Dungeon Defenders II

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,111 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • grinding
Dungeon Defenders II Game Cover
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"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."

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,111 reviews
gameplay74 positive mentions
grinding123 negative mentions
  • Great graphics and fun gameplay, especially with friends.
  • Offers a unique blend of tower defense and RPG elements.
  • Regular updates and community engagement from developers.
  • Heavy reliance on microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics.
  • Progression can feel grindy and tedious, especially for new players.
  • Many bugs and server issues that affect gameplay experience.
  • gameplay241 mentions

    The gameplay of Dungeon Defenders II has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a shift from the mechanics of the original game. While some appreciate the improved graphics and the introduction of new mechanics, others criticize the game for its heavy monetization, repetitive gameplay, and lack of depth compared to its predecessor. Overall, the gameplay can be enjoyable, especially in cooperative play, but it is marred by issues such as clunky mechanics, confusing progression, and a focus on grinding and microtransactions.

    • “The gameplay has been improved upon by leaps and bounds over the game's development.”
    • “Gameplay is a bit choppy, however once you can look past that, it's the same old Dungeon Defenders 2 experience that I've come to love over the years.”
    • “As a player of the original, Dungeon Defenders 2 just expands upon the original concepts to bring you much more diversity and gameplay options.”
    • “But it very quickly turned out to be 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).”
    • “Terribly optimized, won't run on my great computer at low settings; as far as I can tell, there are no rewards for having bought the game for $20 before it was fully released. Gameplay is repetitive and boring.”
    • “The gameplay just feels like a big step down from its predecessor, and the new engine, while nice looking, doesn't do the game any favors.”
  • graphics152 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, cartoonish art style and significant improvements over the original Dungeon Defenders. While some players appreciate the updated visuals and smooth animations, others feel that the new style is less appealing than the first game's graphics, citing issues with optimization and cluttered environments. Overall, the game is noted for its beautiful graphics, though opinions vary on whether these enhancements truly elevate the experience compared to its predecessor.

    • “The graphics are beautiful.”
    • “The art style is fantastic, a huge update from the first game.”
    • “The graphics are amazing: just look at all the color in the art style.”
    • “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.”
    • “Play Dungeon Defenders 1 and this back-to-back and see this is a huge step backwards, even in graphics.”
  • grinding125 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with players noting that it becomes increasingly tedious and time-consuming as they progress, particularly in the endgame. Many reviews highlight the need for extensive farming to unlock heroes and gear, often requiring hundreds of hours of repetitive gameplay, which can feel unfulfilling and frustrating. While some players enjoy the grind and find it rewarding, the overall sentiment leans towards it being overly grindy, with concerns about microtransactions exacerbating the issue.

    • “Also, inventory is shared between characters, so if you get a nice sword for your knight, there's no tedious mailing of items between characters or banking them. With the press of an 'F' key (F1-F4), you can instantly change characters and equip the item.”
    • “These wyvern tokens aren't too grindy to earn.”
    • “The current state of the game is a mess, requiring you to grind for weeks to get new heroes, and the best shards are only found in the most difficult maps, getting to the point of being able to do those maps is a long, boring and grindy road.”
    • “Getting to max level and grinding out for the best gear you can and then replacing it instantly after climbing to the next nightmare difficulty becomes less and less rewarding and feels like more of a chore.”
    • “For those that still want this game you will have your fair share of gaming hours that you enjoy until you reach the endless grinding phase when you start to feel bored of its infinite repeating boredom.”
  • story83 mentions

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it weak and confusing, especially after the initial campaign. While some appreciate the humorous elements and the connection to the original game's lore, others criticize the lack of depth and progression, feeling that the focus has shifted towards grinding and daily missions rather than a compelling narrative. Overall, the game is seen as needing further development to enhance its storytelling aspect.

    • “The story is cute and the little elves are even cuter.”
    • “Dungeon Defenders II is a great game; it has a developing story and that aspect of RPG + tower defense that is very cool.”
    • “Great graphics and a cool storyline.”
    • “The only problem I have is that the storyline is confusing after the original campaign on what to play.”
    • “I would assume that expansions are on their way, as I cannot stress enough how little the plot progresses, so if you're looking for a full story, you won't find it yet.”
    • “It doesn't have much of a story to it yet, although one might be added later on, which would be much more entertaining to know what we were doing exactly and how it fits into the first one's story if it does at all.”
  • monetization59 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing frustration over the heavy reliance on microtransactions and battle passes that detract from gameplay enjoyment. Players feel that the shift to a free-to-play model has led to a grind-heavy experience, where essential content is locked behind paywalls, undermining the original game's charm. Overall, the consensus is that the monetization approach prioritizes profit over player experience, leaving many dissatisfied.

    • “I can see them being valid concerns for the long run; hopefully, they maintain microtransactions strictly to new characters and cosmetics.”
    • “All character and item content can be unlocked by in-game currency even though microtransactions are possible.”
    • “Microtransactions yes, pay to win no.”
    • “But it very quickly turned 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).”
    • “I hope that you read this review before considering this game, trust me, there are many more games in this genre that are much better and not a complete cash grab.. you get yellow coins that are absolutely worthless, and the gems that are required to buy everything require microtransactions of actual cash to buy.... this game will cost you hundreds of dollars for basic enjoyable gameplay... pass on it, trust me.”
    • “The game is just a huge cash grab now, microtransactions being more important than finishing the game.”
  • stability40 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, server issues, and glitches that hinder gameplay. While some users noted improvements and a more refined experience compared to previous versions, others expressed frustration with the game's performance, particularly during its early access phase. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game shows promise, it remains plagued by stability issues that need addressing.

    • “Still in early access but yet pretty bug-free.”
    • “Runs great and plays great.”
    • “Well, look at all those rewards! I'll get early access and then play when it's ready and not buggy!”
    • “Dungeon Defenders 2 is a buggy and unfinished mess.”
    • “The problem was how buggy and inconsistent the performance was.”
    • “The game is buggy, and they removed the range stats making solo play a lot harder.”
  • optimization24 mentions

    The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players reporting poor performance even on high-end systems, frequent bugs, and micro-stuttering issues. While some acknowledge that the game is still in early access and may improve over time, the current state is considered subpar, leading to frustration among users, especially those who pre-ordered. Overall, the consensus is that significant optimization work is needed to enhance gameplay experience.

    • “Things are more optimized in Dungeon Defenders II!”
    • “This is honestly one of the best defense games I've ever played, and now it's free, what's to go wrong, other than some performance issues that are now almost fixed fully.”
    • “The thing that I believe that DD2 has done amazingly is that instead of being able to allocate points to character and tower stats directly as a result of leveling up, the character and tower stats go up automatically, and once you reach level 5, you gain 2 points that you can put into passive skills to improve your character's performance in a series of ways.”
    • “This game is poorly optimized; it did cost to buy the game and now they made it free but made every character like 20 bucks to buy and didn't give anything to the people that pre-ordered the game and actually bought it when it cost.”
    • “The problem was how buggy and inconsistent the performance was.”
    • “Game optimization seems a bit sluggish; it feels that the game requires a higher spec to play smoothly.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in Dungeon Defenders 2 is generally well-received, with many players praising its charm and energetic quality, often finding it enjoyable enough to listen to outside the game. While the soundtrack effectively complements the game's levels and evokes nostalgia from the original title, some users note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music stands out as one of the game's stronger aspects, contributing positively to the overall experience.

    • “I personally love the soundtrack and frequently listen to it over my Spotify playlist.”
    • “The background music is energetic and moving.”
    • “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.”
    • “Also, the music gets repetitive very fast.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted through its amusing patch notes and a funny storyline, with NPCs offering entertaining one-liners. Players find the cooperative gameplay can lead to both hilarious and frustrating moments, making it enjoyable whether played solo or with friends. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay elements.

    • “They also have a great sense of humor with patch notes.”
    • “- campaign with quite a funny storyline.”
    • “This game is a funny game to play with friends or solo!”
  • replayability9 mentions

    Overall, players highlight the strong replayability of the game, noting that it offers a variety of gameplay options, levels, and character combinations that keep the experience fresh. The ascension and shard systems further enhance replay value, allowing for continuous progression and new strategies. While some comparisons to the first game suggest it may not reach the same heights, many still find it engaging enough to play repeatedly.

    • “Very nice game to play with friends, and has tons of replay value if you change what you do.”
    • “The ascension system and shard system make this game have a higher replayability as you can always get more stats when you play.”
    • “It has tons of replayability, so you are never bored of Dungeon Defenders 2.”
    • “Dd1 still has infinite replay value, just stick with that one; this is a flawed mistake.”
    • “Doesn't seem as good as the first one; I feel like they're trying to up the replayability of maps or something...”
    • “The ascension system and shard system make this game have a higher replayability as you always can get more stats when you play the game.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    Players express a mix of nostalgia and disappointment regarding the emotional impact of the game. While some appreciate the improvements and the community connections formed, others feel heartbroken by the game's shortcomings and its departure from the beloved original, leading to a sense of loss and unmet expectations. Overall, the emotional experience is characterized by a blend of fond memories and current frustrations.

    • “Overall a fun game but kinda heartbreaking, wish I never met it.”
    • “Nevertheless I wish all the best for Trendy, as I owe them the countless hours of fun, the meeting of new friends whom I still talk to today, and the wholesome escape from reality that the first game provided.. but this isn't a game for me.”
    • “This is nothing like DD1, which is heart-wrenching.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players find it interesting, others feel it suffers due to the removal of unique weapon and armor traits, leading to a more bland experience.

    • “Interesting character development”
    • “They removed a lot of unique weapon and armor traits, which makes character development feel bland.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in character progression leaves the experience feeling shallow.”
    • “Character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its magical and charming qualities, creating an immersive experience that captivates players.

    • “The atmosphere is magical and charming.”
    • “Amazing atmosphere”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

56hMedian play time
137hAverage play time
11-230hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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