Cardinal Quest 2

About

Cardinal Quest 2 is a single player tactical hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by randomnine and was released on November 23, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

"Cardinal Quest 2" is a turn-based tactical game with permanent decisions and permadeath, offering a challenging and ever-changing experience. The game features three story campaigns and an endless mode, with seven unique heroes to master and random levels for replayability. Use strategy and character builds to defeat enemies and uncover the darkness threatening the world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews

story5 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Cardinal Quest 2 offers a smooth retro feel with engaging gameplay mechanics that are easy to pick up but hard to master, making it a great introduction to the roguelike genre.
The game features a delightful soundtrack and charming pixel art, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in its world.
With multiple character classes, difficulty levels, and a variety of unlockables tied to achievements, the game provides significant replay value and caters to different playstyles.

Some players find the game too lightweight, with limited abilities and a simplistic inventory system that can feel restrictive and reduce strategic depth.
The achievement-based unlock system can be frustrating, as it requires specific conditions to be met, which may not appeal to all players and can hinder progression.
There are reports of bugs and a lack of developer support, leading to concerns about the game's long-term viability and the presence of cheating on leaderboards.

story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
76%
9%
The story in Cardinal Quest 2 is described as well-paced but secondary to the gameplay, providing just enough lore through character dialogues and tooltips to enhance immersion without overwhelming players. While the narrative consists of three short acts and an endless mode, it is generally considered light and not the main focus of the game, appealing more to those who prioritize gameplay mechanics over a deep storyline. Overall, the game is praised for its approachable design, making it a suitable entry point for newcomers to the roguelike genre.
- “Great storytelling with the in-game character dialogues throughout the levels. The soundtrack... my ears have been blessed... sadly will never get the recognition it deserves.”
- “The in-game dialogue and lore tooltips give just enough lore to provide the player with a feeling of immersion without making the game overly story-intensive.”
- “Cardinal Quest 2 is a turn-based RPG roguelike with three short story 'acts' and an endless mode called the Tower, where at the end of each act your character is effectively dead, similar to other roguelite contemporaries.”
- “The well-paced story is small, secondary to the gameplay, with a perfect ratio of story to gameplay.”
- “For long-time roguelike fans, Cardinal Quest 2 is entirely lacking in the depth and variety that makes those games interesting and the reason they've been played for 25+ years.”
- “Compared to most real roguelikes out there, Cardinal Quest 2 is very shallow.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised, described as a "banger" and "top notch 8-bit magic fantasy goodness," enhancing the overall experience with its catchy and satisfying soundtrack. Reviewers appreciate how the music complements the simplistic retro art style and gameplay mechanics, creating an immersive atmosphere. Despite its acclaim, some feel the game itself lacks depth, but the soundtrack remains a standout feature that many players cherish.
- “The soundtrack is a banger, and the gameplay mechanics feel chunky and rewarding to get a grasp of.”
- “Lastly, the original soundtrack is top notch 8-bit magic fantasy goodness.”
- “The sound effects and music are extremely satisfying and go well with the style of the game.”
- “The soundtrack... my ears have been blessed... sadly will never get the recognition it deserves.”
- “It has decent music and pixel art, unlockables, a global leaderboard and seems like a good foundation to build a deeper game on.”
- “Overall an incredible roguelike, well balanced, intuitive and simple (your character doesn't have 20 million different stats following a complex damage formula), banger soundtrack.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplistic yet rewarding mechanics, offering a blend of retro aesthetics and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the depth hidden beneath the surface simplicity, with a well-structured unlocking system and a balance between story and gameplay. While some find the mechanics not overly complex, the challenge and enjoyment derived from stealth elements and loot collection contribute to an engaging experience overall.
- “The art style is simplistic and retro, the soundtrack is a banger, and the gameplay mechanics feel chunky and rewarding to get a grasp of.”
- “The unlocking system via achievements by playing the game is neat, making the player learn the basic mechanics, abilities, and has a simple skill tree system whenever you level up.”
- “Simple gameplay at first glance but a ton of depth.”
- “One would think that, if the gameplay itself is lacking for the price, then it would at the very bare minimum entail half-decent customer support.”
- “Scores that are not obtainable through normal gameplay.”
- “The base mechanics are like any roguelike.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The graphics of Cardinal Quest 2 feature a simplistic and retro pixel art style that is both charming and easy on the eyes, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While some may dismiss the visuals as "crappy," many players appreciate the minimalist design that evokes nostalgia for classic dungeon crawlers. The game runs efficiently on low-end hardware, making it accessible to a wide audience.
- “The minimalist pixel art style is easy on the eyes and a delightful addition to the gameplay.”
- “Traditional roguelike which is really easy to pick up and play, difficult to master, with beautiful pixel graphics.”
- “The graphics are very pixel art-inspired and remind me of games like Gauntlet and Chaos back on the old Sinclair Spectrum.”
- “The art style is simplistic and retro, which may not appeal to everyone.”
- “Don't let the 'crappy' graphics fool you.”
- “Oh, the game can also run fine on a toaster - personal experience - I don't even think the game utilizes more than 50% of my graphics card.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse playstyles across multiple classes, a variety of unlockables, and an engaging endless mode. Players can enjoy different experiences with each playthrough, making it accessible for both casual and dedicated gamers. Overall, the combination of intense achievements and varied gameplay ensures that players will find plenty of reasons to return.
- “Great variety of playstyles - even for the same class - makes for high replay value.”
- “If you go on normal difficulty it should take you a few hours to complete all the acts, but the game is extremely replayable with most of the 7 classes each having multiple satisfying play styles, lots of unlockables unlocked by completing some extremely intense achievements (some of which I've failed to get after many hours of attempts), and an endless mode where you can do things not possible in the acts.”
- “It's a great little roguelike (or roguelite, whatever) that doesn't require a tremendous time investment but allows significant replayability and different playstyles.”
- “Lots of replay value.”
- “Second - the replayability factor.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, as it often requires waiting for abilities to recharge between fights, leading to a repetitive and slow-paced experience.
- “Unfortunately, this means the best strategy is to wait around for your abilities to recharge between every little fight, which gets tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless, and it often takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “I find myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over just to level up, which becomes incredibly boring.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization model is praised for being free of ads, offering a seamless experience similar to the Steam version, but optimized for touch controls.
- “No ads or anything, basically exactly how it is on Steam but touch instead of keyboard.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure you to spend money to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without impacting gameplay.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that engaging in quirky activities—such as protecting pets and mind-controlling others—adds a lighthearted distraction and enhances character development. The comedic elements are well-received, contributing to an enjoyable and entertaining experience.
- “Doing random things like protecting your pet, mind-controlling others, and hunting down merchants in humorous ways to unlock more character options is a great distraction.”
- “The game's humor is spot-on, with witty dialogue and absurd situations that keep you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game incorporates slapstick comedy and clever puns, making every interaction a delightful experience.”