Dungeon Keeper™ 2

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 393 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Dungeon Keeper™ 2 Game Cover
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In Dungeon Keeper™ 2, you build and defend an evil underground kingdom, attracting devilish creatures to join your dark hordes. Use torture devices, traps, and magic to create a deadly dungeon, while managing and maintaining the morale of your minions. Play with up to 4 friends in multiplayer mode, proving who is the most ruthless dungeon keeper.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 393 reviews
graphics6 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • A timeless classic that combines strategy, humor, and dark fantasy, still enjoyable after 25 years.
  • Great nostalgic experience with fun gameplay mechanics, allowing players to build and manage their own dungeons.
  • The game runs smoothly on modern systems and retains its charm, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
  • The Steam version has bugs, including the inability to summon certain powerful creatures in the campaign.
  • Graphics and controls feel dated, and some players have reported issues with mouse sensitivity and resolution settings.
  • The AI in skirmish mode is often too easy, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.
  • graphics27 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its late 90s origins, yet many players appreciate the stylized art design that still holds some charm today. While some users express a desire for a graphical refresh to modern standards, they acknowledge that the visuals can still be enjoyable, especially for those familiar with the era. Overall, the game's graphics may deter younger audiences, but nostalgic players find value in its classic aesthetic.

    • “I was pleasantly surprised by the first-person mode when you possess your creatures; the graphics hold up very well for their age, and touring your dungeon and exploring the maps in first person is very cool.”
    • “While the graphics may show their age, the game's charm and depth make it a title worth revisiting for both nostalgic players and those new to the dungeon management genre.”
    • “Dungeon Keeper 2 is the successor of the original DK game with great improvements in graphics and gameplay mechanics for its time (released in 1999).”
    • “The graphics are outdated, sure, but the art design is executed so well, it still looks fantastic to this day.”
    • “Graphics might be off-putting for younger audiences.”
    • “However, it seems to lack some resolution modes and a lot of minor graphic problems.”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its dark humor, simple mechanics, and a challenging difficulty curve that evolves throughout the game. While some mechanics may feel confusing or outdated, the overall experience is engaging and entertaining, particularly for fans of real-time strategy and dungeon management genres. The game successfully combines fun building elements with a unique narrative, making it a nostalgic yet still enjoyable title for players.

    • “This game has great dark, tongue-in-cheek humor along with simple-to-learn gameplay and a tough but fair difficulty curve.”
    • “Its innovative approach to the real-time strategy genre, coupled with entertaining gameplay and a unique setting, solidifies its status as a must-play for fans of management games.”
    • “A relic from an era when video games could take themselves less seriously, be creative with its mechanics, and still be both incredibly fun and incredibly challenging towards the end-game.”
    • “Few gameplay mechanics that do not make much sense and make it hard to keep track; it kinda needs a remaster or remake. However, 'War for the Overworld' is identical and is way more modern, so go check that out.”
    • “For a game where one of the major mechanics is knocking out enemies and then deciding whether to leave them to die or take them to your prison, the game has a delightful sense of humor and doesn't take the subject matter seriously at all.”
    • “While I didn't care for the possession mechanics at first, I grew to love storming through dungeons to juke AI and tear up traps!”
  • story20 mentions

    The game's story mode features a substantial amount of content, including 20 main missions and 5 bonus levels, alongside a freeplay pet dungeon mode that allows for creative dungeon building. While the missions are generally varied and enjoyable, some players find the endings anticlimactic and the gameplay can become repetitive midway through. Overall, the engaging progression and sandbox options contribute positively to the experience, despite minor critiques regarding mission execution.

    • “Another plus, there is a lot of content; the single player story mode is 20 missions longer plus 5 bonus levels you unlock by finding hidden items in the campaign, plus there is also the pet dungeon mode which is essentially freeplay on a series of different challenge maps where the goal is simple: just to build a dungeon as you please and get a certain number of points.”
    • “Blending FPS with base building, it blows my mind that this Bullfrog beauty is as old as it is. Great progression through the story-based quests as well as sandbox options for those that want to build their ideal dungeon.”
    • “The missions are varied and exciting, and it's amazingly bug-free!”
    • “My only real critique is that the end of each mission can feel a bit anticlimactic.”
    • “About halfway through, story missions can get repetitive in their completion.”
    • “It would be awesome if they could refresh the story and everything else, but just make it more modern graphics.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever blend of dark comedy and lightheartedness, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the amusing cutscenes and the game's ability to balance serious themes with a playful tone, making it a timeless classic that remains entertaining and engaging. The humor is described as both charming and delightful, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Each time I visit its dank, gloomy halls and hilarious characters, it enthralls me all over again.”
    • “The game is a lot of fun, and I feel it strikes a great balance between its humor and seriousness in tone.”
    • “For a game where one of the major mechanics is knocking out enemies, and then deciding whether to leave them to die or take them to your prison, the game has a delightful sense of humor and doesn't take the subject matter seriously at all.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with minimal crashes or freezes, though one user experienced a significant freeze when using alt+f4. Most players report smooth performance and compatibility with Windows, contributing to an enjoyable experience despite occasional glitches.

    • “Runs great, looks great.”
    • “Runs great on Windows.”
    • “Great classic, runs great and happy to report that language localizations from the original release are included!”
    • “It glitches at the worst time, but it's entertaining.”
    • “No crashes or freezes, except once when I pressed Alt+F4 and it froze so hard I had to reboot my PC.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, particularly with the inclusion of "Disco Inferno," which enhances the lively atmosphere when monsters celebrate in the casino. Players appreciate the great overall soundtrack, voice acting, and how the music complements the fun, nostalgic gameplay experience.

    • “Great music, great atmosphere, great voice acting, fun old school gameplay, no EA launcher.”
    • “A monster winning the jackpot in your casino will cause every creature there to begin dancing to the song 'Disco Inferno'.”
    • “I have thought of this game my whole life every time I heard the song 'Disco Inferno', then I think about right-click slapping the snot out of my minions in the casino.”
    • “I hear music in the air.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with players appreciating the opportunity to immerse themselves in its fantastic environment, complemented by great music and voice acting. The combination of challenging gameplay and a captivating atmosphere creates a memorable experience that players feel must be experienced firsthand.

    • “Most levels do allow you to take some time, which is great to soak in the fantastic atmosphere of the game.”
    • “It's such a wonderful, challenging, and atmospheric game that really has to be sampled to be understood.”
    • “Great music, great atmosphere, great voice acting, fun old-school gameplay.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is reported to be well-optimized, running smoothly on the Steam Deck without any issues, making it a playable experience for users.

    • “Game runs smoothly with no problems at all.”
    • “However, based on its performance, it seems it should be considered playable on the Steam Deck.”
    • “God bless you, Andrzej Butruk, for your outstanding performance!”
    • “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it nearly unplayable on lower-end hardware.”
    • “Despite its potential, the optimization is so poor that it frequently crashes on my system.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that even on high-end PCs, the frame rates drop significantly during intense scenes.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game boasts impressive replayability, remaining engaging and enjoyable even after two decades.

    • “Even after twenty years, this game has great replay value.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
    • “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different paths and strategies available.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel well-earned.”
    • “I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation with different strategies.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
    • “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
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Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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