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Dungeon Defenders II

Dungeon Defenders II Game Cover
74%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
grinding, monetization
74% User Score Based on 13,231 reviews

Platforms

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Dungeon Defenders II Game Cover

About

Dungeon Defenders II is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Chromatic Games and was released on June 20, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Dungeon Defenders II" is a co-operative action tower defense game that combines role-playing elements, allowing 2-4 players to strategically place defenses, battle enemy hordes, and collect loot to reclaim Etheria. Players work together in single-player or multi-player modes with an emphasis on strategic teamwork for success. This engaging and interactive game provides challenges for both casual and hardcore gamers. Protect the lands of Etheria in this thrilling and immersive action-packed adventure.

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74%
Audience ScoreBased on 13,231 reviews
gameplay356 positive mentions
grinding760 negative mentions

  • Dungeon Defenders II offers an engaging blend of tower defense strategy and action-packed gameplay, especially enjoyable when played cooperatively with friends.
  • The graphics are vibrant and colorful, contributing to a charming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The game provides high replayability with varied gameplay modes, character customization, and opportunities for strategic grinding.
  • The aggressive monetization model, including overwhelming microtransactions and convoluted currency systems, detracts from the overall enjoyment and is perceived as exploitative.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, particularly in the late game, leading to frustration among players.
  • Technical issues such as poor optimization, frequent bugs, and stability problems significantly hinder the gameplay experience.
  • gameplay
    1,005 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Dungeon Defenders II is a mix of tower defense and action RPG elements, offering a vibrant and engaging experience, especially when played cooperatively with friends. However, many players find the progression system grindy and repetitive, with a heavy emphasis on microtransactions that can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the core mechanics are solid and the graphics are appealing, the game suffers from issues such as bugs, connectivity problems, and a lack of depth in gameplay compared to its predecessor, leading to mixed reviews on its long-term appeal.

    • “Dungeon Defenders II offers an engaging blend of tower defense strategy and action-packed gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay itself is fine, even if the camera angle is weird to get used to, and some things just feel like they require extra effort than needed, like placing down defenses.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is solid but farming shards really kills the enjoyment of progression.”
    • “The gameplay itself is very boring; you are just spamming M1 and some spells to kill health bars with a model under them.”
    • “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.”
    • “The core gameplay is repetitive, which I knew going into and was fine with; however, paying 10,000 medals for a single character is absurd.”
  • grinding
    775 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players, with many noting that while it can be enjoyable and rewarding, it often becomes tedious and time-consuming, especially in the late game. Players appreciate the strategic elements involved in grinding for gear and upgrades, particularly when playing with friends, but express frustration over the excessive time required to unlock characters and progress without spending money. Overall, the game is best suited for those who enjoy grinding and are willing to invest significant time into it.

    • “Fun, not that grindy.”
    • “Very fun to play and not that grindy.”
    • “These wyvern tokens aren't too grindy to earn.”
    • “Everything takes too much grinding and too much time.”
    • “The problem is, it is tedious playing this game alone.”
    • “The game starts great, especially with friends, the gameplay is fun and feels smooth and simple to understand but the endgame is absolutely bulls**t, around chaos vii it starts to get really grindy and on chaos viii it gets hard enough that even with chaos x equipment (the highest tier) you still get your ass kicked, not to mention the fact that you have to go like over 20 times the same map just to upgrade one single piece of equipment for one single character.”
  • graphics
    624 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Dungeon Defenders II have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, cartoonish art style and improved visuals compared to its predecessor, Dungeon Defenders I. However, some players criticize the game for its technical issues, such as poor optimization and input lag, which detract from the overall experience. While the graphics are generally considered appealing and colorful, opinions vary on whether they surpass the original game's aesthetic.

    • “The graphics are stunning, and the gameplay is addictive.”
    • “First things first, the graphics in Dungeon Defenders 2 are nothing short of eye-candy magic.”
    • “The graphics are bright and colorful, and the characters are so charming and quirky, you can't help but love them.”
    • “Old game, outdated graphics, too many heroes, not enough content.”
    • “The graphics are abysmal and are worse than Dungeon Defenders 1, and there are no servers to join.”
    • “The graphics have been increased (and by that I mean, the screen is now filled with useless things such as more grass and frilly bits to make the game look better) making smaller enemies and important pathways harder to see; it looks great but it's just annoying.”
  • story
    583 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed to negative feedback from players, with many describing it as shallow, lacking depth, and often cringe-worthy. While some appreciate the basic narrative and find it enjoyable, others criticize it for being overly simplistic and not engaging enough, often feeling like a mere backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling element. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game could benefit from a more developed and immersive storyline to enhance the player experience.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “I love the game; I used to play Dungeon Defenders 1 a ton, and this game does not disappoint, although I wish it had a longer story... I used to love that about DD1, playing with friends to reach the end and save the parents.”
    • “The story is lacking, and it really is just a re-make of the first Dungeon Defenders with many improvements and updates.”
    • “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.”
    • “The story line is dull, and lacks the content that everybody loved so much about the first Dungeon Defenders.”
  • monetization
    266 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, convoluted currency systems, and paywalls for basic quality-of-life improvements. While some players acknowledge that everything can be unlocked through free-to-play gameplay, the aggressive push for in-game purchases, particularly for inventory space and cosmetic items, detracts from the overall experience and enjoyment of the game. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as exploitative, prioritizing profit over player satisfaction.

    • “The game is free, so obviously there are in-game purchases, but you can play without spending money.”
    • “Microtransactions are mostly cosmetic, and the developers have committed to keeping it that way.”
    • “Despite having microtransactions, you can earn in-game currency to buy what the microtransactions are selling, and you don't need to spend money to enjoy the game.”
    • “The game itself is just okay, but the aggressive monetization leaves a sour taste.”
    • “This game has become too heavy on microtransactions, too focused on the multiplayer aspect without care for who may want to play on their own, and has lost some of the magic that the first game had.”
    • “The blatant disregard from the developers, the constant over monetization of everything in the game, the lack of promised true free content, the overwhelming amount of bugs in the game all bring this title down to a score it deserves.”
  • stability
    211 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent glitches, lag spikes, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players experience issues such as freezing, server timeouts, and lost items, leading to frustration and a perception of the game as a "buggy mess." While some acknowledge enjoyable mechanics and artistic design, the overwhelming consensus is that the game requires substantial improvements in stability and bug fixes to enhance the overall experience.

    • “I enjoy the mechanics and the art style, and the game is relatively bug-free.”
    • “Fun to play with friends, and overall runs great and is addicting to play!”
    • “Runs great for an early access game.”
    • “Not to mention the glitches and lag spikes you'll experience playing online.”
    • “This game is so buggy that most of my hours are spent waiting for it to load properly or resetting because of bugs.”
    • “The game is buggy, and they removed the range stats, making solo play a lot harder.”
  • optimization
    123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting frequent stuttering, lag, and crashes, making it nearly unplayable for many. Despite some improvements noted in updates, performance issues persist, particularly in later levels and during busy scenes, leading to frustration among users. Overall, the game is considered poorly optimized, with significant room for improvement in both performance and stability.

    • “The game runs smoothly on max settings, which may sound lame but I'm a dad on a budget.”
    • “Great third person tower defense game, runs smoothly, very little bugs and great to play with friends.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic; with unique yet familiar enemies and its well-optimized engine does well for the title.”
    • “Game is unplayable, can't start a map, walk around or finish a map without constant freezing and stuttering to the point it kicks me out.”
    • “The performance is just garbage; it suffers from FPS drops and lag spikes.”
    • “After nearly a year of early access on Steam (and a longer period where it wasn't available for sale), optimization is extremely poor.”
  • humor
    77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting its funny moments and charming interactions, especially when playing with friends. While some animations and elements may become repetitive or less engaging over time, the overall comedic tone, including clever patch notes and character designs, adds to the enjoyment. However, opinions vary, with some finding the humor hit-or-miss, particularly in competitive or frustrating scenarios.

    • “The shared triumphs, the hilarious mishaps, and the sheer chaos of defending against hordes of relentless foes together forge bonds stronger than steel.”
    • “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 game is really fun: it's challenging, it's really fun to play (with friends or alone), you can make friends on it, and the enemies look really funny.”
    • “The gameplay is not funny at all; it's neither dynamic nor deep.”
    • “You're not funny!”
  • replayability
    70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, "Dungeon Defenders II" is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the character customization, varied gameplay modes, and the challenge of achieving hard goals. While some reviewers note that it lacks the depth and content of its predecessor, "Dungeon Defenders," the game still offers a fun experience with plenty of opportunities for replay through different difficulty levels and character builds. However, a few players express concerns about the game's grindiness and limited map variety, which can affect long-term engagement.

    • “Overall, Dungeon Defenders II provides a captivating and replayable experience that keeps players engaged for hours.”
    • “A simple game with vast replayability, and the developers continued to work on the game despite it being released for quite some time now.”
    • “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 that there's no real replay value here.”
  • music
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its charm and ability to enhance the gaming experience, while others find it repetitive or less impactful compared to previous titles. Some users enjoy the soundtrack's fit with the game's atmosphere, describing it as captivating and nostalgic, while others feel it lacks depth and variety. Overall, the music is generally considered decent, contributing positively to the game's ambiance, though it may not stand out as a highlight for all players.

    • “I personally love the soundtrack and frequently listen to it over my Spotify playlist.”
    • “The music just so epic that what makes the game really cool.”
    • “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 art style, the maps, the music, nothing was quite the same, but worse.”
    • “Audio-wise there is nothing much, the voices are fine but are sort of irrelevant here, while music is fine and fits the theme too.”
    • “Also, the music gets repetitive very fast.”
  • emotional
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with players expressing feelings of both joy and frustration. While some appreciate the community and nostalgic elements, others feel alienated and overwhelmed by the grind, leading to disappointment and heartbreak. Overall, the game evokes a complex range of emotions, from fond memories of past experiences to current dissatisfaction with its mechanics and community dynamics.

    • “An amazing game with such a wholesome and kind community!”
    • “Overall a fun game but kinda heartbreaking, wish I never met it.”
    • “I cried.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and charming qualities, with many players appreciating the cozy, storybook feel of the world and its characters. Despite some technical issues, the game's vibrant graphics, engaging sound design, and enjoyable gameplay contribute to a magical and relaxing experience, especially when played with friends. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that enhances the enjoyment of the game.

    • “The original game had this cozy and fun atmosphere with simple gameplay elements that resulted in a lot of fun with friends.”
    • “The cartoony feel of the land of Etheria and the heroes themselves works very well to convey a storybook-type atmosphere.”
    • “Though I'd like to admit that the atmosphere in the prequel was way cozier.”
    • “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.”
    • “The atmosphere is magical and charming.”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted for its engaging third-person perspective and unique character designs, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players feel that the removal of distinctive weapon and armor traits has led to a more bland development system, detracting from the depth of character progression. Overall, while the character design is praised, opinions on the richness of character development are mixed.

    • “Especially that it includes third person and actual character development unlike any other TD game.”
    • “I like the character design, as it just looks fitting.”
    • “Interesting character development.”
    • “They removed a lot of unique weapon and armor traits, which makes character development feel bland.”
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37h Median play time
233h Average play time
9-200h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 99 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Dungeon Defenders II is a role playing game.

Dungeon Defenders II is available on PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

On average players spend around 233 hours playing Dungeon Defenders II.

Dungeon Defenders II was released on June 20, 2017.

Dungeon Defenders II was developed by Chromatic Games.

Dungeon Defenders II has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Dungeon Defenders II is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Orcs Must Die! Unchained, KurtzPel, Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis, Hero Siege, Dungeon Defenders: Awakened and others.