Skip to main content

Heave Ho

Alright, now let go with your left… No, that was your right… And we’re both dead...
85%Game Brain Score
humor, gameplay
replayability, story
92% User Score Based on 2,554 reviews
Critic Score 77%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

MOMac OSNSNintendo SwitchPCPCSDSteam DeckWinWindows

About

Heave Ho is a local multi-player game that supports up to 4 players in both co-op and PvP modes. Players must work together to reach the end of each level without falling to their deaths, using their own two hands and their friends' outstretched grips to swing and climb to safety. The game features excellent gameplay, customizable characters, and will definitely make you laugh. A controller is required for local multiplayer.

Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
Heave Ho screenshot
+7

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,568 reviews
humor329 positive mentions
story8 negative mentions

  • Heave Ho is an incredibly fun and hilarious game, especially when played with friends, leading to countless laughs and memorable moments.
  • The game features simple controls that are easy to learn, making it accessible for players of all skill levels, and it encourages teamwork and cooperation.
  • The unique art style and engaging gameplay mechanics, combined with various levels and unlockable costumes, provide a delightful experience.
  • The game lacks online multiplayer support, which limits the ability to play with friends remotely, and many players have reported issues with Steam Remote Play.
  • Some players have experienced bugs and technical issues, such as freezing on the controller screen or problems with controller recognition, making the game unplayable for some.
  • The single-player mode is considered lackluster compared to the multiplayer experience, and the game can feel repetitive without more content or a level editor.
  • humor
    329 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this game is overwhelmingly praised, with players describing it as "hilariously chaotic" and "stupidly funny," especially when played with friends. Many reviews highlight the absurdity of the gameplay, the comedic physics, and the laughter that ensues from both successes and failures, making it a perfect choice for couch co-op sessions. While some players noted that it can be frustrating at times, the overall consensus is that the game delivers a consistently entertaining and laugh-out-loud experience, particularly in multiplayer settings.

    • “One of the few party games that actually make me cry laughing.”
    • “This game is hilarious, and an excellent choice for a co-op game with people of varying skill levels.”
    • “Get ready to test your friendships and your patience with 'Heave Ho', a hilarious and chaotic platform party game!”
  • gameplay
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, allowing for fun multiplayer experiences that often lead to laughter and chaos. While the controls are easy to learn, mastering the game can be challenging, making it suitable for players of all ages. The unique art style and physics-based mechanics enhance the overall enjoyment, although some players express a desire for improved online co-op options.

    • “The mechanics are satisfying and simple to pick up, the difficulty curve is gentle enough to be challenging but forgiving enough to avoid frustration, and the charming sound and graphics set the mood perfectly.”
    • “Perfect for 2-4 players, guaranteed loads of laughter, great physics mechanics, easy to learn and simple puzzles for anyone to pick up.”
    • “The gameplay is not very easy to handle at first but original and fun!”
    • “The gameplay is simple - move your arms and grab with your hands to navigate various levels - but more challenging to master.”
    • “- the game artificially holds the player(s) back by level mechanics (electric surfaces) which makes the whole point of having a 'new record' balloon fly up as you finish a level.”
  • graphics
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics feature a unique and charming art style that many players find visually appealing, despite some critiques of its simplistic 2D assets and lack of substantial graphical enhancements. While the visuals are often described as cute and detailed, opinions vary, with some players feeling the graphics are lackluster or forgettable. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay and a distinctive aesthetic contributes positively to the gaming experience, especially in multiplayer settings.

    • “The animations and artwork are stunning, and the little noises the characters make when they're 'heaving' and 'hoing' just make this game that much more of a joy to play.”
    • “The game offers some really nice graphics and a nice yet simplistic aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges.”
    • “I love how simple yet visually pleasing the art style is.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
    • “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
    • “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
  • music
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its quirky and catchy nature that enhances the fun of multiplayer chaos, while others find it forgettable or lacking. Many appreciate how the soundtrack fits the game's tone and adds to the overall experience, though a few have opted to replace it with other music for added enjoyment. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's aesthetic and multiplayer dynamics, despite some criticisms.

    • “Cooperation often turns into a delightful mess, and the wacky music just adds to the hilarity!”
    • “The music is quirky, fits the tone of the game, and never became distracting.”
    • “You'll find yourself humming the main menu soundtrack after playing it.”
    • “The music in the game is very much forgettable and the graphics aren’t that appealing to me either.”
    • “I don't love the soundtrack but have found that playing Animal Crossing music instead adds to the hilarity.”
    • “[lacklustre music]”
  • replayability
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable with local co-op and varying player dynamics, many note a lack of content and limited replay value after completing levels. Suggestions for improvement include adding workshop support for custom maps, which could significantly enhance replayability. Despite its short playtime, some players still appreciate the fun factor and potential for replay through different play styles.

    • “This is an absolute gem with a shocking amount of replayability (especially if you change around who you play with).”
    • “It also adds a pile of replayability if you've finished all the levels—Heave Ho was already a great game, but the more heaving I can do, the better.”
    • “Good replayability, especially with local co-op.”
    • “The game is a good laugh, but be aware that there is not much content, and after a few bashes at versus, there is no real replayability.”
    • “It's just a shame that it lacks replayability, making it fairly boring after you've completed the levels.”
    • “This damages replayability.”
  • story
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game lacks a narrative or character development, focusing solely on level completion and mini-games. Many players find this absence of story disappointing, leading to a general disinterest in the game. While some may enjoy the gameplay with friends, the overall consensus is that the story element is non-existent.

    • “There are no story or characters to follow, only completing levels and mini games.”
    • “The game also doesn’t have a story and, I guess, expects you to complete levels for the sake of completing levels.”
    • “Hardly a success story, gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
  • stability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is mixed, with users reporting occasional freezes, particularly when tabbing out or during remote play sessions, which are often buggy. Many players express frustration over unresolved issues, especially with the Mac port and controller screen freezes, while some note that the game runs well under normal conditions. Overall, while the core experience is solid, remote play functionality needs significant improvement.

    • “Runs great.”
    • “Remote play ends up being very buggy for me sometimes, and I'd honestly prefer to just have a copy and get my friend a copy in order to play together smoothly.”
    • “Fix your Mac port of the game already, it freezes on load.”
    • “Freezes at controller screen; there is a support thread open from a year ago and the developer has not addressed it.”
  • grinding
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring a significant investment of time to progress through linear levels. Many reviewers express that the grinding can feel overwhelming, suggesting that it may demand more dedication than they are willing to give.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Most of the levels are very linear and somewhat tedious, to be frank.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, often experiencing laughter to the point of tears, highlighting its ability to create joyful and memorable moments with friends. The emphasis on carefree interactions adds to the emotional depth, making it a source of both humor and connection.

    • “It's been a long time since I cried from laughter, but this game supplies that in spades.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization for controllers has been criticized due to significant input lag of 0.5 seconds or more, along with frequent disconnects and stuttering, even when users found workarounds for multiple controllers. Overall, the experience suggests that while the game is designed for controller use, its performance is lacking.

    • “Then when we finally found a workaround (4 controllers on 2 computers), input lag was consistently 0.5 seconds or more with numerous disconnects and stuttering.”
    • “Yes, this game is optimized for controllers.”

Buy Heave Ho

4h Median play time
41h Average play time
3-92h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Heave Ho

Human Fall Flat Image
Ultimate Chicken Horse Image
Overcooked 2 Image
Biped Image
Overcooked Image
Cooking Princess ImageCooking Princess ImageCooking Princess Image
Move or Die Image
Gang Beasts Image
Heavenly Bodies Image
Moving Out Image