Nintendo Switch 2 Critic Reviews

This silly budget-friendly sequel preserves the winning formula of the original, while peppering in some new elements to add to the challenge and fun.

Heave Ho 2 provided new and entertaining premises for us to play with the mechanics, sabotage each other, and broke us into laughter so hard we could barely breathe. Heave Ho 2 takes the perfect formula from the first game, and adds onto it. Sometimes you don’t need to mess with perfection.

Heave Ho 2 is a brilliant multiplayer and an essential centrepiece to any party. The simple premise and controls make this perfect for players of any skill level to pick up and play. While the original focused on its addictive gameplay loop, the sequel expands on these to create a more varied experience. With optional objectives and support in place if you get stuck, there’s enough here to keep you hooked for hours on end. Silly, funny and brilliant, this is a must-play multiplayer experience that never fails to raise a smile.

Seven years after its predecessor, Heave Ho 2 improves its cooperative formula but sacrifices the single-player mode in favor of multiplayer, further encouraged by the GameShare feature on Switch. A fluid technical performance and the introduction of unpredictable mechanics make it an excellent product in its genre. It is highly recommended to play privately with people you know well, because playing with randoms in public lobbies makes the game lose most of its magic.

Heave Ho 2 reinvents itself with brilliant ideas and outstanding Switch 2 integration; camera, GameChat and GameShare turn it into a must-play multiplayer riot, as long as you play with company.

I have a soft spot for goofy physics-based co-op games in general, but Heave Ho 2 was a hit no matter who I put it in front of. Its wacky exterior is supported by a solid core of great controls and smart level design. Not all of its gambles pay off, but I'm fine accepting a little jank in an otherwise jolly experience.

Heave Ho 2 perfectly captures what made the original special and builds its new offering on that foundation without losing its identity. The wider variety of levels, online play, and new objectives make this sequel a more complete and longer-lasting experience, even though some ideas don’t quite work out and the competitive mode falls a bit short. An excellent game to enjoy with friends, packed with unpredictable situations, cooperation, and that signature chaos that turns every mistake into a laugh.

If you’re looking for a new game to add to your party night rotation, you really can’t go wrong with Heave Ho 2. While the new versus mode isn’t all that great, the new assortment of worlds and stages in the main cooperative mode will keep you and your friends or family busy for at least a few evenings. If you’re dedicated to finding all the secrets and completing all the extra challenges, you’ll get even more legs (arms) out of it. The addition of online play allows you to play even if you’re partying by yourself, but the real genius of the game comes from having everyone elbow to elbow in the same room. Heave Ho 2, like the first game, is great multiplayer fun for players of all kinds.

The original Heave Ho didn’t leave me wanting more. It was simply a game that, when presented with friends who have never played it before, I’d bust out at game nights. Heave Ho 2, however, has left me with a very different feeling. After seeing more of the ideas the developers of this series have for this concept, now I’m hungry for more. Whether it be DLC for the sequel or an entirely new game, I hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Heave Ho.

Heave Ho 2 is difficult to get under control, and some challenges become frustrating when a small mistake ruins an otherwise good attempt. That being said, playing through it with my wife resulted in plenty of moments where our carefully discussed plan ended within seconds. The variation between regular campaign levels kept us interested, while Showdown offered a fun reason to turn against each other for a while. It takes patience, and you need a co-op partner who can laugh when things go wrong for the tenth time but if you find one of those, you’ll have a blast with Heave Ho 2 for sure!