As a man with two Psychonauts tattoos, I was always expecting to at least enjoy Psychonauts 2, although the fear that it wouldn't be as good as my childhood favourite was looming overhead. To my surprise, it not only surpassed my expectations but is leaps and bounds ahead of the original game in pretty much every way. It has its issues but it patches over them with so much heart, charm, and intelligence that it’s almost impossible not to find it endearing.

Even when I was screaming into the void trying to find the last collectible for 100 percent completion, its inventive worlds, colourful characters, and tight platforming kept me grinning from ear to ear. I’m glad to say that it was worth the wait - Psychonauts 2 is the sequel I’ve always wanted and more.

You take control of Razputin Aquato, a young circus-runaway and recent graduate of a summer camp for Psychonauts, an international spy agency who are essentially James Bonds of the brain, projecting themselves into the minds of others to help them overcome trauma. When Raz arrives, he joins the intern program and discovers there’s a mole in the organisation. From here, he must figure out who this is while saving the world from a long-dormant psychic threat. Normal spy stuff, really.

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BrainInAJar

Psychonauts 2’s biggest victories are its story and characters. The mystery that permeates throughout the unfolding narrative keeps you invested, and all of the big reveals land with the intended weight. At one point in the story, I assumed I’d figured out the main mystery. I couldn’t have been more wrong, which is a sign of excellent writing. Even though this feels like a given from a studio like Double Fine, it’s one of the funniest games I’ve played in some time.

If you’re a fan of the original, this expands on it in some significant ways. Seeing long-theorised characters like Compton Boole and story elements surrounding the Aquato curse that were merely referenced 15 years ago come to life here is a real treat, and there are so many special moments for those who have been waiting for a sequel. You don’t need to be invested in the first game to enjoy any of what Psychonauts 2 has to offer, but such winks and nods are a lot more effective if you are.

Psychonauts 2 approaches some serious themes, and it does so with the right mix of humour and care. At one point in the story, Raz is reprimanded for trying to change someone’s mind for his own good, resulting in disastrous consequences for the characters involved. How Psychonauts 2 manages to handle tough subjects like alcoholism and anxiety whilst also being wickedly funny and respectful is impressive.

All of this is wrapped up in the same wonderful visual style from the first game, but on a much grander scale. Psychonauts 2 looks and sounds great and retains its wonky aesthetic, managing to shift its sight and sound between different worlds and levels effortlessly. Psychonauts 2 is much like its fledgling protagonist, in that it’s a master of the balancing act and always manages to surprise you.

Psychonauts 2 raz abilities

Nowhere is this more present than in Psychonauts 2’s brain levels, which are easily the game’s highlight. These worlds are representations of a character’s mental state, staring down serious themes with tact, determination, and bags of creativity. One level has Raz platforming over bottles of whiskey and memories overgrown by plants as he tries to reignite the passion of a psychic who specialises in gardening. Another stage, arguably the game’s finest, has Raz trying to reunite the senses of a character who suffers from synesthesia, which plays like an acid-fuelled ‘80s rock adventure. This level of creativity extends across the whole game, and there’s not one level that isn’t a Psi-Blast to play through.

Psychonauts 2’s gameplay is a sign of how far it’s come, which finally feels like a match for its visual presentation and world design. Platforming is excellent and movement possesses far more weight than before. It still feels distinctly Psychonauts, but you won’t be missing jumps or wondering where to go anymore, as the level design has also been sharpened. Of course, if you’re like me, you’ll still end up falling into the abyss and getting lost when searching for collectibles.

Combat is punchier and finally makes use of Raz’s psychic abilities. Each encounter is like a puzzle, with different enemy types susceptible to certain powers, such as an eccentric judge that can be beaten up with his own gavel by using Telekinesis. There’s also a good deal of customisation options thanks to an actual upgrade tree, which makes it feel a bit more in-depth. I’d still argue it’s not the game’s strong suit, as it can be overly chaotic and hard to manage when there are multiple enemy variants on screen, but it’s a big improvement over the first game’s approach of having kamikaze foes ruin your day.

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The only time where these levels fall apart somewhat is during the boss fights, which feel forced and overlong. Once you’ve figured out the pattern, it’s just a case of repeating the actions over and over until the boss falls. Not every world has them and I’d argue that none of them really need a big confrontation, especially when they bring the pacing down.

Just a little warning, you won’t be resting easy if you try to go for 100 percent. There’s a lot to do in Psychonauts 2, and it took me over 20 hours to fully finish. Even though collectibles are generally easier to spot, Psychonauts 2 will give you very little help on the odd occasion you’re missing just one item, which can make it very frustrating in the final few hours of cleaning stuff up. It’s still satisfying getting every item, but I felt my unending love for the game dissipate as I went through the same areas over and over combing for one more Psi-card. A little point in the right direction couldn’t hurt.

Even in those moments of collectible cursing, I had an absolute blast playing Psychonauts 2. It’s rare that a long-awaited sequel does most things right, but this is one of those times and I’m confident in saying that Psychonauts 2 is Double Fine’s best game to date and an early contender for game of the year. Just don’t keep us waiting a decade for the next one.

PSYCHONAUTS 2
Psychonauts 2

A platformer from Double Fine, Psychonauts 2 again sees you take on the role of Raz. You must use your latent psychic powers to uncover a new mystery, by delving deep into the mindscapes of others.

Psychonauts 2 Review Card

Next: Psychonauts 2 Complete Guide And Walkthrough

Psychonauts 2 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and PC. We tested the Xbox Series X version for this review. Review code was provided by the publisher.