Slime Rancher 2

Slime Rancher 2 expands everything that made the first game so endearing, offering richer environments and ecosystems. While the first game delivered a cozy slime-raising sim, the sequel feels like a proper adventure.

Even after spending close to 30 hours already, there are oodles of secrets to find, upgrades to unlock, and further optimizations I can make to my ranch setup. I think I’ll be vacationing here for a while.

Slime Rancher 2 not only feels like a great sequel that builds on foundations laid with the original, but also a great game in its own right.

Slime Rancher 2 is a worthy sequel that preserves the original’s charm while adding smart improvements. Rainbow Island brims with secrets, new slimes, and the freedom to play at your own pace, enhanced by tight controls and a dynamic soundtrack. Though the abundance of options can feel overwhelming, it’s more of a luxury—there’s always something to do. Cozy, colorful, and surprisingly deep, it’s a must-play for fans of the genre.

Slime Rancher 2 is a game, like the original Slime Rancher, where much of your enjoyment is going to be driven by how enamored you are by its world and the silly creatures that inhabit it. Luckily, that's a hard charm to resist; it's easy to feel driven to explore and build and ranch just to hear beautiful music, see new locales, and hopefully meet yet another strange slime with its own little quirks. At the same time, the game expects you to grind out large amounts of materials for some later recipes, some materials for which (such as Strange Diamonds) can be difficult to get consistently. There are at least two devices in the latter half of the game you seem to be expected to build quite a few of and place semi-permanently, but most players are instead likely to place them down, use as needed and pick up again to avoid grinding to create extras. The game also has a few areas that are relatively easy to miss without thorough combing, but are either story critical or clearly expected to be found by the majority of players. Despite these issues and despite the fact Slime Rancher 2 perhaps isn't as different from its predecessor as some might hope, however, it remains a deeply charming experience with a wonderfully colorful aesthetic.

More Slime Rancher is always a good thing. Slime AI has been improved, Slime personalities stand out more and are better designed, and Rainbow Island is gorgeous. However, a distinct lack of progression and a tiresome gameplay loop make Slime Rancher 2 feel more like DLC than a distinct sequel.