High On Life 2 Hands-On Preview: Skateboarding FPS Chaos 2026

High On Life 2 Hands-On Preview: Skateboarding FPS Chaos 2026

High On |THE STORY CONTINUES ON | Life 2 Hands-On Preview: |STORY CONTINUES ON PLANET | From Hilarious FPS to |CONTINUES ON PLANET CONCON | Skateboarding Chaos

|ON PLANET CONCON PICKING | data-end="313" data-start="295">High On Life |PLANET CONCON PICKING UP | 2 is shaping up |CONCON PICKING UP WHERE | to be one of |PICKING UP WHERE THE | the most unique sequels |UP WHERE THE ORIGINAL | in gaming history. Developed |WHERE THE ORIGINAL LEFT | by Squanch |THE ORIGINAL LEFT OFF, | Games, the follow-up to |ORIGINAL LEFT OFF, HIGH | the cult hit |LEFT OFF, HIGH ON | data-end="460" data-start="446">High On Life |OFF, HIGH ON LIFE | introduces a wild twist |HIGH ON LIFE 2 | — skateboarding mechanics combined |ON LIFE 2 THROWS | with first-person shooting. During |LIFE 2 THROWS PLAYERS | the recent hands-on demo, |2 THROWS PLAYERS ONTO | the game showcased a |THROWS PLAYERS ONTO CONCON | mix of chaotic humor, |PLAYERS ONTO CONCON (CONVENTION | creative combat, and fluid |ONTO CONCON (CONVENTION CONVENTION), | traversal, proving that this |CONCON (CONVENTION CONVENTION), A | sequel is more than |(CONVENTION CONVENTION), A BIZARRE | just a continuation — |CONVENTION), A BIZARRE PLANET | it’s an evolution.

|A BIZARRE PLANET BUILT | data-end="747">

The Story |BIZARRE PLANET BUILT ENTIRELY | Continues on Planet ConCon

|PLANET BUILT ENTIRELY ON | data-end="1175" data-start="792">Picking up where |BUILT ENTIRELY ON FLOATING | the original left off, |ENTIRELY ON FLOATING PLATFORMS | High On |ON FLOATING PLATFORMS DEDICATED | Life 2 throws players |FLOATING PLATFORMS DEDICATED TO | onto ConCon |PLATFORMS DEDICATED TO ENDLESS | (Convention Convention), a bizarre |DEDICATED TO ENDLESS CONVENTIONS. | planet built entirely on |TO ENDLESS CONVENTIONS. THE | floating platforms dedicated to |ENDLESS CONVENTIONS. THE PRIMARY | endless conventions. The primary |CONVENTIONS. THE PRIMARY MISSION | mission is to take |THE PRIMARY MISSION IS | down Senator |PRIMARY MISSION IS TO | Muppy Doo, a corrupt |MISSION IS TO TAKE | politician working with |IS TO TAKE DOWN | data-end="1110" data-start="1086">Rhea Pharmaceuticals in |TO TAKE DOWN SENATOR | a twisted plot to |TAKE DOWN SENATOR MUPPY | transform humans into prescription |DOWN SENATOR MUPPY DOO, | pills.

The demo |SENATOR MUPPY DOO, A | begins at |MUPPY DOO, A CORRUPT | data-start="1196">ParkingCon, where players must |DOO, A CORRUPT POLITICIAN | clear a parking spot |A CORRUPT POLITICIAN WORKING | for Gene’s flying Winnebago |CORRUPT POLITICIAN WORKING WITH | by blasting through waves |POLITICIAN WORKING WITH RHEA | of aliens — a |WORKING WITH RHEA PHARMACEUTICALS | classic chaotic opening with |WITH RHEA PHARMACEUTICALS IN | Squanch Games’ trademark humor.

|RHEA PHARMACEUTICALS IN A | data-start="1384" data-end="1387">

Skateboarding |PHARMACEUTICALS IN A TWISTED | Transforms Gameplay

One |IN A TWISTED PLOT | of the biggest changes |A TWISTED PLOT TO | is the introduction of |TWISTED PLOT TO TRANSFORM | skateboarding as |PLOT TO TRANSFORM HUMANS | a core mechanic. Instead |TO TRANSFORM HUMANS INTO | of a sprint button, |TRANSFORM HUMANS INTO PRESCRIPTION | players now use skateboards |HUMANS INTO PRESCRIPTION PILLS. | to grind rails, wall |INTO PRESCRIPTION PILLS. | ride, and launch off |PRESCRIPTION PILLS. THE | wrecked cars. This completely |PILLS. THE DEMO | redefines traversal and combat, | THE DEMO BEGINS | turning every level into |THE DEMO BEGINS AT | a massive skate park |DEMO BEGINS AT PARKINGCON, | filled with opportunities for |BEGINS AT PARKINGCON, WHERE | speed and style.

|AT PARKINGCON, WHERE PLAYERS | data-start="1773">Key Skateboarding Features:

    |PARKINGCON, WHERE PLAYERS MUST | data-start="1807">

  • |WHERE PLAYERS MUST CLEAR | data-start="1809">Fluid Movement: |PLAYERS MUST CLEAR A | Seamlessly transition between shooting |MUST CLEAR A PARKING | and grinding on rails |CLEAR A PARKING SPOT | or dividers.

  • |A PARKING SPOT FOR | data-end="2041" data-start="1907">Grapple |PARKING SPOT FOR GENE’S | Integration: The same button |SPOT FOR GENE’S FLYING | used for grinding also |FOR GENE’S FLYING WINNEBAGO | triggers Knifey’s grapple, pulling |GENE’S FLYING WINNEBAGO BY | players toward grindable objects.

  • |FLYING WINNEBAGO BY BLASTING | data-end="2150" data-start="2042">

    |WINNEBAGO BY BLASTING THROUGH | data-end="2066" data-start="2044">Skateboard Attack: Throwing |BY BLASTING THROUGH WAVES | the skateboard can instantly |BLASTING THROUGH WAVES OF | kill enemies with a |THROUGH WAVES OF ALIENS | stylish one-hit strike.

|WAVES OF ALIENS — | data-start="2152">This mechanic makes combat |OF ALIENS — A | feel like a |ALIENS — A CLASSIC | data-end="2211" data-start="2191">high-speed dance, blending |— A CLASSIC CHAOTIC | shooting, movement, and environmental |A CLASSIC CHAOTIC OPENING | creativity.

|CLASSIC CHAOTIC OPENING WITH | data-start="2280">New Weapons and Boss |CHAOTIC OPENING WITH SQUANCH | Encounters

The demo |OPENING WITH SQUANCH GAMES’ | also introduced |WITH SQUANCH GAMES’ TRADEMARK | data-start="2343">Sheath, a bounty hunter |SQUANCH GAMES’ TRADEMARK HUMOR. | boss voiced by |GAMES’ TRADEMARK HUMOR. | data-end="2402" data-start="2386">Ralph Ineson. Defeating |TRADEMARK HUMOR. SKATEBOARDING | Sheath transforms his head |HUMOR. SKATEBOARDING TRANSFORMS | into a new | SKATEBOARDING TRANSFORMS GAMEPLAY | data-end="2470" data-start="2452">Gatlian weapon with |SKATEBOARDING TRANSFORMS GAMEPLAY ONE | versatile functions:

  • |TRANSFORMS GAMEPLAY ONE OF | data-end="2561" data-start="2500">

    |GAMEPLAY ONE OF THE | data-end="2519" data-start="2502">Primary Fire: Functions |ONE OF THE BIGGEST | like a powerful battle |OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES | rifle.

  • |THE BIGGEST CHANGES IS | data-start="2564">Alternate Fire: |BIGGEST CHANGES IS THE | Launches an Impaling Spike |CHANGES IS THE INTRODUCTION | to tether enemies together |IS THE INTRODUCTION OF | or create ziplines, opening |THE INTRODUCTION OF SKATEBOARDING | new areas for exploration.

|INTRODUCTION OF SKATEBOARDING AS | data-end="2824" data-start="2696">This weapon not |OF SKATEBOARDING AS A | only enhances combat but |SKATEBOARDING AS A CORE | also brings a |AS A CORE MECHANIC. | data-end="2781" data-start="2751">Metroidvania-style element, encouraging |A CORE MECHANIC. INSTEAD | backtracking and discovery.

|CORE MECHANIC. INSTEAD OF | data-end="2829">

Arena Combat |MECHANIC. INSTEAD OF A | at MurderCon

When |INSTEAD OF A SPRINT | the mission shifts to |OF A SPRINT BUTTON, | MurderCon, the |A SPRINT BUTTON, PLAYERS | gameplay takes on an |SPRINT BUTTON, PLAYERS NOW | arena-style format. Here, traversal |BUTTON, PLAYERS NOW USE | is dialed back, focusing |PLAYERS NOW USE SKATEBOARDS | instead on intense gunplay. |NOW USE SKATEBOARDS TO | Players can experiment with |USE SKATEBOARDS TO GRIND | the arsenal of Gatlians:

    |SKATEBOARDS TO GRIND RAILS, | data-end="3222" data-start="3074">

  • |TO GRIND RAILS, WALL | data-end="3122" data-start="3076">Sheath’s |GRIND RAILS, WALL RIDE, | Rifle for long-range dominance.

  • |RAILS, WALL RIDE, AND | data-end="3171" data-start="3123">

    |WALL RIDE, AND LAUNCH | data-end="3150" data-start="3125">Sweezy’s Laser Bubble |RIDE, AND LAUNCH OFF | to slow down time.

  • |AND LAUNCH OFF WRECKED | data-end="3222" data-start="3172">

    |LAUNCH OFF WRECKED CARS. | data-end="3191" data-start="3174">Gus’s Shotgun for |OFF WRECKED CARS. THIS | close-range destruction.

This |WRECKED CARS. THIS COMPLETELY | section highlights the variety |CARS. THIS COMPLETELY REDEFINES | of playstyles, showing how |THIS COMPLETELY REDEFINES TRAVERSAL | each weapon can be |COMPLETELY REDEFINES TRAVERSAL AND | used creatively in battle.

|REDEFINES TRAVERSAL AND COMBAT, | data-start="3336" data-end="3339">

A |TRAVERSAL AND COMBAT, TURNING | Boss Fight Inside the |AND COMBAT, TURNING EVERY | Menu

In true |COMBAT, TURNING EVERY LEVEL | Squanch Games fashion, the |TURNING EVERY LEVEL INTO | preview ended with an |EVERY LEVEL INTO A | absurd twist: a boss |LEVEL INTO A MASSIVE | fight against |INTO A MASSIVE SKATE | data-start="3468">Muppy Doo that takes |A MASSIVE SKATE PARK | place inside the game’s |MASSIVE SKATE PARK FILLED | menu screen. |SKATE PARK FILLED WITH | Using Suit-O as a |PARK FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES | cursor, players must click |FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR | and smash attacks on |WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPEED | the tiny villain as |OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPEED AND | he hides behind icons |FOR SPEED AND STYLE. | and wrecks UI elements.

|SPEED AND STYLE. | data-end="3919" data-start="3669">The climax escalates |AND STYLE. KEY | when the game “reboots” |STYLE. KEY SKATEBOARDING | into a parody of | KEY SKATEBOARDING FEATURES: | Bible Adventures, |KEY SKATEBOARDING FEATURES: FLUID | forcing players to let |SKATEBOARDING FEATURES: FLUID MOVEMENT: | Knifey stab |FEATURES: FLUID MOVEMENT: SEAMLESSLY | them to death in |FLUID MOVEMENT: SEAMLESSLY TRANSITION | order to win. It’s |MOVEMENT: SEAMLESSLY TRANSITION BETWEEN | bizarre, hilarious, and brilliantly |SEAMLESSLY TRANSITION BETWEEN SHOOTING | in line with the |TRANSITION BETWEEN SHOOTING AND | studio’s “What if?” design |BETWEEN SHOOTING AND GRINDING | philosophy.

|SHOOTING AND GRINDING ON | data-start="3926">Release Date and Platforms

|AND GRINDING ON RAILS | data-end="4113" data-start="3959">High |GRINDING ON RAILS OR | On Life 2 is |ON RAILS OR DIVIDERS. | set to launch on |RAILS OR DIVIDERS. | February 13, |OR DIVIDERS. GRAPPLE | 2026, exclusively for |DIVIDERS. GRAPPLE INTEGRATION: | data-end="4054" data-start="4035">Xbox Series X|S | GRAPPLE INTEGRATION: THE | and will be available |GRAPPLE INTEGRATION: THE SAME | Day One |INTEGRATION: THE SAME BUTTON | on Game Pass Ultimate.

|THE SAME BUTTON USED | data-start="4115" data-end="4118">

Final |SAME BUTTON USED FOR | Thoughts

With its |BUTTON USED FOR GRINDING | mix of skateboarding traversal, |USED FOR GRINDING ALSO | chaotic combat, talking weapons, |FOR GRINDING ALSO TRIGGERS | and unpredictable humor, |GRINDING ALSO TRIGGERS KNIFEY’S | data-end="4258" data-start="4240">High On Life |ALSO TRIGGERS KNIFEY’S GRAPPLE, | 2 is looking like |TRIGGERS KNIFEY’S GRAPPLE, PULLING | one of the most |KNIFEY’S GRAPPLE, PULLING PLAYERS | inventive FPS games in |GRAPPLE, PULLING PLAYERS TOWARD | years. Squanch Games has |PULLING PLAYERS TOWARD GRINDABLE | once again proven that |PLAYERS TOWARD GRINDABLE OBJECTS. | they thrive on pushing |TOWARD GRINDABLE OBJECTS. | boundaries, blending comedy with |GRINDABLE OBJECTS. SKATEBOARD | innovative gameplay.

For |OBJECTS. SKATEBOARD ATTACK: | fans of the original, | SKATEBOARD ATTACK: THROWING | this sequel promises |SKATEBOARD ATTACK: THROWING THE | data-end="4557" data-start="4489">bigger laughs, faster |ATTACK: THROWING THE SKATEBOARD | action, and crazier ideas |THROWING THE SKATEBOARD CAN | than ever before.

|THE SKATEBOARD CAN INSTANTLY |