Om Nom returns in Cut the Rope 2 this winter

ZeptoLab will launch Cut the Rope 2 this holiday season, a sequel to its physics-based puzzler Cut the Rope with "re-imagined" features, the developer announced today.

Cut the Rope 2 will star Om Nom, the hungry little green monster, in a new spin on the game's universe. The sequel will include new characters, tweaks to the gameplay mechanics, interactive environments and a brand new storyline. In addition to launching Cut the Rope 2, ZeptoLab will release a new season of its web series "Om Nom Stories," short animations starring Om Nom. Season One was awarded the 2013 iKids Award for Best Web/App Series earlier this year and has racked up more than 85 million views on YouTube to date.

ZeptoLab launched the first Cut the Rope in 2010. Since then it has released Cut the Rope: Experiments, Cut the Rope: Time Travel, spin-off game Pudding Monsters and a handful of level packs for the Cut the Rope games. The developer announced that these games have passed more than 400 million downloads worldwide and boast 60 million active monthly users.

"We remain dedicated to our mission: examining the science of fun," said ZeptoLab CEO Misha Lyalin in a press statement. "That means building experiences that players love. Cut the Rope 2 is a massive step forward for the game. Amazing graphics, gameplay and characters drive a brand new experience that fans are going to love."

Earlier this month the company announced that Cut the Rope, previously available on mobile devices and in browsers, would be available to play on Nintendo 3DS.