The real question hanging over High on Life 2 isn't whether Squanch Games could make a sequel without Justin Roiland, it's whether they could capture that same anarchic energy while proving it wasn't just one person's vision. Fifteen hours later, the answer is surprisingly clear: they certainly can, even if the execution stumbles in places the original didn't.
The G3 Killer returns for round two
Gameplay: ADHD Shooter Design That Actually Works
High on Life 2 wastes zero time getting you back into the chaos. The opening five minutes are some of the most choatic and unique “tutorial” experiences I've played in recent years as they dump you straight into the action with a rapid-fire tutorial that's equal parts recap and statement of intent, the game moves fast and expects you to keep up. You're the G3 Killer now, a famous bounty hunter dealing with Rhea Pharmaceuticals trying to legally classify humans as cattle. It's absurd, it's over-the-top, and it works because the game commits completely to its premise.
The core loop revolves around exploring semi-open worlds packed with story missions, side quests, and environmental puzzles. What makes it click is the variety, one moment you're solving a murder mystery on a cruise ship, the next you're performing stand-up comedy at an alien club, then suddenly you're deep in an escape room side quest that goes way further than you expected. The game constantly throws new scenarios at you, and the pacing of these activities mostly works.
Don't skip the side content. Some of the best jokes and most creative scenarios hide in optional missions that reward exploration.
The gunplay feels noticeably tighter than the original. Your talking weapons remain the centerpiece, each with distinct personalities and mechanics that encourage switching between them. The parkour system gets a meaningful upgrade too, movement feels faster and more responsive, making traversal genuinely enjoyable rather than just functional. You'll revisit areas with new abilities to access previously blocked sections, which gives the world design actual depth.
That said, the game struggles with scope management. Reviews consistently mention it feeling “bigger yet smaller”, expanded in some areas while more constrained in others. The ambition shows, but so do the seams where Squanch Games stretched beyond their current capabilities.
Colorful Chaos With Technical Hiccups
Visually, High on Life 2 maintains the vibrant, cartoonish aesthetic that defined the original. The alien worlds pop with color and creative design, from convention centers to pharmaceutical facilities that look like they were designed by someone who watched too much Rick and Morty, which, let's be honest, is exactly the vibe they're going for.
But here's where the cracks show. Multiple reviews mention polish issues and technical problems that shouldn't exist in a 2026 release. Performance inconsistencies pop up across different hardware, and while nothing game-breaking, these rough edges pull you out of the experience just when the game's hitting its stride.
The audio design deserves credit for nailing the chaotic comedy tone. Your guns never shut up, NPCs constantly throw jokes at you, and the voice acting commits hard to the bit. If you found the first game's constant chatter annoying, nothing here will change your mind. If you loved it, you're getting more of what worked with better writing backing it up.
Absurdist Humor That Actually Lands
This is where High on Life 2 proves the doubters wrong. Without Roiland, could Squanch Games maintain the comedic voice? Turns out, yes, and arguably better than before. The writing feels more focused, the jokes land more consistently, and the world-building creates a unified absurdist universe rather than just a collection of random gags.
Stand-up comedy as game mechanic
The main plot about pharmaceutical companies trying to classify humans as drugs sounds ridiculous on paper, but the game uses it as a framework for pointed social commentary wrapped in dick jokes and absurdist humor. It's smart without being preachy, funny without relying on shock value alone. One review described it as "a battle against Big Pharma" that's "just what the doctor ordered," and that kind of thematic coherence shows real growth from the writing team.
For context, if you've played the first High on Life, you know what to expect tonally. This sequel refines that formula without abandoning what made it work. The 15-hour runtime feels appropriate, long enough to develop its ideas without overstaying its welcome.
Verdict: Comedy Gold With Rough Edges
High on Life 2 succeeds where it matters most, it's genuinely funny, mechanically improved, and proves Squanch Games can deliver without their controversial co-founder. The expanded arsenal feels great, the parkour systems work better, and the world design rewards exploration in meaningful ways. When it clicks, you're laughing while pulling off satisfying combat sequences in creative scenarios.
But those technical issues and pacing problems aren't minor footnotes. They're real drawbacks that prevent this from being the definitive comedy shooter experience it could've been. The game feels like a studio reaching just beyond their grasp, delivering something ambitious that needed a few more months of polish.
If you're the type of player who values humor and creativity over technical perfection, High on Life 2 delivers exactly what you want. If you need your games polished to a mirror shine, the rough edges will frustrate you. For everyone who enjoyed the first game and wants more of that chaotic energy with meaningful improvements, this is an easy recommendation despite its flaws. It's not perfect, but it's exactly the kind of weird, funny, creative shooter the industry needs more of.
