Moving Out 2 Review

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Fast Facts

Couch co-op royalty

When the original Moving Out from SMG Studios was released, it was an instant hit. Taking inspiration from other couch co-op royalty such as Overcooked and Snipperclips, it became a firm favourite in many households for its quick wit, quirky charm, and unique concept. With news that a sequel was in the works, we inevitably started to think about what we’d want from it. The answer? More of the same, please. 

The core ideas of Moving Out make it a thoroughly enjoyable game to pick up and play. Sometimes, there’s a fear that developers seek to make widespread changes to justify or reinvent a franchise. Thankfully, Moving Out 2 stays faithful to the original in many of the ways in which we’d hope. That’s not to say changes haven’t been made, far from it. The Moving Out we know and love is present and correct though.

Intuitive and inventive

There are some excellent enhancements that have made the game more intuitive and accessible – some of which we didn’t realise we needed until we’ve seen them now. Equally, there’s an element of complexity to the levels and the worlds themselves which some will love, others may view as filler or overcomplicating for the sake of a sequel. We love the notion of Moving Out enough to enjoy it all for what it is. Aside from those pesky farm animals, though! 

It also feels like everything about the game is more balanced this time around. Players move with greater dexterity, and the items are easier to manipulate without losing the challenge and good humour that comes from moments of difficulty. The levels are better refined, with just as many smaller and more intricate designs as there are larger, more expansive maps to manoeuvre. By dividing the levels into three distinct worlds, there’s a greater sense of variety which is great. 

Different dynamics

The ‘Moving In’ levels are fantastic too and feel just as well designed as the Moving Out ones. There’s a different dynamic to these, and they require an alternative approach, great for keeping things fresh and exciting. Deciding the order in which to move items around the level is important, as you can stumble over your own strategy if you don’t place some of the items that belong furthest away first.

There’s flexibility to which level you complete and when, which I appreciate, especially as this means you don’t ever feel ‘stuck’ because you can’t pass a level. If you are ever finding it too difficult, there’s a brilliant set of Assist options and these can make all the difference to a player’s enjoyment and mileage with Moving Out 2. 

Experimenting with the formula

From longer time limits to reduced difficulty and even making items lighter, there’s a wealth of options that showcase a development team that wants the best experience for all players and is acutely aware of what needs to be done to achieve it. You can even skip a level on failure – something that comes in handy due to the nature of some new level designs. It’s a natural outcome when developers experiment with the formula, and it has yielded some brilliant levels that take the game forward and a few that cause frustration above all else.

Designed as a couch co-op game, Moving Out 2 is far more enjoyable with friends and family than it is playing alone. Design decisions have been made to ensure people can play it, but I wouldn’t advise it as the sole reason to buy the game. It just doesn’t capture the same charm or good humour.

Rapid Reviews Rating

It’s not unusual to see developers deviate from the core of their success for a sequel. Many want to showcase fresh ideas and provide fans with a new, unique experience. With Moving Out being such good fun, there wasn’t really a need to move the needle. Changes have been made, some of which take the franchise forward and others not as much. Thankfully, the great outweighs the not-so-good, and the assist options make for a personalised experience where players can get the most out of Moving Out 2—a worthy sequel to what is becoming a fantastic franchise.

You can purchase Moving Out 2 from the Nintendo eShop here.