Split Fiction PC review — two-player co-op from the makers of It Takes Two: what works on a rented account and is it worth a month
November 3, 2026 · 8 min read
What Split Fiction is, how critics and Steam players rated it, how many hours it takes, whether two people can play on one PC without internet, whether it has Ukrainian and Denuvo — and whether a month's rental is enough.
Split Fiction is a co-op adventure from Hazelight Studios, the studio behind It Takes Two and A Way Out, published by Electronic Arts. It came out on March 6, 2025 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and later on Nintendo Switch 2.
The key thing to know before renting: you can't play Split Fiction alone. It's strictly a two-player game. Below is a spoiler-free review: what the game is, how it was rated, how long it lasts and, most importantly, which modes work on a rented account.
Account rental · SteamSplit Fictionfrom 70 грнRentWhat kind of game is it
Mio writes science fiction, Zoe writes fantasy. Both authors agree to test a machine that puts people inside stories, and they get stuck in it together. To get out, they have to go through worlds from their own writing: a neon city of the future one moment, a land of dragons and wizards the next.
Every level brings new mechanics. One moment you're both flying on dragons, half an hour later you're firing blasters, and further on you're riding something completely unexpected. The screen is split in half almost all the time, and each player sees their own side, because the characters often do different things and have to help each other.
Scores and reviews
| Source | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 90 (PC), 91 (PS5) |
| OpenCritic | 91, recommended by 98% of critics |
| Steam (PC) | 96% positive out of 24,000+ English reviews ("Overwhelmingly Positive") |
| IGN | 9 out of 10 |
| Eurogamer | 5 out of 5 |
| GamesRadar+ | 4.5 out of 5 |
It's one of the highest-rated games of 2025, and a rare case where critics and players almost fully agree. According to Wikipedia, it sold over 2 million copies in its first week and over 4 million by May 2025.
What it's praised for
- Endless inventiveness. Mechanics barely repeat: every few minutes the game throws a new idea at you. This is what reviewers point out most often.
- Real co-op. Players have to act together, not just run side by side. Often each one has a separate ability, and you only progress by combining them.
- Side stories. Short standalone mini-levels, each built around its own idea, are among the most loved parts of the game.
- Looks. Both genres — cyberpunk and fantasy — are bright and detailed.
What it's criticized for
- The story is weaker than the gameplay. The dialogue and the villain are often called the weakest part: the plot is predictable and the jokes don't always land.
- Little room to breathe. Some outlets say the mechanics change so fast that some ideas are gone before you can enjoy them.
Do you need Hazelight's earlier games
No. Split Fiction is a standalone story with new characters. If you like the format, the catalog also has It Takes Two, the studio's previous game, also two-player only. In October 2026 Steam also got the Hazelight Collection: Split Fiction, It Takes Two and A Way Out in one bundle.
How to play together on a rented account
This is the key section for a rental. Split Fiction has three ways to play together, and only one of them works with an offline rental.
| Mode | What you need | With an offline rental |
|---|---|---|
| Two players on one PC (split screen) | two controllers, or a controller + keyboard and mouse | works |
| Online via Steam with a friend | internet, the friend uses Friend's Pass | doesn't work |
| Online across PC, PS5 and Xbox | internet, an EA account linked to Steam | doesn't work |
Two players at one computer. According to EA, local co-op on PC doesn't need an EA account. Connect two controllers (or one controller, with the second player on keyboard and mouse) and play in split screen. That's the rental scenario: you and a friend, partner or kid at one monitor or TV.
Online with a friend. With the Friend's Pass, a friend can play the whole game for free together with the owner — but online only, with a constant internet connection. For cross-platform play, Steam requires linking an EA account. On a rented account in Steam offline mode, online co-op doesn't work, and linking a rented account to your own EA account is a bad idea: according to the terms on the Steam page, access to the game is tied to one EA account and can't be transferred later. The same goes for Remote Play Together — a Steam feature that also needs the network.
How long it takes and whether a month is enough
We couldn't check HowLongToBeat directly. According to Deku Deals (which shows HowLongToBeat figures), the story takes about 14.5 hours. Digital Trends estimates 10–12 hours, or 12–15 if the players struggle to coordinate.
| How you play | Hours |
|---|---|
| Story, two players | 10–15 |
Languages, protection and internet
- No Ukrainian — not in the interface, subtitles or voice-over. Full voice-over is in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese, with subtitles also in Polish, Korean and Portuguese. There's a lot of dialogue, so at least one player should understand English (or Polish).
- No Denuvo. The Steam page has no third-party DRM notice, and Windows Central also reports it wasn't added.
- No EA app needed — the Steam version launches directly. The terms on the Steam page say playing requires an internet connection, a Steam account and accepting the EA User Agreement. So do the first launch online, then switch to Steam offline mode (see how it works).
- No multiplayer with strangers — only two-player co-op.
PC requirements
| Minimum (1080p, 30 FPS, low) | Recommended (1440p, 60 FPS, high) | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X | Intel Core i7-11700K / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| GPU | GTX 970 / RX 470 (4 GB) | RTX 3070 / RX 6700 XT |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 85 GB | 85 GB |
Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit). The requirements are modest for Unreal Engine 5: the minimum is an old GTX 970. The game is Steam Deck Verified.
Who it's for and who should skip it
It's for you if you have someone to play with in the same room: a friend, partner, brother or sister. It's one of the best two-player games in years, and it doesn't require experience — the pace and difficulty are built for players of different skill.
Skip it if you play alone or only plan online co-op with a friend in another city — that won't work on a rented account. Also if a deep story matters to you: here it's more of an excuse for the rides.
Verdict: is it worth renting for a month
Yes, if you have a partner next to you. 10–15 hours is a few evenings together, and a month is more than enough even at a slow pace. Buying the game for one playthrough is expensive, so renting makes more sense here. But without a second player at the same PC, don't bother.
Sources
- Steam store page — description, languages, requirements, reviews, EA terms
- Steam API: game data
- Metacritic
- OpenCritic — average score and reviews
- Wikipedia: Split Fiction — release date, scores, sales
- IGN: review
- Eurogamer: review
- GamesRadar+: review
- EA: Friend's Pass and local co-op on PC
- EA: what is the Friend's Pass
- EA: Steam Deck and PC specs
- Windows Central: does it have Denuvo
- Neowin: Steam version without the EA app
- Deku Deals: length via HowLongToBeat
- Digital Trends: how long to beat
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