When I reviewed Sludge Life in 2020, I was a bit put off by its overbearing feeling of “What do I do now?” When I completed Sludge Life 2, I finally understood what I was missing out on. The old saying “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” is what rings true in these two titles. In a grimy, dilapidated setting, it’s not much to look at. However, your interactions with the oddball cast and the lo-fi presentation are what will draw your attention to Sludge Life 2. So, how does this follow-up fare compared to its predecessor?

Sludge Life 2 starts you off at the same spot every time you boot it up. So what about your progress then, you might ask? Fear not, the game world is concise and condensed. In fact, you can turn fall damage off, resulting in you clearing the entire map in the span of about 45 seconds if you know where you’re going. In addition, the surprising presentation has you throwing a laptop every time you boot up/pause the game, as well as your camera whenever you might snap a photo. Your endless supply is a nice gag that never loses its steam.

You’ll soon learn in Sludge Life 2 that you’re assuming the role of Ghost, the manager for rapper Big Mud, who so happens to have gone missing the day of a big video shoot. By interacting with the out-of-this-world pedestrians and workers of the Ciggy City Suites, you’ll use context clues to track him down, all the while spraying tags to make a name for Ghost across Ciggy City. Cigarettes are so commonplace here, that they’re actually currency. You’ll need to track down sparsely-placed packs to ensure you get the most out of your dialogue options in each encounter.

My biggest gripe with Sludge Life was that I had no sense of what to do at several junctures. It wasn’t until I went out of my way to talk to everyone in Sludge Life 2 and searched every nook and cranny that I realized that this doesn’t matter. It’s a blessing and a curse. I’m fully exploring the game world and getting the most out of it, but the “point A to point B” side of my brain is whispering to me to get something accomplished every now and then. This give-and-take ultimately pales in the fact that this game is so focused in its presentation that it’s irrelevant if I’m “winning or losing”.

Here’s the kicker for Sludge Life 2. It can be fully completed in the span of 2 hours. As an advocate for short-form games, this shouldn’t be a problem, but it undoubtedly will be for consumers who want to get the most out of the $14.99 price tag. I can confidently say that if you want a trippy first-person adventure experience that indulges in Gen X humor and delivery, this is the cream of the crop on Steam. The minimal target audience will be massively pleased with Sludge Life 2, but it’s another case of a game not being for everyone.

A PC review copy of Sludge Life 2 was provided by Devolver Digital for this review.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Sludge Life 2

14.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Immaculate Vibes
• Easy to Pick Up and Play
• Tons of Game Modifiers

Cons

• Excruciatingly Short
• Lack of Direction