In a not-so-distant past, there was a time whenco-op gameswere thought to be extinct. Save for a Tekken here or a Fifa there, gamers wouldn’t even bother purchasing a second controller for their console as they had no incentive.
Hazelight Studios saw the dwindling sales of game controllers, didn’t like the numbers and tried to take matters into their own hands. The studio led the charge in breaking the trend and started to develop co-op titles that absolutely do need a second controller if they want to be played locally, which is the more intimate way to experience them, as compared to online co-op.
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Split Fiction is the studio’s newest and boldest step in this direction and brings with it asymmetric mechanics with emotionally-charged writing. For those who love its unique fusion of genre-swapping, character-driven narrative and tightly designed teamwork-based gameplay, there are plenty of other games that scratch a similar itch, some of which are from the same studio.
10Tick Tock: A Tale for Two
A Puzzle that Lives in Conversation
Tick Tock: A Tale for Two
Few co-op games take asymmetric gameplay as literally as Tick Tock: A Tale for Two. Unlike Split Fiction, where two characters interact with the same world, this game keeps players completely separated, giving each person only half of the puzzle.
The only way forward is through communication. Players have to describe symbols, decipher clues and piece together fragments of a mysterious time-bending story, relying entirely on each other’s descriptions.
It’s a perfect test of teamwork, much like the best moments of Split Fiction where Zoe and Mio must interpret each other’s perspectives to progress. While it doesn’t feature deep character development or action-packed platforming, its emphasis on cooperation and puzzle-solving makes it a fascinating alternative for those who loved the teamwork dynamics in Split Fiction.
Two Heads, One Adventure
In Phogs, players take control of a two-headed, stretchy dog navigating a whimsical world filled with physics-based puzzles. Unlike the genre-hopping adventures of Split Fiction, this game keeps things lighthearted and playful, with each player controlling one end of the dog as they bite, stretch and wrap around obstacles.
The cooperative mechanics may not be as complex as the asymmetric abilities in Split Fiction, but Phogs thrives on the same principle: working together in unexpected ways to solve problems. Every puzzle forces players to think about positioning and timing, much like the movement-based challenges in Hazelight’s latest adventure.
While it doesn’t offer the same emotional storytelling, Phogs delivers a fun and innovative take on two-player teamwork.
8Unravel 2
Threading Two Souls Together
While Split Fiction separates its protagonists into vastly different worlds,Unravel2 keeps both players bound, quite literally, by a single piece of thread. This physics-based platformer follows two Yarnys, which are tiny creatures made of yarn, as they traversebeautifully-crafted environmentsfull of environmental puzzles.
Much like Zoe and Mio, the Yarnys have to rely on each other to overcome obstacles, whether it’s swinging from ledges, solving intricate physics-based challenges or outrunning threats.
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But unlike Split Fiction, which constantly reinvents its gameplay, Unravel 2 focuses on refining a single, core mechanic: tethered cooperation. There’s no voice acting or deep narrative, but the silent storytelling and stunning visuals make it a fantastic co-op experience that captures the essence of working together to overcome adversity.
7Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
A Journey Bound by Blood
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Unlike all the other games,Brothers: A Tale of Two Sonsisn’t a co-op title but still carries the same emotional weight and character-drivenstorytellingthat Split Fiction delivers. Directed by Josef Fares, the mind behind It Takes Two and A Way Out, this adventure tells the story of two brothers on a perilous journey, controlled simultaneously by a single player using both analog sticks.
Storytelling in Brothers unfolds without words, relying on gestures and interactions to convey emotion. Where Split Fiction thrives on player dialogue and distinct character personalities, Brothers creates intimacy through its unique control scheme, making players feel the bond between its protagonists.
6Degrees of Separation
A Love Divided by Elements
Degrees of Separation
Unlike Split Fiction, where Zoe and Mio are trapped in each other’s fictional worlds, Degrees of Separation features two characters who exist in separate elemental realms, one of ice and the other of fire. This side-scrolling puzzle game revolves around using their opposing abilities to interact with the environment, creating dynamic solutions that require both players to think creatively.
While its pacing is slower and the story is more abstract, it mirrors Split Fiction in how it forces players to see the world through different perspectives. Degrees of Separation’s mechanics constantly reinforce its narrative themes, much like how Split Fiction’s genre shifts reflect its protagonists’ evolving relationship.
While it lacks the cinematic storytelling and action-packed sequences of Hazelight’s latest game, Degrees of Separation is a thoughtful and beautifully-designed co-op experience.
5A Way Out
Crime, Consequences and Co-op at Its Core
Split Fiction builds on many of the ideas introduced inA Way Out, Hazelight’s 2018 breakout hit that kickstarted their catalog of two-player co-op games. A Way Out was designed exclusively for two players, a concept that few studios had invested in on such a big scale, with split-screen mechanics that constantly shift perspectives to enhance the story.
Both games share a commitment to blending narrative with gameplay, ensuring that every mechanic serves the story rather than feeling like a disconnected game mode. While A Way Out is grounded in realism and action-driven set pieces, Split Fiction takes a more fantastical approach.
Still, the DNA is clear: cinematic storytelling, strong character dynamics and gameplay that reinforces the protagonists' relationship.
Love in a World of Isolation
While Split Fiction explores two writers clashing in their creative visions, Haven tells the story of two lovers escaping a doomed society to live on an alien planet. This indie RPG blends exploration, resource management andturn-based combat, all while focusing on the growing relationship between its two protagonists.
Like Zoe and Mio, Yu and Kay experience tension and disagreements, but their journey is about finding common ground. Though it lacks Split Fiction’s puzzle-solving and action-platforming, its emphasis on a two-character dynamic and cooperative exploration makes it a compelling alternative and one of the best co-op titles for couples to play together.
3The Past Within
A Mystery Told Across Two Screens
The Past Within
Taking asymmetric gameplay to an extreme, The Past Within is a cooperative point-and-click puzzle game where two players experience the story from entirely different timelines. Unlike Split Fiction, which keeps its players engaged in the same overarching adventure, this game forces partners to interpret clues from separate realities, communicating constantly to piece the narrative together.
Much like the challenges in Split Fiction that require thinking beyond what’s visible on screen, The Past Within demands players to trust each other’s observations. It lacks action or platforming, but its puzzle design and emphasis on teamwork make it one of the most unique co-op experiences available.
2Portal 2 (Co-op Mode)
Thinking With Two Portals
Few games test cooperative problem-solving as well as Portal 2’s co-op mode. While the single-player campaign tells a story filled with wit and dark humor, the co-op mode introduces an entirely separate set of challenges designed specifically for two players.
Like Split Fiction, it forces players to approach problems from different perspectives. Timing, coordination and trust are everything, especially when managing complex portal mechanics. The interactions between the two robotic protagonists, Atlas and P-Body, even mirror the banter and rivalry seen between Split Fiction’s leads.
1It Takes Two
The Gold Standard of Co-op Gaming
It Takes Two
If Split Fiction exists because of any game, it’sIt Takes Two. Hazelight Studios’ 2021 masterpiece took cooperative storytelling to new heights, blending ever-changing gameplay mechanics with a deeply-emotional story about a fractured relationship.
Like Split Fiction, It Takes Two constantly reinvents itself, introducing new mechanics in every level to keep things fresh. It’s one of the only games that truly makes co-op feel essential, not just an optional feature. For those who loved Split Fiction’s combination of platforming, storytelling and teamwork-driven gameplay, this is the ultimate experience.
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