Split Fiction delivers the imaginative, constantly changing co-op play that made It Takes Two memorable. In Tom’s Guide’s March 5, 2025 review, Rory Mellon called it one of the strongest co-op games he had played since that predecessor—but judged its story and dialogue less effective. The magic that feels diminished is in the writing and pacing, not the inventiveness of the gameplay.
What is Split Fiction?
Split Fiction is a third-person action-adventure built for two human players. You control Mio, a science-fiction writer, and Zoe, a fantasy writer, who become trapped in stories brought to life by a machine. Its central idea lets the game move between contrasting fictional worlds and play styles.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Merge Games Let's Build a Zoo PS5 | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5) | $26.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Horror Tales: The Wine (PS5) | $28.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Overcooked! All You Can Eat - PlayStation 5 | $22.49 | Buy on Amazon |
That variety is its main attraction. Mellon’s Tom’s Guide review describes a steady rotation of puzzles, platforming, combat, vehicle sequences, genre riffs and optional Side Stories. In Windows Central’s review, Samuel Tolbert similarly notes that chapters introduce new mechanics and call for partners to coordinate.
What does “some of the magic is lost” mean?
Mellon’s criticism is about the story, not a shortage of gameplay ideas. He found the plot familiar, the character arcs generic, and the earnest dialogue and cutscenes prone to interrupting the fun. That judgment helps explain the contrast in his verdict: the play can be inventive and delightful while the narrative does not land with the same force.
#1 Best Overall
- Build your own zoo with over 500 different animals at your disposal, then splice together over 300,000 different animal combinations
- Keep your animals and your itors happy, with hundreds of buildings, foliage, path and enclosure decorations
- Hire the perfect employees to deal with a variety of life events
- Control everything that happens in your park, from what your animals eat to what eats your animals…
- Decide whether you want to run your Zoo above board... or break the law and pocket the extra cash
It is a personal review assessment, not an objective ranking or a measured consensus. Tolbert offers a more positive overall conclusion, writing that Split Fiction builds on what came before, especially It Takes Two, but can stand on its own. Neither review establishes a controlled head-to-head comparison, and there is no independent study in the consulted sources that measures which game players consider better.
Is Split Fiction as good as It Takes Two?
It depends on what you value. On rapid shifts in mechanics and cooperative design, Split Fiction carries forward the approach associated with It Takes Two: partners face changing challenges that require them to work together. On story and character writing, Mellon found the newer game less affecting. The reviews support a useful distinction rather than a definitive winner: the gameplay variety is a strength, while the narrative is where this reviewer felt the predecessor’s magic had faded.
Rank #2
- Enter the stadium and take part of one of the biggest competitions across 34 sports: from swimming, soccer, extreme bike, weightlifting, trampoline and much more!
- Defend your own country and visit the World: United States, Australia, Japan, France…
- Train yourself alone or compete with your friends!
- An enhanced version of “30 Sport Games in 1”, with revamped design, new games and more customisation!
Coordination and timing are also part of the comparison. Mellon described the overall difficulty as fairly light, with some tougher sequences, and recommended playing with someone who can communicate and handle basic gaming timing. Tolbert emphasized that some sections demand coordination and split-second timing. These are reviewers’ impressions, not a universal difficulty rating; how demanding a sequence feels will depend on the players.
Can you play if only one person owns it?
Yes, through Friend’s Pass: one player owns the full game and the other installs the separate pass to join. The pass does not eliminate online requirements. Steam’s official listing says it requires persistent internet and an applicable platform account, and that online features require an EA account. Check the current platform and account requirements for both players before buying or installing.
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Rank #3
- Mediterranean Horror: Explore the forsaken capital of an awe-inspiring archipelago. Do not let yourself be fooled by the gentle sea breeze, the Mediterranean vistas or the comforting summer sun. Since the Devil's Fevers pandemic ravaged the city, it was abandoned, and now only horrific nightmares await there.
- Survive your Nemesis: Someone is relentlessly hunting you. Suffer and agonize while you try to run away from the encounters with this strange stalker obsessed with you.
- Intense Challenges: Solve environmental riddles, physics puzzles and other similar challenges in an interconnected vertical world. Even while being chased and hunted.
- Accessibility and Photomode: Tweak more than 20 Accessibility settings to create a tailored experience for you. Use the Photomode to make perfect shots and unlock many secrets using it.
The game has no single-player mode, according to Mellon’s review. Steam lists local split-screen and online co-op. Windows Central reports that Friend Pass supports cross-platform play across Xbox, PC and PlayStation, while Steam lists cross-platform multiplayer. These are launch-era source details, not a complete current compatibility matrix: confirm that your specific editions, platforms and accounts can play together.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which platforms are covered by the available reviews?
The consulted coverage identifies PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Mellon reviewed the PS5 version; Tolbert reviewed the Xbox Series X version. Those launch-era platform references should not be treated as a definitive list of current availability. Check the live storefront for your region and platform, as well as cross-play compatibility with your co-op partner.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Overcooked! Goes online- for the first time ever, online multiplayer has been fully integrated into Overcooked! Revisit your favorite kitchens from the first game in stunning 4K and online!
- Enjoy the cooking chaos with all of your friends using cross platform multiplayer and voice chat. A shared multiplayer queue means reduced waiting times for games, more time for culinary carnage!
- A visual Feast! Both games have been taken to the next level with stunning, enhanced 4K visuals - this is the best that the Overcooked! Series has ever looked.
- Tasty new content! New levels, new chefs and new mayhem - all exclusive to Overcooked! All you can eat.
- Overcooked! All you can eat contains a features to allow as many players as possible to join in the food frenzy! Scalable UI, dyslexia friendly text and Color blindness options are all available.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
