Co-op games have been popular since the dawn of the Nintendo Entertainment System, but the last few years have brought us arguably some of the best co-op experiences ever. By far, the biggest of these was It Takes Two from Josef Fares and Hazelight Studio in 2021, which ended up taking home the coveted Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2021. Four years later, Fares and his team are back with an incredible new co-op experience: Split Fiction.
I had the opportunity to review Split Fiction earlier this year, and I still feel it is by far one of the best games released in 2025. Mio and Zoe’s adventures across their stories of sci-fi and fantasy are some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing a co-op game, and now, you can take that experience with you anywhere on Nintendo Switch 2! As you might expect with a major 2025 game jumping to a portable console, there are a few compromises here and there, but Split Fiction is a wonderful time and an excellent addition to the Nintendo Switch 2’s lineup of games.
A Story About Stories
Split Fiction follows two writers, Mio and Zoe, as they are invited by a company named Rader Publishing to test out a brand-new device and potentially earn a publishing deal. While the writers begin to enter The Machine to experience their stories in a simulation, Mio realizes things may not be what they seem and attempts to shake off the staff and leave Rader Publishing. However, she accidentally falls into Zoe’s bubble, which leads to both Mio and Zoe’s stories being simulated in a glitched-out simulation from The Machine.
Similar to its predecessor, Split Fiction splits the entire screen into two, and you are your co-op partner are tasked with completing a variety of puzzles, defeating bosses, and traversing through the lands of the two writers’ stories. You can see both your gameplay and your partner’s at the same time, and each area gives you unique abilities. For example, one level sees Mio gain the ability to shapeshift into either a gorilla or a fish, while Zoe can turn into a fairy or a living tree.
This in itself actually opens the door to completely different experiences for both players, as both Mio and Zoe complete vastly different objectives in each level. I played as Mio during my time with the game on PlayStation 5, but I tried out Zoe for my Nintendo Switch 2 playtime. With each character having completely opposite tasks and abilities, it makes the game feel fresh and new in a way.
Nintendo Switch 2 owners can play with anyone on the Nintendo Switch 2 console and beyond, thanks to the Friend’s Pass. This is a free download from the Nintendo eShop that allows two people to play together even if only one owns the game. Not only can you play with others on Switch 2, but you can actually play with friends across any platform since Split Fiction supports cross-play.
Split Fiction on Nintendo Switch 2 also supports GameShare, which allows you to locally play with another player without the need for downloading the Friend’s Pass. This feature not only allows you to play with Switch 2 owners, but you can even experience the game with Nintendo Switch owners. If you’re looking for the most convenient way to experience Split Fiction, GameShare is the way to go outside of local co-op.
Speaking of, local co-op is also supported, but there is one major thing to keep in mind: you must use either two Joy-Con 2s or a Pro Controller. While I was disappointed that the game does not support single Joy-Con 2 play, it’s understandable considering the controls utilized throughout certain levels. Just be aware that you will need another controller in order to play locally with a friend.
Impressive With A Few Compromises
Technically, I was very impressed with Split Fiction on Nintendo Switch 2. This game was absolutely gorgeous on PlayStation 5, and to see it come to a portable console and keep much of its pristine visuals is really something. The game looks fantastic in both handheld and docked modes, but there are a few compromises you will notice if you played the game on another platform.
First, the resolution and textures of the game are noticeably lower than PC or other consoles. This is to be expected — Nintendo Switch 2 is a portable console. I found the textures and resolution to be in line with what I expected, and I cannot see many people having issues with these. There are some lower-resolution effects that pop up from time to time, but it’s a small sacrifice for a game that looks great at all times and keeps a steady frame rate.
The game targets 1080p30 in docked mode and is uncapped utilizing VRR in handheld mode. It’s pretty interesting to be honest, as the game technically can feel better in handheld than docked. However, it’s worth noting that the 30FPS is smooth and consistent, and I found the game just as enjoyable as it was at 60FPS. I do wonder if there is a possibility for a higher frame rate, perhaps 40FPS, on docked mode, but I think the experience is fine as is.
However, what is by far the most disappointing aspect of Split Fiction on Switch 2, besides the lack of a physical release, is the lack of file compression. The game sits at almost 70GB, and considering the internal console storage is a measly 256GB, that’s instantly over 25% of your storage gone. I think the vast number of high-definition worlds largely contributes to this file size, but it feels like this could have easily been reduced. I hope that this does not become a trend on Switch 2, as even with an expansion microSD card, you are still quite limited with storage.
Overall, Split Fiction is a fantastic game, easily one of 2025’s best, and it’s an easy recommendation on Nintendo Switch 2. Sure, there are compromises, like the frame rate and visuals, but it is the same enjoyable experience found on PC and consoles.
Disclaimer: EA provided a Nintendo Switch 2 copy of Split Fiction for review purposes.
