The Episode Title Card for Volume 1, "Implication Theater"
Friendsim 2 is the "officially UNofficial" Fan Sequel to Hiveswap Friendsim, organized by Studio June. Taking place after the events of Pesterquest, the empowered MSPA Reader has decided to try and save their old Troll friends, but returns to an Alternia on the brink of civil war. The entire work is planned to consist of fourteen volumes, with the prologue and first volume released for Steam and itch.io on April 13, 2022, and each subsequent volume being released on a roughly-monthly basis (save for a hiatus following the release of Volume 11). Studio June's website is located here
, and a website for the project is located here. Volumes and Prominent Trolls
- Prologue (released 4/13/22): Doc Scratch
- Volume 1: Implication Theater (released 4/13/22): Stelsa Sezyat, Tyzias Entykk, Galekh Xigisi, Tagora Gorjek
- Volume 2: A Thinly-Veiled Secret (released 5/13/22): Stelsa Sezyat, Tyzias Entykk, Mallek Adalov
- Volume 3: Lest the Dust Becomes Us (released 6/12/22): Konyyl Okimaw, Marsti Houtek, Skylla Koriga, Ardata Carmia
- Volume 4: They Became What They Beheld (released 7/12/22): Marsti Houtek, Ardata Carmia, Cirava Hermod
- Volume 5: Noontide Quiet (released 8/12/22): Wanshi Adyata, Elwurd, Lanque Bombyx
- Volume 6: In the Weave of Fate (released 9/9/22): Wanshi Adyata, Lynera Skalbi, Daraya Jonjet, Bronya Ursama
- Volume 7: From Here to Oblivion (released 10/25/22): Chixie Roixmr, Elwurd, Zebruh Codakk, Xefros Tritoh
- Volume 8: Bleed to the Edge (released 12/25/22): Tirona Kasund, Amisia Erdehn
- Volume 9: A Finely Machined Revolution (released 1/20/23): Mallek Adalov, Polypa Goezee, Tegiri Kalbur
- Volume 10: Beneath the Veil of Stars (released 2/17/23): Folykl Darane, Kuprom Maxlol, Azdaja Knelax, Vikare Ratite, Marsti Houtek, Konyyl Okimaw
- Volume 11: One Caste of Troll (released 3/17/23): Fozzer Velyes, Diemen Xicali, Charun Krojib, Vikare Ratite
- Volume 12: Land of the Dark Lotus Eaters (releases 4/13/24): Karako Pierot, Marvus Xoloto, Chahut Maenad, Barzum & Baizli Soleil
Tropes:
- Adaptational Gender Identity: Karako's character profile uses female pronouns, while the original Friendsim used male pronouns.
- Alternate Continuity: The visual novel takes place in a continuity where Hiveswap never happened, as otherwise some Trolls wouldn't have lived to adulthood.
- Darker and Edgier: While the original Friendsim was a comedic story about making friends, Friendsim 2 is about trying to save them from the absolute nightmare that is Alternian society.
- Episode Title Card: Every Volume released has unique title art that reflects its content, such as Volume 2 appearing as a gossip magazine cover, and Volume 5 being the cover of "Advanced Hiveswap Friendsim 2nd Edition".
- Gameplay Roulette: Rather than just being one long visual novel, some of the volumes are presented in completely different formats, such as Volume 3's stealth sections and Volume 7's point-and-click adventure.
- Hacking Minigame: Volume 9 has multiple segments in which the Reader helps Mallek hack into Alternian systems in order to plant computer worms.
- Happily Married: Character profiles for Friendsim 2's versions of Tyzias and Stelsa both include the line "Loves her wife".
- In the Hood: The MSPA Reader's outfit of choice upon returning to Alternia is a black shirt and hoodie, in order to avoid their non-Troll features attracting unwanted attention.
- Karma Meter: At various points, the Reader is asked to make a choice between Salvation (saving their friends above all else) and Revolution (trying to make Alternia a better place), which will have lasting effects on the overall plot.
- Late-Arrival Spoiler: The story assumes you've played all of the original Friendsim and met its entire cast, with Friendsim 2's Prologue taking place where the original's Epilogue ended: in the company of Doc Scratch.
- RPG Episode: Volume 5 focuses on Wanshi hosting a tabletop campaign for her friends, with the events of the game depicted with an Art Shift compared to the visual novel's regular style.
- Same Character, But Different: The intervening years since Friendsim have not been kind to every Troll; according to her character profile, former Nice Girl Skylla has become ready to "burn this shit to the ground".
- Suddenly Voiced: Unlike the original Friendsim, every character in Friendsim 2 has full voice acting.
- Time Skip: By the time the Reader returns to Alternia after the end of the original Friendsim, they note how there's some notable differences, and soon learns that most of their troll friends are now adult-aged.
- Whole-Plot Reference:
- The first volume, "Implication Theater"note , is a direct reference to Ace Attorney, with the Reader having to assist the tealbloods in court.
- The Trailer for Volume 3, with the Reader having to infiltrate a military base from a top-down perspective, is a direct reference to Metal Gear.
- Volume 11's "Corpses, Please" segment, in which the Reader has to process recently deceased bodies in accordance to strict regulations, is referencing Papers, Please.
