Split Fictionbrings players a fun-filled co-op experience, but one of the shining points of the game is how well it blends multiple genres. The most blatant genre-swap is the game’s central premise of bouncing back and forth between fantasy and sci-fi worlds, but there is even more hidden underneath the main schtick. At many points throughout the story,Split Fictionfeels like a love letter to gaming in general.
Developer Hazelight Studios has fit a myriad of fun references throughout the game, and some of these fun Easter eggs actually help drive homethe genre-bending qualities ofSplit Fictionthat much more. Hazelight Studios has already proven itself as a standout studio with its co-op focus, but even single-player games could learn a valuable lesson fromSplit Fiction’s unapologetic experimentation with genres.
Split Fiction is a Demonstration of How Opposing Genres Can Come Together
Protagonists Mio and Zoe Represent Two Different Worlds
These two genres are often seen as polar opposites, butSplit Fictionwonderfully demonstrates that opposite doesn’t have to mean ill-fitting. Between the beautifully crafted fantasy worlds that Zoe has imagined and the neon-filled sci-fi settings created by Mio,Split Fictionshowcases that these genres are more like two sides of the same coin instead of two worlds that are completely foreign to one another.Mio and Zoe’s journeyand backstories are more similar than one might think at the beginning of the game, and the differing level genres help drive that point home even further.
The genre-bending doesn’t just stop at the constantly-changing levels, though. Within each level there are nods to other beloved games that allow the sci-fi and fantasy levels to lean into their respective genres even harder. A futuristic nod to theSSXsnowboarding franchise, anAssassin’s Creedreference, and a wonderfully blatant shout-out tothe iconicDark Soulsbonfireshowcase the genres in unique and fun ways.
Split Fiction also references Hazelight Studios' other games,It Takes TwoandA Way Out. The former’s character, Cutie the Elephant, andA Way Out’s Leo and Vincent can be found in specific levels.
Future Games Should Take Note of Hazelight Studios' Experimentation
If Hazelight Studios is anything, it’s inventive, andSplit Fictionproves that the studio still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. So far,the reception toSplit Fictionhas been strong, and it will be fascinating to see how the co-op title influences other games down the road. It’s bound to inspire other co-op titles, but it could also be a great source of inspiration for single-player projects, too. Combining multiple genres into one story can work wonders if done well, and it would be exciting to see a rise in single-player stories taking the same road asSplit Fiction.
Split Fictionfeels like a love letter to gaming in general.
Split Fiction Makes its Mark in a Huge Year For Gaming
Right now, 2025 is stacked with major releases, andSplit Fictionis a fun addition to the continuously growing list. BetweenKingdom Come: Deliverance 2,Assassin’s Creed: Shadows,Doom: The Dark Ages, and the hugely-anticipatedGTA 6, the industry is launching offerings for nearly every type of gamer.Split Fictionbeing in this mix makes it that much more powerful, because it boasts two major genres while also having the uniqueness of purely being co-op. Following Hazelight Studios' last game,It Takes Two, was not an easy task, butSplit Fictionhas been a strong successor.
Ultimately, only time will tell howSplit Fictioninfluences other projects, if at all. Even if it doesn’t inspire other games to play around with opposing genres,Hazelight Studios' new releaseis a great showcase of how two differing themes can actually balance each other out.
