DROD: The Second Sky

About

"DROD: The Second Sky" is a turn-based strategy puzzle game, where you play as Beethro Budkin, a dungeon pest exterminator, in a chess-like environment. In this latest title of the series, Beethro faces off against the Rooted Empire in a race against time before the Grand Event. With its unique story and never-before-seen game elements, this game is designed to challenge and reward hardcore puzzle enthusiasts.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 35 reviews

story4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features some of the best puzzles in the DROD series, offering a challenging and rewarding experience for fans.
It is a culmination of the series, showcasing improved production values, new mechanics, and a rich story that enhances the gameplay.
The extensive community support and user-generated content provide endless replayability and additional challenges for players.

The game assumes familiarity with previous DROD titles, making it a poor starting point for newcomers to the series.
Some players may find the difficulty curve steep and overwhelming, especially without prior experience with earlier games.
There are technical issues reported, particularly on Mac, where the game can crash and developers have not addressed these problems.

story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The story in the game is praised for its depth and beauty, particularly in the final chapter, which ties together the overarching narrative of the DROD series. Players appreciate the blend of quirky storytelling with intricate puzzles, as well as the rich lore and user-generated content that enhances the experience. While some feel the focus has shifted more towards the narrative than the puzzles, the overall progression and world-building remain engaging and well-executed.
- “The last chapter is really beautiful for the story too; it's very interesting once you understand what it is saying.”
- “Chronologically, The Second Sky is the last part of Beethro's story in the DROD series, which started from King Dugan's Dungeon and was followed up by Journey to Rooted Hold and The City Beneath.”
- “The world is filled with details and lore; every room has new puzzle concepts or advances the really long and epic story to its ultimate conclusion.”
- “There's also story spoilers for the previous games, if you care.”
- “Felt like they were relying more on story than on puzzles here; however, the addition of chain chomps in a top-down puzzle game is cool as hell.”
- “The story and progression of Gunthro felt a little more enjoyable to me (traveling to other dungeons on a big traversable world vs the map/hub in this one), but the progress and hub is still great and very well done in this one too!”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay is characterized by a steep learning curve, as it builds on previous installments with new mechanics while expecting players to recall earlier tricks. The difficulty escalates quickly, making it less suitable for newcomers to the series, and some levels require players to adapt their strategies by using different weapons. Overall, it retains the classic DROD gameplay but demands a solid understanding of its intricacies.
- “With plenty of devilishly new mechanics to tease and challenge the puzzling mind.”
- “The game itself is classic DROD gameplay with new mechanics, and as a first time in the series, some dungeons will force you to use a weapon other than your sword.”
- “Part of this comes from the length, but part of it comes from the fact that each level still introduces new DROD mechanics while expecting you to remember all the tricks and intricacies of the previous installments.”
- “It doesn't bother to explain the majority of the returning mechanics and elements, and the difficulty starts out fairly high and continues to escalate.”
- “I would not recommend buying this final entry as your first DROD game due to this game building up on the series in terms of difficulty and mechanics.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of wit and drama, offering both funny moments and philosophical insights that provoke thought. Players appreciate the clever writing and character-driven comedy, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Funny, philosophical, thought-provoking, or just some good old character drama.”
- “It also has some great humor (duh duh duuuuhhhhhh < dramatic music)”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game features a blend of new tracks alongside classic themes, enhancing the overall experience with a humorous touch, particularly highlighted by dramatic musical cues.
- “Some better graphics and animations, some new music along with the classic thinking tunes.”
- “It also has some great humor (duh duh duuuuhhhhhh < dramatic music)”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the game's approach to grinding, noting that it engages their intelligence and problem-solving skills without becoming tedious. The challenging puzzles and clever design contribute to a rewarding experience that keeps the gameplay enjoyable.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and often tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the repetitive nature of grinding to be a major turn-off; it detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The amount of time required for grinding is excessive, leading to frustration rather than fun.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The graphics and animations have seen notable improvements, enhancing the overall visual experience, while the addition of new music complements the classic tunes effectively.
- “The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and intricate details that bring the game world to life.”
- “The animations are smooth and fluid, enhancing the overall visual experience.”
- “The combination of new music and classic tunes complements the beautiful graphics perfectly.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
- “Character models are poorly designed and animations are stiff, making the game visually unappealing.”
- “The environments are bland and lack detail, which detracts from the overall experience.”