World of Goo 2

World of Goo 2 is a sequel that exceeds all expectations, with a ridiculous amount of creative ideas packed into its gooey shell.

81%Game Brain Score

music, gameplay

atmosphere, grinding

84% User Score Based on 254 reviews

Critic Score 71%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom €28.99

Buy NowGet on Steam €28.99 Buy NowGet on Epic Games Store

About

World of Goo 2 is a single player and multiplayer casual simulation game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Tomorrow Corporation and was released on February 21, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

World of Goo 2 invites players to build complex structures, manipulate flowing liquids, and solve puzzles using new Goo species with unique properties. Experience a captivating story across 5 chapters and over 60 challenging levels while navigating environmental themes and mysterious corporate motives. The game features realistic physics and a haunting, immersive soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 254 reviews

music26 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

World of Goo 2 expands on the original with beautiful art, engaging puzzles, and a nostalgic soundtrack that fans will appreciate.
The game introduces fun new mechanics and challenges, making it a rewarding experience for players who enjoyed the first game.
Despite some criticisms, many players find the game to be a charming and enjoyable sequel that captures the essence of the original.

The soundtrack is largely a rehash of the first game's music, which disappointed some fans who were hoping for new compositions.
Chapter 4's narrative-heavy sections and gameplay shifts were seen as tedious and detracted from the overall experience.
Some players felt that the game relied too heavily on nostalgia and recycled content from the original, making it feel less innovative.

music
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The music in the sequel has received mixed reviews, with many praising the remastered versions of the original soundtrack while others express disappointment over the lack of new compositions. While some tracks are celebrated for their beauty and emotional impact, critics note that much of the music feels like a rehash of the first game's score, leading to a sense of nostalgia but also a feeling of missed opportunity for innovation. Overall, the soundtrack remains a highlight for many players, though opinions vary on its originality and depth compared to the original game.
- “This series has my favorite music of any game I've ever played, coming out above even beautiful soundtracks like those of Super Mario Galaxy and Undertale.”
- “The music hits me like a truck; I sat in the menu listening to the 4th world's music over and over... like seriously, kudos to the music people and everyone who contributed to the live instruments!”
- “It's continuously creative, interesting, and challenging, with gorgeous visuals (comparing it to the first game is night and day), and a beautiful soundtrack of acoustic re-interpretations of the original game's OST.”
- “The soundtrack is basically just a rehash of the first game's soundtrack.”
- “I was expecting a large drop of new similar music to be added to my collection, yet… in World of Goo 2 there are no new tracks.”
- “But this game is not distinct, and this crosses over into even the soundtrack, which is almost entirely halfhearted remixes of enjoyable music from the first game.”
gameplay
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
68%
4%
The gameplay of World of Goo 2 is a mix of familiar mechanics from the original game, enhanced by several new features, including fluid dynamics and unique goo types. While many players appreciate the introduction of novel gameplay elements, some feel that the execution is inconsistent, with certain levels feeling overly complex or reminiscent of the first game without sufficient innovation. Overall, the game offers entertaining puzzles, but the removal of beloved mechanics and a lack of cohesive design have left some players feeling disappointed.
- “World of Goo 2 could definitely be seen as an indulgent victory lap, but it uses the nostalgia I and many others have for the first game to subvert expectations in a very clever way, all while delivering one of the best gameplay experiences I've had in years.”
- “I played the original to death back in the day and the sequel doesn't disappoint with the same style, music, and gameplay, with new mechanics giving more depth to an already very fun experience.”
- “Puzzle games are as alive as the goo that seeps through the cracks of this city; the mechanics were fun even if some levels felt simple - there were still optional levels for that extra challenge!”
- “World of Goo 2 provides enough novel gameplay mechanics to justify its existence, but self-congratulatory tone, artistic recycling, and a high price ultimately make it a disappointing experience.”
- “Nostalgia bait is extremely prevalent here, where even new mechanics cannot counter the feeling of boredom and missed opportunity.”
- “Many levels are simply copied from the original, just with new mechanics added on top. Some quirky goo types are absent, the whistle is totally gone, and many OCDs require flawless gameplay, making some levels too long and overcomplicated even for casual completion.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
13%
The story in "World of Goo" has received mixed reviews, with many praising the original game's subtle, atmospheric storytelling that encouraged exploration of deeper meanings, while the sequel is criticized for its forced narrative and lack of coherence. Players noted that "Wog2" features longer cutscenes and a more erratic plot structure, often feeling tedious and disconnected, despite some humorous elements and interesting themes. Overall, while the original's storytelling was engaging and clever, the sequel's narrative has been perceived as unfocused and less impactful.
- “World of Goo 1's storytelling is dear to my heart, and probably shaped my artistic perception and preference much more than I understand, along with other Tomorrow Corporation games.”
- “The new story is also nice and doesn't feel copied or cheap, along with some of the new features and goo types that they included.”
- “It's got some new toys, it's lost a couple in the process, and it has some reverence for its origins that can make it seem a little repetitive, but the levels are generally still pretty solid, the music is still decent, and the story is entertaining and weird-cute enough that it kept me going through some stages just to see what would happen next.”
- “I feel like with Wog2 they force the story a lot more, which may not be so bad if I enjoyed the story, but alas I did not.”
- “The story is not truly nonsensical, I guess, but calling it a 'story' is charitable - it's more like a sequence of unconnected events; chapter 3 ending leads into chapter 4, but everything else just kinda happens (chapter 4 seems to be building up to something, but then throws everything out of the window in the end).”
- “The 'story' this time feels especially unfocused and lacks any real theming like the original game, apart from some meta commentary of sequels.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The graphics in this indie game have received significant praise for their improvement over the first installment, showcasing a charming art style and sleek visuals that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful graphics and haunting soundtrack, which contribute to the game's creative puzzles and engaging atmosphere. While some features from the original game have been removed, the overall execution of the graphics and design has been described as a major step forward, making it a visually appealing and enjoyable game.
- “They really upped their game with their graphics since the first game, and also included additional difficult levels to give players an additional challenge.”
- “It's continuously creative, interesting, and challenging, with gorgeous visuals (comparing it to the first game is night and day), and a beautiful soundtrack of acoustic re-interpretations of the original game's OST.”
- “Beautiful graphics, haunting soundtrack, creative puzzles and, strangely enough, one of the most surreal stories I've seen from a game in years.”
- “It's an indie game, so there is not much to say about graphics quality; however, I have a different problem with it.”
- “Some parts of the game have still not changed - the art style, the music, the gameplay (with some new mechanics, of course), but some features from the first game have been removed in the sequel, notably the free-build mode is gone.”
- “There are one or two new game mechanics and the graphics have been sharpened up a bit, but let's face it, it was always as smooth as a Frenchman's breakfast.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
38%
The humor in the original "World of Goo" is praised for its clever writing and engaging meta commentary, contributing to an endearing and enjoyable experience. However, in "World of Goo 2," while some humor remains, it is criticized for longer cutscenes lacking a solid plot and cleverness, leading to a less impactful comedic experience. Overall, the first game is celebrated for its witty storytelling, while the sequel's humor is seen as diminished despite still having moments of dark humor.
- “The first world of goo is still a brilliant game, and of the gems that introduced me to how good indie gaming can be by making a simple concept endearing, funny, enjoyable, and most importantly, fun.”
- “The first game had a few short cutscenes and was mainly built around atmosphere and gameplay; nonetheless, it still managed to provide a funny story with clever writing and meta commentary, some of which is even more relevant today.”
- “I'm still recommending it for its biting dark humor and a world I would never want to live in.”
- “It is not fun to play, it is not funny in writing - I have no idea what they were thinking.”
- “The jokes fall flat and the humor feels forced, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- “I expected some laughs, but the attempts at humor are so stale that they detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The atmosphere in the sequel to World of Goo is noted to be less impactful than in the original, which masterfully balanced fun and melancholy with its unique visual style and clever storytelling. While the sequel retains a good vibe and enjoyable music, it struggles to replicate the original's distinctive emotional depth and charm. Overall, the atmosphere is still appreciated, but it lacks the special quality that defined the first game.
- “The first World of Goo surely looked cartoonish, yet the sprites and the color palette were sharp and rough, which gave it its own unique style and atmosphere.”
- “This game has substantially more goo, but keeps a similarly atmospheric vibe.”
- “Another reviewer talked about how much the atmosphere and mood defined the first game, and while this game follows that to a certain extent, it's not as impactful as the first one.”
- “For me, the original World of Goo was not only about the game mechanics, but also the atmosphere it created: on the weird edge between fun and melancholic, simultaneously disturbing and yet soothing.”
- “As much as World of Goo 2 recreates the game mechanics of the original and even adds some nice new ideas, it fails to create that special atmosphere of the original.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game reflect a mix of nostalgia and disappointment, with players expressing a sense of connection to the franchise despite concerns over the quality of voice acting and tonal inconsistencies. The mention of "wholesome moments" indicates that there are still elements that resonate positively with players, evoking fond memories and a desire to engage with the game.
- “I don't know, it's weird and difficult to give this a thumbs down, like, emotionally, but... between the conspicuously AI-like voice acting (which is a real bad sign whether it's actually AI or not) and the disparity in tone...”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and detracting from the overall experience, with repetitive tasks and backtracking leading to a sense of irrelevance in the story. While some sequences are praised for their creativity, they can lose their impact on repeat playthroughs, contributing to a feeling of monotony.
- “All this makes the story feel tedious and irrelevant rather than engaging and fun.”
- “When I played the sequel, I finished it in 7 hours (no OCDs and optional levels) in 2 sittings, and both sessions felt tedious for me.”
- “Chasing around time flies is tedious, especially if you have to go back a ways.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from poor optimization, particularly struggling with level loading and lighting effects, leading to noticeable performance issues and frame drops during gameplay. Many users express hope for future updates to improve performance.
- “First of all, this game is poorly optimized and struggles to load levels with lots of lighting effects.”
- “Unfortunately, performance is pretty bad.”
- “I might repurchase again in the future if there are some performance updates, but I noticed a lot of framey moments while playing.”