Breaking New Ground in Cooperative Initiatives

When It Takes Two swept the award circuit in 2021, most notably snagging Game of the Year at The Game Awards, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Hazelight Studios decided to capitalize on its success with a series of sequels. But Hazelight is no ordinary developer. Rather than resting on their laurels, they challenged themselves in the cooperative gaming realm, delivering a fresh and novel experience. Enter Split Fiction, a unique blend of science fiction and fantasy that only Hazelight could concoct. After a few hours immersed in this world, I’m thrilled to report they’ve once again crafted a genre-defying adventure.

Our first encounter with Split Fiction was back in late 2024. Director Josef Fares gave us an exhilarating, though somewhat dizzying, montage of scenes from the game that highlighted the studio’s bold creativity. This time, the preview was more focused, yet still featured plenty of scene-hopping. Between gameplay snippets, text on the screen indicated transitions to new levels or advanced parts of the current stage. This approach maintained an emphasis on the game’s eclectic nature while preserving the mystery of its storyline.

The tale of Split Fiction revolves around Zoe and Mio, two writers with their own distinct expertise—Zoe thrives in fantasy whilst Mio excels in science fiction. They both land gigs at a gaming studio that employs cutting-edge tech to transform their imaginations into reality. Under normal circumstances, this technology is designed for one writer, but a mix-up places Zoe and Mio in a shared space where both sci-fi and fantasy converge. Their childhood dreams and current inspirations fuel individual worlds, yet there are thrilling moments where these genres intertwine.

Much like It Takes Two explored shared experiences through the strain of a dissolving marriage, Split Fiction brings Zoe and Mio together as they navigate their respective genres. Without divulging too much, the overarching narrative remains a well-guarded secret, with Hazelight prioritizing player discovery and offering a strong focus on gameplay.

Hazelight shows off its knack for evolving gameplay in Split Fiction. Listing every mechanic and experience in the 3-hour preview would only scratch the surface of its vast potential. By consistently innovating, the studio has incorporated startling diversity—months of design result in levels you might complete in mere minutes.

In the sci-fi segments, imagine Zoe wielding a laser whip while Mio brandishes a neon katana. Yet, those weapons are just the start. Each character’s basic “kit” serves as the starting point for further mechanical expansion. For instance, Mio utilizes her sword to manipulate gravity, walking on walls and ceilings, while Zoe’s whip comes in handy for tossing objects and opening pathways. As we got comfortable with these mechanics, the action escalated with daring maneuvers along speeding hover cars, epic helicopter battles, and survival amidst chaos.

The fantasy side doesn’t skimp on excitement either. True to the genre, there are dragons—and players begin by nurturing them from tiny hatchlings to mighty creatures. Our preview dropped us into a stage where the dragons, although rideable, hadn’t reached full maturity. Mio’s dragon could spit acid and hover, whereas Zoe’s could roll and crash into objects. The duo had to collaborate, solving puzzles to energize a statue, likely progressing the story and augmenting their dragons. For example, Zoe maneuvered a ball using her dragon, while Mio activated platforms with acid for the ball to traverse.

Another fantastical sequence allowed Zoe and Mio to shapeshift into various creatures. Zoe’s smaller form—a fairy—could fly until her fairy dust depleted, reminiscent of a frog leaping across a pond. Mio transformed into a graceful sea creature, gliding effortlessly through water. A simple trigger press shifted them back to human form, while another transformed them into massive fantastical creatures—Zoe becoming a tree-like entity, and Mio a gorilla-esque beast with blue fur. Offering two transformations per character, Hazelight once again pushes beyond expectations—always going that extra creative mile.

Hazelight’s expertise shines in the progression of each level’s mechanics. Initially, it’s all about familiarizing yourself with your tools, but soon enough, a twist in gameplay keeps you on your toes. For example, in the shapeshifting fantasy section, cooperative precision in jumps and movements becomes pivotal as you and your partner work together to advance.

While It Takes Two included mini-games where players could score against each other, Split Fiction introduces side stories—more narrative-driven diversions—adding yet another layer of depth. We sampled two: one a cooperative jaunt featuring Zoe and Mio as quirky pigs tackling platforming challenges, the other a competitive snowboarding event demanding trick chains and grinds to achieve high scores.

Although they’re optional, Hazelight encourages players to explore these intriguing side stories. If trailers are any indication, you’ll find the pig tale, in particular, twists into surprising territories.

Reflecting on Split Fiction, Hazelight’s pioneering spirit is unmistakable. With each release, the studio manages to amaze with collaborative adventures that challenge you to cooperate, treat you to stunning visuals, and deliver dynamic gameplay that sparks joy and excitement. The ambition behind their creations ensures they stand apart—never monotonous, always astonishing. Even in this short preview, I experienced a dozen different playstyles across just one character. From a technical standpoint, the simultaneous rendering of two diverse worlds is nothing short of spellbinding—both visually striking and complemented by fantastic science fiction and fantasy environments.

Narratively, there’s anticipation for how everything ties together. But based on mechanics alone, Split Fiction is poised to be another dazzling triumph for Hazelight. Experiencing Josef Fares and his team’s creations is an outright delight, knowing they aim to engage and astonish with gameplay that’s both polished and boundlessly inventive. While other studios might attempt to replicate their formula, Split Fiction is proof that no one else offers cooperative gaming bliss quite like Hazelight.

Mark your calendars for March 6, 2025. Split Fiction is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Thanks to Game Rant for providing accommodations for this preview.