Every Hazelight Studio Games Explained

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As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Hazelight Studios has truly captured my heart. The Swedish-based developer, led by the visionary Josef Fares, has proven time and again that it can create games that not only push the boundaries of cooperative gameplay but also tell compelling and emotional stories.

In a relatively brief period, Swedish game studio Hazelight Studios has garnered significant recognition. Known as the creative outlet of ex-film director Josef Fares, Hazelight Studios has made waves in the co-op gaming sector during its short existence so far. This modest team has partnered with EA under their EA Originals banner to develop games featuring captivating cooperative gameplay and heartfelt, impactful narratives.

At The Game Awards 2024, the publisher unveiled its latest creation – “Split Fiction”. This upcoming title delves into a blend of sci-fi and fantasy genres, slated for release in early 2025. Coming after the successes of “A Way Out” (released in 2018) and “It Takes Two” (2021), this new project aims to further refine the gameplay mechanics from the developer’s previous work, striving to create an even more distinctive gaming experience.

Hazelight Studios Game Lineup

A Way Out

Initially, Hazelight Studios debuted with the 2018 release of “A Way Out”. Although this wasn’t Josef Fares’ initial game, as he had previously created “Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons” in 2013, it marked his inaugural exploration into cooperative-only gaming. The narrative revolves around two prisoners named Vincent and Leo, who collaborate to break out of prison, elude the authorities, and experience a climactic ending that delivers a significant emotional impact.

In the game “A Way Out“, you won’t find a solo player option. Instead, if you’re keen to play, you’ll need to team up with someone else. The gameplay is somewhat flexible, allowing one player to control their character while the other watches a scene unfold. This makes for an intriguing cooperative experience, filled with thrilling action sequences and heartfelt storytelling.

It Takes Two

For Hazelight Studios, the upcoming venture was the 2021 release titled “It Takes Two”, marking a significant shift in tone from their previous project, “A Way Out”. Unlike its gritty aesthetic, “It Takes Two” embraces a much brighter and colorful artistic approach. Despite this change, the narrative continues to explore deep emotions as it revolves around Cody and May, a troubled couple who’ve been transformed into dolls. Their mission is to repair their relationship, not just for themselves, but also for the sake of their young daughter, Rose.

Instead of focusing predominantly on action-packed gameplay like “A Way Out“, “It Takes Two” seamlessly transitions between various genres, acting as a versatile platformer one moment, then transforming into a third-person shooter, a rhythm game, or even an RPG from a top-down perspective. This genre-bending approach is skillfully executed to enhance the overall game experience, ultimately earning Hazelight the prestigious Game of the Year award at The Game Awards in 2021.

In contrast to the action-packed style of “A Way Out”, “It Takes Two” seamlessly transitions between various game genres.

Split Fiction

Three years following their award win, Josef Fares and his team revisited The Game Awards 2024 to reveal their upcoming project, “Split Fiction.” This new offering from Hazelight focuses on a co-op adventure about two young women named Mio and Zoe, who write science fiction and fantasy tales. Trapped within machines designed to suppress their creativity, these budding authors find themselves immersed in their own narratives. To escape without losing their memories, they must lean on one another for support.

In a significant leap forward for Hazelight Studios, their new game titled Split Fiction blends the thrilling action-adventure and platformer aspects from their previous titles, while taking genre-blending to new heights, much like their hit game It Takes Two. During various stages of play, players can soar through the skies on dragon back over fiery landscapes, dive underwater as mermaids, and even frolic as pigs that transform into sausages. This innovative title marks another creative milestone for Hazelight Studios, and is expected to be one of the most anticipated games of 2025 when it releases on March 6.

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2024-12-16 21:04