When Bulb Boy first appeared in 2015, it quickly stood out among indie adventure games thanks to its bizarre art style and unsettling humour. Combining point-and-click puzzles with grotesque cartoon horror, the game offered something that felt both cute and deeply disturbing.
A decade later, Bulb Boy 2: Jar of Despair continues that strange legacy. Developed and published by Bulbware, the sequel was first released on PC in October 2025 before arriving on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on 5 March 2026.
Rather than radically reinventing the formula, Jar of Despair fully embraces what made the original memorable: surreal environments, grotesque visuals, quirky puzzles, and a dark sense of humour that constantly oscillates between silly and unsettling.
The result is a short but memorable adventure that intensifies the twisted charm of the original.
A Simple Errand Goes Horribly Wrong
The premise of Bulb Boy 2 appears deceptively simple.
After the events of the first game, life in Bulbhouse seems to have returned to normal. Bulb Boy, his family, and their strange little world are finally enjoying a moment of peace.
That peace is short-lived when Grandparaffine sends Bulb Boy on what seems to be a harmless mission: retrieve a jar of jam from the basement.
Naturally, nothing in Bulb Boy’s universe is ever that straightforward.
What starts as a routine errand quickly spirals into a nightmarish descent through the dark recesses of the house. The basement is inhabited by slimy jelly creatures, grotesque traps, and a mysterious villain who has developed an unsettling obsession with collecting glowing heads.
As Bulb Boy ventures further underground, the story gradually unravels through visual storytelling and environmental clues rather than dialogue.
Like its predecessor, Jar of Despair relies on bizarre imagery and strange situations rather than traditional narrative exposition.
Classic Point-and-Click Puzzle Design
Gameplay in Bulb Boy 2 follows the familiar structure of classic point-and-click adventure games.
Players explore each environment by interacting with objects, collecting items, and solving puzzles that unlock new areas.
The puzzles vary in complexity. Some involve combining items in clever ways, while others require manipulating the environment or avoiding enemies through careful timing.
Bulb Boy himself retains several unique abilities that help solve puzzles. His glowing head can illuminate dark areas, while other creative interactions allow him to manipulate objects in ways that only make sense within this bizarre universe.
Most puzzles are intuitive enough to solve without frustration, although a few moments rely on trial and error.
The pacing remains brisk throughout the adventure, ensuring that players rarely spend too long stuck on a single puzzle.
Surreal Cartoon Horror
What truly characterises Bulb Boy 2 is its visual style.
The game takes heavy inspiration from 1990s cartoons like Ren & Stimpy or Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, blending exaggerated character designs with grotesque close-ups of slime, decay, and other unsettling details.
Bulb Boy himself remains charmingly simple—a small character with a glowing bulb for a head—but the creatures he encounters are far more disturbing.
Jelly monsters ooze across the floor with unsettling animation, while specific environmental hazards feature shockingly detailed close-ups that emphasise the game’s gross-out aesthetic.
The contrast between cute cartoon characters and grotesque imagery creates a tone that is equal parts humorous and uncomfortable.
It’s not outright terrifying, but it maintains a constant sense of unease.
Dark Humour and Absurdity
Despite its horror elements, Bulb Boy 2 never takes itself too seriously.
The game often embraces dark humour and absurd comedy, frequently presenting unsettling situations in a surprisingly playful manner.
One moment might involve solving a puzzle with an item covered in slime, while the next features a bizarre joke about bodily functions or strange creature behaviour.
This blend of horror and humour keeps the tone unpredictable.
Players might feel disturbed by the imagery one moment and find the situation hilarious the next.
The developers clearly celebrate the weirdness of their concept, allowing the game’s unique personality to shine through every bizarre encounter.
Atmospheric Sound Design
Complementing the unusual visuals is a soundtrack filled with eerie ambient music and strange sound effects.
The music rarely dominates the experience but instead provides subtle tension during exploration and puzzle solving.
More memorable are the game’s sound effects, which emphasise the squishy, slimy nature of the basement environment.
From dripping fluids to unsettling creature noises, the sound design enhances the unsettling atmosphere without overwhelming the player.
These audio cues also serve practical gameplay purposes, often hinting at hidden interactions or incoming dangers.
Short but Memorable
Similar to the original game, Bulb Boy 2 is fairly brief, usually lasting about three to four hours.
Although some players might prefer a longer journey, the succinct duration helps keep the game’s pacing tight.
The puzzles seldom become monotonous, and the continual introduction of new environments ensures that the experience stays captivating throughout.
Since the story develops through environmental storytelling rather than prolonged dialogue, the game quickly shifts from one bizarre scenario to another.
This design makes Jar of Despair perfect for players seeking a compact, atmospheric adventure.
Switch Performance
On Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Bulb Boy 2 runs smoothly with stable performance.
The hand-drawn art style translates well to the portable screen, and the simple controls make it comfortable to play both in handheld mode and on a television.
Load times are minimal, and the game’s colourful environments remain crisp across both platforms.
While the Switch 2 offers slightly smoother performance, the overall experience remains largely identical between versions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unique and memorable art style inspired by 90s cartoons
- Clever environmental puzzles and point-and-click gameplay
- Dark humour balances the unsettling horror elements
- Atmospheric sound design enhances immersion
- Short, well-paced adventure
Cons
- Relatively short runtime
- Some puzzles rely on trial and error
- Limited replay value once completed
- Grotesque visuals may not appeal to everyone
Final Verdict
Bulb Boy 2: Jar of Despair effectively builds on the quirky charm of its predecessor without losing what made the original memorable.
Its surreal cartoon horror, peculiar puzzles, and bizarre humour create an experience that genuinely feels unique among indie adventure games.
Although the game’s brief length and occasional puzzle frustrations may limit its replayability, the creativity on show ensures the journey remains engaging from start to finish.
For players who enjoy point-and-click adventures with a dark humour and a penchant for the grotesque, Bulb Boy 2 offers a delightfully twisted trip through one very strange basement.
