‘Did We Really Go That Far?’: Josef Fares on How Split Fiction Revolutionizes the Co-Op Adventure Genre

Taking on a project like Split Fiction is nothing short of monumental. The game hits you with fresh mechanics at every turn, sometimes tossing them aside just as quickly—but that doesn’t mean it skimps on polishing each new idea until it shines.

“Take the dragon-riding section, for example,” one of the designers shared. “Creating just one of those dragons took around eight months. Early in my career, some of my teammates would question, ‘Why pour so much effort into something that only lasts 10 minutes of gameplay?’”

Here’s their take: In filmmaking, a fantastic, costly scene doesn’t get reused just for its price tag. The allure of those jaw-dropping moments might fade with repetition. There’s this assumption in gaming that high-expense features should be milked for all they’re worth. But does that really need to be the case? Reusing a significant feature can dilute the initial magic of the experience.

In Split Fiction, this philosophy is pursued to its fullest extent, offering expansive sections filled with completely optional content. Remember how It Takes Two had some quirky mini-games sprinkled throughout? Well, Split Fiction elevates this by incorporating portals leading to entire realms, packed with brand-new mechanics, unique bosses, and stunning visuals.

“Sometimes, these are full-fledged worlds themselves, almost like discovering an entirely new game within the game.”