Why Split Fiction is the Game of the Year for 2025

What Makes Split Fiction a Great Candidate for the Game of the Year?

Well, there are a lot of talks as to how Split Fiction has been really quite a candidate for the Game of the Year. It has hit the scene with massive success – being one of the most hyped games for 2025 thus far, and it cannot be denied that Hazelight Studios did well when it came to putting up the consistent storyline of two characters who collide on a massive adventure that also requires two players to work together.

From Leo Caruso and Vincent Moretti’s swashbuckling story in A Way Out, Cody and May’s adventure to rekindle their love in It Takes Two, Split Fiction offers a massive storyline that features Mio and Zoe – two unsuccessful writers who are acclaimed to be quite the representation for the game’s release in the most coincidental time – at Women’s History Month.

There’s the brotherly male bond in A Way Out, then the couple tandem in It Takes Two, so why not feature a girl power story in Split Fiction against an oppressive man who thinks he’s of godly level? The power of co-op stories has really evolved to another level, and the strong narrative in the game itself along with the power of ideas is really flourishing at a bigger level.

Split Fiction Ratings and Reviews

Split Fiction has received mostly high ratings, with an average score of around 4.5 to 5.0 out of 5 on various platforms. This suggests that Split Fiction is well-regarded by both critics and players. The game’s high ratings are consistent across multiple platforms, including Steam (5.0/5.0), TechRadar (5.0/5.0), and GameSpot (10/10), which all logged perfect scores This reflects strong, widespread approval, showing that the game's quality is not platform-dependent.

With a 9/10 from IGN and a 10/10 from GameSpot, it’s clear that major gaming outlets have praised the game for its mechanics, design, and overall experience, indicating it has critical success in addition to player satisfaction. The high ratings from both professional critics (Metacritic: 4.5/5.0, PC Gamer: 4.5/5.0) and players (Steam: 5.0/5.0) show that Split Fiction has found a wide audience and is likely appealing to both hardcore gamers and more casual players alike.

At this point, Split Fiction has a massive potential to become the Game of the Year for 2025 – not just for its huge similarity to It Takes Two, but the massive originality that it has presented in the gaming industry really seems to be quite the great point that makes it a strong candidate for the Game of the Year.

Elevated Co-Op Gaming Experience

The game’s structure encourages constant communication and coordination between players. Whether it’s synchronizing actions to overcome obstacles or deciding how best to approach enemies, the cooperative mechanics demand real-time strategy and active participation. This level of engagement transforms co-op gaming from just an added bonus to a core experience, offering a more immersive and rewarding multiplayer gameplay loop.

The environments in Split Fiction are designed with co-op in mind, with areas that require players to take on roles that complement each other. These dynamic environments, which might change based on player decisions, add an additional layer of unpredictability to co-op play. It’s not just about teamwork, but adapting to a constantly evolving world that requires real-time problem solving and collaboration.

A Blend of Game Genres

Rather than simply tacking on a traditional co-op mode, Split Fiction weaves its co-op elements deeply into the story. Players aren't just “playing together” for the sake of gameplay; they are an integral part of the narrative. The game’s plot and its twists unfold differently based on how players interact, making the co-op experience feel more personalized. This level of narrative integration into co-op gaming is something that’s often overlooked but here, it’s central to the experience.

Imagine going through a fantasy story all the way to finding yourself in a sci-fi world before jumping into another world that brings your worst nightmares into life – this unsettling feeling of being in more than one genre – from shooter, adventure, RPG, to even a 2D slider is really quite a spectacle, and no other game has done that – especially with a promising graphical advancement.

Can Split Fiction Win the Game of the Year?

Many GOTY titles, like Elden Ring, It Takes Two, and Overwatch, successfully appeal to both casual and hardcore players. These games balance accessibility with depth, attracting a wide variety of players. Most GOTY winners are not only critically acclaimed but also commercially successful. Games like The Last of Us Part II and Elden Ring not only received awards but became massive hits in terms of sales, creating lasting cultural impacts. Split Fiction – for that matter, has scored two million copies in just a week of its release.

Game of the Year Winners

The majority of the past GOTY winners (e.g., The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, God of War, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice) have been lauded for their deep narratives, intricate world-building, and immersive experiences. Considering how vast the storylines are in Split Fiction – and a wide array of genres in just a single game.

Many GOTY winners stand out for pushing the boundaries of gameplay design. Overwatch redefined team-based multiplayer shooters, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice introduced precision-based combat, and Elden Ring revolutionized open-world design with its non-linear approach.

Split Fiction continues this trend by offering a novel co-op mechanic, where players control two characters with distinct but complementary abilities. This dynamic requires players to collaborate in a way that most co-op games don’t, giving it a fresh take on how multiplayer experiences can evolve. The innovative design here mirrors the kind of gameplay breakthroughs that GOTY-winning games are known for.

Split Fiction Pushing Gaming to Bigger Heights

The trend among recent GOTY winners shows a clear shift toward innovative gameplay, deep narratives, and emotional storytelling. Split Fiction, developed by the same studio that brought us It Takes Two, looks to continue this trajectory by offering a fresh take on co-op gameplay, blending emotional depth with innovative mechanics.

By continuing to innovate in co-op design and making sure the narrative is as integral as the gameplay, Split Fiction is well-positioned to carve out its place in the Game of the Year conversation in the future. That is, unless the hyped GTA 6 suddenly speeds up its development and suddenly makes a release later this year as well.

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