Outright Games and developer Casual Brothers return to Dr. Seuss’s beloved Christmas character with The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas, a colorful platform adventure that trades the green grouch’s familiar plans to ruin the festive season for a rather more generous ambition. With a heart that has grown considerably, the Grinch wants to prove to the residents of Who-ville that he has changed, and what better way to do so than by creating the most impressive Christmas tree the town has ever seen? The journey involves collecting ornaments, exploring snowy environments and overcoming obstacles, all while bringing a little extra cheer to the inhabitants. The premise is straightforward and decidedly sweet, making it easy for younger players to follow, although anyone hoping for a particularly funny or emotionally complex story will find little substance beneath the festive exterior. Here, the narrative serves primarily as a pleasant excuse to explore a recognisable Christmas setting rather than the main attraction.
The biggest change from the previous game is the move to a fully three-dimensional platforming adventure. Rather than following a more restricted route, players can explore environments more freely across 23 levels set in four distinct locations: the Grinch’s Cave, Mt. Crumpit, Who-wood and Who-ville. Each area introduces its own visual identity and obstacles, from slippery mountain paths and rolling snowballs to forest platforms and the rooftops and homes of the Whos. Collecting ornaments provides the main incentive to investigate these environments, with hidden items and optional discoveries encouraging players to look beyond the most obvious route. This shift towards full 3D exploration gives the sequel a greater sense of adventure and recalls the collectathon platformers of an earlier console generation. However, while the larger environments create more room to explore, the underlying objectives remain familiar throughout, and players who prefer more varied challenges may eventually find the routine of jumping, searching and collecting a little repetitive.
Fortunately, the gadgets add some welcome variety to the platforming. Rocket Skates provide a burst of speed, the Jetpack helps the Grinch reach otherwise inaccessible areas, and the Snowball Maker offers a means of freezing troublesome enemies. These tools give players different ways to approach obstacles and help prevent the adventure from becoming an uninterrupted succession of ordinary jumps. Breaking objects with candy canes and searching for hidden decorations also provide simple reasons to interact with the environment. There are occasional puzzles to solve, but these are generally designed to keep the adventure moving rather than demand much lateral thinking. The result is a game that prioritises accessibility over mechanical complexity. That approach works well for its intended audience, although experienced platforming fans are unlikely to find the puzzles or encounters particularly demanding.
The controls follow the same philosophy. Movement and jumping are easy to understand, while the various gadgets introduce their functions without requiring players to memorise an elaborate set of commands. The Grinch feels lively as he moves through the environments, and the straightforward control scheme helps younger or less experienced players get to grips with the adventure. Nevertheless, accessibility should not be confused with complete simplicity: three-dimensional movement and camera management can still present a challenge to very young children, particularly when navigating awkward jumps or searching for a route through a larger area. This is an important distinction for a game marketed towards family play, even if the forgiving approach makes it less intimidating than a more demanding platformer. The levels also cater to different playing styles, allowing those who want to progress quickly to focus on the main route while completionists spend longer searching for every ornament and secret.
Local cooperative play is one of the game’s strongest features. A second player can join as Max, the Grinch’s loyal dog, turning the adventure into a shared activity rather than simply placing two players in the same environment. For families, this provides a practical way for parents or older siblings to play alongside younger children, helping them through trickier sections while still giving them an active role in the journey. Max’s presence also reinforces the game’s lighthearted personality, and collecting decorations together makes for a more engaging experience than tackling every objective alone. Solo play remains an option, so the cooperative mode is an addition rather than a requirement. Still, it is arguably the most compelling reason to choose this sequel as a family game. The relatively gentle difficulty means that less experienced players can participate without every mistake becoming a source of frustration, although those looking for a demanding test of teamwork will find the collaboration fairly uncomplicated.
Visually, The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas does a good job of translating the character’s colorful, exaggerated world into a three-dimensional setting. The environments are bright and inviting, with the snowy slopes, woodland scenery and whimsical architecture of Who-ville helping to give the different areas their own character. The overall presentation captures the playful spirit associated with the Grinch and his world, and the environments are appealing enough to encourage exploration. There is little here that pushes the PlayStation 5 technically, however. The visuals are more concerned with charm and clarity than graphical spectacle, and players expecting a showcase for the hardware will find the presentation fairly modest. That is not necessarily a problem for a family-oriented platformer, but the limited technical ambition does mean that the game relies heavily on its art direction and setting to make an impression. Fortunately, the colorful environments largely succeed in keeping the adventure visually appealing.
The audio complements that presentation with an upbeat, festive atmosphere. Cheerful music helps establish the Christmas mood, while the sound effects suit the game’s exaggerated actions and lighthearted encounters. The audio is functional rather than especially memorable, but it supports the relaxed tone and avoids making the adventure feel more serious than it needs to be. Localisation options include spoken dialogue, which is another welcome consideration for families who would prefer younger players to follow the adventure in their native language. Combined with the accessible gameplay and recognisable characters, this helps make the game approachable for children who might otherwise struggle with a more text-heavy or mechanically complicated release.
Ultimately, The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas is a pleasant, uncomplicated platformer that understands its target audience. The transition to full 3D exploration gives the series more room to breathe, the gadgets introduce some useful variety, and the large collection of ornaments and secrets provides a reason to explore beyond the main objectives. Its greatest strength, however, is the combination of a cheerful setting, forgiving gameplay and local co-op, which makes it particularly suitable for parents and children looking for something to play together during the festive season. The relatively shallow story, undemanding puzzles and modest technical presentation prevent it from becoming an essential platforming experience, especially for players who have grown accustomed to more sophisticated adventures. Yet those limitations matter less when the game is approached on its own terms. The Grinch may have discovered a bigger heart, but the real appeal here is the opportunity to share a relaxed Christmas adventure with someone else. Families and younger players should find plenty to enjoy, while seasoned platforming fans may prefer a challenge with a little more bite.
Score: 7.5/10