Split (video game)

s.p.l.i.t
DeveloperMike Klubnika
EngineGodot
Platforms
Release24 July 2025
ModeSingle-player

Split (stylised as s.p.l.i.t) is a 2025 psychological horror game developed and published by Estonian game developer Mike Klubnika.

Gameplay

Split is a short linear single-player game in which the player controls a hacker named Axel. The game is played from a first-person perspective as Axel sits at his desk and interacts with diegetic computer interfaces.[1][2][3][4] The Alt and A or D keys allow the player to look to the left or right of the desk to view a window or an electronic device respectively. At the desk, the player can switch between two computer screens: one displaying an IRC channel, and one displaying a text-only command-line interface similar to MS DOS, Command Prompt, or the Unix command-line.[2][5] Players interact with the game exclusively by typing on a keyboard, with no option for mouse or gamepad inputs.[1] Similar to a typing game, the player types out Axel's anxious thoughts to dispel them and progress. The player receives instructions from Axel's hacker co-conspirators through the IRC chatroom, and typing using any keys allows Axel to respond with pre-written dialog. In the command-line interface, the player types commands to navigate the computer's files and solve puzzles.[2][5][6][7] The game can be completed in approximately one to two hours and has two endings.[1][6][7][8]

Development and release

Split was developed by Estonian game developer Mike Klubnika, better known for the 2023 indie horror game Buckshot Roulette.[7][9] Klubnika initially developed small games as a hobby while working and studying full-time, but the success of Buckshot Roulette, which sold over 6 million copies, allowed him to pursue game development as a career.[10][11] First announced on 19 June 2026,[12][13] Split launched on Steam for Windows and Linux (including SteamOS) on 24 July 2025.[6][9]

Reception

Split received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator platform Metacritic.[14] Nick Reuben of Rock, Paper, Shotgun recommended Split, calling it "tense and tactile" and noting its effective use of text and minimal imagery to indirectly convey a "richly nasty" setting in a short runtime.[6] Drew Onia of Adventure Game Hotspot gave the game a score of 79%, praising the concept, storytelling, and atmosphere.[3] Jessica Conditt of Engadget praised the satisfying puzzles and noted that the characters, interface, and soundtrack combined for a highly immersive experience.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Allsop, Ken (26 July 2025). "Buckshot Roulette creator's new $3 horror game is a dark tale of MS-DOS hacking". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Conditt, Jessica (26 July 2025). "If you have 90 minutes to spare, play the cyberpunk horror game s.p.l.i.t". Engadget. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 Onia, Drew (8 January 2026). "s.p.l.i.t review". Adventure Game Hotspot. Archived from the original on 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Drabenstadt, Jack (30 June 2026). "Familiarity as Estrangement in the Interface Sim: s.p.l.i.t. and the Expert Problem". Electronic Book Review. doi:10.64773/ut7d-g2b3. ISSN 1553-1139. OCLC 38577076.
  5. 1 2 Gonzalez, Elijah (24 July 2025). "s.p.l.i.t Finds Fear In The Command-Line". A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Reuben, Nic (24 July 2025). "S.p.l.i.t review". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Boehm, Aaron (24 July 2025). "Terminal Terror – Four New Games That Find Horror in a Computer Screen". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 29 November 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Vasile, Cosmin (28 October 2025). "s.p.l.i.t Review (PC)". Softpedia. Archived from the original on 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 Copeland, Tom (24 July 2025). "s.p.l.i.t - short, cerebral psychological horror from Mike Klubnika out now" (Press release). Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026 – via GamesPress.
  10. ↑ Wood, Austin (24 July 2025). "He made a viral horror game in 2 months – it sold 6 million copies, and now he can make whatever he wants for the rest of his life: "My final theory is that gambling is very fun"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Locurcio, Hugo (27 February 2026). "Godot Showcase - Buckshot Roulette". Godot Engine. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Stewart, Marcus (19 June 2025). "Buckshot Roulette Creator's New Game Is A Dark Psychological Hacking Adventure Launching Next Month". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Copeland, Tom (19 June 2025). "Buckshot Roulette developer announces next title - s.p.l.i.t - launches in July" (Press release). Archived from the original on 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026 – via GamesPress.
  14. ↑ "s.p.l.i.t". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
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