High On Life: The Talking Gun Adventure That’s Basically Rick and Morty on Steroids
Let me be straight with you. When I first heard about a game where your guns talk to you non-stop, I thought it would get annoying after ten minutes. But somehow, Squanch Games pulled it off. High On Life is stupid, immature, absolutely ridiculous, and I loved every second of it.
If you have ever watched Rick and Morty and thought, “I wish I could play a video game that feels exactly like this,” then this is your game. The same chaotic energy, the same rapid-fire jokes, the same weird sci-fi nonsense. It is not trying to be the next Call of Duty. It is trying to make you laugh while you shoot aliens. And it succeeds.
Let me tell you everything you need to know.
Quick Info Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Squanch Games |
| Developer | Squanch Games |
| Release Date | December 13, 2022 (Original) / Xbox Game Pass Re-release: July 2025 |
| Genre | First-Person Shooter / Action-Adventure / Comedy |
| Platforms | PC (Steam, Epic), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
Detailed Game Description
Before we go anywhere, let me get one thing out of the way. High On Life is NOT a serious game. It is a comedy game first and a shooter second. If you go in expecting deep mechanics and competitive multiplayer, you will be disappointed. But if you go in expecting to laugh at stupid jokes while blasting colorful aliens, you will have a great time.
The Brains Behind the Chaos
The game comes from Justin Roiland, the co-creator of Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites . Yes, that guy. The same guy who voices both Rick and Morty. And guess what? He also voices your main weapon in this game, a talking gun named Kenny .
The studio is called Squanch Games, founded in 2016 . They have made weird VR games before like Accounting and Trover Saves the Universe. High On Life is their first big non-VR title. And it became their biggest hit by far. When it first launched on Xbox Game Pass in 2022, it became the biggest Game Pass release of that entire year . That is not a small achievement.
The Story: Earth is Becoming a Drug
Here is the plot, and I am not making this up.
Aliens invade Earth. But they are not here for our resources or to conquer us. They want to get high off humans. Yes, you read that right. A cartel called the G3 has figured out that humans can be turned into a smokable drug . They are basically intergalactic drug dealers, and Earth is their new crop.
You play as a teenager. Fresh out of high school. No job. No ambition. Nothing going for you . Your sister is probably the only person who cares about you. Then the aliens attack. Your house gets wrecked. Your sister gets kidnapped. And you end up with a talking gun named Kenny who tells you that you are now a bounty hunter.
The main villain is named Garmantuous . He is the leader of the G3 cartel. And your job is to work your way up the chain, taking out his lieutenants one by one, until you can finally save Earth and rescue your sister.
The story is honestly better than it has any right to be. There are actual plot twists. There are character arcs. You will be surprised by how much heart the game has underneath all the fart jokes .
The Talking Guns (Your Weapons)
This is the main gimmick of the game. Every gun you get has its own personality. And they do not shut up.
Kenny is your first gun. He is voiced by Justin Roiland and sounds exactly like Morty . He is nervous, chatty, and kind of your best friend by the end. He comments on everything you do. Shoot an enemy? Kenny has something to say. Walk past a weird looking plant? Kenny has something to say about that too.
Knifey is exactly what he sounds like. He is a knife. And he loves stabbing things. He is voiced by comedian Tim Robinson . His lines are unhinged. When you execute an enemy with him, he will say things like “I am in heaven right now, I am ripping through his tendons like they are butter” . Disturbing? Yes. Funny? Also yes.
Sweezy is a gun you get for defeating a bounty named Douglas. She acts like the Needler from Halo, firing projectiles that home in on enemies . Her ultimate ability slows down time, which is incredibly useful in tough fights .
Gus is the shotgun of the group. You get him for defeating Krubis . He shoots a blade that you can also use as a platform to jump on, which becomes important for reaching hidden areas.
Creature is another gun whose ammunition is literally the bodies of his newborn children . Yes. You read that right. He shoots his own babies at enemies. This game is not normal.
Each gun has a regular fire mode and a special “ultimate” ability. Before you use the ultimate, time slows down for a few seconds, giving you time to aim . Each ultimate is different, and they all have cooldowns that you can reduce through upgrades.
The Gameplay: Solid Shooter with Weird Twists
The shooting mechanics are… fine. They are not groundbreaking. They are not bad. They are just solid . You aim, you shoot, you hide behind cover to let your health regenerate. Classic shooter stuff.
Health regenerates automatically if you do not get shot for a few seconds . There is no fall damage, so do not worry about jumping off high places . You also have a jetpack that lets you double jump and hover.
The game has light Metroidvania elements. Different guns have different traversal abilities. Kenny can knock over certain platforms. Gus shoots a blade you can jump on. Knifey can open locked chests . You will often see areas you cannot reach yet, and you need to remember to come back later when you have the right gun.
There are boss fights. Each lieutenant has unique mechanics . They are not brutally difficult, but they are more interesting than just shooting a bullet sponge until it dies.
The Humor: Love It or Hate It
Here is the thing about High On Life. The humor is exactly like Rick and Morty. If you love that show, you will love this game. If you hate that show, you will hate this game.
The jokes come fast. They come from everywhere. Your guns talk. Enemies talk while you are shooting them. NPCs have ridiculous conversations in the background. There is a guy with a butt for a face named Globo who wants to be a drummer . There is a kid who taunts you to shoot him, saying “I look so shootable” while Kenny begs you not to do it .
One of the most famous jokes in the game is that you can go to a movie theater in the hub city and watch full, unedited B-movies. Not clips. The whole movies. You can watch Tammy and the T-Rex, Blood Harvest, and Vampire Hookers in their entirety . Yes, you can literally sit in a virtual theater and watch a terrible horror movie from the 80s. Is it a waste of time? Maybe. Is it funny that the option exists? Absolutely.
Some of the humor is dark. Some of it is gross. Some of it is just random nonsense. Not every joke lands. But enough of them do that you will probably find yourself laughing out loud at least a few times during your playthrough.
Exploration and Collectibles
The game is not fully open world, but it has open levels. You travel to different planets, each with its own biome and vibe. You talk to NPCs. You find side quests. You explore.
The main collectible is called Luglox. These are weird box-like creatures with mouths . You need Knifey to open them. Inside, you find 100 pesos (the in-game currency) every time . Bigger Luglox contain cards and more money.
There is no in-game map . This is annoying. You have to remember where things are or take notes. For a game with backtracking, this is a strange design choice.
The hub world is a city called Blim City. Here you can buy upgrades at a pawnshop . You can also talk to NPCs, watch movies, and just soak in the weird atmosphere.
Choices Matter (Sort Of)
Throughout the game, you have to make dialogue choices . Some are just for flavor. Others actually affect what happens.
For example, early in the game, a kid taunts you. You can either spare him or kill him . The game lets you do both. Later, you have to decide whether to let your sister’s boyfriend Tweeg live in your house or kick him out . Your sister and Gene (your weird alien partner) have different opinions, and you have to pick a side.
None of these choices radically change the ending. But they do affect dialogue, which NPCs like you, and how certain scenes play out.
The Difficulty
The game is not hard. It is designed to be accessible. If you just want to experience the story and jokes, play on Story difficulty. You will barely take damage, and you can focus on the humor .
On normal difficulty, the game offers a decent challenge. Enemies do real damage. Boss fights require some strategy. But it is never punishing.
The real challenge is not the combat. It is finding all the collectibles without a map.
How Long Is the Game?
A normal playthrough takes about 12 to 15 hours. If you do all side content and find most collectibles, expect 18 to 22 hours . To 100% complete the game and find every Luglox, you are looking at around 25 hours.
That is a good length. Long enough to feel like a real adventure. Short enough that the humor does not overstay its welcome.
The DLC: High on Knife
Squanch Games released a story DLC called High on Knife . It adds new areas, new weapons, and more of the same chaotic humor. If you finish the base game and want more, it is worth picking up.
Xbox Game Pass
Here is some great news for subscribers. High On Life returned to Xbox Game Pass in July 2025 . If you have Game Pass for console or PC, you can play the full game at no extra cost. This is by far the best way to try the game if you are unsure about the humor.
Platforms and Exclusivity
One important thing to know. High On Life is NOT available on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch . It is an Xbox console exclusive. You can play it on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). That is it.
Squanch Games’ previous game, Trover Saves the Universe, came to PS4 and Switch. But High On Life has remained exclusive to Xbox and PC since launch in 2022 . There has been no announcement about PlayStation or Switch ports.
What is the System Requirement for High On Life?
Now let me talk about the technical side. The good news is that High On Life is not very demanding. You do not need an expensive gaming PC to run this game.
However, there is one important thing to note. The game requires 50 GB of storage space . That is larger than you might expect for a game that is not a massive open world. Make sure you have space.
The developers recommend installing on an SSD for the best experience, but a traditional hard drive will work .
Minimum System Requirements
If you want to play the game on lower settings, here is what you need :
- Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit, Version 18362.0 or higher)
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5-4430K or Intel Core i5-650 / AMD equivalent
- Memory (RAM): 8 GB
- Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (3GB) or AMD Radeon R9 290x (4GB)
- Storage: 50 GB available space (SSD preferred but not required)
- DirectX: Version 11
My advice: The GTX 1060 is a card from 2016. If you have a gaming PC from the last seven to eight years, you should be fine. The 8 GB RAM is also very modest by modern standards.
Recommended System Requirements
For a smoother experience with higher graphics settings, aim for this configuration :
- Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5-6402P (2.80GHz) or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (3.4 GHz)
- Memory (RAM): 8 GB
- Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB) or AMD RX 5600 XT (6GB)
- Storage: 50 GB available space (SSD recommended)
- DirectX: Version 12
Can My PC Run High On Life?
The honest answer is almost certainly yes. Even the recommended GPU, the RTX 2060, is a card from 2019. Most gaming PCs from the last five years will exceed these requirements.
The real question is whether you have 50 GB of free space. That is the main hurdle for many players.
The game also runs well on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. On Series X, you get faster loading times and smoother performance.
Can You Play on Steam Deck?
The game is not officially Steam Deck Verified. But many players have reported that it runs reasonably well on the Deck with settings turned down. Do not expect a perfect experience, but it is playable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These are the questions people ask most often about High On Life. I have gathered them from forums, reviews, and the developer’s own FAQ.
1. Is High On Life a serious game?
No. It is a comedy game. The humor is the main draw. The shooting is solid but not groundbreaking. If you do not like Rick and Morty style humor, you will probably not like this game.
2. How long does it take to beat High On Life?
About 12 to 15 hours for the main story. 18 to 22 hours for completionists.
3. Is High On Life on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch?
No. The game is exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC . No PlayStation or Switch version has been announced.
4. Is High On Life on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes. The game returned to Xbox Game Pass in July 2025 . It is available for console, PC, and cloud streaming.
5. Is High On Life multiplayer?
No. The game is single-player only. There is no co-op or competitive multiplayer .
6. Is High On Life appropriate for kids?
No. The game is rated M for mature. The humor is crude, violent, and often sexual. The developers explicitly say they do not recommend it for children .
7. What are the talking guns?
The main gimmick of the game. Each gun has its own personality and voice actor. Kenny (Justin Roiland) is your main gun. Knifey (Tim Robinson) is the melee weapon. Others include Sweezy, Gus, and Creature .
8. Can you watch full movies in High On Life?
Yes. There is a movie theater in the hub city where you can watch Tammy and the T-Rex, Blood Harvest, and Vampire Hookers in their entirety . It is exactly as weird as it sounds.
9. Does the game have multiple endings?
The main ending is mostly the same, but your dialogue choices affect certain outcomes and character relationships throughout the game .
10. Is there a sequel?
Yes. High on Life 2 was announced in summer 2025 and is expected to be released by winter 2025 . So if you play the first game now, you will be ready for the sequel.
11. Do choices matter in High On Life?
Some choices matter. You can choose to kill or spare certain characters. You can decide whether certain NPCs live in your house. These affect dialogue and some scenes, but the overall story remains the same .
12. What is the best first bounty to take?
After defeating 9-Torg, you can choose between Krubis and Douglas. Defeating Krubis gives you Gus (the shotgun), which is generally considered the better choice for early game . Defeating Douglas gives you Sweezy.
13. How do you open Luglox?
You need Knifey, the melee weapon. You get him during the 9-Torg mission. Just walk up to a Luglox and press the melee button .
14. Why is my game stuttering?
High On Life is generally well-optimized, but some players report stuttering. Try lowering graphics settings, especially shadows and reflections. Also, make sure the game is installed on an SSD if possible. Update your graphics drivers.
15. Is the game worth full price?
The game costs $59.99 at full price. For a 12 to 15 hour experience, that is a bit steep for some people. But if you have Xbox Game Pass, it is free. If you are on PC, wait for a sale or try it on Game Pass for PC. The game frequently goes on sale for 25-50% off.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy High On Life?
Let me be direct with you. High On Life is not for everyone.
If you are looking for a deep, competitive, mechanically complex shooter, skip it. That is not what this is.
If you are easily offended by crude humor, dark jokes, and graphic violence, skip it. This game will not be your thing.
If you need a game that respects your time and does not waste it with stupid side content, skip it. This game is full of stupid side content. That is the point.
BUT.
If you love Rick and Morty. If you enjoy absurdist comedy. If you want a game that does not take itself seriously at all. If you need something to make you laugh after a long week. Then buy High On Life.
Or better yet, play it on Xbox Game Pass. You lose nothing. You can try it for an hour. If you hate it, uninstall it. If you love it, keep playing.
The shooting is solid enough. The voice acting is top tier. The world is weird and colorful. The jokes, when they land, are genuinely funny. And the fact that you can watch a terrible 80s horror movie in its entirety inside a video game is just… something.
High On Life is not a masterpiece. It is not going to change the way you think about video games. But it is a really, really fun time. And sometimes, that is all you need.
Now go shoot some aliens with a gun that will not stop talking. And remember to stab some Luglox along the way.
