Blackguards 2

About

"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

+13

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 642 reviews

story172 positive mentions

stability28 negative mentions

Engaging and strategic turn-based combat that allows for various tactical plays.
Compelling story with meaningful choices that impact character development and the overall narrative.
Improved mechanics from the first game, including less reliance on RNG and more focus on strategy.

Simplified character customization that removes depth and complexity from the RPG elements.
Some battles can feel tedious due to infinite enemy spawns and lengthy animations.
Technical issues and bugs that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.

story
522 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The story of Blackguards 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it lacks the quirky interactions and depth found in its predecessor. While some appreciate the engaging narrative and character development, others criticize its linearity and repetitive combat, which detracts from the overall experience. The voice acting and dark themes are praised, but the story is often seen as less compelling and cohesive compared to the first game, leaving some players feeling disappointed.
- “The game features a gripping narrative with meaningful choices that impact the storyline and character development.”
- “Brilliant and extensive voice acting throughout supports a dark and interesting story with good characters.”
- “The story is compelling, and I didn't find it particularly difficult.”
- “Once the main story is completed, there may be less incentive to replay the game due to its linear nature.”
- “The plot is boring and the characters are poorly developed.”
- “Story-wise, Blackguards 2 feels like an unfinished game, because the reasons why the Horatian Empire are interested in helping Cassia and why they believe she stands a chance against her husband are not properly explained and expanded upon.”
gameplay
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The gameplay in Blackguards 2 has been streamlined compared to its predecessor, removing some complexities like hit chance and encumbrance, which may appeal to casual players but frustrate fans of the original's mechanics. While the tactical combat system offers engaging challenges and unique mechanics, it suffers from technical issues and repetitive scenarios, leading to mixed reviews on its overall execution. Players appreciate the improvements in user interface and quality of life, but many feel the game lacks innovation and depth, making it feel more like a DLC than a standalone sequel.
- “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.”
- “Corrupt saves, crashes, and broken mechanics ruin this game.”
graphics
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
4%
The graphics of Blackguards 2 are generally described as serviceable but not particularly impressive, especially for players used to more polished visuals. While some appreciate the clean aesthetics and character customization, many reviewers 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 significantly.
- “I really like the hex-based maps, turn-based gameplay, and crisp, clean graphics, even by today's standards (5 years later).”
- “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 with great graphical touches.”
- “The music as well as the graphic style and interface fit the game really well, and the amount of possibilities of character progression adds a great amount of diversity.”
- “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
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
8%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the meaningful choices that influence character arcs and the narrative, while others criticize the simplification of the character development system compared to its predecessor, leading to a perceived lack of depth. The game allows for various paths and tactical options, but the reliance on predefined characters limits customization and personal investment in character growth. Overall, while the story and character interactions are engaging, the streamlined mechanics may detract from the richness of character development that fans of the series expect.
- “The game features a gripping narrative with meaningful choices that impact the storyline and character development.”
- “This tactical RPG 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
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The stability of Blackguards 2 is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs and technical issues that disrupt gameplay, including random freezes and glitches that require reloading 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 issues significantly detract from the experience.
- “I couldn't play this game until I bought a new 2019 PC, and it runs great now.”
- “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
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
48%
11%
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as atmospheric and fitting the game's tone, with some tracks carried over from the first installment. While the soundtrack includes new minor tracks and sound effects, it maintains a cohesive style that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the quality of the music, noting it contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere, with one reviewer highlighting the ending credits song as particularly memorable.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “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 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.”
- “Music, graphics, and so on are similar to the first part, and I don't have any objections.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant decline in the quirky and darkly comedic interactions that characterized the first installment. While some appreciate the dark humor and the insane ramblings of the main character, others feel that the witty dialogue and humorous elements are largely absent, leading to a less engaging experience overall. Overall, the humor seems to lack the charm and effectiveness that fans expected based on the previous game.
- “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
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with many battles described as frustrating and boring due to slow animations and repetitive mechanics. The difficulty balance is criticized, as normal mode feels too easy while hard mode becomes a chore, leading some to switch difficulties to avoid prolonged combat. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from enjoyment, making missions feel unnecessarily drawn out and unengaging.
- “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.”
- “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.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it features multiple endings and branching paths that can encourage replay, many players find the overall replay value limited due to its heavy focus on story. Some aspects, such as different moral choices and skills, as well as the random nature of fights, do provide enjoyable replay opportunities, particularly for those seeking achievements or alternative playthroughs.
- “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)”
- “This and the random nature of the fights gives the game some level of replayability that is enjoyable.”
- “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
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The game's atmosphere is a mix of attempts at a dark tone that ultimately feel unconvincing, as it doesn't take itself too seriously. However, the quality of voice acting, atmospheric music, and impressive art contribute positively to the overall experience. While the atmosphere may not fully achieve its intended depth, it still complements the engaging 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 perfectly.”
- “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
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The game's optimization has been criticized for retaining performance issues from its predecessor, with many users noting a lack of improvements despite using the same engine. While some players report no performance problems, others highlight that the interface is not fully optimized for consoles and that the overall user experience feels clunky.
- “I have no performance issues.”
- “I have no performance issues.”
- “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 one, with no optimization done.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for presenting a boring story and featuring an unlikable protagonist, which detracts from the overall experience. Players feel that the narrative fails to engage them on an emotional level, leading to frustration rather than connection.
- “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.”