Evil Genius 2: World Domination

About

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

Evil Genius 2: World Domination screenshot

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,261 reviews

story312 positive mentions

grinding602 negative mentions

Fun and engaging gameplay with a charming art style and humorous dialogue.
Improved base-building mechanics and the ability to create multi-level lairs.
Offers a unique experience of playing as a supervillain, allowing for creative strategies and traps.

Repetitive gameplay loop with long waiting times for research and missions to complete.
Limited minion cap and lack of meaningful consequences for actions, making the game feel less challenging.
Bugs and poor AI pathfinding can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

story
3,620 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
85%
6%
The story in "Evil Genius 2: World Domination" is often described as lacking depth and variety, with many players noting that the missions feel repetitive and formulaic. While the game introduces unique characters and humorous dialogue, the overall narrative is criticized for being overly linear and tedious, with players frequently encountering bugs that can lock them out of progression. The requirement to complete one side mission at a time, often leading to grinding and waiting, detracts from the enjoyment of the gameplay and story experience.
- “The game shines in its storytelling, with a campaign that cleverly integrates classic spy thriller elements.”
- “The story is fun at times, and the quirky humor and cool gadgets keep things engaging.”
- “Each evil genius has its own storyline and abilities, making it interesting to see where each one will take you in your quest for world domination.”
- “The main story progression is tediously slowed down by a checklist of multistep side missions which must be completed one at a time.”
- “You can only do one side mission at a time, which makes the game feel like a grind as you wait for missions to complete.”
- “The missions are repetitive and lack variety, often boiling down to the same tasks over and over again.”
gameplay
1,771 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
69%
13%
The gameplay of "Evil Genius 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the base-building mechanics are solid and visually appealing, the overall gameplay loop can become repetitive and tedious over time. Critics highlight issues such as poorly explained mechanics, excessive waiting times, and a lack of depth compared to the original game, leading to a feeling of grindiness. Despite these drawbacks, some players appreciate the humor, charm, and improvements in graphics, suggesting that the game has potential but requires further refinement and balancing to enhance the overall experience.
- “Evil Genius 2 revives the series with charm, humor, and addictive lair-building gameplay.”
- “With its easy-to-learn gameplay and satisfying power trip, it's a great choice for fans of base-building and strategy games.”
- “The strategic depth of minion management and world domination plans provides a robust and engaging gameplay loop.”
- “The quest system and having to only be able to work on one at a time (one main and one side quest) slows down the gameplay for no real foreseeable reason.”
- “Sadly, the gameplay doesn't hold up, as it gets repetitive and boring quite fast - if there was a mixed rating available to give, I'd give EG2 that rating.”
- “The core gameplay loop is extremely repetitive, boring and hardly provides any challenge at all.”
graphics
881 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
3%
The graphics of "Evil Genius 2: World Domination" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the vibrant, cartoonish art style and improved animations that enhance the game's charm and humor. However, some critics argue that while the visuals are a significant upgrade from the original, they come at the cost of gameplay depth and can feel overly simplistic or generic. Overall, the game's aesthetic is appreciated for its nostalgic nod to spy films, but it is often noted that the graphics alone do not compensate for the perceived shortcomings in gameplay mechanics.
- “The graphics are top-notch, with a stylized cartoonish look that's both engaging and fun to look at.”
- “The art style is great, for what it is, but is obviously a departure from the original spy movie parody, but I mean it's fine if you enjoy it.”
- “The graphics are excellent, the music quite pleasant and fitting, and the gameplay itself is easy to learn yet still proves challenging.”
- “The graphics, while updated, feel more generic and not as stylized as the original.”
- “Evil Genius 2 is a boring, shallow mess with a low-quality Saturday morning cartoon art style and sense of humor.”
- “Incredibly flawed, worse than the original in all but the technical aspects, such as graphics, resolution support, etc. milked with DLC.”
grinding
614 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
98%
The reviews highlight that the game suffers from excessive grinding and tedious mechanics, particularly in its world stage and mission structures, which often feel like a chore rather than engaging gameplay. Players frequently express frustration with the slow progression, repetitive tasks, and the need to manage multiple timers, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel more like a mobile game than a traditional PC title. While some enjoy the initial fun and charm, many agree that the game becomes increasingly tedious and unbalanced as they progress.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Branching storyline/gear grinding.”
- “ARPG/MMORPG rep grinding.”
- “The main story progression is tediously slowed down by a checklist of multistep side missions which must be completed one at a time.”
- “To do a single play-through without exploits was like 100 hours (on max speed the whole time) for what should have been a 40-50 hour game, everything is so grindy and padded.”
- “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.”
humor
531 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Evil Genius 2" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its quirky, campy charm reminiscent of 90s spy movies, while others feel it lacks the sharp wit and memorable moments of its predecessor. While some find the dialogue and animations genuinely funny, others criticize the humor as childish or repetitive, noting a significant reduction in the cleverness and variety of comedic elements compared to the original game. Overall, the game retains a lighthearted tone, but opinions vary on its effectiveness and originality in delivering humor.
- “Evil Genius 2 revives the series with charm, humor, and addictive lair-building gameplay.”
- “The quirky humor and cool gadgets keep things fun, though missions can get repetitive.”
- “With its humorous charm, intricate base-building mechanics, and devious schemes, it offers a delightfully entertaining experience.”
- “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
316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
48%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and fitting soundtrack that evokes a classic spy movie vibe, reminiscent of the original game's score by James Hannigan. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over extended play sessions, and there is a desire for more variety in the tracks. Overall, while the music enhances the game's atmosphere and charm, it may not fully meet the expectations set by its predecessor.
- “The music is fantastic and the voice lines for the minions/narrator are great to set the scene of you being a super villain.”
- “The soundtrack is a callback to all the Bond and other spy movies, which is cool.”
- “The music is absolutely amazing; I wonder where I can get the soundtrack!”
- “The soundtrack is limited, with only about three tracks, and it seems like no effort was made to add more variety.”
- “The music is so repetitive that I hear it in my nightmares.”
- “The sound effects and music are forgettable, doing little to enhance the atmosphere or immerse players in the game.”
stability
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
1%
89%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly at launch. While some users note improvements and a more polished experience compared to the original, others still encounter frustrating issues that can hinder gameplay, such as crashes and unresponsive AI. Overall, while there are positive remarks about the game's fun elements, the consensus indicates that it remains somewhat unstable and in need of further updates to address ongoing problems.
- “This game is really good and bug-free with a lot of content in 2023.”
- “It's solid, fun, mostly bug-free, and has a lot of replayability if you like building games.”
- “Technically, the game runs great even on a low-medium machine.”
- “I really wanted to enjoy this game, but it's all buggy that I can't recommend it.”
- “But this... this sequel game is such a buggy mess, I can't even recommend it in this state.”
- “The game is buggy, has a very poor information system, plenty of unexplained mechanics, unnecessary micro management and/or arbitrary time sinks which in combination makes the game frustratingly hard to play or figure out.”
replayability
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
12%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting limited replay value due to repetitive gameplay and linear missions, while others appreciate the variety offered by different geniuses and islands, which can enhance the experience. Many reviews suggest that while there are elements that encourage replayability, such as unique playstyles and community features, the overall design may not support long-term engagement. Overall, opinions range from high replayability potential to significant limitations, often depending on personal preferences and playstyles.
- “It's not perfect, but it is a unique, fun, and engaging experience, with decent replay value due to the 5 different geniuses and 4 different hideouts.”
- “Great game with amazing replayability, amazing pacing, amazing difficulty, and even more amazing graphics even if you don't have the recommended specs.”
- “Each evil genius has his own take on world domination, his own pros and cons, missions and dialogue that are unique only to them, and this skyrockets replayability far beyond the reach of the original game.”
- “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.”
- “Once you play all of the different evil geniuses, there isn't much left for replay value.”
optimization
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
45%
12%
Overall, the optimization of the game is generally well-received, with many players noting that it runs smoothly on a variety of systems, including older hardware. While some users report minor performance issues and bugs, the majority find the game visually appealing and technically polished, with effective use of the Vulkan API enhancing performance. However, there are calls for further optimization, particularly regarding base management features and the removal of performance-hindering DRM like Denuvo.
- “Could be the ultimate tower defense, plus base building, very strategic and a player must think outside the box to make a base efficient as possible. Go to YouTube and you'll see, from multiple space rooms to complex partial rooms that are optimized to the fullest.”
- “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.”
- “Furthermore, the game lacks basic optimization and automation settings: for instance, during the game you will have your equipment destroyed hundreds of times: a simple 'rebuild room as was' button would significantly improve the game, but no, very basic options are unfortunately lacking.”
- “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.”
monetization
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
21%
75%
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" that capitalizes on nostalgia for the original title. Players express disappointment over the presence of DLC that feels like cut content, and the overall design is likened to mobile games lacking microtransactions, leading to a perception of greed and poor value for money. Despite some potential in the gameplay, the monetization practices overshadow the experience, leaving many feeling regretful about their purchase.
- “I know that despite the bad monetization practices, there's a really good game underneath.”
- “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.”
- “Although EG2 doesn't contain microtransactions to evade these enforced waiting periods, you can see the gameplay model would be ripe for their inclusion.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
6%
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its charm, engaging graphics, and excellent voice acting, successfully capturing elements from the original title. However, some players feel it lacks the depth and humor of its predecessor, with criticisms aimed at the repetitive gameplay and diluted experience. Overall, while the atmosphere is a highlight, it is not enough to fully compensate for other gameplay shortcomings.
- “The atmosphere is really good fun, and the mechanics have been really interesting to unpack.”
- “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
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players expressing deep nostalgia and attachment to the original, feeling heartbroken over perceived disrespect in the sequel's design and mechanics. While some moments evoke laughter and joy, others highlight frustration and disappointment, particularly regarding character development and gameplay choices that detract from the emotional engagement. Overall, the emotional impact varies widely, with players torn between fond memories and current dissatisfaction.
- “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
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive character design and voice acting, which contribute to a memorable and engaging experience. However, while the unique designs and aesthetic are praised, the lack of depth in character interactions and repetitive dialogue detracts from the overall impact, leaving players wanting more variety and meaningful development. Despite the strong visual appeal, the gameplay mechanics and pacing issues hinder the potential for deeper character exploration.
- “However, it stays committed to a theme I find really endearing; the character designs are really solid, and the core gameplay loop is enough to make me keep playing until I lose track of time.”
- “The game perfectly rocks a spy-fi aesthetic with little details; the models are fantastically polished and the character designs are beautifully perfect.”
- “This gives the evil genius that you choose a lot more character development and depth, and the cartoony style of the cutscenes really takes me back to when games were just games and not turned into movies.”
- “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.”
- “Character design is okay, but there are big minus points for all the geniuses having the same dialogue for cutscenes and for the lack of difference in how you can utilize them. All of them boil down to an efficiency boost, killing a minion every now and then, and having one flavor skill each.”
- “The animations feel pretty generic in contrast to the character design.”