The original High On Life is remembered two things: the vibrant, alien-infested visuals and the relentless, divisive chatter of Justin Roiland’s signature delivery. Fast forward three years, and Squanch Games has returned with a sequel that feels like a strong evolution for the franchise. It is sleeker, stronger, and significantly more focused, proving that the studio didn’t just rely on a “big name” to carry the weight of their universe.
From Hero to Zero (Literally)
The game kicks off with a hilariously high-stakes opening that I’ll try to avoid major spoilers on. What I can tell you is that your Bounty Hunter, once a celebrated intergalactic hero with a superpowered suit and a vault full of credits, loses absolutely everything. You go from the galaxy’s golden child to its most wanted outlaw, joining a human rights “terrorist” group led by your sister, Lizzy.
You see, big pharma is literally crushing humans into pills. It’s again a dark,brilliantly absurd sci-fi tale and it’s the perfect motivation to grab your sentient sidekicks and start blasting once more.
Skitchin’ and B!tchin’: The New Meta
The biggest change to the game is the addition of a skateboard. It replaces the run function and becomes the ultimate traversal tool, the deck acts as a high-speed sprint and a brutal weapon. You can hop on at any time, slam into enemies, or use a “grip” meter for some intense wall-riding platforming.
Playing on Xbox Series X the shooting feels ok, there’s a slightly stubborn dead zone in the default settings and it feels a tad sluggish at times when you are skating and shooting at the same time, but otherwise it’s a fairly polished package.
Six Guns, Thousands of Lines
You start your journey reunited with Knifey, Weezy, and Gus, eventually expanding your arsenal to six weapons, including Sheath, voiced by the legendary Ralph Ineson (Galactus in Fantastic Four). His transformation into a weapon is as brilliant as it is brutal.
What’s truly impressive is the level of reactive dialogue. Like the first game, the guns aren’t just tools; they are your constant companions. Depending on which weapon you have equipped, they will comment dynamically on nearly 98% of the game’s interactions. Whether you’re navigating the massive Halo-inspired ring world of Circuit Arcadia or engaging in the story driven drama, the banter is constant, clever, and I think, funnier than the first game.
This is seen especially in the puzzle moments of the game. One of my favourites is an early mission when you get involved in a “Murder Mystery”. Prior to this you meet “Travis” and the interaction works so well because it parodies the “forced companion” trope found in almost every AAA RPG, but gives the player a weapon that is actively judging your detective skills.
Absurdist Detail
The game world is a dense playground of pop-culture riffs and “time wasters.” You can spend hours on your couch with Gene watching bizarre movies and it’s totally worth it if only to discover these gems.
The humor feels more mature this time around. While the first game often leant into “bits” that purposely went on too long, High On Life 2 strikes a better balance between quick-fire gags and scripted improv. It’s overall storytelling is just a better balance and allows the pacing of the game to move forward rather than getting stuck on sections that stopped being funny 5 quips ago.
Technical Performance
Visually, the game is a treat, using Unreal Engine, the alien environments and weapon models look spectacular. Interestingly, the human models still look like they’re made in the early 2000’s, but it feels like a deliberate stylistic choice rather than a technical failing.
The Verdict
High On Life 2 is a rare sequel that understands exactly what to keep and what to cut. By trimming the excess and doubling down on tight platforming and sharp, self-aware writing, Squanch Games has delivered around 16-17 hours of adventure that is an essential play for Game Pass subscribers. It’s bold, it’s dumb in the best way possible, and it’s easily the funniest game I’ve played in years.
High on Life 2 was Reviewed on the Xbox Series X via Game Pass Subscription. The game is also available on PlayStation, PC and is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in April
