Back in 2022 when High on Life launched, gamers had their first taste of a wacky and self-aware shooter where guns talked to them, and jokes wrote themselves. At times, the gameplay felt short, but the writing took the spotlight. Squanch Games built a comedic and action-packed adventure game that remains true to its core, but this time, it’s bigger, wackier, weirder, and deftly executed.
High of Life 2 cleverly blends a few mechanics that work in its favor, without letting go of its out-of-the-box creativity in this 10-15 hour single player experience. If you enjoyed the first game, there’s a good chance you’ll love this one.
Comedic rituals remain
It’s easy to get distracted by characters telling you things, and that adds to the fun!
When I got my hands on High on Life 2, I had certain expectations — particularly regarding its narrative and how things would shape up after the first game’s events. I was pleasantly surprised when the game pulled off more than just witty dialog; it featured tightly wound gun mechanics, exceptional mobility, and semi-breathtaking, semi-gross visuals.
Seriously, when your gun cracks a fart joke, or you menacingly stab an alien where the sun doesn’t shine, either you’re binging High on Life 2 in its entirety or never touching the game again. And, yes, “binging” is the term I can safely use for this one. Throughout the game’s narrative, not a single moment felt out of place or mundane. The writer’s room certainly had a few laughs with this one, but it’s not just a gimmick.
Characters are eerily aware of your actions.
We have enough comedic undertakings out there, and a “funny” game may not be anyone’s priority. Yet, High on Life 2, with a smirk, adds a joke or two in everything it does. Beyond its themes, some of my favorite parts of High on Life 2 are the dialogue choices. Several of them may not really shift the story in any way, but add a lot of life to the game’s casual tones.
Even the most useless characters will talk to you as if your opinion matters, until it doesn’t. To avoid any spoilers: Your character’s importance in the world is often questioned due to themes in the background. Your gun buddies add to this, too. They’ll constantly pester you with opinions, never letting loose threads remain. Eventually, everything makes sense, as long as you decide not to take the game too seriously.
High on lively mechanics
Skateboarding during fights feels like an adrenaline-induced action sequence.
High on Life 2 could have easily passed as a funny story about aliens taking over the world, with catchphrases and hilariously bad jokes. However, its thoughtful mechanics highlight everything that works so well with the game.
Case in point: the skateboard mechanics! This time, instead of just grappling and jumping around, you’re introduced to skateboarding as a form of movement that gets you almost anywhere you want. This mechanic works flawlessly with the game, since its open-zone design indulges you in free-to-move-around motion as you take on multiple enemies.
Think of Doom, but designed with a lot more wackiness… and drugs. Some of the finishers (fatalities?) will disgust and delight you. Therein lies the charm of High on Life 2. Everything feels silly yet serious, because your beloved guns (Gatlians) will talk your mind off and you won’t even complain about it.
Some interactions can feel so weird, you’d want to know more. Or maybe it’s just me?
Moving through High on Life 2’s colorful world is a charming experience, and for many moments, I couldn’t believe how visually breathtaking the game looked. It’s well-optimized, with detailed textures, and keeps a balance between fast-paced action and careful exploration. Every corner of the map often hides easter eggs, funny references, and smaller stories waiting to be explored.
Switching between guns caters to different players: shotguns, burst-damage rifles, automatic pistols, and more for the taking. Each gun plays differently, feels unique between reloads, has special attacks, and serves authentic purposes based on where you are in the world. I appreciate the studio’s take on puzzle-solving (that seldom feels forced) and level design synchronizes with the game’s pace, rather than getting in the way.
The free-flowing nature of being human
Regions can feel expansive, allowing you to explore different possibilties.
Aliens smoking up on human life? Now that’s a plot that only comes out of a team of herb-loving individuals who won’t stop at anything to earn that last laugh. The voiceovers only add to this amusement, and I found myself chuckling at several lines that would offend so many people in 2026.
In the early hours of the game, I came across activists protesting against caged humans. Because in this world, humans are a good-for-nothing species who are best suited to be in forms of pills. While most of us would agree that this isn’t the best thing to do, the aliens in High on Life 2 disagree wholeheartedly.
When you’re skateboarding through the world, the game’s pacing can feel at the end of two spectrums: rushing through areas without running into dead ends or pulling off near tricks as you hunt down enemies around. Each maneuver serves a purpose.
Letting your guns interact with the world is its own kind of fun.
This play between free movement and landing mostly accurate shots builds a rhythm that keeps High on Life 2 extremely engaging. The narrative structuring further adds points of relaxation when you simply sit back and enjoy the ongoing story.
None of this gritty action takes away from the game’s serious tones. Beyond the one-liners and mindless bullet-raining, there’s a deeper tale of solving one’s savior complex and drawing the line between right and wrong. Maybe, just maybe, getting high on humans isn’t a nice idea.
Size matters… until it doesn’t
Several references and easter eggs can be spotted in the game.
Video game campaigns needn’t be unnecessarily long, and High on Life 2 understands this well. Focused storytelling and tight combat carry the Squanch Games’ vision, and it shows. I’d encourage you to explore smaller stories set within the game, especially when exploring urban areas filled with interactive elements.
This one’s an easy recommendation for any shooter fan, but not everyone will appreciate the (wacky) humor. That tells us how, even as a twisted niche, High of Life 2 succeeds at creating a memorable experience in a market that may crave more single-player adventures.
When High on Life launched, gamers had their first taste of a wacky and self-aware shooter where guns talked to them, and jokes wrote themselves. At times, the gameplay felt short, but the writing took the spotlight. Squanch Games built a comedic and action-packed adventure game that remains true to its core, but this time, it’s bigger, wackier, weirder, and deftly executed.
Back in 2022 when High on Life launched, gamers had their first taste of a wacky and self-aware shooter where guns talked to them, and jokes wrote themselves. At times, the gameplay felt short, but the writing took the spotlight. Squanch Games built a comedic and action-packed adventure game that remains true to its core, but this time, it’s bigger, wackier, weirder, and deftly executed.
High of Life 2 cleverly blends a few mechanics that work in its favor, without letting go of its out-of-the-box creativity in this 10-15 hour single player experience. If you enjoyed the first game, there’s a good chance you’ll love this one.
Comedic rituals remain
It’s easy to get distracted by characters telling you things, and that adds to the fun!
When I got my hands on High on Life 2, I had certain expectations — particularly regarding its narrative and how things would shape up after the first game’s events. I was pleasantly surprised when the game pulled off more than just witty dialog; it featured tightly wound gun mechanics, exceptional mobility, and semi-breathtaking, semi-gross visuals.
Seriously, when your gun cracks a fart joke, or you menacingly stab an alien where the sun doesn’t shine, either you’re binging High on Life 2 in its entirety or never touching the game again. And, yes, “binging” is the term I can safely use for this one. Throughout the game’s narrative, not a single moment felt out of place or mundane. The writer’s room certainly had a few laughs with this one, but it’s not just a gimmick.
Characters are eerily aware of your actions.
We have enough comedic undertakings out there, and a “funny” game may not be anyone’s priority. Yet, High on Life 2, with a smirk, adds a joke or two in everything it does. Beyond its themes, some of my favorite parts of High on Life 2 are the dialogue choices. Several of them may not really shift the story in any way, but add a lot of life to the game’s casual tones.
Even the most useless characters will talk to you as if your opinion matters, until it doesn’t. To avoid any spoilers: Your character’s importance in the world is often questioned due to themes in the background. Your gun buddies add to this, too. They’ll constantly pester you with opinions, never letting loose threads remain. Eventually, everything makes sense, as long as you decide not to take the game too seriously.
High on lively mechanics
Skateboarding during fights feels like an adrenaline-induced action sequence.
High on Life 2 could have easily passed as a funny story about aliens taking over the world, with catchphrases and hilariously bad jokes. However, its thoughtful mechanics highlight everything that works so well with the game.
Case in point: the skateboard mechanics! This time, instead of just grappling and jumping around, you’re introduced to skateboarding as a form of movement that gets you almost anywhere you want. This mechanic works flawlessly with the game, since its open-zone design indulges you in free-to-move-around motion as you take on multiple enemies.
Think of Doom, but designed with a lot more wackiness… and drugs. Some of the finishers (fatalities?) will disgust and delight you. Therein lies the charm of High on Life 2. Everything feels silly yet serious, because your beloved guns (Gatlians) will talk your mind off and you won’t even complain about it.
Some interactions can feel so weird, you’d want to know more. Or maybe it’s just me?
Moving through High on Life 2’s colorful world is a charming experience, and for many moments, I couldn’t believe how visually breathtaking the game looked. It’s well-optimized, with detailed textures, and keeps a balance between fast-paced action and careful exploration. Every corner of the map often hides easter eggs, funny references, and smaller stories waiting to be explored.
Switching between guns caters to different players: shotguns, burst-damage rifles, automatic pistols, and more for the taking. Each gun plays differently, feels unique between reloads, has special attacks, and serves authentic purposes based on where you are in the world. I appreciate the studio’s take on puzzle-solving (that seldom feels forced) and level design synchronizes with the game’s pace, rather than getting in the way.
The free-flowing nature of being human
Regions can feel expansive, allowing you to explore different possibilties.
Aliens smoking up on human life? Now that’s a plot that only comes out of a team of herb-loving individuals who won’t stop at anything to earn that last laugh. The voiceovers only add to this amusement, and I found myself chuckling at several lines that would offend so many people in 2026.
In the early hours of the game, I came across activists protesting against caged humans. Because in this world, humans are a good-for-nothing species who are best suited to be in forms of pills. While most of us would agree that this isn’t the best thing to do, the aliens in High on Life 2 disagree wholeheartedly.
When you’re skateboarding through the world, the game’s pacing can feel at the end of two spectrums: rushing through areas without running into dead ends or pulling off near tricks as you hunt down enemies around. Each maneuver serves a purpose.
Letting your guns interact with the world is its own kind of fun.
This play between free movement and landing mostly accurate shots builds a rhythm that keeps High on Life 2 extremely engaging. The narrative structuring further adds points of relaxation when you simply sit back and enjoy the ongoing story.
None of this gritty action takes away from the game’s serious tones. Beyond the one-liners and mindless bullet-raining, there’s a deeper tale of solving one’s savior complex and drawing the line between right and wrong. Maybe, just maybe, getting high on humans isn’t a nice idea.
Size matters… until it doesn’t
Several references and easter eggs can be spotted in the game.
Video game campaigns needn’t be unnecessarily long, and High on Life 2 understands this well. Focused storytelling and tight combat carry the Squanch Games’ vision, and it shows. I’d encourage you to explore smaller stories set within the game, especially when exploring urban areas filled with interactive elements.
This one’s an easy recommendation for any shooter fan, but not everyone will appreciate the (wacky) humor. That tells us how, even as a twisted niche, High of Life 2 succeeds at creating a memorable experience in a market that may crave more single-player adventures.
by Tanay Sharma
