to who you can play alongside.
Whether you’re a hardcore co-op fan or someone looking for a fun game to play with a friend, Split Fiction is a must-play. It’s coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC on March 7th.
Quest Daily scores Split Fiction:
10/10
Early access to Split Fiction was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
