In 2021, Hazelight Studios from Sweden achieved great success with the co-op game It Takes Two, winning Game of the Year awards from various institutions such as The Game Awards and D.I.C.E. Awards.
This year, Hazelight returns with a new game called Split Fiction, which continues the co-op gameplay style and has received excellent reviews, averaging 91/100 on Metacritic and 90/100 on OpenCritic. It is poised to be a contender for Game of the Year 2025.
If we only consider games from 2025, Split Fiction currently stands as the highest-rated game on Metacritic, narrowly surpassing Monster Hunter Wilds by just one point.
Split Fiction is a game where two female writers explore two genres – sci-fi and fantasy – by delving into a Simulcra world based on their own novels. They must work together to overcome obstacles and escape from Simulcra. The adventure involves storytelling about the differing lives of each character, learning from one another, and opening up to acceptance.
Several media outlets have given high ratings, such as Techradar with 5/5, praising the game as Hazelight’s third major success with larger, more interesting scenes and diverse gameplay. Pushsquare rated it 10/10 for its incredibly varied gameplay, well-designed controls, and creative co-op scene designs that force players to work together in a unique way. Although the storyline may be somewhat predictable, and the game is slightly challenging for casual gamers, Eurogamer awarded it 5/5 for its superb execution from start to finish, innovative ideas, and the increased level of difficulty compared to It Takes Two, necessitating intense cooperation between the two players, thereby elevating Split Fiction to a higher co-op level. Gamespot also gave it a perfect score of 10/10, praising its smooth, agile gameplay, well-crafted scene design, numerous references to other pop culture games and environments, excellent character design, and the gradual immersion and love for both characters as the game progresses.
TLDR: Hazelight Studios follows up It Takes Two success with Split Fiction, a highly rated co-op game set in a Simulcra world created by two female writers, garnering critical acclaim for its innovative gameplay, challenging puzzles, and deep character development, setting a new standard in cooperative gaming.
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