Evil Genius 2: World Domination

Launching schemes and crushing dreams are the name of the game in Rebellion's revival of the cult secret lair simulation-strategy franchise. Our review.

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Evil Genius 2: World Domination is a single-player Real Time Strategy game with masterful graphics and compelling music. As a criminal mastermind, construct your lair, train minions, defend operations from the Forces of Justice, and achieve global domination. The game is full of humor, dense atmosphere, and a wholesome story, but beware of bugs and grinding. The satirical spy-fi theme offers a unique and entertaining experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,743 reviews

story250 positive mentions

grinding492 negative mentions

The game captures some of the charm and quirk from the original title, with improved graphics and animations.
Base building is enjoyable and allows for creative layouts, with multiple floors to expand upon.
The humor and character interactions are entertaining, providing a lighthearted experience.

The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, with many missions feeling like busywork.
The temperature management system introduced in the DLC is tedious and adds unnecessary complexity.
Minions do not return from missions, leading to a constant need for retraining and making the player feel understaffed.

story
2,971 mentions
8 % positive mentions
86 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story in "Evil Genius 2: World Domination" is described as humorous and engaging, with players enjoying the quirky dialogue and character interactions. However, many reviewers criticize the repetitive nature of missions, which often feel like busywork rather than meaningful gameplay, leading to a sense of tedium. Additionally, the game's structure, which limits players to one side mission at a time and can result in soft locks due to bugs or mission requirements, detracts from the overall experience and pacing of the story.
- “The story is fun at times, but the AI is abysmal - hostiles coming down a corridor?”
- “I was not expecting the depth in which this game pulls you in and a storyline that is both creative and humorous.”
- “The story is really long, but there's no particular developments between your genius and any other characters, just more random obstacles placed in your way.”
- “The main story is short and relies on side stories and progress gates to lengthen it, and since it's so side story reliant, once you've played through once you've already experienced most of the game and have nothing left to surprise you.”
- “The missions are repetitive, minions are an expended resource rather than something you actually want to get back, there's no skill or timing to how you do missions, the UI is completely overbearing and not well laid out, and the control scheme is poor and worse than the original.”
- “The side missions are divided between finding special loot, dealing with super agents, dealing with crime lords, and acquiring new minion types. Each side mission has like 5-6 steps, many steps with multiple parts.”
gameplay
1,416 mentions
18 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Evil Genius 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the improved base-building mechanics and charming aesthetics, but criticizing the repetitive and often tedious gameplay loop. While some enjoy the strategic elements and humor, others find the mechanics overly simplified and reminiscent of mobile games, leading to a lack of depth and engagement. Additionally, issues with poorly explained mechanics and pacing detract from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling frustrated and longing for the complexity of the original game.
- “The gameplay is fun, with a lot of different traps and room types.”
- “With its humorous charm, intricate base-building mechanics, and devious schemes, it offers a delightfully entertaining experience.”
- “The gameplay is solid and fairly rich, but the artwork and storyline make it stand out.”
- “The gameplay is boring, most of the jokes fall flat, it's missing the original's 60s charm and most of the time you are waiting for something to finish.”
- “The core gameplay loop is extremely repetitive, boring and hardly provides any challenge at all.”
- “The gameplay loop is also missing the same intrinsic fun that the first game was practically dripping with, in favor of having you follow through rote, repetitive tasks in great numbers which have zero respect for the player's time.”
graphics
711 mentions
45 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Evil Genius 2: World Domination" have received widespread praise for their vibrant, cartoonish style that effectively captures the game's humorous, spy-themed aesthetic. Many reviewers noted significant improvements over the original game's visuals, highlighting the polished animations and attention to detail, although some expressed concerns about the graphics feeling too generic or reminiscent of mobile games. Overall, while the graphics are a standout feature, opinions vary on whether they compensate for perceived shortcomings in gameplay depth and mechanics.
- “The graphics are excellent, the music quite pleasant and fitting, and the gameplay itself is easy to learn yet still proves challenging.”
- “The graphics are top-notch, with a stylized cartoonish look that's both engaging and fun to look at.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous and it runs like a dream.”
- “The graphics, while updated, feel more generic and not as stylized as the original.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack detail, failing to create a visually captivating world.”
- “It's a cash grab sequel oblivious to what made the original special, with day one DLC, that spent 50% of its money on visuals, 25% on anti-piracy measures, 20% on marketing, and whatever scraps left over on gameplay; all to target a larger audience.”
grinding
501 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that "grinding" in the game is a significant issue, with many players finding the gameplay tedious and repetitive, especially in the mid to late game. While some improvements have been noted compared to the original game, the reliance on micromanagement, long wait times for missions, and the cumbersome world map mechanics contribute to a frustrating experience that often feels like a grind rather than an engaging challenge. Overall, players express a desire for more streamlined gameplay and less tedious mechanics to enhance enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “ARPG/MMORPG reputation grinding.”
- “Branching storyline/gear grinding.”
- “The game is filled to the brim with frustrating, tedious nonsense that artificially lengthens the game and wastes your time.”
- “The world map is a tedious slog, and you have to micromanage a dozen different timers by clicking on each region, one by one, and then trying to find the tiny little icons that indicate what missions are available.”
- “The campaign is tedious and it stretches out gameplay time with numerous side missions and padding to keep you busy in the same gameplay loop for dozens of hours.”
humor
407 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in "Evil Genius 2: World Domination" receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its quirky, tongue-in-cheek style and amusing animations, while others feel it lacks the sharp wit and charm of the original game. Many find the dialogue and mission descriptions to be hit-or-miss, with some moments eliciting genuine laughter, but overall, the humor is often described as juvenile or repetitive. While the game retains some comedic elements, it appears to have shifted towards a more cartoonish and less sophisticated approach, leaving fans of the original feeling disappointed.
- “The humor in this game takes what the original did and multiplies it many times.”
- “It's a fun game at the beginning, quirky humor, art style that's a definite callback to the original.”
- “The character animation is perfectly done for this type of game and the voice over acting is absolutely hilarious when the characters interact with each other.”
- “The humor is not funny.”
- “Honestly, it feels like the whole game was designed by a committee of 50+ year old crazy cat ladies to be as unfunny as possible.”
- “But it manages to be so unfathomably unfunny, it's something to marvel at.”
music
245 mentions
49 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many praising its fitting spy-themed compositions reminiscent of classic 60s films, particularly noting the return of composer James Hannigan from the original game. However, some players have criticized the soundtrack for being repetitive and lacking variety, with a desire for more unique tracks to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, while the music is considered a highlight, it is often compared unfavorably to the original game's score, leading to mixed feelings about its execution in the sequel.
- “The music is absolutely amazing, I wonder where can I get the soundtrack!”
- “The art, music, and voice acting are superb, and for me, the base design is the main draw - I spent many hours designing and re-designing my base.”
- “The soundtrack is composed by the same person (James Hannigan) as the original and is just as fantastic if not better than the original!”
- “The sound effects and music are forgettable, doing little to enhance the atmosphere or immerse players in the game.”
- “The game's musical score becomes extremely repetitive, something that the original Evil Genius addressed through an emphasis on ambience instead of the same loop of bouncy, cheery spy thriller music.”
- “They even recycled the music from the first game... no original idea in sight - that wouldn't even be that bad if they at least understood what made the first game good, but they clearly don't.”
stability
147 mentions
10 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches, especially at launch, which hindered gameplay and caused frustration. While some users note improvements and a more polished experience after updates, others still encounter game-breaking issues and performance problems. Overall, the game is described as enjoyable but plagued by persistent bugs that can detract from the experience.
- “It's solid, fun, mostly bug free and has a lot of replayability if you like building games.”
- “The game itself, at least in my experience, runs great on my laptop.”
- “Technically the game runs great even on a low-medium machine.”
- “The game is a buggy cash grab with the heart removed and bugs that literally end your ability to progress.”
- “So buggy on release as to be completely unplayable, and before the first patches had finished rolling out its first DLC was available for purchase.”
- “I am giving a negative review hoping that this would contribute to the developers deciding to fix this game, as a long-time fan of the series and having spent nearly 60 hours in the sequel it pains me to say that the game is a buggy mess; this has sucked out most of the enjoyment of the game for me.”
replayability
110 mentions
25 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising the variety of evil geniuses and islands that offer different playstyles, while others criticize its repetitive nature and lack of meaningful content beyond the initial playthrough. Many reviewers express a desire for more unique missions and mechanics to enhance replay value, suggesting that the current design feels limited and linear. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replayability, such as different characters and strategies, many players feel it falls short compared to its predecessor.
- “Great game with amazing replayability, amazing pacing, amazing difficulty, and even more amazing graphics even if you don't have the recommended specs.”
- “The game also encourages replayability with different genius choices, each altering the gameplay experience.”
- “Fun, dynamic base building with multiple islands that feature different layouts and 4 different geniuses will lead to quite a bit of replayability.”
- “Unfortunately, due to the way the game is designed, it does not foster near the level of replayability or experimentation that was present in the original.”
- “The game feels like a worse version of the original, with none of the replayability, a much clunkier UI, and an updated world map that completely loses the personality of the original.”
- “I found the game to be so-so but lacking in soul with zero replayability.”
optimization
72 mentions
43 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players noting smooth performance and good graphics even on older systems. However, some users report performance issues, bugs, and concerns about the impact of Denuvo anti-piracy software on gameplay. While the game runs well for most, there are calls for further optimization and bug fixes to enhance the experience.
- “Things run smoothly and there's plenty of polish.”
- “The addition of randomized minions adds a little life where it was otherwise missing, and the performance is buttery smooth even with a lot happening on-screen.”
- “The game runs smoothly and you can build lots of fun traps, research weird things, and build to your heart's content with the large bases.”
- “All of the complexity of Evil Genius has been optimized out of the gameplay, and all the challenge and fun went with it.”
- “After posting on the forums to find out others with better GPUs/CPUs and they have similar poor performance, it looks like it's very unplayable in numerous ways.”
- “While it can be enjoyable, this game has some bugs which can drastically affect gameplay (people getting stuck in inaccessible spots, minions ignoring tags), iffy balancing, and it does not have a great UI (I'd say it's generally poorly optimized and doesn't present useful information well, if at all).”
monetization
55 mentions
5 % positive mentions
16 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers feeling that content was intentionally cut to be sold as DLC, reminiscent of mobile game practices. While the game lacks microtransactions at launch, players express concern that future updates may introduce them, further detracting from the experience. Overall, the monetization approach has left a negative impression, overshadowing the game's potential and nostalgia for the original.
- “The DLC monetization for this game is also in line with making it feel more like a mobile game, as they are locking content behind paywalls that honestly feels like it was just cut from the game pre-launch in order to monetize it at a later date.”
- “There is, however, a lot of potential here, and if the game gets patched so it feels like a strategy game and not an idle game full of microtransactions, the review will change.”
- “I'm hoping the four campaigns are sufficiently different from the research trees and such, and it has a lot of good ways to bring in interesting DLC without being filled with microtransactions.”
- “The DLC monetization for this game is also in line with making it feel more like a mobile game as they are locking content behind paywalls that honestly feels like it was just cut from the game pre-launch in order to monetize it at a later date.”
- “I regret buying this lazily-designed, buggy, unfinished, nostalgia-fueled cash grab.”
- “The game feels like a free-to-play mobile game without the microtransactions; I am sure they will be in the game before too long though.”
atmosphere
37 mentions
41 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its engaging visuals, excellent voice acting, and a nostalgic connection to the original title, capturing much of its charm. However, some reviewers feel it lacks the depth and humor of its predecessor, with criticisms aimed at the sound design and a diluted overall experience. While many appreciate the fun and immersive qualities, others note that the atmosphere can feel inconsistent or overshadowed by gameplay issues.
- “The voice acting is excellent, with each character having a unique and memorable voice that adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The atmosphere, music, the whole general feel and aesthetic of the game is brilliant.”
- “Rebellion did an absolutely fantastic job creating a sequel that lives up to the atmosphere and legacy of the original.”
- “But it simply lacks the soul of the original; less of an homage to over-the-top 60's spy movies, it doesn't quite hit the mark in terms of atmosphere.”
- “The sound effects and music are forgettable, doing little to enhance the atmosphere or immerse players in the game.”
- “This game lacks the humor and the atmosphere created by the original Evil Genius.”
emotional
17 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players expressing deep nostalgia and attachment to the original, while others feel disappointed by the sequel's lack of emotional depth and connection. Many reviewers highlight moments of humor and heart-wrenching experiences, but also lament the loss of features that once evoked strong feelings. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, with some finding joy and others feeling heartbroken by the changes.
- “Evil Genius 2 is the first game I've preordered in a long time that actually made me feel good and not dead inside.”
- “Manages to toe the line between goofy spy flick humor and heart-wrenching fridge horror.”
- “So heartbreaking to see a game that I loved all through my childhood treated with the disrespect the developers have treated it.”
character development
9 mentions
56 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its memorable and unique character designs, which contribute to a charming spy-fi aesthetic. While the characters, including henchmen and geniuses, are well-crafted and visually appealing, the overall narrative and pacing issues detract from the potential depth of their development. Despite these shortcomings, the game's art style and character animations evoke a nostalgic feel, enhancing the experience for players.
- “The game perfectly rocks a spy-fi aesthetic to the little details, the models are fantastically polished and the character designs are beautifully perfect.”
- “The character design is very fun and memorable, let alone the characters themselves like the henchmen and geniuses that all have unique designs and voices, then the variety of minions and their appearances, I just love the design!”
- “This gives the evil genius that you choose a lot more character development and character depth, and the cartoony style of the cutscenes really takes me back to when games were really just games and they were not turned into movies and trying to have some 'Oscar' worthy acting.”
- “Irritatingly, the game has all the story, animation, character design, and building block 'assets' it needs to be a great game, but is let down by tragic game design and slow pacing of the campaign and world map—pain points that, with some better design choices, could have been lessened.”
- “The animations feel pretty generic in contrast to the character design.”
- “This gives the evil genius that you choose a lot more character development and character depth, but the cartoony style of the cutscenes really takes me back to when games were just games and not turned into movies trying for 'Oscar' worthy acting.”