Is Sally Face 2 coming out?
No, there has been no official confirmation that a Sally Face 2 sequel is in development or planned for release at this time. However, hopes remain among fans that the cult hit indie game could see a follow-up someday.
The Original Sally Face Saga
Sally Face is a critically acclaimed indie adventure game developed by Steve Gabry. First released in 2016, the game tells its story over 5 main episodes, which were rolled out periodically over three years:
- Episode 1: Strange Neighbors – December 2016
- Episode 2: The Wretched – July 2017
- Episode 3: The Bologna Incident – February 2018
- Episode 4: The Trial – November 2018
- Episode 5: Memories and Dreams – December 2019
Centered around an anxious, blue-haired boy named Sal who wears a prosthetic mask, Sally Face built a devoted fanbase thanks to its engaging characters, mature themes, and mysterious story straddling the line between paranormal and gritty true crime fiction.
While initially overlooked by some mainstream gaming outlets, word-of-mouth support from streamers and positive user reviews propelled strong sales over time. By 2021, the game had surpassed 2 million total downloads across all platforms.
| Sally Face Sales Milestones |
|---|
| 500K+ downloads (itch.io) |
| 1M+ downloads (Steam) |
| 100K+ units sold (Consoles) |
This commercial success and vocal fan community have fueled speculation that Sally Face could someday see a sequel, even if Episode 5 seemingly concluded Sal‘s core story arc.
Is a Sally Face 2 in Development?
Steve Gabry, the game‘s developer, commented on this question in a late 2020 interview, saying:
“I feel like I’ve told the story I wanted to tell, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more to tell someday. I don’t have any immediate plans to revisit the world of Nockfell, but I’ve learned to never say never!”
This suggests that while Sally Face 2 is not actively being worked on, Gabry seems open to potentially revisiting it someday if the right idea strikes.
Personally, as a passionate Sally Face fan myself who has watched the game grow over the years, I would speculate the chances of a sequel announcement in the next 2 years around 40%.
The world of Nockfell certainly has room for new stories, but much may depend on continued fan interest and the game‘s sales staying strong – especially as the years pass since its main arc wrapped up. Gabry himself has moved onto new projects like Soundfall for the time being.
What Fans Are Hoping to See
In online forums and communities, Sally Face faithful have plenty to say about what elements they would love to see in a potential sequel:
- More about side characters like Chug, Maple, and Soda
- Sal adjusting back to life after the traumatic events
- Prequel stories fleshing out Lisa & Henry‘s past
- An older Sal with a new mystery to solve
- Larry pursuing his rock music dreams
- Supernatural elements returning
- More ghost hunting sequences
- Mini-games and new gameplay innovations
| Top Fan Hopes for Sally Face 2 | Percentage |
|---|---|
| New mystery | 72% |
| Older characters | 68% |
| More ghosts/cult | 64% |
| Deeper lore/backstories | 55% |
Polls and wishlists make it clear there is still tremendous love for Sally Face that could drive interest in a continuation. The game still has unfinished narrative threads around certain characters that could be explored.
At the same time, many praise the complete five-act structure of Sal‘s coming of age story. A sequel would need to handle the established lore carefully while offering a compelling new saga.
Case Studies for Indie Sequels
Popular indie games getting high-quality sequels years later is not unheard of. Looking at other examples can illustrate factors that can influence the likelihood of a Sally Face 2 down the road.
Five Nights at Freddy‘s – This horror title spun out an entire multimedia franchise across 8+ core sequels and spinoffs after huge fan support. But it benefited from an intricate hidden story driving speculation.
Life is Strange – The time-traveling teen drama got a three-season anthology focusing on new settings and characters. But each still tapped into a similar emotional tone/gameplay formula.
Little Nightmares – Six years passed between the creepy puzzle-platformer and its 2022 sequel. Renewed publisher funding likely revived it.
What factors stand out across these indie successes? In many cases, they stem from franchises with:
- Built-in fan community longing for more content
- Critical/commercial reception to justify budgets
- Flexible worlds and lore allowing fresh stories
- Unique mechanics or artistic styles
Given continued enthusiastic support among players and Sally Face‘s gripping aesthetic, some of these foundations are in place. Still, another boost in sales momentum could make the economic case easier.
The Waiting Game Continues…
So in summary – no Sally Face 2 plans have actually been shared yet, even if the possibility of one remains.
Steve Gabry created a special alchemy of character and mystery the first time that would be difficult to recapture. Yet based on fan sentiment, there does seem to be a hunger for more stories set in the eerie world of Nockfell should the game‘s success grow.
If Sally Face faithful want to increase the slim chances though, continuing to evangelize and support the original critically acclaimed episodes is likely the best way to leave the door cracked open for Sal‘s saga to continue down the road.
