Why Split Fiction will have you searching for your next gaming buddy, plus hands-on with Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Rift of the NecroDancer and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
Despite the sheer evolution video games have experienced over the last few decades, there’s no doubt that co-op gaming has been one of the great causalities. Developers are less interested in enticing you and a friend to hop onto a couch together, in favour of expansive single-player worlds and multiplayer lobbies. Except for Hazelight Studios.
Makers of the award-winning It Takes Two and A Way Out, they’re a team not just dedicated to shared experiences, but demand it. As a result, Split Fiction is another adventure that is only playable in local or online co-op and it’s also an adventure that absolutely knocks it out of the park from start to finish.
This time around you’ll take control of either Zoe or Mio – two writers searching for success, which leads them to pursue a publishing deal that tries to nab a little more than either had bargained for, accidentally leaving them trapped in a joint simulation designed to siphon all their creative ideas.
While I’ll admit I can’t say I connected all that much with either Mio or Zoe in the same way I was invested in the zany dynamic of Cody and May in It Takes Two, Split Fiction offers a smart premise that gives Hazelight a lot of creative freedom.
Mio being a science-fiction fiend and Zoe fantasy, the game’s levels smartly leverage from one genre to the next – at times even mashing the two together. That means one moment you might be a cyberpunk ninja, while in the next you’re being chased by a horde of bloodthirsty ogres.
Once again your screen will be split down the middle, gifting both players unique abilities that make the most of their environment and it’s truly shocking how many ideas Hazelight throws at the wall. The gameplay never feels stale because before you even have a chance to grow tired the devs are ushering you along to the next set peice. It’s truly a marvel to behold.
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Whether you’re playing with a friend or loved one, Split Fiction is a bloody good time, and an exceptionally well-crafted experience. Nobody makes co-op games with as much confidence as Hazelight and while many were left wondering if the team could continue their successful run, Split Fiction is already proving to be one of 2025’s best releases. The fact that you can rope in a partner from a single copy of the game is merely the icing on the cake. You owe it to yourself to give Split Fiction a shot.
Split Fiction is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Amazon.
Also Out Now…
Rift of the NecroDancer (PC, Switch)
Flash back to a decade ago and rhythm games were a dime a dozen. Times may have changed, but for those still lamenting the loss of that once fruitful genre, you’d do well to check out Rift of NecroDancer.
Music fans will immediately feel at home here, with gameplay presented as notes running down a fretboard. Hit said notes on the correct beat and you’re off to the races. But Rift of NecroDancer is hardly traditional. Instead of notes, for example, you’re actually felling a variety of beasts to the beat.
From harpies to skeletons, each come with their own ruleset, dramatically altering how you tackle them. Those skeletons require you to first knock off their head before finishing the job, while the harpies actually rush their way down the laneway ahead of schedule. Its a lot to take in during the game’s early moments but once mastered adds an incredibly unique flair to the experience and constantly challenges you to be aware of your entire lane at all times. Add in some boss fights that continue to switch up the formula and you’re in for a hell of a time.
It helps that the soundtrack is top-notch as well, and although there’s no recognizable tunes in play, they all do well to get your head bopping. It cements Rift of NecroDancer as a delightful musical jaunt perfect for anybody starving for their next dance break.
Kingdom Come Deliverance II (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Kingdom Come Deliverance II might not have arrived with a whole lot of hype, but that only makes this historic gem even more of a surprise delight. Playing as a blacksmith-turned-knight who is quickly thrown onto their arse, it leaves the game’s opening hours to be a real scene-setter as you scrounge for pennies. In many ways it feels like a brutal approach, but I found it to make the eventual rags to riches story all the more engaging.
Things gradually escalate and before long you’ll be wrapped up in many of Kingdom Come Deliverance II‘s intertwining systems and mechanics. It’s large, expansive and a lot to keep track of, but if you’re looking for an adventure that you can truly sink your teeth into this is certainly it. Just be prepared for things to not always go your way.
I was also a fan of the returning first-person sword combat which skilfully blends considered blocking, bluffing and brutal strikes. Fail to correctly read your enemy and your days are numbered but that just creates a real sense of tension to the deadly dance.
Add on shockingly impressive performance on Steam Deck and you’ve got another early 2025 GOTY contender.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)
I’m still a little perplexed as to how, but you better believe you have another Like A Dragon game to play this year. Acting as another side story to the main series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii throws you into the shoes of lovable Yakuza scoundrel Goro Majima. The only twist to that is due to a classic case of amnesia he awakes on a beach as a pirate, because of course he does.
The pirate-themed diversion is just the right kind of silly shot in the arm the series needed for long-time fans seeking something fresh. So while you’ve still got plenty of side activities to get lost in, the introduction of naval combat adds an extra dimension I wasn’t aware I needed. It lacks the depth of something like Sea of Thieves or Skull and Bones, but that simplicity allows you to focus on the core action, drifting your ship around the sea while firing machine guns and rockets at foes before eventually trying to board and plunder their ship. Even the more traditional combat embraces the theme, with traditional cutlasses causing plenty of damage to unsuspecting enemies.
The story can’t quite reach the heights of the mainline series and you may grow tired of some repeated assets, but if you’re a long-time lover of the series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii may be worth walking the plank for.
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