‘Psychonauts 2’ Review Roundup: Here’s What Critics Are Saying
After nearly 16 years, the sequel to the beloved mind-bending cult classic is nearly here. Psychonauts 2 has us resume the adventures of Raz Aquato, a young and powerful psychic who has joined the ranks of a psychic spy organization known as the Psychonauts.
Despite being considered a commercial failure, the original Psychonauts was well received by critics and players alike and has often been considered as one of the greatest games of all time. With its cast of quirky yet charming characters, Psychonauts quickly developed a cult following that had left fans eager for more.
After being kickstarted back in 2016–and experiencing several delays since–Psychonauts 2 is right around the corner, but has it been worth the wait? So far, Psychonauts 2 has been praised by critics for its colorful characters, stunning level design and its ability to match the fun and empathetic story of its predecessor. Below are some excerpts of what reviewers have to say.
IGN – 8/10
“Psychonauts 2’s weird and wonderfully written story is full of interesting, nuanced characters that I instantly fell in love with. Most of its fresh ideas go a long way toward elevating the Psychonauts formula into the modern era, though its enticing new equippable pin system can be a little too stingy. Double Fine has also done a great job of expanding this universe toward both grander and more intimate threats without losing the joyous childhood adventure vibes of the original. It may bring a bit of that mid-2000s action-platformer clunkiness along with it, but Psychonauts 2 is still just about everything I could have hoped for from a sequel to one of my favorite games.” – Tom Marks
GamesRadar – 4.5/5
“Psychonauts 2 captures the spirit of ’90s cartoons and channels it into an imaginative, inventive adventure that never fails to find heart and humor in every one of its consciousness-expanding encounters.” – Josh West
Game Informer – 9/10
“I adored almost every second of Psychonauts 2. It achieves something I don’t often see in games – a continual sense of awe as each of its worlds unfold. It took 16 years to reach release, but Double Fine has delivered an incredible sequel. I hope we get a third installment that doesn’t take nearly as long to create.” – Andrew Reiner
GameSpot – 9/10
“On the surface, Psychonauts 2 is an engaging, ambitious, honed-in take on colorful 3D platformers. However, the most rewarding aspect hasn’t just been mastering its platforms or combat, but peeling back the layers to see what’s beneath it; to take a closer look at its characters, the depth of their struggles, fears, and regrets, all of which serve as the game’s foundation. It’s an emotional, hilarious, and, at times, devastating story, but a story about forgiveness and second chances. It’s an astonishing achievement in nearly every regard and the quintessential display of Double Fine’s mastery in story, gameplay, and distinct direction, making it the studio’s best game to date.” – Kurt Indovina
Rock, Paper, Shotgun – Recommended
“Ultimately, this is why Psychonauts 2 is so good. It is playful. It’s fun. It’s climbing inside a giant wedding cake, riding flying letters, taking part in a giant cooking show with eggs that are excited to be boiled kind of fun. What more, on this planet, at this time, could you possibly want?” – Alice Bell
Psychonauts 2 releases on August 25 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
