DG2: Defense Grid 2

About

Defense Grid 2 is the sequel to the original tower defense game, Defense Grid: The Awakening. It features a new story campaign with 21 maps, dynamic level movement, and an expanded cast of characters. The game also includes challenge mode experiences, multiplayer modes, and a level creation tool set for players to create and share their own levels. The Steam Special Edition comes with additional content.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,059 reviews

story111 positive mentions

optimization10 negative mentions

Exceptional graphics and engaging gameplay make it a standout in the tower defense genre.
The addition of new towers, upgrades, and multiplayer modes enhances replayability and strategy.
Good voice acting and humorous AI banter add personality to the game.

The game feels easier than the original, with some players finding it lacks challenge.
The story and dialogue can be annoying and detract from the overall experience.
Limited number of maps and the monetization of community-created content is disappointing.

story
502 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The story in "Defense Grid 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it less compelling than its predecessor. While some appreciate the attempt to add depth through character interactions and voice acting, others criticize it as convoluted, poorly written, and often distracting from the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary element, with many players opting to focus on the tower defense mechanics rather than the story itself.
- “The game's campaign is a testament to its excellence, offering a rich and immersive story that unfolds across multiple missions.”
- “Engaging storytelling, solid tower defense game.”
- “The story is quirky, but it is fun enough to enjoy, or light enough to ignore.”
- “The storyline is lackluster and the ending is anti-climactic.”
- “I'm not sure what happened during development, but this plot is half-baked and the voice-overs are, for the most part, a disjointed mess of incoherent filler.”
- “The story is convoluted, but this is a gem in the tower defense genre.”
graphics
293 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the improved visuals and artistic design compared to its predecessor, while others criticize the clarity and contrast, making gameplay difficult at times. Some players appreciate the vibrant and detailed environments, but note that certain elements, like tower designs, can appear generic or cluttered. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered a step up, they are not without their flaws, particularly in terms of performance on lower-end systems.
- “The graphics are exceptional.”
- “Amazing gameplay and excellent graphics make it a standout.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous graphics in every detail from the towers to the maps to the backdrops.”
- “The graphics are pretty but the contrast is very poor in some areas, making it difficult to determine what the game is actually portraying.”
- “The graphics feel like a step backwards and the level design is uninspired, especially following the chaotic fun of the You Monster campaign.”
- “The graphics are dark, even after the so-called update.”
gameplay
237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The gameplay of "Defense Grid 2" retains the core mechanics of its predecessor while introducing new elements like boost towers and varied enemy types, enhancing strategic depth and replayability. While some players feel the game lacks significant innovation and can become repetitive, many appreciate the polished graphics, engaging storyline, and addictive gameplay loop that encourages experimentation with tower placement and upgrades. Overall, it offers a solid tower defense experience, appealing to both fans of the original and newcomers to the genre.
- “The game's core mechanics are still enjoyable, with the goal of protecting your core's base from hordes of invading aliens using an array of towers and upgrades.”
- “Fantastic tower defense game, builds on the achievements of the first installment and continues the complementary interplay between the supporting characters that really adds flavor to the maps and provides a story-wrapper to the fundamental tower defense gameplay.”
- “With its deep strategic gameplay, captivating level design, and wealth of content, it stands head and shoulders above the competition.”
- “Dg2, however, is a step down in quality of gameplay and can be extremely annoying.”
- “Overall, it feels that while some new mechanics were added, actual diversity of solutions and viable gameplay choices have narrowed.”
- “Defense Grid 2 stays close to the core gameplay of the original (perhaps too close) and, like the original, can easily become boring and repetitive despite its numerous difficulty levels and gameplay modes.”
replayability
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
7%
Overall, the game boasts a high level of replayability, with numerous difficulty levels, diverse game modes, and unlockable perks that encourage players to revisit missions for improved scores and new strategies. While many players appreciate the variety and challenge offered, some critiques highlight that certain modes feel repetitive or lack significant differences, which may diminish the replay value for some. Nonetheless, the inclusion of community maps and multiplayer options further enhances the game's longevity and engagement.
- “On the other hand, the game's replay value is still very strong, with multiple difficulty levels and special challenges to keep players engaged.”
- “The unlockable perks (turret effects such as focusing on the strongest enemy or slowing enemies) and the laser upgrades add a good deal of replayability.”
- “There are plenty of levels to explore, replay value with multiple game modes and difficulties.”
- “Unfortunately, the replay value is low and my desire to continuously redo each level in the different modes is non-existent.”
- “There is minimal replayability; even though the game attempted to make a lot, the replayability is simply adding a modifier, and it really just feels like the same map as it was without them.”
- “As an avid tower defense lover, I had high hopes for Defense Grid 2, but hidden path seems to have had other ideas in mind, such as charging players for player-created content, minimizing replayability, and overall creating a bland experience.”
humor
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
The humor in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the quirky AI banter and well-voiced characters that add a fun layer to the gameplay. However, many feel that the attempts at humor often fall flat, becoming repetitive or cringeworthy, especially compared to the more subtle wit of the first game. Overall, while there are moments of genuine hilarity, the humor is seen as inconsistent and at times overly ambitious.
- “On top of this, we find a sometimes hilarious story told by a bunch of misfit AIs.”
- “The banter between the various AI personalities is also done very well, and flavors the action nicely with humor, drama, and a really good bit of mystery.”
- “Script and especially voice acting are top notch and often absolutely hilarious.”
- “Not funny, just cringeworthy.”
- “At the beginning and end of every mission they spend upwards of five minutes rambling about desperately unfunny nonsense and leading up to a single, painfully predictable plot twist on the last level (the alien rune text even gives it away almost immediately!) The mission briefings can all be summarized as follows: 'blah blah blah I love the mooooon!' 'I know this sounds weird, but we really need to have a talk about raspberries.' 'Wow, isn't it weird how corrupted and single-minded we're all becoming?'”
- “Jokes are not funny, actors are bad.”
optimization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its stable performance and customizable settings, while others report significant issues such as stuttering, low frame rates, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems. Many users noted that despite the game's potential for smooth gameplay, it often struggles with performance, especially in graphically intensive scenarios, leading to frustration. Overall, while there are elements of good optimization, many players feel that the game requires further improvements to be fully playable across various hardware configurations.
- “It has versatile level options and space for creativity, good optimization, and excellent balance.”
- “The graphics are a great improvement to the original game, and the in-game HUD is amazing, even showing a miniature score ticker so you can measure your performance against previous attempts in real time.”
- “All seems highly polished, and absolutely loving the Steam friend performance trackers as well.”
- “My big complaint is the game seems extremely poorly optimized and overheating is a huge issue and it crashes often (pretty much every time you hit restart level).”
- “The game had an enormous stuttering problem on my medium-high spec PC.”
- “Performance is absolute garbage even on the lowest settings and lowest resolution; the game jumps around like crazy, which makes no sense considering that it really isn't an intensive game at all.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its motivational and thematic fit, while others find it boring or reminiscent of an overpriced restaurant ambiance. Many appreciate the ability to customize audio settings, allowing players to mute the game and listen to their own music if desired. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it also has detractors who prefer the original scores or find it lacking in engagement.
- “In addition to the high quality of the gameplay, the music, sound, and speech are all equally excellent.”
- “The music is motivational and uplifting, with brassy fanfares pushing the player onwards.”
- “With memorable characters, stunning visuals, and a soundtrack that sets the perfect tone, 'dg2' pulls players into its world and never lets go.”
- “The music is still extremely boring, but again I was able to pause the game and use the Windows key to successfully minimize the game and play other music in a media player on the desktop without causing Defense Grid 2 any problems when I returned to it.”
- “The music made me feel like I was in some overpriced restaurant; I turned that off right away.”
- “I don't like the new music that much and would really like to see/hear the old music again.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its polished performance while others report significant bugs, graphical glitches, and freezing issues that hinder gameplay. Many users experienced problems with the multiplayer mode and user interface, suggesting that the game may require further optimization and patches to address these concerns. Overall, while some players found it playable, a substantial number encountered frustrating stability issues that detracted from their experience.
- “It's well polished and runs great.”
- “I give this an 8.2/10; it's bug-free for me, looks nice, plays well, has a story/reason for doing things, and there is co-op if you would like to do that.”
- “I had given up on the game because none of the troubleshooting solutions worked.”
- “The game freezes for a good quarter of a second every single second, making it basically unplayable.”
- “Your going to want to wait on this one for a while after release... glitches, bugs, and a ton of issues currently.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the challenge and the competitive element of global leaderboards, others feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a lack of engagement as the gameplay becomes monotonous. Overall, those who dislike grinding are advised to avoid this game, as it heavily relies on repetitive mechanics and progression systems.
- “The loadout and leveling progression system just takes away from the experience and adds uninteresting grinding.”
- “This game is not as advertised; it isn't fast, it's slow and tedious. The tutorial does nothing, and immediately after 5 minutes, I wanted a refund.”
- “Not recommended, even if you're a die-hard tower defense fan - and by God, I am, but this one can't hold my interest; it turns grindy really quickly.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for introducing microtransactions, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience. While there are no intrusive ads, the presence of additional paid content has led to frustration, especially given the studio's history with cash grabs in previous titles. Players expect a fully functional game without the need to navigate through monetization schemes after purchase.
- “And no ads to get in the way.”
- “No ads to pester you about buying this item to make the game challenging or to progress further.”
- “From the beta, it appears like a shinier version of the original with microtransactions.”
- “This shouldn't be shocking as this is the studio/publisher who made Payday 2 an unbearable cash grab: 505 Games.”
- “It looks like instead of fixing this debilitating issue, they were busy adding microtransactions.”
- “If I pay money for a game, I assume that it works without having to click through a mess of ads that actually do not work.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The atmosphere of the game is generally perceived as lacking compared to its predecessor, with many reviewers noting it feels more lighthearted and less immersive than the original. While new features and options are appreciated, they fail to capture the charm and depth that defined the first game, leading to a less engaging experience overall.
- “Great game, not as atmospheric as the first but more options.”
- “A couple new features that make it somewhat different, but can't quite catch the atmosphere and charm of the first game of the series.”
- “It is a 'rated G' kind of atmosphere rather than a sci-fi thriller experience.”
- “A couple of new features make it somewhat different, but it can't quite capture the atmosphere and charm of the first game in the series.”
- “It just lacks the charm and atmosphere of its predecessor.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The sequel, while lacking the wholesomeness of the original, offers intelligent gameplay enhancements and visually appealing graphics. However, the emotional engagement is diminished due to an overwhelming number of characters and a plot that fails to support the voice actors effectively.
- “While it's certainly not as wholesome as the original, this sequel is a very intelligent successor to the classic, featuring enhanced mechanics, notably cleaner and more colorful visuals, and more nuanced and interesting enemy types.”
- “The music made me feel like I was in some overpriced restaurant; I turned that off right away.”
- “There's too many of them to become emotionally invested in, and the plot material doesn't do the voice actors any favors.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Character development in the sequel expands on the original story but is perceived as less compelling, with some users feeling it undermines the character growth established in the first game, despite maintaining a level of interest.
- “The character development is rich and nuanced, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters as their stories unfold.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that genuinely impact their growth and relationships.”
- “The depth of character development adds layers to the narrative, making each character's journey feel personal and engaging.”
- “It expands on the story from the first one, although it feels less compelling and actually slightly ruins a bit of character development from the original, but it's interesting enough.”
- “The character development feels rushed and superficial, leaving me disconnected from the characters' journeys.”
- “I expected more depth in character arcs, but they ended up feeling flat and unengaging.”