Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The first thing to understand is that Good Friends Character Pack! changes who you take through Runner 2, not what Runner 2 fundamentally asks of you. It adds seven characters, so the immediate pleasure is picking a familiar face and taking them back into the rhythm-platforming action you already know.

That makes this a better purchase after Runner 2 has clicked for you than before it has. If you are still deciding whether the underlying game is for you, more character options will not solve that question. But if you are replaying levels and like the idea of doing so with a guest from Spelunky, Psychonauts, Super Meat Boy, Portal 2, Cave Story, or Machinarium, the pack gives those repeat runs a welcome novelty.

The limitation is equally clear: this is an add-on centered on player characters. There is no indication of new levels, challenges, or a broader gameplay expansion, so its value rests almost entirely on how much you enjoy the crossover roster and how often you return to the main game.

Graphics

The draw is seeing seven extra characters placed into Runner 2, especially the six guests from recognizable indie and cult-game worlds. The crossover selection is broad enough that the roster feels like a genuine celebration rather than seven variations on the same idea.

Story

Good Friends Character Pack! is not a story-focused expansion. Its premise is simply a get-together of characters from other games, and that is the extent of its narrative hook.

That straightforwardness suits the material. You are here for the recognition of seeing familiar game characters join Runner 2, not for new lore or a plot thread that changes the main adventure.

Fans of the included games will naturally get more from the concept, particularly if one of the guest characters is a personal favorite. Without that attachment, the pack has less to say beyond expanding the playable lineup.

Overall Experience

This is a modest, likable piece of DLC with an honest purpose: give devoted Runner 2 fans more characters to enjoy. It does not need to be more ambitious to be pleasant, but it also cannot offer the kind of payoff that comes with new places to master or a major new mode.

The best reason to pick it up is simple affection. A favorite from Cave Story, Portal 2, Super Meat Boy, Psychonauts, Spelunky, or Machinarium can make an old run feel freshly personal, even when the core experience remains the same.

Give it a chance if you already have affection for Runner 2 and at least one of its crossover guests. Everyone else should treat it as optional bonus material rather than essential content.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10