Costume Quest 2

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 543 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
Costume Quest 2 Game Cover
Costume Quest 2 delivers more of the sweet RPG mechanics and smile-inducing humor from the 2011 sequel. Our review.
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In Costume Quest 2, players join Wren and Reynold on their adventure through time to save Halloween from the evil Dr. Orel White. Using magical Halloween costumes, they explore environments, battle enemies, and solve puzzles to progress through the story. This turn-based RPG features a unique blend of humor, creativity, and nostalgia that will appeal to players of all ages.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Wii
  • Wii U
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 543 reviews
story139 positive mentions
grinding24 negative mentions
  • Charming and humorous story that continues the adventures of Wren and Reynold.
  • Improved combat system with new mechanics like counter-attacks and Creepy Treat cards.
  • Colorful graphics and engaging art style that captures the Halloween spirit.
  • Combat can become repetitive and tedious, especially with frequent battles.
  • Removal of auto-healing after battles leads to unnecessary backtracking.
  • Some players may find the story less engaging compared to the first game.
  • story524 mentions

    The story of "Costume Quest 2" continues directly from its predecessor, featuring a whimsical and humorous narrative centered around time travel and an evil dentist threatening Halloween. While some players found the sequel's plot engaging and filled with charm, others felt it lacked the depth and originality of the first game, leading to mixed reviews about its overall impact. Overall, it retains the light-hearted spirit of the original, making it enjoyable for fans, but may not stand alone as strongly without prior knowledge of the first game.

    • “The story flows freely from one game to the other and is engaging.”
    • “I loved the roster of entirely new costumes, the ability to further turn the tide of battle with creepy treat cards, and the cute time travel storyline.”
    • “One of the highlights of Costume Quest was the story and I wasn't disappointed with this new storyline - saving Halloween traveling through time, fighting the evilish Dr. White and his dental army.”
    • “Play Costume Quest 1 before buying this game as the stories are linked, but honestly the story in this game isn't special enough to say it's a must play as the first game has enough closure already.”
    • “The story is okay but nothing special.”
    • “The story seems less Halloween-centric even though it says it is; it loses some spirit trying to add scale.”
  • gameplay122 mentions

    Gameplay in Costume Quest 2 retains the charm of its predecessor but suffers from repetitiveness and overly simplistic combat mechanics. While some players appreciate the added depth from new combo and card mechanics, many find the combat drawn-out and lacking challenge, with a significant portion of the experience feeling like a reskin of the first game. Overall, the game is enjoyable for its humor and aesthetics, but it leaves players wanting more innovation and engagement in gameplay.

    • “The additional combo mechanics were a welcome addition.”
    • “The gameplay has evolved a little bit, with special moves and strengths/weaknesses giving the battles a bit more strategy than they had before.”
    • “The turn-based combat system remains accessible yet strategic, keeping the gameplay engaging for all ages.”
    • “Not enough goofiness, plenty of turns to hate the new combat mechanics... they somehow managed to make it worse, enemies are just bullet sponges. Changing battle stamps to creepy treats was a huge misstep; the game would be 50% faster if the fights weren't so long and boring.”
    • “The gameplay is similar to Costume Quest, but the new combat system was awful and borderline annoying. The combat is the most basic, simplistic, primitive turn-based combat ever, and on top of that, costumes that you get in the first few hours seemed the strongest and most functional, so there isn't much progression gameplay-wise.”
    • “Costume Quest 2 is a decent sequel in terms of story but lacks the necessary gameplay innovations. It takes the 'more' approach to sequels far too literally, by not innovating on the original gameplay loop and just giving you... 'more'.”
  • humor82 mentions

    The humor in "Costume Quest 2" is a standout feature, blending clever puns, dad jokes, and whimsical dialogue that appeals to both children and adults. While many players appreciate the game's lightheartedness and comedic moments, some feel it lacks the charm and depth of its predecessor, with certain jokes becoming repetitive. Overall, the game maintains a playful tone and offers a variety of funny interactions, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of the series.

    • “Creator: puns, dad jokes, and some adult humor slipped in for the parents.”
    • “The humor is sharp, the characters are endearing, and the art style maintains its vibrant and playful allure.”
    • “Costume Quest 2 has all the charm and humor of CQ1; I found myself laughing out loud a lot.”
  • graphics61 mentions

    The graphics in "Costume Quest 2" have received praise for their significant improvements over the first game, showcasing sharper visuals, a colorful art style, and charming character designs that enhance the Halloween theme. While many players appreciate the overall aesthetic and detail, some have noted that certain elements, like the creepy treat cards, feel less inspired compared to the original. Overall, the game successfully retains its whimsical charm while offering a more polished graphical experience.

    • “A graphical uplift makes the already lovely, stylized visuals even sharper, and the time-traveling plot provides opportunity for a wide variety of locations.”
    • “I adored the art style that lead designer Tasha Harris gave the first game, I’m very pleased to see that the sequel has added to it in the best way, keeping the style consistent as new characters are introduced and fresh costumes take center stage.”
    • “The charm is in the art style and atmosphere.”
    • “You can tell the graphics were improved in this game, but I honestly didn't like the art better, because the atmosphere felt so much colder.”
    • “Despite the graphics retaining their similarity with the original, there was a lot of added 'detail'; it felt cluttered.”
    • “Graphically, the game looks a bit better, but the quests are simpler, the costumes less nuanced, and the battles too simplified.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant and often tedious aspect, with many players feeling that combat becomes repetitive and burdensome over time. While some appreciate the challenge it adds, others criticize the excessive grinding required for experience and in-game currency, leading to a less enjoyable experience overall. The changes to the battle system, intended to enhance exploration, have inadvertently increased the grind, making it a point of contention among players.

    • “Not too grindy besides fights required for the main story; there are respawning mobs if you want to grind, but you can beat the main story without fighting any of them.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Boring house grinding (oh how much I hated that part in the last game) started as soon as you unlocked the third costume.”
    • “In the end, combat started to become the tedious bits in between the story and exploring.”
  • music25 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising it as a significant improvement over the first installment, featuring a catchy and varied soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. However, others found it lackluster and not particularly memorable, with specific criticisms aimed at the combat music and certain quest-related tracks feeling out of place. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it may not resonate with all players.

    • “Audio/music: there's more music this time (compared to Costume Quest 1), and the music is great!”
    • “The game's setting, music, and art style are great, and if you are a fan of JRPGs, then you should definitely try this game out.”
    • “Peter McConnell is back for the soundtrack, which stood out to me as one of his finest, with the themes in the past area making particularly fine use of slide guitar.”
    • “Not sure if it was because of all the said above, but the combat music annoyed me.”
    • “Quests containing music acts were tonally out of place, thus making them feel unauthentic.”
    • “The music was pretty boring and lackluster too, and I found myself longing for the old battle theme a lot.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charm, humor, and engaging settings, creating a delightful Halloween vibe that resonates with players. While some reviews note that improvements in combat may detract from the overall ambiance, the quirky characters and rich environments still contribute significantly to the game's appeal. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, reminiscent of Double Fine's signature style.

    • “Not only did it look cute and have the right Halloween atmosphere, but it was also a simple yet fun game.”
    • “It had a lot of atmosphere, a cute humor and was just generally lovable.”
    • “There are only a few settings to explore this time through, but each one is chock full of atmosphere with plenty of quirky characters to talk to and lots of candy to find.”
    • “This really took me out of the flow and the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The combat is better this time around, but at the cost of atmosphere.”
    • “You can tell the graphics were improved in this game, and I honestly didn't like the art better because the atmosphere felt so much colder.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is inconsistent, with users reporting frequent bugs, graphical glitches, and occasional freezes, particularly when navigating menus. While some players find the game generally playable, others experience significant issues that hinder their enjoyment.

    • “Besides these issues, the game runs great.”
    • “Navigated to the options with keyboard -> game freezes.”
    • “The game can also be a little buggy, and the keys can be awkward on a keyboard.”
    • “Game freezes up, I never got to play or get it to run.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Costume Quest 2" is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming experience, blending nostalgia with originality. Players appreciate the game's fun and lighthearted tone, enhanced by humorous dialogue and a charming atmosphere that makes it a delightful Halloween adventure. Overall, it evokes feelings of joy and comfort, making it a memorable sequel for fans.

    • “With a perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation, Costume Quest 2 is a sequel that not only lives up to its predecessor but surpasses it, offering a delightful and heartwarming adventure for fans of all things spookily fun.”
    • “A heartwarming, nostalgic sequel to everyone’s favorite Halloween adventure.”
    • “Please do play it with the candy corn costume on at all times; the combat is easy enough to stay comfortable despite this little handicap, and you’ll get treated with some really funny one-liners that just make every fight even more wholesome.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for being subpar, particularly with higher CPU demands compared to its predecessor, leading to significant performance issues that can detract from the overall experience and make gameplay frustrating.

    • “The graphics and performance are impressive, but optimization needs work; it's harsher on the CPU than the first game.”
    • “Optimization needs work; it's harsher on the CPU than the first game.”
    • “Unfortunately, the novelty of the combat wears thin rather quickly, and some crippling performance issues can at times make the game a frustrating mess.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization of the game is perceived as a cash grab, with players feeling that it capitalizes on the success of its predecessor without adequately improving upon its shortcomings.

    • “Feels like a cash grab.”
    • “For some reason, this game feels like a cash grab that aims to capitalize on the popularity of the first one without really addressing its flaws.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the reviewed games is generally praised for its storytelling and humor, with some titles like "Psychonauts" being highlighted as exemplary. While some sequels may not reach the heights of their predecessors, they still maintain charming narratives and character designs.

    • “They aren't perfect (except Psychonauts, which literally is perfect, and when I die, I hope to be buried with it), but what they lack in one area, they more than make up for in storytelling, character development, and humor.”
    • “To be honest, it is definitely not as good as Costume Quest 1, but the narrative and character design are as cute as ever.”
    • “To be honest, it is definitely not as good as Costume Quest 1 - but the narrative and character design are as cute as ever.”
    • “They aren't perfect (except Psychonauts, which literally is perfect and when I die I hope to be buried with it), but what they lack in one area they will more than make up for in storytelling, character development, and humor.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Replayability is limited primarily to completionists, as players can achieve all costumes and achievements in one playthrough, reducing the incentive for multiple runs.

    • “There won't be much replay value unless you are a completionist, but unlike other games, it is still possible to get all the costumes and achievements in a single sitting.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
6-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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