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Dungeon Defenders II

74%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
grinding, monetization
74% User Score Based on 26,028 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Dungeon Defenders II" is a free-to-play tower defense action RPG where players team up to protect the Eternia Crystals. Choose from various heroes, each with unique abilities, and strategically place defenses to fend off hordes of invaders. With a variety of modes, including campaign and challenge modes, players can test their skills and teamwork in this sequel to the popular "Dungeon Defenders."

Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
Dungeon Defenders II screenshot
+7
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74%
Audience ScoreBased on 26,028 reviews
gameplay696 positive mentions
grinding1.5k negative mentions

  • Dungeon Defenders II offers engaging cooperative gameplay with a unique blend of tower defense and action RPG elements, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
  • The game's vibrant graphics and charming art style contribute positively to the overall experience, creating a magical and immersive atmosphere.
  • The soundtrack is captivating and energetic, enhancing the gameplay experience and is considered one of the game's stronger aspects.
  • The monetization model is heavily criticized for being exploitative, with many players feeling that microtransactions detract from the overall enjoyment and gameplay experience.
  • The game suffers from significant performance issues, including bugs, crashes, and poor optimization, leading to frustration among players.
  • The grinding aspect of the game is seen as excessively tedious and time-consuming, which can detract from the enjoyment for those not inclined towards such mechanics.
  • gameplay
    1,962 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Dungeon Defenders II is a mix of tower defense and action RPG elements, praised for its cooperative mechanics and vibrant graphics. However, many players find the learning curve steep, with repetitive grinding and a reliance on microtransactions detracting from the overall experience. While the core gameplay is engaging and offers unique strategies through hero switching, it suffers from issues like bugs, balance problems, and a lack of depth compared to its predecessor, leading to mixed reviews on its long-term enjoyment.

    • “Drawing comparisons to tower defense games, Dungeon Defenders II outshines many with its compelling co-op gameplay and vibrant, detailed graphics.”
    • “Dungeon Defenders II excels in cooperative gameplay, offering a unique blend of tower defense and action RPG elements.”
    • “The core gameplay is very fun, and the ability to place defenses in ingenious positions is something you don't see anywhere else.”
    • “It's difficult to pick up and learn the mechanics of everything you can do.”
    • “Unfortunately, every time I started having any fun, the game threw either a greedy, scummy business practice at me, or a stupid mechanic.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is solid but farming shards really kills the enjoyment of progression.”
  • grinding
    1,488 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the grind for gear and character progression, often recommending it for those who appreciate such mechanics, others find it overwhelming and frustrating, particularly in the late game where progress can feel stagnant. Overall, the game is characterized as heavily grind-focused, requiring substantial time investment to unlock heroes and upgrade gear, which can detract from the enjoyment for those not inclined towards grinding.

    • “Very fun to play and not that grindy.”
    • “These wyvern tokens aren't too grindy to earn.”
    • “Also, inventory is shared between characters, so if you get a nice sword for your knight, no tedious mailing items between characters or banking it between them. With the press of an 'F' key (F1-F4), you instantly change characters and can equip the item.”
    • “I enjoy many games that require grinding for a bit, but any sort of progress requires an insane amount of grinding.”
    • “The game isn't necessarily that fun playing without a distraction for the repetitive grinding, therefore I would highly recommend finding players to chat to or to watch a show.”
    • “This game is a god awful follow up to Dungeon Defenders 1. I wouldn't waste your time installing because even if you like the game, you have to either spend your life's savings on stuff that should be free in general or you have to spend literally 100 hours farming to get a character.”
  • graphics
    1,254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Dungeon Defenders II receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, colorful art style and improved visual quality compared to its predecessor. However, some players feel that the new cartoonish aesthetic lacks the charm of the original and is overly simplistic or childish. Additionally, performance issues and optimization concerns have been noted, particularly on lower-end systems, impacting the overall experience.

    • “First things first, the graphics in Dungeon Defenders 2 are nothing short of eye-candy magic.”
    • “The graphics maxed out look incredible even with a ton of enemies rushing towards the core; mechanics-wise it's simple to place down the towers.”
    • “The graphics are bright and colorful, and the characters are so charming and quirky, you can't help but love them.”
    • “The art style is for the most part a downgrade from the first game even if the model and texture quality is objectively higher quality, it just isn't as interesting to look at.”
    • “Dd2 graphics are not up to par, but it's a different vibe, so it's cool.”
    • “The graphics are worse than the first game even on max settings.”
  • story
    1,146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Dungeon Defenders II is generally perceived as weak and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of missions rather than a cohesive narrative. While some appreciate the short story segments and the game's atmosphere, others criticize the campaign for being too brief and repetitive, leading to a grind-focused experience post-campaign. Overall, the game is seen as prioritizing gameplay mechanics over storytelling, leaving many players desiring a more engaging and developed plot.

    • “There is extra campaign but it does not add to the story; that said, the short story is incredible, truly a work of art, and I would like to give my sincerest thanks to the developers for making such a beautiful game.”
    • “Even its story is not directed by Michael Bay, it is still enjoyable and at some points, immersive (at least for me it is sooo immersive, I love the atmosphere of the short story of the game).”
    • “Especially the way levels are formatted, I can't even tell if the game has any sort of natural progression or story because it's all spread across like 8 different tabs with no explanation as to what any of them mean or what I'm supposed to be doing.”
    • “The story content is there albeit short, but there's enough additional modes and huge diversity in heroes, enemies, maps, and weapons that I have barely touched with under 10 hours and I can see it keeping an optimistic person like me playing 3-4 hour sessions fairly regularly.”
    • “Gameplay: after finishing the main story (the story barely exists), the core gameplay loop is extremely short and you don’t do much; it does get repetitive after a half hour or so and there is literally nothing else to do other than log out.”
  • monetization
    504 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as a "cash grab" due to the overwhelming presence of microtransactions that often detract from gameplay. While some reviews acknowledge that the game is free-to-play and allows for progression without spending money, the reliance on costly in-game purchases for characters, inventory space, and other features has left a sour impression on the community. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience and enjoyment.

    • “As a free-to-play game, there's actually a decent amount of flexibility for players who wouldn't usually purchase microtransactions.”
    • “Overall, it's worth a try for fans of the genre, but its monetization approach may not appeal to everyone.”
    • “Yes, there are microtransactions in the game that are a little steep on their prices, but you don't have to spend money on this game to get the most out of it.”
    • “Absolute dumpster fire money grab littered with microtransactions.”
    • “But it very quickly turned out into a heartless cash grab where monetization is the core of the game and gameplay is secondary (don't even consider having fun, that's not allowed).”
    • “The game has become entirely dependent on microtransactions to such an extent that it's actually making it harder to play the game.”
  • stability
    416 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting severe bugs, frequent crashes, and performance issues such as freezing and lag. Many players express frustration over the game's inability to function properly, often requiring restarts or leading to lost progress. While some acknowledge enjoyable gameplay mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is currently a "buggy mess," significantly detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Runs great for an early access game.”
    • “Not too buggy and fun gameplay.”
    • “Runs great and plays great.”
    • “This game is so buggy most of my hours are waiting for the game to load properly or resetting because of bugs.”
    • “Every single time I try to do something, the game either freezes or locks up mid-process and won't let me do anything but shut down the game and start over.”
    • “The game is also very buggy and crash-prone, requiring a lot of work to get it to run in a stable state.”
  • optimization
    248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting severe performance issues such as constant frame stuttering, lag spikes, and audio crackling. Many users express frustration over the lack of improvements despite years of development, noting that the game is poorly optimized for both low-end and high-end systems. While some players have experienced smoother performance on certain platforms, the overall consensus is that significant optimization work is still needed to enhance gameplay stability and user experience.

    • “It's very well optimized and you never get tired of the levels because there are so many options.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic; with unique yet familiar enemies and its well-optimized engine does well for the title.”
    • “Great optimization, as always a nice design and detailed animations and excellent modeling.”
    • “After playing for a while, it baffles me how unoptimized this game is after all the years it's been up, how predatory it has become in its monetization, and how confusing it has gotten with the progression...”
    • “The performance is just garbage; it suffers from FPS drops and lag spikes.”
    • “The game is unoptimized, and I experienced some bad loading and jitters at random.”
  • humor
    154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Dungeon Defenders II" is widely appreciated, with players noting its chaotic and goofy charm, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews highlight the game's funny moments, quirky animations, and humorous interactions, including clever patch notes and character designs. While some find the humor to be hit-or-miss, overall, it contributes positively to the game's enjoyable and lighthearted atmosphere.

    • “It's the perfect blend of tower defense and action RPG, with a healthy dose of humor and charm thrown in for good measure.”
    • “The shared triumphs, the hilarious mishaps, and the sheer chaos of defending against hordes of relentless foes together forge bonds stronger than steel.”
    • “The side humor thrown into their patch notes is just icing on the cake.”
    • “Plus gameplay is not funny at all, not dynamic nor with depth.”
    • “You're not funny!”
  • replayability
    132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game offers a mix of high and moderate replayability, with many players enjoying the fun gameplay and various modes that encourage repeated play. However, some critics note that it lacks the depth and content variety found in its predecessor, Dungeon Defenders 1, leading to a grindy experience for some. While many appreciate the ongoing updates and potential for new content, others feel that the current state of the game limits its long-term replay value.

    • “A simple game with vast replayability, and the developers continued to work on the game despite it has been released for quite some time now.”
    • “Dungeon Defenders II is an amazing game, the graphics are good, the storyline is acceptable, and content replayability is phenomenal.”
    • “There are 10 beautifully rendered maps to play on, with multiple levels of difficulty, and the loot system is fleshed out enough to offer hours of replayability.”
    • “I hate to say it, but Dungeon Defenders 1 has way more content and replayability.”
    • “Dd2 lacks trading, map variety, and end game replayability.”
    • “After playing 34 hours, I can already say that I'm bored of running NM4 Incursion and NM4 Necro, and there's no real replay value here.”
  • music
    116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its captivating and energetic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While some noted that the music can become repetitive, it effectively fits the game's themes and ambiance, making it enjoyable to listen to even outside of gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's stronger aspects, contributing to its charm and appeal.

    • “And they’re fighting in these beautiful, vibrant levels with incredible music that’ll make you feel like you’re saving the world, even though it’s mostly just shiny crystals.”
    • “I personally love the soundtrack and frequently listen to it over my Spotify playlist.”
    • “The soundtrack is very reminiscent of the old Dungeon Defenders with the melody slightly changed but you can still feel the sounds from the old DD's, giving it that slightly humble nostalgic feeling.”
    • “The new artstyle, the maps, the music, nothing was quite the same, but worse.”
    • “Music - 5/10 (meh)”
    • “Also, the music gets repetitive very fast.”
  • emotional
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with players expressing feelings of nostalgia, disappointment, and frustration. While some appreciate the community and the improvements made in gameplay, others feel alienated and heartbroken by the game's departure from its predecessor, leading to a sense of loss and longing for the past. The grind and technical issues further exacerbate these emotions, making the experience both addictive and emotionally taxing.

    • “Overall a fun game but kinda heartbreaking, wish I never met it.”
    • “No other game has made me feel as alienated as this game.”
    • “I cried.”
  • atmosphere
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive, cozy, and charming qualities, particularly in the original Dungeon Defenders, which evokes a storybook feel through its cartoony visuals and engaging sound design. Despite some technical glitches, players find the overall experience relaxing and enjoyable, especially when playing with friends. The game's magical ambiance and attention to detail contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a standout in the tower defense genre.

    • “The atmosphere is magical and charming.”
    • “The original game had this cozy and fun atmosphere with simple gameplay elements that resulted in a lot of fun with friends.”
    • “Open tavern creates some negative feedback on the community as a whole and the reporting system might as well not exist; which leads to a very immature atmosphere.”
    • “Though I'd like to admit that the atmosphere in the prequel was way cozier.”
    • “The cartoony feel of the land of Etheria and the heroes themselves works very well to convey a storybook-type atmosphere.”
  • character development
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features notable character development, particularly through its third-person perspective, which sets it apart from other titles in the genre. While many players appreciate the character design and graphics, some feel that the removal of unique weapon and armor traits has led to a more bland development experience. Overall, the character development is seen as interesting but could benefit from more depth.

    • “Especially that it includes third person and actual character development unlike any other TD game.”
    • “Interesting character development.”
    • “I like the character design, as it just looks fitting.”
    • “They removed a lot of unique weapon and armor traits, which makes character development feel bland.”
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38h Median play time
232h Average play time
9-200h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 200 analyzed playthroughs
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