Struggling with Split Fiction? Your partner letting you down? Well, whether it’s during gameplay or a boss, we have absolutely all the answers you could possibly need. This guide will be your Split Fiction walkthrough for the hardest boss of the game, Dark Mio, and more accurately, how to beat Dark Mio.
How to Defeat Dark Mio
Mio and Zoe will spend much of Split Fiction‘s fifth chapter fighting their way through Mio’s subconscious, all the while trying to save a mysterious prisoner that is locked in a gigantic vault. Everyone except Mio and Zoe could see where there was going before it happened, but the mysterious prisoner they’re saving? Well that turns out to be Dark Mio, a very literal representation of the sadness, anger and denial Mio is feeling about her life, but specifically her father’s predicament. Fittingly, Dark Mio is the hardest boss in the game, and will prove quite difficult for many of us.
Phase One
The opening cinematic will come to an abrupt end, and Dark Mio will waste zero time in getting in a few licks on Mio and Zoe. You’ll notice that she’ll spend her time continually attacking, throwing scythe-like fire through the air, creating maze light patterns of death on the floor, or occasionally throwing a giant metal ball at you.
If you dodge her attacks enough to the point she throws the ball at you, Mio should focus on the ball itself and hack it. This will remove the metal covering, revealing the green underneath. The previous chapter should have taught you what to do, but as Mio moves the ball around the platform, Zoe should use her energy powers to hit the ball at Dark Mio, slowly damaging her. Doing this three times will move the fight onto the next phase.
Phase Two
Phase Two of the Dark Mio boss fight in Split Fiction follows a very similar pattern to the first phase, except its alot more amped up. Dark Mio is faster, does more damage and sports some new attacks that’ll cause both of you some problems, including a barrage of mines from the air that seem to home in on you.
As above, you’ll want to wait for the giant metal balls, where Mio will hack them and then Zoe will ‘throw’ them at Dark Mio. To make this phase easier, ensure both of you continually keep moving, making use of dash and double jump, and waste no time in throwing the ball at Dark Mio when the time comes. It’s easy to get overwhelmed here.
Phase Three
Another cutscene will play, and both Mio and Zoe will find themselves having to chase Dark Mio. Plenty of quick-thinking platforming will be required between the pair of you, including a throwback to the hacking hand of earlier in the chapter.
Out of the four phases of the boss fight, this is the easiest, with the focus more on platforming and avoiding the attacks from Dark Mio, compared to actually fighting her as such. It also has some of the game’s most fun and challenging platforming.
Phase Four
This is another troubling phase if you’re not paying attention, but that’s what this guide is for. The last and final phase of the Dark Mio boss fight is one of Split Fiction‘s most unique. It’s unlikely you’ll have seen anything like this in gaming before, as Mio is thrown into Dark Mio’s mind (her subconscious’ subconscious?) to fight herself, whilst Zoe is left in the ‘real world’s to fight the physical manifestation of Dark Mio.
As Mio, you’ll need to do the following:
- Dodge, duck and jump to avoid the damage the brain tendrils throw at you.
- Hack the damaged opened flower-like nodules on Dark Mio’s brain once Zoe has attacked her in the real world.
As Zoe, you’ll need to do the following at the same time.
- Jump over Dark Mio’s scythe attacks, and work your way over to one of the other platforms.
- Dark Mio will attack, dodge and use your energy attack on her, stunning her. Then attack her, allowing Mio to attack her brain.
Doing this twice will allow Mio into Dark Mio’s deepest depths of her brain, where she can take control of Dark Mio. Now, you’ll want to look up and take control of one of the giant balls, throwing it at Zoe. As before, Zoe can send it back with her energy attack, damaging Dark Mio in the process. Rinse and repeat this, and you’ll quickly be back in Dark Mio’s brain. Do the above steps again, and you’ll be throwing more giant balls at Zoe for a second time. This is nearly the end!
One final cutscene will play, and Dark Mio will be fighting with Zoe. A QTE will occur, as a the scythe is forced between Zoe and Dark Mio. The game doesn’t tell you, but make sure only Zoe is pressing the button, otherwise you’ll both die, as Dark Mio wins. If you see the scythe forced into Dark Mio, that’s it, you’ve won, and that’s how you beat Dark Mio in Split Fiction.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out how to upload your face to WWE 2K25, or all of the WWE 2K25 MyFACTION codes.
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Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
