The Best Games Like Split Fiction

Games like Split Fiction at a glance

How these alternatives were selected

The strongest Split Fiction alternatives make cooperation part of the game design instead of adding a second player to an ordinary solo campaign. This ranking prioritizes:

• Distinct responsibilities or abilities for each participant
• Puzzles that require communication and timing
• Story campaigns designed to be shared
• Frequent changes in mechanics, setting or perspective
• Local, split-screen or online co-op support
• Fair checkpoints and readable cooperative objectives
• Options for quieter pairs, action-focused groups and puzzle fans
• Availability on PC

The first six are the closest two-player experiences. Later picks emphasize fantasy puzzles, platforming, larger groups, class-based missions or shorter cooperative sessions.

1. It Takes Two

Best overall game like Split Fiction

It Takes Two is the closest recommendation because Hazelight built it around the same principle: every challenge should give both players something meaningful to do.

Cody and May are transformed into dolls and forced through a changing series of environments while dealing with the conflict that separated them. Each chapter introduces a new pair of abilities, and those tools usually work only when combined.

One player may create a target or opening while the other activates it. Later sections replace those mechanics with entirely different platforming, combat or puzzle systems before they become repetitive.

The campaign requires two players and supports local split-screen or online co-op. Friend’s Pass allows an invited partner to join without owning another full copy.

It Takes Two is warmer and more playful than Split Fiction, but both balance emotional conflict with spectacular level changes and asymmetric teamwork.

Choose it if constant mechanical variety mattered most. It is the natural first recommendation for anyone who has completed Split Fiction but not Hazelight’s earlier award-winning adventure.

2. A Way Out

Best grounded Hazelight alternative

A Way Out follows two prisoners, Leo and Vincent, through an escape and the events that follow it.

The story is more realistic than Split Fiction’s changing fantasy and science-fiction worlds. Cooperation revolves around distractions, simultaneous actions, driving, chases and decisions that keep both characters involved.

Its split-screen presentation remains visible even during online play. That structure lets one person continue moving while the other performs a different task or watches an event elsewhere.

A Way Out requires two players and supports local or online co-op. It cannot be completed alone.

The campaign introduces fewer complex mechanics than Split Fiction, but the grounded crime story gives the partnership greater tension. Both characters have separate histories and reasons for participating.

Choose A Way Out when cinematic storytelling and two visible perspectives matter more than platforming variety. It is also the strongest option for seeing how Hazelight’s mandatory co-op design developed before It Takes Two and Split Fiction.

3. Portal 2

Best dedicated co-op puzzle campaign

Portal 2 includes a cooperative campaign built around two test robots using four connected portals.

The puzzles are designed for two participants rather than adapted from the solo story. Success may require one player to redirect momentum while the other controls a light bridge, excursion funnel or surface needed for the final movement.

Both players need to understand the entire solution. A portal placed at the wrong angle can interrupt the sequence, but the resulting failure is usually easy to diagnose.

The co-op campaign supports local split-screen and online play. Portal 2 also includes a separate single-player campaign, so the solo and cooperative experiences do not compete for the same puzzle structure.

Choose Portal 2 when the best parts of Split Fiction were the moments that required both players to stop, explain an idea and execute it together. The presentation is older, but the puzzle language remains exceptionally clear.

4. We Were Here Together

Best communication-based puzzle alternative

We Were Here Together separates two explorers inside an icy mystery and gives each one information the other may not be able to see.

Progress depends on describing symbols, mechanisms, layouts and clues accurately. Communication is the central mechanic rather than support for action occurring on screen.

The game uses voice contact and different perspectives to create uncertainty. A correct solution can fail if one person assumes that both views contain the same information.

We Were Here Together is designed for two-player online co-op. It does not provide Split Fiction’s local split-screen option or its rapid shifts into action and platforming.

Choose it when communication puzzles were the strongest part of Split Fiction. It suits pairs willing to speak carefully, compare details and accept that misunderstandings are part of the challenge.

5. Unravel Two

Best calm co-op platformer

Unravel Two links two Yarnys with one shared thread. That connection becomes a tool for swinging, climbing, anchoring and rescuing one another.

The platforming is gentler than Split Fiction, but coordination remains important. One Yarny may hold a safe position while the other crosses a gap or establishes the next route.

Environmental puzzles often ask players to think about the length and tension of the thread. The mechanic keeps both characters connected even when each must take a different position.

Unravel Two supports local co-op and solo play. A single player can combine or switch control of the two Yarnys.

Choose it for a quieter shared journey with visual storytelling and less combat. It is particularly suitable for pairs that enjoy cooperation but do not want every section to become another high-pressure set piece.

6. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake

Best emotional two-character adventure

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake follows two siblings on a journey to find a cure for their parent.

Each brother has different strengths. Puzzles use those differences to determine who can reach, move or interact with a particular part of the environment.

In solo play, one participant controls both brothers through separate sides of a controller. The remake also adds local co-op, allowing each player to take direct responsibility for one character.

The story relies heavily on movement, animation and the shared journey rather than conventional spoken exposition. Cooperation therefore supports the emotional relationship instead of appearing only in puzzle rooms.

Choose Brothers when Split Fiction’s character bond mattered more than its mechanical scale. The campaign is shorter and less playful, but its two-character design connects story and control in a memorable way.

7. Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

Best fantasy physics-puzzle alternative

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince follows a wizard, knight and thief through a 2.5D fantasy world filled with physical objects, magical machinery and environmental hazards.

Each hero solves problems differently. The wizard creates and moves objects, the knight handles direct combat and reflected projectiles, and the thief uses arrows and a rope.

Puzzles support experimentation rather than one rigid solution. In co-op, several abilities can be used at once, producing approaches that are unavailable to a solo player switching characters.

The game supports solo play, local co-op and online co-op for a larger group. Its story is lighter and less cinematic than Split Fiction’s.

Choose Trine 4 when fantasy worlds and shared puzzle-solving matter more than third-person action. It is also a strong option for groups larger than two.

8. Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Best playful 3D co-op platformer

Sackboy: A Big Adventure builds a cooperative journey around colorful 3D stages, movement challenges and musical set pieces.

The platforming is easier to understand than Split Fiction’s constant mechanical changes. That accessibility makes the game suitable for pairs with different levels of experience.

Several stages are designed specifically around cooperation. Players may need to carry objects, trigger mechanisms or maintain spacing while moving through hazards.

Sackboy supports solo play as well as local and online co-op. A group can therefore continue even when the regular second player is unavailable.

Choose it for cheerful platforming and immediate controls. It lacks Split Fiction’s asymmetric abilities and narrative tension, but offers a similarly polished stream of visual ideas.

9. Overcooked! All You Can Eat

Best chaotic group-coordination alternative

Overcooked! All You Can Eat combines the stages from the first two Overcooked games with additional content in one package.

Players prepare ingredients, cook dishes, serve orders and clean equipment while each kitchen introduces moving floors, hazards or separated work areas.

Success requires assigning responsibilities and changing them when the level disrupts the original plan. One forgotten plate or mistimed ingredient can delay the entire production line.

The game supports local and online co-op, competitive play and solo control. It accommodates larger groups than Split Fiction’s fixed pair.

Choose it when communication and shared mistakes were more important than story. The short stages make it easy to play briefly, but earning stronger results can require precise coordination.

10. Deep Rock Galactic

Best class-based online teamwork

Deep Rock Galactic sends teams of space dwarves into procedural caves to mine resources and survive alien attacks.

Four classes provide distinct tools. The Driller creates routes, the Engineer builds platforms, the Scout reaches distant areas and the Gunner provides traversal support and sustained fire.

Those roles create cooperation through capability rather than scripted puzzles. A team can recover from an inefficient composition, but learning how the tools complement one another makes missions safer.

The game supports solo play with assistance or online co-op for up to four players. It does not include local split-screen co-op.

Choose Deep Rock Galactic for repeatable missions and long-term teamwork. It lacks Split Fiction’s directed two-character story, but few games make every class feel so useful to the group.

11. Haven

Best intimate story-led co-op

Haven follows Yu and Kay, two people who leave their old lives and settle together on an unfamiliar planet.

Exploration involves gliding across landscapes, collecting resources and repairing the Nest. Conversations and domestic routines are as important to the story as combat.

A second local player can join and control one partner. Battles ask both participants to coordinate attacks and defensive actions, while exploration keeps the pair physically connected.

Haven can also be played alone. Its co-op is more intimate and less mechanically demanding than Split Fiction’s constant genre changes.

Choose it when the relationship between two protagonists was the main appeal. The pace is slower, with more attention given to quiet conversations and shared daily life.

12. KeyWe

Best short cooperative task game

KeyWe stars two kiwi birds working inside a whimsical post office filled with buttons, levers, conveyor systems and environmental disruptions.

Each task divides one larger job into actions that must be completed in the correct order. Players may type messages, redirect packages or operate machinery while moving through the same workspace.

Communication matters because both birds can easily duplicate one task while another requirement is ignored. Efficient pairs divide responsibilities and report when a section is complete.

KeyWe supports solo play, local co-op and online co-op. Its campaign is smaller than Split Fiction, but the changing postal challenges create a similar rhythm of learning another cooperative idea.

Choose KeyWe for cute presentation, short stages and low-pressure teamwork. It is one of the most practical alternatives for a pair seeking a lighter weeknight game.

Which Split Fiction alternative should you play first?

Match the recommendation to the part of Split Fiction you want to preserve:

• Closest overall alternative: It Takes Two
• Grounded Hazelight story: A Way Out
• Precise two-player puzzles: Portal 2
• Communication between separate views: We Were Here Together
• Calm puzzle-platforming: Unravel Two
• Emotional two-character journey: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake
• Fantasy physics puzzles: Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
• Playful 3D platforming: Sackboy: A Big Adventure
• Chaotic group coordination: Overcooked! All You Can Eat
• Class-based online teamwork: Deep Rock Galactic
• Intimate story-led co-op: Haven
• Short cooperative tasks: KeyWe

It Takes Two is the safest first choice because it shares Split Fiction’s studio and most important design principles. A Way Out is better for a grounded story, while Portal 2 offers the strongest dedicated puzzle campaign.

Best two-player story games

It Takes Two and A Way Out are the strongest recommendations because both were built by Hazelight specifically for two participants.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake provides a shorter emotional journey, while Haven focuses on a relationship away from large cinematic set pieces.

We Were Here Together also tells a story, but its identity is driven more strongly by puzzles and communication than by character performance.

Choose according to tone. It Takes Two is playful, A Way Out is grounded, Brothers is melancholy and Haven is intimate.

Best local co-op alternatives

It Takes Two is the closest local split-screen match. Portal 2 provides a complete cooperative puzzle campaign, while Unravel Two offers lower-pressure platforming on one screen.

Sackboy supports a broader group and straightforward 3D movement. Overcooked! All You Can Eat works best when the goal is constant communication and deliberate chaos rather than a story.

Haven, Brothers and KeyWe are also practical local choices for two players. Each supports a different pace, from quiet exploration to compact task management.

Best online co-op alternatives

It Takes Two and A Way Out preserve Hazelight’s fixed two-player structure online. We Were Here Together is the strongest option for partners who enjoy describing clues and solving problems without sharing one screen.

Deep Rock Galactic is better for repeatable group missions and long-term progression. Trine 4 supports online fantasy puzzle-solving, while Overcooked! All You Can Eat accommodates both cooperative and competitive play.

Check whether each participant needs a separate copy before buying. Friend’s Pass systems and current access rules can vary between games and may change over time.

Best alternatives that can be played solo

Split Fiction requires two people, but several alternatives work when a partner is unavailable.

Unravel Two allows one player to control both Yarnys. Brothers uses dual-character control, while Trine 4 lets one participant switch between heroes.

Sackboy, Deep Rock Galactic, Haven and KeyWe also support solo play. Their cooperative design remains useful, but none requires another person to complete the game.

It Takes Two and A Way Out remain mandatory two-player experiences. Choose those only when a regular partner is available.

Other cooperative adventures to consider

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a strong local option for players who want a long, approachable adventure. LEGO Harry Potter Collection provides another easygoing shared-screen campaign.

Resident Evil 6 suits pairs looking for a combat-heavy co-op campaign, while Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a polished solo alternative for players who want fast world changes and science-fiction platforming without cooperative play.

These games are further from Split Fiction’s mandatory two-player design, which is why they sit outside the main ranking.

Final recommendations

It Takes Two is the best overall game like Split Fiction. A Way Out provides another complete Hazelight story for two, Portal 2 offers the strongest co-op puzzle campaign, and We Were Here Together makes communication the central challenge.

Choose Unravel Two for calm platforming, Trine 4 for fantasy physics puzzles, Overcooked! All You Can Eat for group chaos, or Deep Rock Galactic for long-term online teamwork.

The right alternative depends on what made Split Fiction memorable for the pair playing it: the changing mechanics, the story, the jokes or the simple fact that neither player could succeed alone.