Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Le Cartel Studio have just announced Heave Ho 2a chaotic platformer for 2-4 players that will be released on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 summer 2026. Heave Ho 2 was announced during the recent Nintendo Indie World Showcase, which included a host of Switch 2 reveals, ranging from a Mixtape release date confirmation to a Blue Prince shadow drops.
The original Heave Ho hit PC and Nintendo Switch back in August 2019. A co-op party platformer, Heave Ho sees players take control of small, colorful disembodied heads with two long arms attached. As a team, players must take advantage of the game's physics system to grab and throw each other to each stage's finish line. Heave Ho received a strong critical reception upon its 2019 debut, earning a Top Critic Average of 78 on OpenCritic and a Critics Recommendation rating of 88%. The Paris-based developer is also responsible for creating Mother Russia is bleedinga 2016 co-op brawler that didn't receive as much critical praise as Heave Ho.
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Heave Ho 2 launches on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 this summer
During the Nintendo Indie World Showcase on March 3, Heave Ho 2 was officially announced. Heave Ho 2 is targeting a summer 2026 release window, and is currently confirmed to launch on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, as well as PC via Steam. By and large, Heave Ho 2 seems to follow in its predecessor's footsteps closely, at least when it comes to presentation and gameplay. IN Heave Ho 2teams of 2-4 players will once again be tasked with reaching the end of a level by swinging each other across platforms, throwing each other across the screen and avoiding oncoming obstacles by coordinating their clumsy limb movements.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
The biggest addition this time is online co-op, with Heave Ho 2 allowing players from all over the world to team up. Of course, local sofa co-op will still be available in Heave Ho 2. This long-awaited sequel will also introduce eight new worlds, each tied to a specific theme, such as “kitchen chaos”, “medieval chaos” and “ninja nonsense”. Along with unique backgrounds, these themed stages will feature distinctive platforms and obstacles inspired by the environment. Heave Ho 2 also brings an assortment of equippable items to the party, such as pop guns, laser swords, drones and more. The Versus mode that was added to the original Heave Ho a year after launch will be available in the sequel day one, giving players the opportunity to challenge each other in a variety of desperate gauntlets.
Neither Devolver Digital nor Le Cartel Studio have confirmed how much Heave Ho 2 will cost on PC or Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and while the game already has a Steam page, it's not listed on the Nintendo eShop yet. Those who want to try the first Heave Ho ahead of the sequel's release this summer, might want to take advantage of a current Steam sale that drops the game's price to $2.49 until March 17th. Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch version is the first Heave Ho is currently not for sale.
Heave Ho 2 was just one of several co-op games announced during the recent Nintendo Indie World Showcase. Deadzone: Roguea sci-fi roguelite co-op shooter, also received a Nintendo Switch 2 release date during the presentation, as well Rotwooda four-player roguelit brawler developed by the same studio behind Don't starve series, which is available now on Switch 2.
