Should I Buy Split Fiction?
From the studio behind It Takes Two (2021 Game of the Year), Split Fiction has sold 7 million copies and earned a 91 Metacritic — making it the highest-rated co-op game since its predecessor. But should you buy it?
What Is It?
Split Fiction is a co-op-only action adventure where two writers — Mio (sci-fi) and Zoe (fantasy) — get trapped inside their own stories after being hooked up to a machine that steals creative ideas. You and a partner play through constantly shifting sci-fi and fantasy worlds, with mechanics that change every chapter. One minute you're taming dragons, the next you're fighting as cyber ninjas. Every level introduces a completely new gameplay mechanic that requires genuine teamwork to master.
Should You Buy It?
If you have someone to play with — a partner, friend, sibling, anyone — Split Fiction is one of the best co-op games ever made. The Friend Pass system means only one person needs to buy it for online co-op, making the effective cost $15-20 per person. The constant reinvention of gameplay keeps every chapter feeling fresh, and the Mio-Zoe friendship arc is genuinely touching. If you loved It Takes Two, this is more of what you loved with even more creative ambition.
- 91 Metacritic — universally acclaimed by critics
- Friend Pass: only one copy needed for online co-op
- Constantly shifting mechanics keep every chapter fresh
- 12-15 hours of pure, no-filler co-op gameplay
- Beautiful sci-fi and fantasy worlds with stunning art direction
- 7 million copies means the community is thriving
- Co-op only — literally cannot be played solo
- Story is weaker than It Takes Two's emotional core
- Characters take a while to grow on you
- Some chapters feel less polished than others
- Short runtime if you're paying full price alone
The Verdict
Split Fiction is a mandatory purchase if you have a co-op partner. The Friend Pass makes it one of the best value propositions in gaming — $30-40 for two people to share 12-15 hours of the most inventive co-op gameplay available. If you're solo with no one to play with, this literally isn't an option for you, which is the only reason it doesn't get a universal recommendation.
Buy it if: You have a co-op partner. You loved It Takes Two. You want creative, varied gameplay that never repeats.
Skip it if: You exclusively play solo. You need 40+ hour campaigns to justify a purchase.