Will High on Life get new game plus?

As a passionate gamer and creator who has logged dozens of hours with the new sci-fi comedy shooter High on Life, one of the most common questions I‘ve been asked is: will there be a New Game Plus mode?

What is New Game Plus?

For those unfamiliar, New Game Plus (or NG+) is a popular feature in many games that allows players to replay the story from the beginning while carrying over weapons, upgrades, stats, and other progression from their initial playthrough. This enables creating more powerful character builds, finding collectibles missed the first time, or simply experiencing the game again with a big advantage.

The Lack of NG+ and Replayability Hurts High on Life

Unfortunately, as multiple gaming journalists have reported, High on Life currently does not include a NG+ or any form of replayability. According to Destructoid, after completing all bounties and side content:

"There‘s no option like a New Game Plus or the ability to even redo bounties. There aren‘t even extra bounties that become available once you‘ve finished the main story. After you have unlocked every achievement and experienced its comedic events, that‘s truly all it has to offer."

This hurts the longevity and value of this otherwise stellar FPS. With no way to carry over the crazy Gatlian weapons players work hard to unlock, replaying the 9+ hour campaign feels mundane.

Lack of Post-Game Hurts Replayability

Gamers looking to get the most out of High on Life will also be disappointed by the lack of meaningful post-game content and replayability. According to GameRant:

"There aren‘t many more narrative beats to uncover, nor is there any specific direction to explore…There is no New Game+ option…nor are there any additional game modes outside of the main story."

Unlike other comedy shooter franchises like Borderlands or Ratchet & Clank with tons of activities outside the critical path, High on Life‘s value is hindered by offering little to do after the credits roll.

Could Additional Content Still Be Added?

However, there is still hope more replayability and post-game content could come via DLC. Developer Squanch Games confirmed continued support for the game over the next year. When asked directly about NG+, co-founder Tommy Pallotta told SVG:

"We want to have reasons to keep coming back to it, so I can imagine us doing something like that."

So while not guaranteed, a New Game Plus mode remains possible depending on what the team decides to focus on.

How Does High on Life‘s Replay Value Compare to Other Comedy Shooter Franchises?

To analyze what players can expect in terms of replayability, it is useful to compare High on Life to benchmarks from the comedy shooter genre:

As we can see, other successful titles in the genre offer more value through NG+ modes and robust post-games with many hours of optional challenges. High on Life clearly lags behind in these areas.

What is the Average Game Length of High on Life?

One silver lining is that completing all content in High on Life the first time takes a decent amount of time. According to data aggregated by HowLongToBeat, average completion times are:

• Main Story: 9 hours
• Main + Extras: 181⁄2 hours

For a single playthrough, close to 20 hours of unique comedy gameplay is solid. But without a way to carry over those zany weapons you sacrifices so much to unlock, I and many others were still left wanting more.

What About High on Life 2?

Looking even further ahead, some fans including myself are already speculating about a potential High on Life 2. The unique premise, writing, and combat have huge franchise potential in the right hands.

However, when asked about a sequel, developer Squanch Games told SVG:

"While fans of the game may be hoping to see another entry, there‘s been no definitive word about the development of a "High on Life 2" just yet. Developer and publisher Squanch Games has made no official announcement, and it‘s unknown what it will be working on next."

So a full blown sequel is likely years away at best. Our best hope for meaningful updates in 2024 & 2024 is substantial DLC.

In summary, as much as I adored my time with High on Life, the lack of New Game Plus, replayability, and post-game content left me disappointed. Despite statements leaving the door open for NG+ to be added later, I would not recommend buying the game solely for this feature until confirmed officially.

However, if you are intrigued by the refreshing comedy and tight FPS gameplay, by all means give High on Life a shot! Just don‘t expect much in the way of replay value or end-game content as it currently stands. We can only hope the developers hear fan feedback and continue supporting this diamond in the rough with many updates to come.

What do you think? Should NG+ and post-game content be a priority for the team behind High on Life? Sound off in the comments!