High On Life 2′s Intro Is One Of The Best Video Game Openings Ever

Why It Matters

The bold intro sets player expectations, boosts early engagement, and positions the title as a design‑forward, buzz‑worthy launch in a crowded FPS market.

Key Takeaways

• Intro blends humor, action, and tutorial seamlessly
• Rapid scene changes showcase technical polish
• References previous title, easing new player onboarding
• Controversial Epstein joke sparks media attention
• Embargo limits early footage, building anticipation

Pulse Analysis

Opening sequences have become a critical first‑impression tool for modern video games, and High On Life 2 leverages this trend to full effect. By fusing a high‑octane montage with on‑the‑fly tutorials, the game eliminates the traditional learning curve, allowing players to grasp core mechanics while being entertained. This design choice reflects a broader industry shift toward experiential onboarding, where narrative and gameplay instruction merge, reducing churn and increasing early‑stage retention.

From a technical standpoint, the seamless stitching of wildly disparate scenes—monster battles, televised obstacle courses, and talk‑show segments—demonstrates Squanch Games' mastery of real‑time rendering and asset streaming. Such polish not only enhances visual fidelity but also signals to consumers that the title is a high‑budget, quality‑focused release. In an era where launch performance can dictate a game's commercial trajectory, this level of execution can differentiate High On Life 2 from its peers and generate positive word‑of‑mouth.

The inclusion of a controversial Epstein reference adds a layer of cultural relevance, ensuring the game garners attention beyond typical gaming outlets. Coupled with a strict embargo that prevents early video leaks, the marketing strategy builds intrigue and drives pre‑order momentum. Together, these elements—innovative tutorial design, technical excellence, and calculated controversy—position High On Life 2 to make a notable impact on the FPS market upon its February launch.

High On Life 2′s Intro Is One Of The Best Video Game Openings Ever

By Zack Zwiezen · Published February 12, 2026

Some games start slow, taking their time to teach you the controls and establish the world. High On Life 2 takes a very different approach. It tosses you into the world at 1,000 MPH, cracking jokes and having a blast. And you know what, it’s a great way to start a video game.

High On Life 2 doesn’t assume that you’ve played its 2022 predecessor. Instead, the intro to this comedy‑filled sci‑fi FPS about humans being turned into drugs provides a crash course on what happened in the last game. It does this via an intro that is structured as a series of vignettes and moments seamlessly stitched together into one extended opening montage.

At one point you’re fighting a giant monster, then you’re on a talk show, a second later you’re back in a limo with your mentor‑turned‑agent from the original game, then back to the monster fight. A quick cut later, you’re doing a commercial, then you’re zipped away to an obstacle course, back to the talk show, and so on.

This introduction sequence isn’t just fun and funny; it also does a great job of teaching you the basics of High On Life 2. You know, how to jump, move, shoot, grapple stuff, melee people, etc. Learning how to jump and run on a Wipeout‑like televised obstacle course and then seconds later—though possibly years later in‑game—using those skills to climb across buildings as you chase a giant monster not only taught me the controls, it also quickly established what the main character has been doing since the first game. On top of that, it’s all technically impressive and fun to behold as the game hops between wildly different scenes in a few frames without hitching up or breaking.

© Squanch Games

And yes, as already pointed out by Polygon, there is a joke about deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the intro sequence. It happens during a bit in which you kill a bunch of different targets in a hyper‑fast murder montage that teaches you how to melee while also showing how bored the main character has become with their life as a celebrity bounty hunter. You can kill these people instantly, or let them ramble on for a bit and learn more about why they are marked for death. In the case of one character, they trafficked humans, but not for “sex stuff” like Epstein. They just sold humans to be smoked as a drug by aliens. They want to be clear; they are bad, but not as bad as Epstein.

This is when I’d show you a clip from this awesome intro, but I can’t do that. High On Life 2 has a lot of embargoed content that I’m unable to talk about ahead of its February 13 launch. And we aren’t able to share video or record clips of the introduction sequence at all. It’s a shame, because I don’t think it spoils much, and it’s one of the best parts of High On Life 2.