Slime Rancher 2 Review (PS5, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

Way back in 2017, the original Slime Rancher launched and became an unexpected global hit. Over 17.5 million players jumped in, wrangling adorable blobs, farming plorts, and building up their dream ranches. In 2022, Slime Rancher 2 arrived in early access, giving fans a glimpse of what Monomi Park had in store for them. Now, after years of updates, polishing, and feedback, the full 1.0 version has officially launched.

This time, Beatrix LeBeau sets sail across the Slime Sea to Rainbow Island. It’s a mysterious new world filled with ancient technology, strange secrets, and, of course, an endless parade of wiggly slimes to collect and care for. The sequel doesn’t reinvent the series, but it builds on everything that made the first game special. It incorporates new mechanics, larger environments, and additional reasons to keep exploring. That said, let’s jump into its review.

Exploring Rainbow Island

The real star of Slime Rancher 2 is Rainbow Island itself. From the moment you land, it feels like a whole new world that’s begging to be explored. The island is huge, but not in a way that feels overwhelming. Instead, every area feels carefully built to spark curiosity. You’ll start by wandering along bright coral beaches, but soon you’ll find yourself heading into fiery lava zones or creeping through swampy, mist-filled valleys. Now, each place looks unique, and the more you poke around, the more little secrets you’ll uncover. Hidden caves, treasure pods, and tucked-away paths are everywhere. It’s the kind of world that rewards players who stop and explore instead of just rushing through.

What makes exploration even more rewarding is how it ties into the bigger story. Scattered notes, strange gadgets, and crumbling ruins give players clues about Rainbow Island’s mysterious past. Instead of just running around for resources, you’re piecing together a bigger puzzle. That sense of slowly uncovering the island’s purpose gives every adventure a little extra meaning.

Then there’s the jetpack, which is a total game-changer. It makes climbing cliffs, gliding across gaps, and discovering hidden areas so much more fun. It’s difficult not to spend hours just flying around to see where you can land. In addition to all that, the new weather system makes the island feel alive. Rain, thunderstorms, and shifting skies don’t just look pretty; they can actually change the resources you find. Maybe a storm will reveal something rare, or maybe you’ll just sit back and enjoy watching the world transform. Either way, it makes each trip into the wild feel fresh and different.

New Slimes, New Fun

It wouldn’t be Slime Rancher without the stars of the show: the slimes themselves. Monomi Park has expanded its roster, blending returning favorites with brand-new faces. You’ll find cotton slimes darting across grassy fields, angler slimes glowing in underwater pools, and flutter slimes flapping gently like butterflies.

Interestingly, each slime has its own diet and personality, which means you’ll need to think carefully about how to house and feed them. Some munch happily on fruits, while others prefer veggies, or live chickens, which might not be for the faint of heart.

One of the most exciting features is still the ability to create largos by feeding a slime a plort from another type. These combinations can lead to useful hybrids, but there’s always a risk. If a largo eats a third type of plort, it mutates into a tar slime, a dangerous blob that can wreak havoc on your ranch. The chaos of a tar outbreak is both hilarious and terrifying. Thankfully, you can turn them off in the settings if you want a calmer, cozier vibe.

The joy of Slime Rancher 2 is that every slime feels unique. You’ll quickly find favourites, maybe the rabbit-like cotton slime or the glowing flutter slime, but there’s not a single one that isn’t charming in its own way.

Building the Conservatory

Beatrix’s home base has evolved from a simple ranch into a sparkling glass conservatory. This hub feels alive, with sunlight reflecting through massive crystal windows and glowing plants scattered around the space. The conservatory is more than just decoration; it’s fully customizable and expandable.

Here, players will manage corrals, gardens, and coops, while also crafting gadgets and upgrades. The marketplace lets you sell plorts, and the fabricator allows you to create tools. Surprisingly, there’s even a shop for cosmetics and decorations. A dedicated build mode makes decorating easy, letting you place crafted furniture and themed items wherever you like.

Crafting plays a much bigger role now. By depositing plorts and resources into the refinery, you can unlock recipes for gadgets, decorations, and essential upgrades like jetpack boosters or vacpack expansions. The gadgets are especially handy for exploration, and the freedom to place them wherever you want adds creativity to your approach to the world.

Gathering resources can be a grind at times, especially with limited inventory space, but that also forces you to plan. Do you spend plorts for money or save them for crafting? Do you upgrade your vacpack or expand your conservatory? These decisions keep progression satisfying and give weight to every farming session.

Farming

Now, when it comes to farming, the farming loop is still all about raising slimes for plorts. But in Slime Rancher 2, it’s more dynamic thanks to an ever-changing economy. Plort prices shift daily, pushing you to adapt your farming strategy. Maybe today’s crystal plorts are worth a fortune, but tomorrow cotton plorts spike in demand. It’s a small touch that adds long-term variety.

Automation features also make life easier. Auto-feeders and plort collectors reduce busywork, letting you focus on exploration and crafting. Gardens help you grow a steady supply of food, and there’s even traditional farming with fruits and veggies if you want to keep your slimes well-fed.

The big 1.0 update adds one of the most requested features: drones. These little helpers can be stationed around your ranch or even out in the world. They help in gathering resources while you focus on other tasks. It’s a fantastic addition for late-game players who want to streamline resource collection without losing the charm of slime wrangling.

Additionally, the full release introduced new endgame areas, such as the Gray Labyrinth and the Terrarium, a brand-new slime type called Hyper Slime, and even a boss fight. There are also new rewards tied to Prisma plorts, including advanced gadgets and the final tank booster upgrade. These additions ensure that veteran players have new goals to chase, even after spending dozens of hours in this Life Simulation game.

Relaxing Chaos

The magic of Slime Rancher 2 lies in its balance between cozy game relaxation and bursts of chaos. One moment, you’re tending to a peaceful ranch, feeding your slimes, and watering crops. Next, you’re sprinting around trying to stop a tar outbreak before it destroys everything you’ve built. Notably, that flow keeps things engaging without ever feeling overwhelming. Even when chaos hits, it’s usually funny rather than stressful. Watching cotton slimes hop over fences or largos pile up in hilarious ways never gets old.

The game also offers flexibility in how you play. If you want a slower, more relaxed experience, you can turn off tars and focus purely on exploration and farming. If you want a touch of action, leave the settings as they are and embrace the unpredictability. With polished performance, vibrant visuals, and a soothing soundtrack, Slime Rancher 2 is a joy to spend time in. Whether you play in short bursts or marathon sessions, the loop of exploring, collecting, and building is endlessly satisfying.

Verdict

After spending about 10 hours with Slime Rancher 2, you can’t help but wonder why you didn’t dive in sooner. The loop of collecting slimes, selling plorts, and crafting upgrades is still as addictive as ever, and Rainbow Island is the kind of place you don’t want to leave. Ultimately, every trip out brings something new to discover.

Progression feels great, too. Unlocking new gadgets, stumbling across new slime types, and upgrading your conservatory all come together in a way that keeps you hooked. With the full 1.0 release, Monomi Park introduces new additions, including late-game rewards, providing both new players and longtime fans with ample reasons to stay.

That said, the game isn’t perfect. Performance can take a dip when too many slimes or gadgets are crammed into one area. This can be frustrating if you’re trying to run a big ranch. The cozy pacing also won’t click with everyone. If you’re looking for fast, high-intensity action, this isn’t that kind of game. And while the new environments look amazing, a few players might find that the core gameplay loop doesn’t change much from the first game.

Even with those drawbacks, Slime Rancher 2 shines where it matters. It’s relaxing, colorful, and full of charm. It’s an adventure game that allows players to move at their own pace, whether they’re farming, exploring, or simply watching as slimes bounce around. And honestly, that’s its biggest strength. This is a sequel that builds on the magic of the original without losing what made it special, and it’s hard not to smile every time you load it up.