After being forced into their subconscious state in Split Fiction, Mio and Zoe end up getting stranded in Mio’s subconscious. For some reason, this inner side of Mio takes the form of a maximum security prison, where a prisoner communicates with the two, asking to be freed. Not knowing whether this is a good thing or not, the duo decide to investigate who this may be.
Isolation level brings interesting point-of-views as the gameplay will switch between the duo and their respective drones. This Isolation chapter guide in Split Fiction will list the puzzles that players may struggle with.
Split Fiction Review
Split Fiction is a must-play and yet another co-op gaming masterpiece from Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight Studios.
Prison Ship
Puzzle #1
The first puzzle in the Isolation level requires players to swing onto a rotating device, but because there’s a laser gate blocking the way, a detour is necessary. For that, players need to keep swinging to the next device until they reach the other side.
Puzzle #2
Next, the duo must climb two separate poles; it doesn’t matter who takes which pole, but the idea is that the player on the opposite pole can deactivate the electric current by touching the green area.
Puzzle #3
Similarly, the next puzzle also requires the duo to split. A swing point will appear on the other side when a player activates one, which means the duo must swing in turns from separate sides. Timing is crucial in this part of the game.
Handy Drones
Puzzle #1
After taking control of their drones, players will soon find a puzzle where cooperation is needed. The fan puzzle in the Isolation level of Split Fiction can be solved by:
- Zoe: Stick to the fan’s green area.
- Mio: Rotate the fan clockwise.
Puzzle #2
There isn’t much puzzle-solving to do in the 2D mode of the level, but there will be one where Zoe must stick to a platform and move it to one side so that Mio can jump on it. The key is to rotate the platform by rolling to one side, then quickly roll to the other side to balance it.
Down the Rabbit Hole
Puzzle #1
After rolling down the rabbit hole, players soon have to help Zoe pass through the red laser gate by using a crane.
- Zoe: Activate the fan for Mio to go up.
- Mio: Hack the device.
- Zoe: Stick to the green area.
- Mio: Slowly move the machine until the two can reunite.
- Zoe: Hit the door twice to open it.
Puzzle #2
After a short roll, the duo will come across a jet thruster. Follow these steps to continue with the level:
- Zoe: Activate the thruster, and keep sticking to maximize the power.
- Mio: Turn into parachute mode, then float away using the exhaust.
- Zoe: Go back and find the stairs, then wait for Mio.
- Mio: Enter the device, then throw the green harpoon at Zoe.
- Zoe: Keep jumping on the harpoon and go forward. On the way, there’s a device that needs Mio to activate; ignore this one. Continue until there are two green machines across each other.
- Zoe: Stick on the green machine to activate a bridge for Mio.
- Mio: Roll on the bridge.
- Zoe: Jump to the other machine to switch the bridge’s active side until Mio arrives.
Hydration Facility
Puzzle #1
In the Hydration Facility chapter in Split Fiction, Mio found a ship mode for her drone, allowing Zoe to ride on the little boat. The first puzzle can be solved by doing the following:
- Mio: Ride on the water until there’s a rotating machine.
- Zoe: Jump when there’s a pole.
- Mio: Keep going until there’s a green device.
- Zoe: Stick on the green device to open the gate.
- Mio: Head to the other side and wait for Zoe to ride the boat again.
Puzzle #2
Later, players will come across a gate that’s too narrow for Zoe to cross, but wide enough for Mio alone. On the other side, there’s a green rotating tube that Zoe can stick on. To solve the water gate puzzle in Split Fiction, do these moves:
- Mio: Steer the boat with Zoe on top to the green tube.
- Zoe: Stick to the tube and wait for Mio. It’s best to choose the one that’s freshly out of water.
- Mio: Quickly go to the other side.
- Zoe: Wait for Mio, then return to the boat once possible.
Puzzle #3
Next, Mio must help Zoe traverse through the tubes to reach the other side.
- Mio: Enter the device to control the rotating tubes.
- Zoe: Stick to the green area.
- Mio: Keep rotating the tubes so Zoe can jump forward.
There’ll be a tube on fire mid-way, so be patient and wait for the fire to disappear before jumping.
It Takes Two: How To Unlock Every Achievement/Trophy
To unlock every Achievement in It Takes Two, follow this guide to learn how to get all twenty It Takes Two achievements.
Soon, Zoe arrives in a maze-like circle with burning parts. Mio can rotate the green part here, so here are some tips to quickly solve the fiery maze puzzle in Split Fiction:
- Mio should rotate the green part to move Zoe in a circle. It’s easier than Zoe moving slowly through the circles.
- Wait for Zoe to stop moving before Mio starts rotating. Don’t move together.
Prison Courtyard
Intro
In the Prison Courtyard level in Split Fiction, Zoe must sneak through the guards while Mio deactivates the guards by shooting at them.
Puzzle #1
After sneaking through several devices, Zoe will arrive at a place with three doors. Here, shooting the yellow target will close the door, keeping Zoe hidden. Mio must shoot the three doors so Zoe can pass through safely.
Puzzle #2
There’s a similar puzzle soon after, but it involves a container rather than a door.
- Mio: Shoot the yellow target to move the container, and shoot the nearby guard.
- Zoe: Roll behind the container to stay hidden.
- Zoe: Reach the other side, then get on top of the container.
- Mio: Shoot the yellow button again so that Zoe can come to the other side.
Pinball Lock
Puzzle #1
The Pinball Lock chapter in Split Fiction naturally revolves around the classic pinball game. The first puzzle requires Mio to shoot Zoe through the small passage to reach the platform above.
Puzzle #2
After that, another platform will be moving up and down. Shoot Zoe when the platform is blocking her way in order to let her reach the highest part.
Puzzle #3
- Mio: Open the flippers for Zoe.
- Zoe: Jump through the gap.
- Mio: Close the flippers to hold Zoe.
Puzzle #4
In order for Zoe to path through all these obstacles, Mio must aim each spring precisely, sending Zoe through the gaps without hitting the traps. Zoe must carefully move her drone after Mio launches it.
Eventually, aim to send Zoe to the maximum range. However, this time, just before Zoe goes down again, use the flipper to catch her.
Pinbawser Boss Fight
After racing against the Pinbawser boss while it destroys everything behind her, Zoe will reach a battle arena. During the Pinbawser boss fight, Zoe should use her magnet to pull the boss away from its place. Then push it to one of the flippers. Mio can then shoot the boss into the spinning chainsaw.
The boss will continue to follow the duo into another battle arena. In this one, Zoe should follow the boss to push it into Mio’s flippers.
Finally, in the last area, Mio can shoot the boss into the platform next to the chainsaw. But it’s Zoe who needs to follow the boss to push it into the chainsaw.
Execution Arena
After going through the maze of pinball games, the duo are thrown into the Execution Arena, where a boss called.exe-QT-3.14 is there to annihilate them. Defeating this boss is simple as Zoe simply needs to use her magnet when the boss’ hand falls on the arena, while Mio can hit the boss right after Zoe is done.
Waste Depot
Puzzle #1
The Waste Depot chapter in Split Fiction takes players to the dump inside Zoe’s mind. The first puzzle in this level can be solved by doing these moves:
- Zoe: Use her magnet to lower the columns for Mio.
- Mio: Jump through the columns until there’s a button to press.
- Zoe: Walk past the glass once Mio presses the button.
Since the two are split, Zoe must help Mio reach the other side by taking these steps:
- Mio: Hop through the poles until there’s no way to go.
- Zoe: Pushes the mechanism using the magnet ability until Mio can reach the yellow foothold.
- Mio: Jump on the machine.
- Zoe: Release the magnet so that Mio can reach the wall in front.
- Mio: Hook on the wall and reach safety.
Puzzle #2
Like the drone boat puzzle, this Waste Depot puzzle in Split Fiction also revolves around Mio catching Zoe, which can be done by:
- Zoe: Wait until the green platform emerges on the water, then jump on it.
- Mio: Race to the other side; wait for Zoe past the gate.
- Zoe: Activate the magnet to leap, then make sure to land on Mio.
Puzzle #3
Next, Mio can hack into the trash container and open the door. Zoe must jump in, then Mio closes the door once Zoe is inside. This will keep the two inside together.
Puzzle #4
After being thrown into yet another dumpster, Mio must hack the device on the door before Zoe gets crushed. Here, Zoe can buy Mio some time using her magnetic ability, which will push the crusher away. Make sure to use the magnet as late as possible to give Mio more time.
Cell Blocks
Puzzle #1
In the Cell Blocks chapter in Split Fiction, there’s a small battle that players must do with some robots. Here, Mio and Zoe have separate roles:
- Mio: Hack into a purple drone and shoot all the other small robots.
- Zoe: Destroy the big green robots using her magnet ability.
Whenever possible, players must destroy the core in Split Fiction, which can be done by:
- Zoe: Approach one of the three green domes, then hold her magnet power to open it.
- Mio: Destroy the core by shooting on it.
Puzzle #2
- Mio: Hack into the device to move from one platform to another.
- Zoe: Use her magnet to float through the platforms.
Puzzle #3
In the prison container puzzle, Mio is in charge of moving the containers to open up the road for Zoe. Once Zoe reaches the destination, she must use her ability to free the device that Mio can enter.
Puzzle #4
The next puzzle in the Cell Blocks chapter requires players to do the following:
- Mio: Get ready to move the green block.
- Zoe: Move slowly using her magnet power.
Shortly after, both Zoe and Mio must wall run together, with Zoe stopping them from getting crushed using her magnet power.
Puzzle #5
The Tazer Bot puzzle in Split Fiction can be quite confusing. Here’s how players can solve it:
- Mio: Hack into the Tazer Bot on the other side, then send the pole for Zoe.
- Zoe: Walk on the pole to Mio.
- Mio: Face the other side where Zoe came from; make sure the green part on the back is facing Zoe.
- Zoe: Use magnet ability to throw Tazer Bot to the other side.
- Mio: Send the pole to Zoe again.
- Zoe: Return to the starting platform.
Puzzle #6
The second Tazer Bot puzzle requires the duo to do these:
- Mio: Send the pole to the side of the gate.
- Zoe: Walk on the pole to the other side, behind the gate.
- Mio: Shift the pole to the middle, under the gate.
- Zoe: Use magnet to open the gate, then use the pole to return to Mio.
- Mio: Get ready to be thrown by Zoe.
- Zoe: Push Mio’s robot to the other side.
Afterward, use Mio’s Tazer Bot again to reunite with Zoe.
Puzzle #7
The final pole robot puzzle requires players to:
- Mio: Extend the pole to the side.
- Zoe: Jump on the pole and stand on the tip.
- Mio: Carefully move the pole by staying between the fence. Navigate through the area until Zoe finds a place to go.
- Zoe: Walk around the area until there’s a mechanism to help Mio reach the other side.
- Mio: Reunite with Zoe, then look to the left. There should be a container with a yellow circle underneath. Use the Tazer Bot’s pole on it.
Swing to the other side, and there will be a green platform to eject Zoe into the container above. To do the prisoner cell block puzzle, do these steps:
- Mio: Hack inside the prisoner container, then open the door.
- Zoe: Leap inside the container while Mio keeps the door open.
Maximum Security
Puzzle #1
After avoiding some lasers in the Maximum security level in Split Fiction, players will see a green magnet field that Zoe can use, but it’s blocked by lasers. Fortunately, there’s also a device Mio can hack into, so she doesn’t have to cross with Zoe. Follow these steps to solve this puzzle:
- Mio: Hack into the device far ahead.
- Zoe: Use magnet to float and avoid the laser.
- Mio: Plug into the device to start rotating the stick.
- Zoe: Jump on the stick until there’s another magnet field blocked by laser; levitate and wait for Mio’s stick to rotate.
- Mio: Rotate the stick until Zoe has access to a safe zone.
Puzzle #2
As the level’s name suggests, Mio and Zoe will reach a chamber with maximum security. In that chamber, the lasers are spreading everywhere and covering the entire place.
- Mio: Hack the device that highlights the lasers for both herself and Zoe.
- Zoe: Stay close to the hacked device and search for a way out.
Puzzle #3
The final puzzle in the Maximum Security chapter is quite interesting. The goal is to heat up the entire circle with Mio’s laser. However, there are some twists:
- Zoe must lift two green spots in the circle for Mio to cut.
- Two big robots will appear occasionally to immobilize Mio.
- One small robot will also appear to fix the part Mio is cutting; this robot should be pushed away first so that Mio doesn’t need to keep lasering the circle.
It Takes Two: How To Defeat Every Boss
The bosses in It Takes Two can be quite a challenge but become easier to take down with a little knowledge going in.
After the entire circle is red, the glass will break, bringing the duo to the final boss of the chapter.
Finally, both Mio and Zoe make it through to save the prisoner, only to find out it’s Dark Mio tricking them. Dark Mio is the third and final boss of the Isolation chapter.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- March 6, 2025
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
