While certain multiplayer-focused titles like Overcooked have managed to break into the more collective consciousness in terms of name recognition, there are other indies that may be less commonly talked about but are deserving of far more attention. One such game that I don’t feel got the more widespread love that it deserved was Heave Ho. In principle, getting your friends or family together to simply grab onto one another and use teamwork to overcome obstacles to reach the goal shouldn’t be terribly difficult. Even the original quickly proved that assumption to be quite incorrect, but this sequel has thankfully layered in even more silliness, curveballs that add new challenges, and critical assistance when needed to help it become an even better time for people seeking a little group chaos and fun.

Just like in the original, playing with between 2 and 4 players, you’ll be trying to get from wherever you start from to a goal area. Depending on the layout of the stage, and what’s available to you, what this process will look like can vary wildly. Each player controls their own two-armed character, and your primary means of getting anything done is by grabbing something, or someone, with one of your hands and then shifting your weight. Solo this will allow you to move around hand over hand, but when you begin grabbing onto each other you’ll be able to make chains that you’ll need to reach things that are further away, or to get some swinging momentum going with and then fling yourself around. While there was more to the original game, more often than not its challenges tended to feature those fundamentals more prominently.

With this sequel, even more variety has been thrown into the mix, and it quickly shows, creating more chaos, laughs, and silly fun. While your ability to fart is more likely for use when playing competitively, it can reliably add giggles to tense moments when you’re trying to work together as well. Additional objectives, things to grab, and a variety of active distractions that vary from area to area will keep you collaborating and experimenting to work through what’s expected of you on any given stage. If you’re getting it on Switch 2, there are additional features supported, including camera support, that should greatly improve your chances of success playing with friends online as well. What worked in the original has been refined and improved upon, making an already uproarious good time even better, and at a budget price to boot!