DROD: The Second Sky

About

DROD: The Second Sky is a single player puzzle game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Caravel Games and was released on November 18, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

"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

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

story4 positive mentions

music2 negative mentions

The puzzles are interesting and satisfying to solve, with a good balance of complexity and subtlety.
The game offers a vast amount of content, including fan-made levels and a dedicated community for hints and support.
It serves as a worthy culmination of the DROD series, featuring improved production values and engaging storytelling.

New players may struggle to understand the mechanics and difficulty, as the game assumes familiarity with previous titles in the series.
There are significant technical issues, particularly for Mac users, with crashes that remain unresolved by developers.
The puzzle quality can vary, and some players may find certain puzzles excessively difficult without prior experience.

story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The story in the game is praised for its depth and beauty, particularly in the last chapter, which ties together the narrative of Beethro's journey throughout the DROD series. While some players felt the focus shifted more towards storytelling than puzzles, the overall narrative progression and character development, especially in relation to Gunthro's adventures, were well-received. The game features dedicated voice acting that enhances the storytelling experience, making it a compelling aspect of the gameplay.
- “The last chapter is really beautiful for the story too; it's very interesting once you understand what it is saying.”
- “Fun fun game, great story, phenomenal puzzles, and dedicated voice actors.”
- “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!”
- “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.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is characterized by a steep difficulty curve and a lack of explanation for returning mechanics, making it less accessible for newcomers to the series. Players are advised against starting with this final entry, as it builds on previous games in terms of complexity and challenge.
- “The gameplay builds up on the series in terms of difficulty and mechanics, providing a challenging experience for returning players.”
- “The difficulty starts out fairly high and continues to escalate, making for an engaging and rewarding gameplay experience.”
- “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.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game features a blend of new tracks alongside classic tunes, 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)”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 graphics and classic music creates a nostalgic yet fresh atmosphere.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game for its engaging puzzle design that challenges their intelligence without becoming tedious. The game successfully balances difficulty and enjoyment, making the grinding feel rewarding rather than frustrating.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, often delivered with a dramatic flair that enhances its comedic effect. Players appreciate the cleverness and timing of the jokes, contributing to an engaging and entertaining experience.
- “It also has some great humor (duh duh duuuuhhhhhh < dramatic music)”