The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas Debuts Cindy Lou (Exclusive)

Later this year, we're getting The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas, and we have an exclusive look at how Cindy Lou will be involved.

Published Sep 16, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT

Chris is a Gaming Editor at ScreenRant. He has been a professional writer since 2009, and has written for top TV, comics, movie, and video game outlets like Engadget, Polygon, Destructoid, and more. He brings with him an expertise in every game genre, no matter how niche or mainstream.

You may know him as the former Managing/Reviews Editor of Destructoid, where he published hundreds of game reviews across every genre, including MMOs, sports games, and Metroidvanias.

Find Chris on Twitter @_SRChris.

You just can't get rid of The Grinch. Decades later, we're getting a sequel to Ron Howard's live-action adaptation, and anything is possible with this grouchy icon. He's on scores of merch all over the world, comes back every Christmas in stores' craft aisles, and even has official Dr. Seuss Company books that serve as sequels to the original story.

He's the kind of character that just appeals to everyone. He's a grouch at first, but he comes around. No matter which version of the Grinch you prefer, there's probably some form of media based on it. There's even a market for smiley Grinch merchandise.

This time, he's back in The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas. We have an exclusive trailer to show off, centered on Cindy Lou Who, plus a few other reveals. We also know the sequel is coming much sooner than expected, so it'll be ready well before the holiday season begins.

This time, The Grinch has reformed. Rather than replaying the original Dr. Seuss story, this one takes a different tack: The Grinch, Max, and Cindy Lou team up to "decorate Who-ville’s ultimate Christmas tree." Developed by Outright Games, The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas is coming later this month, and you can get an in-depth look at it now.

In the new trailer above, you'll find your first look at Cindy Lou, who plays a "helper" role in the game. The video reveals that The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas encourages you to replay levels to find collectibles (ornaments), confirms some of the gadgets The Grinch can use, and lets you interact with Cindy Lou's Wish Mailbox. There's also a Christmas Tree Contest mechanic that lets you view all the collectibles you've earned at once.

There are 23 levels in all, and you'll visit pretty much the entire gamut of the story: Who-ville, Mt. Crumpit, Who Wood, and The Grinch’s Cave. For fans of mascot platformers, the game's simple appeal is easy to see, especially if you're going in with a family.

• 

• 

Naturally, all these allies mean there's going to be co-op play between Grinch and Max. I played the original with my daughter, and she had a great time figuring out all the intricacies of platforming while searching for hidden collectibles.

The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas will arrive well before Christmas, as it's launching September 18, 2026. It'll debut on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.