Missing your favourite talking pistol? If you’re wondering whether Kenny returns in High on Life 2, we’ve got all the answers about this beloved character’s fate and what Squanch Games changed for the sequel.
Does Kenny Return in High on Life 2?
Here’s the disappointing news: Kenny does not return as a playable weapon in High on Life 2. However, the game doesn’t completely forget about him.
Kenny’s Status:
- He doesn’t appear as a usable gun in the sequel
- The character receives references throughout the game
- Justin Roiland (Kenny’s original voice actor) didn’t return for the sequel
- Kenny was written out between games with minimal explanation
Whilst Kenny doesn’t make a comeback, he’s “fondly referenced” throughout your adventure. The game acknowledges his absence rather than pretending he never existed, which offers some closure for fans who grew attached to the wisecracking pistol.
What Happened to Kenny Between Games?
The transition from the first game to High on Life 2 involves a five-year time jump. During this period, your character became a celebrity bounty hunter, appearing on talk shows and taking down criminals across the galaxy.
Timeline Details:
- Five years pass between the first game and the sequel
- Your sister joins a resistance group fighting alien threats
- A shadowy pharmaceutical company emerges as the new villain
- Kenny gets written out with brief exposition during this gap
The High on Knife DLC from the original game actually set up Kenny’s departure. In that expansion, the character was departed out of the franchise. This means the groundwork for his absence was laid before the sequel even launched.
Meet the New Talking Guns
Whilst losing Kenny stings, High on Life 2 introduces four brand-new Gatlian companions to fill the void. Each brings unique personalities and combat abilities to the table.
New Gun Roster:
- A pair of bickering, married handguns who constantly argue
- A repentant former assassin whose head doubles as a spike-firing assault rifle
- Two additional companions with distinct combat and puzzle-solving abilities
- All four feature helpful abilities for both fighting and environmental puzzles
IGN praised the new lineup, noting that “all four of the new gun companions are awesome and have helpful abilities in both combat and puzzle-solving.” These fresh faces help the sequel carve out its own identity whilst maintaining the talking weapon formula that made the original special.
Returning Characters From the Original
Not everything changes in the sequel. Some familiar faces do make appearances:
Who’s Back:
- Gus returns—the shotgun-lizard voiced by J.B. Smoove
- Your nameless bounty hunter protagonist continues their story
- Your sister plays a more prominent role in the plot
- Gene Zaroothian’s fate remains unclear from available information
The roughly 10-hour campaign picks up with your character thrust back into chaos when your sister joins a resistance movement. This time, instead of fighting the G3 Cartel, you’re battling a pharmaceutical company with sinister intentions.
Why the Kenny Change Makes Sense
Whilst fans understandably miss Kenny, several factors explain his absence:
Behind-the-Scenes Context:
- Voice actor changes between games
- Creative team wanting fresh dynamics
- Story moving in new directions
- Opportunity to introduce diverse weapon personalities
The talking guns remain central to High on Life 2’s identity. However, swapping out the roster allows Squanch Games to explore different character dynamics and comedic angles. The married handguns, for instance, bring entirely new relationship-based humour that Kenny couldn’t provide.
What Critics Say About the Sequel
High on Life 2 launched on February 13, 2026, for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version scheduled for April. Reviews have been mixed:
Critical Reception:
- Praise for creativity and weird humour
- New skateboarding mechanics add fresh gameplay
- Technical issues plague the experience
- Combat feels inconsistent and sometimes unsatisfying
- Story coherence receives criticism
Kotaku mentioned that “about three out of five jokes” land successfully, maintaining the original’s comedic hit rate. Meanwhile, the roughly 15-hour campaign (longer than the base story’s 10 hours) keeps things moving with absurd missions and meta references.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Kenny doesn’t appear as a usable weapon or major character. However, the game includes fond references to him throughout the adventure, acknowledging his importance to fans.
The new Gatlian companions feature different voice actors, though specific casting details for all weapons haven’t been widely published. J.B. Smoove returns to voice Gus, the returning shotgun character.
Absolutely. The original High on Life remains available on all platforms where it launched. You can revisit Kenny’s story anytime by playing the first game and its DLC expansion.
The main story takes roughly 10 hours to complete. However, Kotaku’s reviewer spent about 15 hours with the game, and completionists chasing all 32 PlayStation trophies or 31 Xbox achievements could spend over 100 hours.
Kenny’s absence marks a significant change for the franchise, but High on Life 2 introduces fresh personalities to keep the talking weapon concept alive. Whether these new companions can fill Kenny’s shoes remains up to individual players—but they certainly bring their own unique flavour to the chaotic, humour-filled adventure.
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