Split Fiction First Week Review: Cooperative Masterpiece or Divided Legacy?

Explosive Growth: Numbers Reveal Split Fiction's Massive Success

Since its release on March 6, 2025, Split Fiction has quickly become the talk of the gaming world. This latest creation from Hazelight Studios, the team behind It Takes Two, hasn't just continued their tradition of excellence in cooperative gaming – it's shattered records across multiple metrics:

• Steam concurrent player peak: 258,641 players (far exceeding It Takes Two's 71,039)
• Steam approval rating: 97% positive reviews (based on 1,653 reviews)
• Metacritic score: 91 points (based on 89 professional critics)
• OpenCritic recommendation rate: 98% of reviewers recommend it, ranking in the top 1%

These figures clearly demonstrate that Split Fiction hasn't just built on Hazelight Studios' previous success – it's pushed cooperative gaming to new heights. But what lies behind the numbers? What are players actually experiencing, and what insights do professional critics offer? Let's dive deeper.

Professional Reviews: Universal Praise with Minor Reservations

Media Acclaim: The Perfect Blend of Innovation and Emotion

Mainstream gaming publications have given Split Fiction exceptionally high marks:

• IGN (9/10): "A meticulously crafted cooperative adventure that swings from one extreme to another, packed with constantly refreshing gameplay ideas and styles."
• Eurogamer: "One of the most creative and joyful cooperative games to date, proving the power of human imagination."
• GameSpot: "A new benchmark for multiplayer experiences and a love letter to creativity, video games, and companionship."

Critics particularly praise the game's diversity, seamlessly transitioning from puzzle platforming to third-person action adventures to twin-stick shooter segments, providing players with a rich and varied gaming experience.

Subtle Reservations in Reviews

Not all reviews offer unqualified praise, however. Rock Paper Shotgun noted, "Don't expect the protagonists to write an interesting story," expressing some reservation about the game's narrative aspects. This perspective reflects criticisms from some players regarding character development.

Player Response: Enthusiasm Mixed with Criticism

Positive Feedback on Social Media

On X (formerly Twitter), numerous players have shared their positive experiences:

• @nikonight1: "Just finished Split Fiction, pretty good, feels more story-focused than It Takes Two."
• @ConsoleCreature: "Takes cooperative experiences to new heights while telling a touching story about loss and friendship."

Player Criticism of Design Elements

At the same time, some players have offered constructive criticism:

• @KonaYMA6: "There are flaws in character writing and level design, with some ideas dragging on too long."
• @playswave_com: "The story is somewhat predictable."

These comments suggest that despite the game's overall positive reception, there's room for improvement in narrative pacing and character development.

Technical Issues: Minor Flaws in a Polished Gem

While Split Fiction has received widespread acclaim for its design and gameplay, some technical issues have caught players' attention:

• Installation size: The massive 87.59 GB installation size sparked extensive discussion in the Steam community (143 replies)
• Performance issues: Some players reported stuttering problems similar to It Takes Two
• Login difficulties: Players like @Eevee_Queen mentioned login loop problems related to EA accounts
• Download errors: @sharkonbread reported corruption during download, requiring a restart

While these technical issues haven't affected the game's overall reception, they have caused inconvenience for some players.

Cooperative Mode Innovation: A Catalyst for Friendship

The undeniable highlight of Split Fiction is its unique cooperative mode design. The game tells the story of two writers, Mio and Zoe, trapped in sci-fi and fantasy worlds respectively, who must work together to escape. This premise isn't just narratively engaging – it creates rich possibilities for cooperative gameplay mechanics.

The Social Value of the "Friend's Pass"

The game's "Friend's Pass" feature allows players who purchase a single copy to invite friends to play online cooperatively for free, with cross-platform support, greatly enhancing the game's social entertainment value. Windows Central particularly emphasized this feature's positive impact on player interaction.

The Power of Social Connection

Many players have shared on social media how the game strengthened their connections with friends. For example, @Darxion stated: "Playing with a friend was incredibly fun and enhanced our interaction." These responses confirm that Split Fiction isn't just a game – it's a medium for social experience and emotional connection.

Conclusion: Breakthrough Achievement with Room to Grow

Considering all data and feedback, Split Fiction is undoubtedly a successful cooperative game masterpiece that has achieved remarkable commercial success while reaching new heights in game design and emotional experience. Through its innovative split-screen cooperative system, diverse gameplay, and emotionally rich narrative, it offers players an unforgettable two-player adventure.

However, like all works, it has imperfections: the depth of character development, control of narrative pacing, and technical optimization all present opportunities for future improvement.

For players seeking high-quality cooperative gaming experiences, Split Fiction is undoubtedly a must-play title of 2025. For solo players, the game provides an excellent opportunity to find a partner and build new friendships.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Do I need two people to play Split Fiction?
A: Yes, Split Fiction is designed specifically for two-player cooperation and requires two players to participate.

Q2: Do I need to buy two copies of the game to play with a friend?
A: No. The game offers a "Friend's Pass" feature that allows players who purchase a single copy to invite friends to play online cooperatively for free.

Q3: Does Split Fiction support cross-platform play?
A: Yes, the game supports cross-platform cooperation between PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

Q4: How long does it take to complete the game?
A: According to player feedback, completing the main story takes approximately 10-12 hours, while finishing all side content may take 15-18 hours.

Q5: What are the main improvements in Split Fiction compared to It Takes Two?
A: Split Fiction shows improvements in storytelling, gameplay mechanic diversity, and visual presentation, particularly with the introduction of a dynamic split-screen system and richer world-building.