High On Life 2: Wishlist - What We Want in the Sequel! (Features & Gameplay)

Aug 21, 2025

High On Life 2: Fueling the Hype - What We Crave in the Sequel

High On Life exploded onto the scene with its irreverent humor, bizarre world, and surprisingly engaging gameplay. Squanch Games delivered a unique experience that left players wanting more. Now, with whispers of a potential sequel, the anticipation is building. But what do fans really want to see in High On Life 2? This article dives deep into the wishlist, exploring potential gameplay enhancements, new worlds, even wackier weapons, and more.

Building on the Foundation: Gameplay Enhancements

The core gameplay loop of High On Life – exploration, combat, and dialogue – was solid, but there's definitely room for improvement. Here's what we'd love to see:

Improved Movement: While the jetpack was fun, general movement could feel clunky. A smoother, more responsive movement system, perhaps incorporating wall running or enhanced sliding, would greatly improve traversal and combat flow. Think of the fluidity of Titanfall 2, but with a Squanch Games twist.
Expanded Weapon Customization: Each talking gun had its own unique personality and abilities, but customization was limited. Allowing players to upgrade and modify their weapons, perhaps adding new ammo types or attachments, would add depth and encourage experimentation. Imagine adding a scope to Kenny or a shotgun attachment to Sweezy!
More Engaging Side Quests: While the main storyline was captivating, many side quests felt repetitive. High On Life 2 could benefit from more intricate and rewarding side missions with unique characters and storylines. Think along the lines of The Witcher 3's memorable side quests, but, you know, with more talking guns and interdimensional weirdness.
Enhanced Enemy Variety: Fighting the same G3 grunts throughout the game could become monotonous. Introducing a wider range of enemy types, each with their own unique attack patterns and weaknesses, would keep combat fresh and challenging. Picture enemies with jetpacks, melee-focused bruisers, or even psychic foes that mess with your head.
Meaningful Choices: While the game had some dialogue options, they rarely had a significant impact on the storyline. Allowing players to make choices that genuinely alter the narrative and have lasting consequences would add replayability and create a more personalized experience.

Exploring New Dimensions: Worldbuilding and Environments

The world of High On Life was wonderfully bizarre, but the sequel offers the opportunity to explore even stranger and more captivating dimensions. We need:

More Diverse Environments: From sprawling alien cities to lush alien jungles, the game could benefit from a greater variety of environments. Imagine exploring an underwater dimension, a planet entirely made of candy, or a dimension where time moves backwards.
A Larger Hub World: Blim City was a fun and vibrant hub, but it felt somewhat limited in scope. Expanding the hub world with more shops, activities, and hidden secrets would make it feel more alive and immersive.
More Interdimensional Travel: The portal system was a key element of High On Life, but it could be expanded upon. Allowing players to freely travel between dimensions, discovering hidden areas and interacting with unique cultures, would greatly enhance the sense of exploration.
Deeper Lore: While the game provided hints of a larger universe, there was still much left unexplored. Delving deeper into the lore of the G3 cartel, the history of the talking guns, and the origins of the various dimensions would add depth and intrigue to the world.

Arms Race: Expanding the Arsenal of Talking Guns

The talking guns were the heart and soul of High On Life. The sequel needs even more weapons with distinct personalities, abilities, and combat styles. Let's brainstorm some ideas:

A Sniper Rifle with a Superiority Complex: Imagine a sniper rifle that constantly belittles your aiming skills and boasts about its own accuracy. Its special ability could be a slow-motion mode that allows for precise headshots.
A Grenade Launcher with Commitment Issues: This grenade launcher would constantly second-guess its decisions, questioning whether it should actually fire the grenade or not. Its special ability could be the ability to recall grenades mid-flight.
A Shotgun with a Split Personality: This shotgun would have two distinct personalities, one aggressive and one passive. Depending on its mood, it would either unleash devastating blasts or offer timid advice. Its special ability could be switching between its two personalities on the fly, altering its firing rate and damage output.
A Melee Weapon with a Grudge: Picture a sentient sword that holds a deep-seated resentment towards all living things. It would constantly encourage you to engage in brutal melee combat, offering sarcastic commentary on your fighting style. Its special ability could be a powerful spinning attack that damages all nearby enemies.
A Support Weapon with a Motherly Instinct: This weapon would constantly worry about your well-being, offering healing and shielding abilities while nagging you to take cover. Its special ability could be a temporary invincibility shield that protects you from harm.

Ultimately, the key to success for High On Life 2 lies in building upon the strengths of the original while addressing its weaknesses. By improving the gameplay, expanding the world, and introducing even more hilarious and unique weapons, Squanch Games can create a sequel that surpasses its predecessor and solidifies High On Life as a true cult classic.

Beyond the Guns: Character Customization and Progression

While the talking guns were the stars, the player character felt somewhat like a blank slate. High On Life 2 could benefit from:

Character Customization: Allowing players to customize their appearance, choosing from different outfits, hairstyles, and accessories, would add a layer of personalization to the experience. Imagine decking out your bounty hunter in a ridiculous alien hat or a stylish interdimensional suit.
Skill Trees and Progression: Introducing a skill tree that allows players to upgrade their abilities, such as improving their jetpack efficiency, increasing their damage output, or unlocking new combat moves, would add depth and encourage players to experiment with different playstyles.
Relationship System: Allowing players to build relationships with the talking guns and other characters, unlocking new dialogue options and story paths based on their interactions, would add emotional depth to the narrative. Imagine forming a close bond with Kenny, learning about his past and helping him overcome his insecurities.

Multiplayer Mayhem? Exploring Co-op and Competitive Modes

While High On Life was primarily a single-player experience, the sequel could explore the potential of multiplayer modes. Here are some ideas:

Co-op Campaign: Allowing players to team up with friends and tackle the main storyline together would be a blast. Imagine coordinating your attacks with different talking guns, supporting each other with healing abilities, and sharing in the hilarious dialogue.
Horde Mode: A wave-based survival mode where players fight off hordes of enemies would provide a challenging and replayable experience. Imagine working together to defend a base, upgrading your weapons and abilities, and competing for the top spot on the leaderboards.
Asymmetrical Multiplayer: An asymmetrical mode where one player controls the bounty hunter while the other controls a powerful G3 boss would offer a unique and strategic gameplay experience. The bounty hunter would have to rely on their wits and skills to outmaneuver the boss, while the boss would have to use their superior firepower to crush the bounty hunter.

The Humor Factor: Maintaining the Squanch Games Vibe

The irreverent humor of High On Life was a major draw for many players. It's crucial that the sequel maintains this unique comedic tone while also finding new ways to surprise and entertain. This means:

Even More Outlandish Characters: The world of High On Life was filled with bizarre and memorable characters. The sequel needs to introduce even more outlandish personalities, each with their own unique quirks and motivations.
Witty Dialogue and Banter: The dialogue between the bounty hunter and the talking guns was a highlight of the original game. The sequel needs to maintain this level of wit and banter, while also exploring new comedic avenues.
Unexpected Plot Twists and Surprises: High On Life was full of unexpected plot twists and surprises. The sequel needs to continue this trend, keeping players guessing and constantly subverting their expectations.
Meta Humor and Self-Awareness: The game's meta humor and self-awareness were a refreshing change of pace. The sequel should continue to poke fun at video game tropes and conventions, while also acknowledging its own absurdity.

Addressing the Critiques: Learning from the Past

While High On Life was a critical and commercial success, it wasn't without its flaws. High On Life 2 has an opportunity to address some of the critiques leveled against the original, creating a more polished and refined experience. Key areas for improvement include:

Technical Polish: The original game suffered from some technical issues, such as frame rate drops and occasional glitches. The sequel needs to be better optimized for all platforms, ensuring a smooth and stable gameplay experience.
Difficulty Balancing: Some players found the game to be either too easy or too difficult, depending on their playstyle. The sequel needs to offer a more balanced difficulty curve, allowing players to customize the challenge to their liking.
Improved Map Design: While the environments were visually appealing, the map design could be confusing at times. The sequel needs to feature clearer and more intuitive maps, making it easier for players to navigate the world.
Reduced Repetition: As mentioned earlier, some side quests and combat encounters felt repetitive. The sequel needs to offer more variety in its gameplay, keeping players engaged and preventing them from getting bored.

The Power of Fan Feedback: Listening to the Community

Squanch Games has always been known for its close relationship with its community. Listening to fan feedback and incorporating their suggestions into High On Life 2 is crucial for creating a sequel that truly resonates with players. This could involve:

Actively Soliciting Feedback: Squanch Games should actively solicit feedback from players through surveys, forums, and social media. This will allow them to gain a better understanding of what players liked and disliked about the original game.
Incorporating Fan Suggestions: When feasible, Squanch Games should incorporate fan suggestions into the design of High On Life 2. This will show players that their voices are being heard and that their opinions matter.
Regular Communication: Squanch Games should maintain regular communication with the community throughout the development process. This will keep players informed about the progress of the game and generate excitement for its release.
Beta Testing: Offering a beta test of High On Life 2 before its release would allow Squanch Games to gather valuable feedback and identify any potential issues.

Marketing Magic: Building the Hype

A successful sequel requires a strong marketing campaign that captures the attention of both existing fans and new players. Squanch Games can generate excitement for High On Life 2 through:

Teaser Trailers and Gameplay Demos: Releasing regular teaser trailers and gameplay demos would give players a taste of what to expect from the sequel. These trailers should showcase the game's unique humor, bizarre world, and exciting gameplay.
Social Media Engagement: Actively engaging with fans on social media would help to build hype and create a sense of community. Squanch Games should use social media to share updates, answer questions, and run contests.
Collaborations with Influencers: Partnering with popular streamers and YouTubers would allow Squanch Games to reach a wider audience. These influencers could play the game on their channels, providing valuable exposure and generating buzz.
Convention Appearances: Attending gaming conventions would give Squanch Games the opportunity to showcase High On Life 2 to a large audience. They could offer hands-on demos, host Q&A sessions, and give away exclusive merchandise.

The Future of High On Life: A Franchise in the Making

High On Life has the potential to become a major franchise for Squanch Games. By delivering a high-quality sequel that builds upon the strengths of the original, Squanch Games can solidify High On Life as a beloved and enduring series. This means not just focusing on a single sequel, but thinking about the long-term future of the franchise. Potential avenues to explore include:

Spin-off Games: Consider spin-off titles that focus on different characters or aspects of the High On Life universe. Perhaps a game centered around one of the talking guns, or a prequel exploring the origins of the G3 cartel.
Animated Series: An animated series based on High On Life could expand the lore and reach a wider audience. The show could explore the backstories of various characters and delve deeper into the world's mythology.
Comic Books and Novels: Expanding the story through comic books and novels could further flesh out the world and characters, providing fans with even more content to consume.
Merchandise: A wide range of High On Life merchandise, such as t-shirts, figurines, and plushies, would allow fans to show their love for the game.

Conclusion: High Hopes for a Hilarious Sequel

High On Life was a breath of fresh air in the gaming landscape, and the prospect of a sequel is incredibly exciting. By implementing the improvements and features outlined in this article, Squanch Games has the opportunity to create a truly special game that surpasses its predecessor and cements High On Life as a cornerstone of the comedy-shooter genre. The key is to listen to the community, learn from the past, and embrace the absurdity that made the original so unique. The future of High On Life is bright, and we can't wait to see what Squanch Games has in store for us.

The suggestions here are based on community feedback and observations from the original game. The success of High On Life 2 will depend on Squanch Games' ability to blend innovation with the charm and humor that made the first game so memorable. Let's hope they take note!