Split Fictionis anamazing journeythat’s jam-packed with constant surprises.
Whether it’s a gameplay genre-shift that catches you off guard, aside storythat takes a genuinely unpredictable direction, or an absurd new power-up to progress you through your current chapter, Hazelight Studios has simplyloadedthis title with unforgettable moments.
Split Fiction: Complete Guide & Walkthrough
All you need to succeed in Split Fiction.
This same idea applies to many of the game’s impeccable boss fights. It’s a true struggle to think of another game with such a diverse and creative collection of baddies to defeat.
Whittling down the list of bosses to a Top 10 was a challenging task, and there are plenty of snubs that have a real case to crack this list as well. This speaks volumes to just how cool Split Fiction really is across its16-or-so hour runtime.
With that, let’s highlight 10 boss encounters in Split Fiction that truly stole the show.
Spoiler Alert: Be advised that multiple inclusions below directly relate to the main story of Split Fiction.
10Ice King
A fitting end to theHopes Of Spring chapterthat appears early in the game, Ice King proves right off the bat that this game wants you to expect the unexpected.
Initially presenting as an adorable, cuddly kitten, Ice King quickly reveals his true form as the brutal (and sassy) ruler of his kingdom.
This fight’s presentation is awesome, as Ice King smashes the first arena you’re standing on to bits, launches tornadoes and energy pillars galore to sidestep, and has a biting taunt to throw at you every step of the way.
Smacking him with bombs and punching the crystal on his helmet to pieces is extra satisfying, knowingyou’re finally going to teach this mouthy feline a lesson.
9.exe-QT-3.14
What A Hack
TheIsolationsection of the game is loaded with incredible boss battles (stay tuned). The first of these fights is the adorably named robot, .exe-QT-3.14.
Don’t let this moniker fool you, however.This boss isn’t here to mess around.
Armed with a full arsenal of missiles, laser vision, and powerful smash attacks, .exe-QT-3.14 can send you into a world of hurt quickly.
Hacking his hands and smashing him in the face repeatedly as Mio is hilarious, and his final, frantically swirling laser attack, which both players must jump rope to avoid, is a rush.
8The Conductor
Shoot ‘Em Up Mayhem
TheTrain Heist side storyis Mio’s first optional mission in the game, and it’s an impressive one. For most of the level, it feels like an homage to the airborne boss chase sequences ofStar Fox.
At the conclusion of this quest, The Conductor is revealed as your main opponent, andthe game quickly transforms into a thrilling shoot ‘em up-style skirmish.
Split Fiction: 8 Biggest Differences From It Takes Two
Josef Fares made another banger.
Die-hard fans of the genre can argue that this particular fight isn’t up to par with thebest shmups of all-time, but that doesn’t discount The Conductor from being an incredibly fun and unexpected experience nonetheless.
Mio and Zoe will need to constantly barrage The Conductor with every precious bullet from their spaceship, and The Conductor will fire back plenty of bullet-hell attacks in return.
The power-ups for your respective ships falling from the sky feel great, giving you even stronger attacks to fight back with.
7PINBAWSER
Flipping Awesome
Another fight from the Isolation chapter, PINBAWSER caps off one of the most unique sections in the game where Mio and Zoe navigate a pinball machine of doom.
Not sinceYoku’s Island Expresshas there beendigital pinball actionas satisfying as this. PINBAWSER will fire lasers aplenty for Zoe to avoid while Mio tries to deal damage with the utmost flipper precision.
This fight also breaks out into several sections where you’ll need to shoot your way to safety as PINBAWSER destroys the machine around you.
It’s a great mix of damage dealing and simply getting to the next area to survive.
6The Hydra
We’re Going In
Wonderfully capping off the penultimate chapter of the game,The Hollow, and serving as a means to the resolution of Zoe’s emotional story arc, The Hydra is our next foe to discuss.
The Hydra is one of a few examples of bosses in Split Fiction that do not have an actual health bar to deplete. Instead, you’ll need to avoid their attacks during thrilling side-scrolling platforming sections and work together to sever their heads at each checkpoint throughout the fight.
This battle reaches an incredible conclusion as Mio and Zoe get swallowed up whole by one of the hydra’s heads and have totake it down from the inside.
This boss feels genuinely imposing, so there’s a higher level of satisfaction compared to most others when you finally send the beast to its watery grave.
Twin Stick Sickness
The Overseer may be a bit of a divisive pick to include this high in the ranks, butif you’re a fan ofContraor any of its more modern twin-stick shooter counterparts, you’re going to have a great time.
This fight islong, and the Overseer’s health is tough to chip away, since each individual laser blast you’ll hit it with won’t deal a particularly impressive amount of damage. This results in a battle with an extra amount of challenge which feels incredible to ultimately come out of victorious.
Another example of Split Fiction’s ability to pack additional gameplay variety at a moment’s notice, the Overseer fight also features platforming survival sequences as the boss chases you around or forces you to move up the screen to safety. One wrong step, and you’re toast.
If Hazelight ever wanted to make a title entirely in the genre of this fight, I’d be a happy camper. Finally severing the Overseer’s head between blast door panels at the end of the battle was a little bittersweet.
It’s Just A Phase
The Dark Mio fight is an epic way to cap off Isolation as Mio and Zoe have to muster everything within them to finally take down the scariest parts of Mio’s subconscious.
Dark Mio is a multi-phased encounter and kicks off with the villain wielding a scythe that will give anyDark Soulsfans painful flashbacks of Sister Friede. This is fitting, because Dark Mio also happens to be one of the hardest fights in all of Split Fiction.
After surviving her initial barrage of scythe attacks and lasers, you’ll have to follow Dark Mio through a chase sequence filled with constant hazards and platforming challenges.
This all culminates in a truly bonkers final phase whereMio must hack into her own creation’s brain and take it downfrom the inside. All the while, Zoe has to survive Dark Mio’s sole attack focus and lob explosives her way in the process.
There’s an incredibly smart quick time event puzzle at the end of this one to navigate as well, adding one more layer to this already impressive fight.
A Collosal Shadow
From nearly the very beginning ofRise Of The Dragon Realm, Megalith makes its presence known.This really is a boss encounter that stretches across an entire chapter of Split Fiction, which makes its epic conclusion all the more satisfying.
The entire goal of the chapter is for Zoe and Mio to raise dragons of their own to finally take Megalith down, so the beast will antagonize you sporadically throughout to try to thwart your efforts.
Split Fiction: All 12 Side Stories, Ranked
A short and sweet side adventure never hurt anybody.
Once your own dragons finally gain the ability to fly, your encounters with Megalith reach a thrilling conclusion that starts with an insane airborne chase sequence.
The stakes ramp up even higher once Mio and Zoe land on the Megalith’s rocky body and must climb their way through constant resistance until they can plunge their swords into its head.
2The Dentist
Could Get Me To Floss
TheBirthday Cake side storyis my personal favorite in the game, and its boss battle is a major reason why. The entire sequence masquerades as an innocent childhood memory where Mio and Zoe bounce around an obnoxiously vibrant world of candy and sweets as teeth with toothpaste hair.
It’s a joyous experience with nostalgic,Mario 64-style music as its backdrop throughout. Once Mio and Zoe finally reach the top of a birthday cake obstacle course, however, things get messed up.
Unknowinglylighting some birthday candles in the shape of a pentagram summons an absolutely horrifying demon robot dentistarmed with a drill and a concerning lack of numbing gel.
The Dentist will break your teeth in half, trap you in plastic spit cups, and refuses to go down without one final chase to the stage’s exit.
This fight comes absolutely out of nowhere and turns the most charming and adorable section of Split Fiction into one of the most disturbing things you’ll ever see in a video game.
The Glitch God
The final chapter of the game, simply titledSplit, isa technical marvel and the perfect note for your journey to conclude with. The driving force throughout the entire stage is the game’s ultimate (and admittedly obvious) final bad guy, Rader himself.
There are three separate, face-to-face boss battles you’ll have with Rader during the chapter. These are all fun on their own as Rader bends the arenas at his whim and attacks you with summoned enemies and bosses from the early portions of the game.
Where this fight really gets to the next level, however, is thanks to Rader’s ability to pop up and mess with your progression throughout the chapter’s entire duration.
Without warning, Rader will crumble a path in front of you and send you into a free-fall survival section. He’ll trap Mio and Zoe inside televisions and tablets, leaving you as the player with insanely creative, fourth-wall-breaking means to survive.
I genuinely don’t even know how Hazelight got most of this chapter to function on modern hardware, but the result isa boss fight and final level that will be talked about for years to come.
