Blackguards 2

Blackguards 2 is here and keeping the franchise thankfully alive and it's a blast with a couple bumps.

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"Blackguards 2" is a turn-based strategy RPG that takes players through a dark and gritty fantasy world. As a convicted murderer, you'll recruit a group of criminals and misfits to help you claim the throne and wreak revenge on those who wronged you. The game features challenging tactical combat and a rich, character-driven story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 312 reviews

story83 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

Engaging turn-based combat system that allows for strategic planning and diverse character builds.
Compelling story with interesting characters and moral choices that impact the narrative.
Improved mechanics over the first game, including less reliance on RNG and more tactical gameplay.

Frustrating encounter design with infinite enemy spawns and tedious objectives that can lead to repetitive gameplay.
Bugs and technical issues that can disrupt the gaming experience, including game freezes and crashes.
Simplified character customization and removal of attributes from the first game, leading to a less satisfying RPG experience.

story
257 mentions
32 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of Blackguards 2 has received mixed reviews, with some praising its dark themes and character development, particularly that of the protagonist Cassia, while others criticize it for being less engaging and coherent than its predecessor. Many players noted that the narrative feels more linear and less quirky, with some missions feeling repetitive and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game features strong voice acting and a compelling premise, but it may not satisfy those seeking a rich, immersive story.
- “The game delivers in fluff, content, and storytelling with strength; the voice acting is very high level, and the characters and the story itself are deep.”
- “The story is compelling, and I didn't find it particularly difficult.”
- “The story-writing was amazing, with an iconic memorable fairytale that changes depending on choices you make in the game.”
- “The plot is boring and the characters are poorly developed.”
- “However, the story is only remotely connected through the companions that join the new heroine on her quest for revenge.”
- “The story just comes to a hasty end.”
gameplay
75 mentions
23 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Blackguards 2 has been described as a streamlined version of its predecessor, featuring improved mechanics but also suffering from repetitive combat and technical issues that can disrupt the experience. While some players appreciate the tactical elements and unique mechanics, others find the game lacks innovation and depth, leading to a mixed reception overall. The game is seen as accessible for casual gamers, but may disappoint fans of the original due to its simplifications and bugs.
- “The gameplay has been streamlined significantly and irritations such as percentage hit chance and encumbrance have been removed.”
- “Anyways, gameplay-wise, this is the ultimate tactical RPG experience, with great difficulty spikes that will keep you on your toes.”
- “If you are looking for turn-based, party-building RPG gameplay, then you will not be disappointed at this price point.”
- “Infinite spawn happens every 2-3 stages and you have to do the 'rush in, rush out' kind of gameplay.”
- “Blackguards 2 doesn't provide anything new or clever in gameplay or to the story: everything it does has been done better somewhere else.”
- “It is more of the same, with some extra limitations: no personalization of the main character, a banal story of betrayal and revenge that does not drive the game forward convincingly, exactly the same characters in your team, but with less personality and no development at all since the last time you saw them, absolutely nothing new as far as gameplay is concerned, extremely repetitive scenarios and battles.”
graphics
34 mentions
38 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of Blackguards 2 are generally described as serviceable but not particularly impressive, especially for players used to more polished visuals. While some reviewers appreciate the clean aesthetics and character customization, many note that the graphics are average and could benefit from further refinement. Overall, the visuals are deemed adequate for the gameplay experience, though they do not stand out as a highlight of the game.
- “I really like the hex-based maps, turn-based gameplay, and crisp, clean graphics, even by today's standards (5 years later).”
- “The music, graphics, and interface fit the game really well, and the amount of possibilities for character progression adds a great amount of diversity.”
- “This game improves all of those things significantly; the battle maps are bigger and more interesting here, and the enemies are too, with huge bosses and great graphical touches.”
- “The game's aesthetics could benefit from further refinement and attention to detail.”
- “The graphics are nothing to write home about; the characters are lovable and their commentary is well written, but there is very little of it overall.”
- “Graphics are okay but nothing special.”
character development
19 mentions
32 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with a compelling narrative and meaningful choices that allow for varied character arcs, yet it suffers from a streamlined system that sacrifices depth for accessibility. While players can shape characters through choices and RPG elements, the simplification of the development mechanics compared to its predecessor has left some feeling constrained and less engaged with their characters. Overall, the game offers interesting storylines and tactical possibilities, but the lack of depth in character customization has drawn criticism from long-time fans.
- “The game features a gripping narrative with meaningful choices that impact the storyline and character development.”
- “This tactical RPG also does a great job at portraying events and characters' story arcs as they progress; you can make Zurbaran evil, or get him to finally give up the overconfident act and settle down.”
- “I loved the game because it leaves room for some very special character developments and a choice-oriented narrative that is different with every little mundane choice you make.”
- “The last point makes character development, leveling up, and buying new gear feel inconsequential.”
- “Unfortunately, this streamlining also was applied to character development, removing depth for the sake of simplicity.”
- “The character development is lacking, except for the main character who has basically turned into a hypocritical nutjob who is incredibly hard to relate to.”
stability
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
-13 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The stability of Blackguards 2 has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs and technical issues that disrupt gameplay, including frequent freezes and glitches that can force players to reload previous saves. Many users feel the game is reminiscent of an alpha or beta version rather than a polished release, leading to frustration and requests for refunds. Overall, the game's stability is a significant concern, detracting from the overall experience.
- “I couldn't play this game until I bought a new 2019 PC, and it runs great now.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, providing a stable experience.”
- “I've been playing for hours without any issues; the stability is impressive.”
- “Blackguards 2 may suffer from technical issues and bugs, ranging from minor glitches to more significant gameplay disruptions.”
- “I'm requesting my money back because this is released as an official release and in less than two hours I've experienced numerous glitches and bugs that require you to load previous saves and do your quest again because it won't progress.”
- “However, it's so buggy it might as well be an alpha/beta version.”
music
13 mentions
38 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. While some tracks are carried over from the first installment, the expanded soundtrack and sound effects contribute positively to the game's ambiance, particularly during battles. Overall, the music complements the graphics and character progression, making it a notable aspect of the game.
- “The voice acting is good, the music atmospheric, and the art is top-notch in my opinion.”
- “The soundtrack fits the atmosphere and the battles.”
- “The music, graphic style, and interface fit the game really well, and the amount of possibilities for character progression adds a great amount of diversity.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The music is almost the same in Blackguards 2, but has been expanded by some minor tracks and sound effects.”
- “Some believe this game feels like DLC for #1, and while I understand how you can get that impression (most music tracks in #2 are from #1), the world map and battles play quite differently.”
humor
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting a significant decline in the quirky and darkly comedic interactions present in the first installment. While there are moments of witty dialogue and dark humor, many feel that the overall charm and comedic elements have been diminished, leading to a less engaging experience. Additionally, some players found the attempts at humor, such as absurd scenarios and character interactions, to be more frustrating than funny.
- “I quite enjoy the humor.”
- “Blackguards 2 is dark, all the rogue characters, black humor, and gritty militarism of the original are here, now with the addition of an insane main character which is funny even though her insanity is played to the darkest levels - click to talk to yourself and you get insane ramblings of the disturbing variety.”
- “- witty and funny dialogue, this is one of the main reasons this game is charming.”
grinding
9 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating and tedious, with many battles described as repetitive and overly drawn out. The need to constantly deal with healing mechanics and debuffs contributes to a sense of monotony, leading some to switch difficulty levels to avoid excessive grinding. While some challenges are appreciated, the general consensus is that many encounters feel unnecessarily prolonged and lack engaging elements.
- “Awful fights where you need to smash crystals that heal all enemies to full health each round, battles where you need to move quickly while enemies with seemingly endless MP constantly spam debuffs that slow you down, infinitely respawning enemies; it's frustrating and tedious.”
- “Normal difficulty was too easy and hard is too tedious; I started playing on hard and switched to normal because I didn't want to spend too much time with each battle unnecessarily.”
- “Many of the battles are just tedious - it would have been a great help if there was a way to speed up the super slow animations.”
replayability
9 mentions
22 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it features multiple endings and branching paths that encourage different playthroughs, some players find the replay value limited due to its heavy focus on story. However, opportunities for varied moral choices, skills, and mission approaches do provide a degree of replay enjoyment for those seeking to explore different outcomes.
- “There is definite replay value since missions, side quests, and interrogations can all be done in different ways.”
- “Replayability: yes (different moral paths, different endings, different skills).”
- “Limited replayability; while the game offers multiple endings and branching paths, the overall replay value may be limited for some players.”
- “This game offers minor replayability since it's heavily story-based, but can be replayed for achievements or finishing with another attunement.”
- “Limited replayability and visuals could be improved.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a mix of serious and lighthearted elements, with some players feeling it fails to achieve a truly dark tone despite its intentions. However, the high-quality voice acting, atmospheric music, and impressive art contribute positively to the overall experience, enhancing the story and gameplay.
- “The voice acting is good, the music is atmospheric, and the art is top-notch in my opinion.”
- “The soundtrack fits the atmosphere and the battles.”
- “I recommend this game; it has a nice story, atmosphere, and gameplay.”
- “This game's general atmosphere and gameplay don't feel like they take themselves seriously.”
- “This series tries to act as if it has a dark atmosphere, but despite all the efforts, it does not.”
- “The atmosphere of the game changed to a darker tone.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback; while some users report no performance issues, others highlight persistent problems likely stemming from the same engine used in Blackguards 1, indicating a lack of improvement in optimization.
- “The game runs smoothly on my system, even at high settings.”
- “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is for various hardware configurations.”
- “Performance issues related mostly to bad optimization; the engine is the same as Blackguards 1, and it feels like there are still the same issues present as in the first game, with no optimization done.”
- “I have no performance issues.”
emotional
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, with reviewers finding the story unengaging and the main character particularly irritating, leading to a disappointing overall experience.
- “Sure, it has some basic elements of the genre, but it is nothing more than a boring story that forces you to play as one of the most annoying characters I have ever seen.”