Split Fiction, the latest co-op narrative adventure from Hazelight Studios, is off to a stellar start. More than a day before launch, it’s already climbed to top the fourth spot on Steam’s top sellers list. More impressively, it’s doing this amidst tough competition from Monster Hunter Wilds, which has dominated gaming discourse in the week since its release.
Atop the sales chart, unsurprisingly, is Monster Hunter Wilds, followed by Top Seller mainstay Counter-Strike 2. Online horror co-op game R.E.P.O. captures the third spot, bolstered by a sizable push from YouTube and Twitch content creators. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege closes out the top five.
Early critical reception has been positive
Early reviews for Split Fiction have been glowing. Currently, the game has a score of 90 on OpenCritic and 91 on Metacritic. In particular, critics have been praising the game’s art direction, co-op mechanics, and emotional storytelling. While a few note minor narrative shortcomings, the overwhelming consensus is that Split Fiction is yet another triumph for Hazelight.
Split Fiction continues a studio tradition of co-op excellence
Hazelight Studios has carved a niche for themselves in the blockbuster co-op adventure space. The studio broke out with 2018’s A Way Out, a co-op revenge tale showcasing its distinctive brand of co-op action. The larger mainstream success came in 2021 with It Takes Two, a co-op odyssey about a troubled couple trapped in their daughter’s yarn dolls. Part Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, part couples’ therapy, it brought players together with its quirky story and playful platforming. Critics and journalists embraced the game, crowning It Takes Two Game of the Year at the 2021 Video Game Awards.
Split Fiction continues the developer’s tradition of cinematic gaming experiences made to be played together. It tells the story of Mio and Zoe, two writers with wildly contrasting styles and viewpoints—one specializes in sci-fi and the other is a fantasy geek—who find themselves trapped in a chaotic amalgamation built from their combined fictional worlds.
Split Fiction releases on March 6, 2025 for PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.
