August 1945. Somewhere in the Pacific...

A skeleton crew of Japanese Imperial Navy Soldiers guard what might be the smallest island in the sea. The sun is harsh, food is scarce, and there’s nothing but open ocean as far as the eye can see. To make matters worse, the captain wants the island guarded day and night… but why?

That’s the million-yen question.

Bonemeal Productions’ Manny’s 2 is, as you’ve probably guessed, the second entry in the Manny’s saga. Don’t let the Goldeneye-esque graphics fool you. What the Manny’s 2 demo lacks in content and graphics it makes up for in brilliant cinematography and rising suspense. If you’re a fan of cinematic, bite-sized psychological horror and slow buildups, you’ll want to keep an eye on this one. Folks who played the first game know what they’re in for, but if you haven’t, well… buckle up!

Navy Blues

Guarding a sand pile in the middle of the Pacific, the question on the platoon’s collective mind is: WHY? Answers aren’t the only thing that’s scarce. Though days of refilling generators and target practice seem to have no end in sight, the platoon’s food is growing scarce. It all comes to a head when Ueno, a soldier on the brink of starvation, disappears into thin air like a fart on the sea breeze. Donning the helmet of his comrade-in-arms Ishikawa, it isn’t long before you too begin to hallucinate…

And it kinda looks like a restaurant.

Like its predecessor, Manny’s 2 is very much driven by its narrative, meaning the demo doesn’t dive too deep into the gameplay. There’s barely any action to be found in it–most of it is spent filling generators with gas and grabbing some food. The meat of the Manny’s 2 demo is its storytelling, and while each scene is immaculately shot, some players might be turned off by the lack of substance. With so little to cover, it’s hard to write a review without giving it all away.

Setting the ‘Sea’n

At the risk of sounding blunt, Manny’s 2 is far from the prettiest game at the ball. Character models look flat, to say the least, and the setting itself feels ripped straight out of a Sven Co-op map. It’s easy to get turned off by all this, but don’t run away yet. Beneath that rough, sandy exterior is a story told in crisp cutscenes straight out of a movie. Shot with brilliant angles and stunning scenery, Manny’s 2 knows what it looks like, but doesn’t care. It’s here to tell a story, so you might as well enjoy the ride.

Impressive though Manny’s 2‘s scenes can be, I hope someone decides to put a black box around the subtitles before the final release. White lettering tends to blend in with the island sand. It might be a good idea to add in some character names to the subtitles as well. With no voices to rely on, it’s hard to tell who’s speaking in some scenes.

Can You Be More Pacific?

As someone who’s played the prequel, I came into Manny’s 2 with a vague idea of what to expect and what the finished product will be. I can’t speak for what Bonemeal Productions is planning, but if this game is anything like its predecessor, I expect a fun, but short psychological horror romp. Eager as I am to try out the final product, the demo still feels too short. 

Interacting with a few generators and exploring a two-room ramen shop are about the biggest things you’ll do in this preview, and while you’re able to test-fire some period-appropriate firearms at the demo’s end, it still leaves me wondering why there’s a demo in the first place.

I completed it in twenty-three minutes. That might be impressive in the speedrunning community, but it’s hard to write an informed review about a demo when so little occurs. That said, I know Manny’s strength comes from its secrecy–and while the demo ends a bit too abruptly for my tastes, I’m still eager to see where the story goes.

And Manny More…

In conclusion, the Manny’s 2 demo might not be for everyone. It’s short, a bit rough, and I have more pinkie toes than gameplay. Still, fans of the series might want to get their beaks wet, but newcomers might want to check out Manny’s first.

All quibbles aside, I really hope Manny’s 2 turns out to be a slam dunk. The scene is set for another thriller, but will it stick the landing? Stay tuned…

Manny’s 2 was part of the Steam February 2026 Next Fest! The demo is still available as of publication. The game’s release date is TBA.

Check out the game’s official WEBSITE and DISCORD! 

Read all of our coverage in our Steam Next Fest February 2026 page.