Split Fiction vs. It Takes Two: Which Fits You?

Choose between Hazelight's two-player adventures by comparing crossplay, supported consoles, Friend's Pass, accessibility options, and story focus.

Choose Split Fiction if you need crossplay between modern platforms or want more assistance for a less experienced partner. Choose It Takes Two if either player is on PS4, Xbox One, or the original Switch, or if you prefer a story centered on a couple repairing their relationship.

Both games are built for exactly two human players. Both offer local split-screen and online co-op, and both let one owner invite a second player through Friend's Pass. Neither supports solo play or an AI partner. Your hardware is therefore the best first filter; after that, compare the assistance options and the kind of story you want to share.

Split Fiction vs. It Takes Two at a glance

Feature	Split Fiction	It Takes Two
Co-op players	Exactly 2	Exactly 2
Local play	2-player split-screen	2-player split-screen
Online play	2 players	2 players
Platforms	PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2	PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch
Crossplay	Yes: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch 2	No cross-platform play
Cross-generation	Not applicable to its listed consoles	PS4 with PS5; Xbox One with Xbox Series
Full copies needed	One with Friend's Pass	One with Friend's Pass
Free test before buying	First two levels on supported Friend's Pass platforms	First chapter through Friend's Pass
Solo or AI partner	No	No
ESRB rating	Teen: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Language, Violence	Teen: Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Language

The Split Fiction co-op details and It Takes Two co-op details pages break down every supported platform pairing, copy rule, and subscription requirement.

Which game should you choose?

Pick Split Fiction when:

the two players use different supported platform families;
one player may benefit from skipping a difficult section or reducing enemy damage;
you want a friendship story that switches between science-fiction and fantasy worlds; or
both players own current-generation hardware.

Pick It Takes Two when:

someone plays on PS4, Xbox One, or the original Nintendo Switch;
both online players are on the same platform family;
you want a light-hearted story about Cody and May working through a strained relationship; or
its first-chapter trial suits your test-before-buying plan.

If both games work on your hardware, Split Fiction is the safer starting recommendation for a pair with uneven experience levels because its official accessibility menu can allow checkpoint skipping and reduced enemy damage. That does not make every section effortless, and both people still have to participate.

Split Fiction wins when crossplay matters

Split Fiction supports online crossplay across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. That means a PS5 owner can play with a PC or Xbox Series owner instead of matching platforms. Cross-platform invitations use EA Accounts, and each player also needs the applicable platform account.

It Takes Two does not support cross-platform play. Its online compatibility stays within a platform family: PS4 can connect to PS5, and Xbox One can connect to Xbox Series X|S, but PlayStation cannot join Xbox, PC, or Switch. Nintendo Switch players can play only with other Switch players.

Do not confuse that cross-generation support with crossplay. Our guide to crossplay versus cross-generation explains the difference before anyone buys the wrong version.

It Takes Two wins for older consoles

It Takes Two is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the original Nintendo Switch. Split Fiction's listed console versions require PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or Switch 2.

That makes the choice simple for a household that has not upgraded: choose It Takes Two. It is also the only option of these two for an original Switch. Remember that online partners still need compatible systems; the wider platform list does not give It Takes Two crossplay.

Friend's Pass makes either game a one-copy campaign

For online co-op, one player can own the full game while the other downloads the matching Friend's Pass. The owner hosts the full campaign. The guest does not need to buy a second copy, but both players must be online and console players need the multiplayer subscription required by their platform.

The free trial differs:

Split Fiction: two players can try the first two levels before either buys on the Friend's Pass platforms documented by EA Help. Progress carries into the full game.
It Takes Two: two players can try the first chapter locally or online through Friend's Pass before either buys.

For couch co-op, one full copy and one system are enough. Add a second controller and play on the shared screen. The broader co-op copy requirements guide covers how guest passes differ from ordinary online games.

Is Split Fiction or It Takes Two better for beginners?

There is no official, comparable difficulty score for the two games, and each changes mechanics frequently. A player who handles one section comfortably may struggle with the next camera, aiming, timing, or platforming challenge. The most reliable approach is to use the free trial with the person who will actually play.

Split Fiction provides the stronger documented safety net. Its official accessibility guide lists per-player camera assistance and sensitivity, alternatives for repeated button presses and stick motions, remappable controls, reduced enemy damage, and an option to skip to the next checkpoint when a section blocks progress.

It Takes Two also includes useful adjustments. EA documents subtitles, camera-shake controls, separate camera assistance and sensitivity for Cody and May, plus simplified button-mash inputs. On PC, keyboard controls can be remapped. It does not document the same checkpoint-skip or reduced-damage options found in Split Fiction.

For a mixed-skill pair:

Test the free opening together before buying.
Give the less experienced player time to adjust camera assistance and sensitivity.
Choose characters by the current mechanic rather than assuming one role is always easier.
Use Split Fiction's checkpoint or damage assists only when a section stops being enjoyable.

Which story is the better fit?

It Takes Two follows Cody and May, a divorcing couple transformed into dolls. Its playful environments sit around a relationship story about the difficulty of getting along. Split Fiction follows writers Mio and Zoe through their own science-fiction and fantasy ideas, with friendship and creative conflict at the center.

Both are rated Teen by the ESRB, so colorful presentation should not be treated as an Everyone rating. It Takes Two includes animated blood, comic mischief, fantasy violence, and language. Split Fiction includes blood and gore, crude humor, language, and violence. Check the full rating summaries below if you are choosing for a younger player.

Final decision checklist

Different modern platforms: choose Split Fiction.
PS4, Xbox One, or original Switch involved: choose It Takes Two.
A beginner may need to skip a blocking section: choose Split Fiction.
A relationship-focused story appeals more: choose It Takes Two.
A friendship story across sci-fi and fantasy appeals more: choose Split Fiction.
Still uncertain: download the appropriate Friend's Pass and test the free opening together.

Sources

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