Hazelight is number 1 at co-op gameplay, and Split Fiction proves it. The game expands It Takes Two mechanics to present a fresh and enjoyable interactive cooperative experience. Just like It Takes Two, every section of the game introduces something new, keeping things fresh from start to finish. The level design is awesome. The gameplay is incredibly polished, and all the immensely various mechanics feel satisfying to play. Truly a peak game design showcase.


The gameplay elements of the game outshine everything else because like It Takes Two, the narrative is the weakest part of the experience. Hazelight nailed this better in A Way Out and in Brothers, A Tale of Two Sons, which was a game that used no words to tell its story. The storytelling attempts from Split Fiction fall short because it tries too hard with emotional moments that don’t really land. It also is not goofy like It Takes Two. Split Fiction takes its story too seriously. The dialogue, the characters, they are just too predictable, too one-dimensional. After playing It Takes Two, and other Hazelight games, I was sure of what was gonna happen at the end 100%. And when that's the case, you can't really connect with the story since the writing is also kind of cliche and boring. The story stands as Split Fiction's main weakness though it does not reach unacceptable levels. To be honest, I just wanted to jump back into the gameplay.


The pacing in It Takes Two was handled better than Split Fiction. In Split Fiction, some levels go on for way too long. The monkey and Groot level is an example of that. It just keeps going and going. The side stories in this game end at about 60-70% of the game but It Takes Two balanced its additional content across the entire game. Split Fiction doesn't have minigames (except the snow riding part) which is a negative, but there are side stories that were pretty insane in creativity. This issue is also to be seen in the later sections of the game, where you are presented with puzzles or puzzle-ish levels back-to-back, slowing down the game.


Unlike many modern Unreal Engine 5 titles that are full of performance issues, Split Fiction runs amazingly. It doesn't have the disgusting render distance fog, no anti-color horrible filters, and remains a steady and high FPS at all times while looking amazing at all times. The art design is phenomenal. Every level is creatively mesmerizing and gorgeous without relying on Unreal Engine 5's lazy photorealism. And the game runs very well unlike the 20FPS UE5 slop we're seeing too often these days. Take notes, game devs!


Even though it's still too early to talk about Game of The Year in March, I think Split Fiction should and will be a nominee in The Game Awards this year. However, it's also It Takes Two 2.0, a refined, better version, but not something completely new like it was in It Takes Two. Which is why I think It Takes Two completely deserved the win in 2021. So that's why I don't think it should be Game of The Year since it's not going to be mine. My Game of The Year 2025 will probably be Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, or Grand Theft Auto VI if it releases this year, or Hollow Knight: Silksong? Who am I kidding? Silksong is not releasing this year :(


I would love to play another one of these but I hope they will use their expertise to develop a fresh experience that revolutionizes another genre like they did with the co-op games. Hazelight is one of the few studios still doing great things in modern gaming and huge respect for EA for supporting them and giving them full creative freedom. The Friends Pass System is an amazing consumer-friendly move. Thank you, EA. I definitely recommend this at full price, since you can pay half with your friend.


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While playing this game, I kept thinking about all the pros, cons, and things I could mention in a review. But after experiencing the final chapter, I forgot everything and was left with just one thought: this is the best co-op game ever.


최고의 협동게임.

I never thought I'd say this, but this game could easily take the top spot among the best games I've ever played. It may sound a bit odd, but I felt the same way I did when I played Ori and the Will of the Wisps years ago. It’s an indescribable feeling, almost as if you've been searching for something for a long time, and this game gives you exactly that. Please give this masterpiece a chance.