For the King 2

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 7,919 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • stability
For the King 2 Game Cover
For The King 2 is surprisingly one of the most tactically challenging games of 2023, but suffers from being a bit too much of the same next to the previous monarch.
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"For The King 2" is a co-op RPG with tabletop and roguelite elements, where players must gather a party to fight a tyrannical queen and end her oppressive reign. The game promises free updates and significant paid expansions, aiming to expand the world, provide new game modes, and add new adventures, items, weapons, and classes. Players can adventure alone or with up to four players.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,919 reviews
gameplay310 positive mentions
stability547 negative mentions
  • Improved combat mechanics with a grid system that adds depth and strategy.
  • The addition of a fourth character allows for more diverse party compositions.
  • Frequent updates and patches from the developers show commitment to improving the game.
  • Game-breaking bugs and connectivity issues in multiplayer make it frustrating to play.
  • The UI is clunky and unintuitive, making inventory management and combat actions cumbersome.
  • The chapter system forces players to restart with new characters, reducing the sense of progression.
  • gameplay1,035 mentions

    The gameplay of "For the King II" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the expanded mechanics and the addition of a fourth character, which enhances strategic options in combat. However, issues such as bugs, a clunky user interface, and some frustrating mechanics have detracted from the overall experience, leading to a perception that while the core gameplay remains enjoyable, it is marred by technical problems and balance issues. Overall, players who enjoyed the first game will find familiar elements alongside new features, but the execution has left some feeling disappointed.

    • “I think the new mechanics are great, the subtle addition of movement and secondary and primary actions are really fun to play and build around, especially in multiplayer with friends.”
    • “Absolutely fantastic game that looks beautiful, plays very well, and has an excellent gameplay loop.”
    • “The game builds upon what made the first entry of For the King great, and better balances out some of the gameplay, includes more quests to complete with friends, and new game mechanics that are exciting.”
    • “Crashes at random times and we have lost 6 hours of gameplay because the autosave didn’t work.”
    • “While the gameplay has vast improvements from the previous, with the 4-player and 8 square grid working incredibly well, the simple fact that the chapters of the adventure you are given are so short, finish so anti-climatically, and don't let you carry anything over from the previous chapter(s) is a game-breaking bummer.”
    • “The gameplay itself is marred by a plethora of bugs and technical problems that make the experience frustrating and unenjoyable.”
  • story622 mentions

    The story in "For the King II" is structured into five chapters, offering a more segmented narrative compared to its predecessor, which some players appreciate for its pacing and variety. However, many reviews highlight frustrations with the need to create new characters for each chapter, leading to a loss of progress and continuity. While the game features improved storytelling and character dynamics, it also suffers from pacing issues that encourage rushing through quests, often at the expense of exploration and character development.

    • “The world-building is exceptional, and the lore seamlessly weaves together with the gameplay, making every quest and encounter feel purposeful and connected to the overarching story.”
    • “The story is quirky enough to make you subconsciously smile here and there.”
    • “The improved storyline for single player and increased strategic options give more depth to it.”
    • “The way the game's story is told, it really encourages you to rush, and finish objectives.”
    • “You can't do sidequests, you can't explore, you can't do combat to level up to be more comfortable with the story mission encounters, you're forced to rush through everything or else that great run you have going?”
    • “One huge no from me - the game doesn't let you play/progress with your characters through the whole story - the game makes you create a new party of fresh characters every chapter...that kinda sucks, because you lose all your progress and hard-earned loot.”
  • stability577 mentions

    The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, especially in multiplayer modes. While the developers have made efforts to address these issues through patches, players still experience frequent crashes, freezes, and UI problems, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, while some find the game enjoyable despite its flaws, many recommend waiting for further updates before diving in.

    • “I'm writing this at 30 something hours of only multiplayer and the game runs great.”
    • “It runs great on my computer and they are constantly updating.”
    • “For what it's worth, playing online co-op multiplayer on Arch Linux has given me a smooth and bug-free experience, barring the initial verifying of game files to get multiplayer working.”
    • “Game then freezes and I have to restart my PC due to no longer having internet or the game will just blue screen my PC.”
    • “This far out from release, this game still constantly has desyncs or freezes that force the whole party back to the main menu, or even better, make me have to alt-f4 the game in order to then have to load back into the lobby again.”
    • “Extremely disappointing just how glitchy it is. Tons of the GUI don't show up; the only fix is to restart the game, which is incredibly annoying. Also, the game crashes constantly, multiplayer doesn't work. They shouldn't have even released the game if it was to be so buggy; they should have released it at least two years later.”
  • graphics432 mentions

    The graphics in "For the King II" have received significant upgrades compared to the first game, with many players praising the higher fidelity visuals and improved animations that enhance the overall aesthetic. However, some users have noted that these improvements come at the cost of performance, leading to optimization issues and a cluttered user interface. While the new art style is appreciated by many, others feel it lacks the charm of the original's simpler graphics, resulting in mixed feelings about the visual direction of the sequel.

    • “The graphics have undergone a significant upgrade, immersing players in a stunning and vibrant universe that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.”
    • “First and foremost, the visuals are breathtaking.”
    • “Graphics are gorgeous, campaign mode is incredible.”
    • “The graphics 'improvements' make the game more un-optimized and harder to run for more people.”
    • “The charm of For the King's simple low-poly art style and goofy death animations have been stripped away to make room for a muddy, unappealing graphical overhaul.”
    • “It's like they released the first game, but with better graphics at the cost of everything else.”
  • optimization180 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and crashes, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users with high-end rigs experience smooth gameplay, others find the game unplayable due to overheating and frequent disconnects. Despite ongoing improvements from the developers, many feel that the game still lacks proper optimization and polish, leading to frustration among players.

    • “Great gratitude to the dev for continuing to improve the game's performance and gameplay.”
    • “Performance is already drastically better than it was last week at launch.”
    • “The game now runs smoothly, with impressive optimization, improved FPS, and fewer crashes.”
    • “The graphics 'improvements' make the game more unoptimized and harder to run for more people.”
    • “Still not optimized, terrible overheating issues (all 4 of us faced the same issue), and frequent disconnects on co-op.”
    • “It's almost unplayable in its current state with the bugs and poor optimization.”
  • music134 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many noting that it complements various environments and events beautifully. However, some players have expressed concerns about the lack of variety in the soundtrack, leading to repetitiveness over time, and the removal of musical classes from the previous game has left a notable absence for fans. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, there are mixed feelings regarding its diversity and the absence of music-based gameplay elements.

    • “The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The music perfectly complements the various environments and events, adding an extra layer of immersion to the gaming experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is utterly beautiful for this game.”
    • “But it's basically the same as FTK 1, with a worse UI, same music, same classes except for one.”
    • “I was starting to grow tired of the music after about 150 hours of it in FTK1, so it's not super fun to already be tired of the music in a brand new game.”
    • “Enemy encounters barely give any XP, the music in this one is complete garbage, had to mute everything.”
  • replayability116 mentions

    Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse character classes, customizable party options, and randomly generated maps, which keep gameplay fresh and engaging. While some players noted that the linear paths can diminish replay value, many appreciated the endless dungeon mode and various campaign challenges that enhance replayability. Despite some initial bugs, the game's improvements and quality of life updates have made it significantly more enjoyable and replayable compared to its predecessor.

    • “This is an absolute masterpiece. Despite a few bugs it had on release, I think they've genuinely made one of the best turn-based RPGs ever. It has so much to offer and so much replayability; you could sink hundreds of hours into this game and still remain excited for a new run.”
    • “The randomization adds a lot of replayability.”
    • “Campaigns last hours, with lots of variety in builds and team composition for replayability.”
    • “Unfortunately, it being scenario-based and not mode-based really takes a lot of the replayability out of the game.”
    • “The game theoretically has a lot of replayability, but I found that the game got old rather quickly.”
    • “Tl;dr, replayability is lost when the path is linear; exploration is punished when every turn feels like a race against the clock.”
  • humor90 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players frequently laughing at the absurdity of situations, funny bugs, and the playful banter among friends during gameplay. The witty dialogue, amusing character names, and hilarious ragdoll physics contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere that enhances the multiplayer experience. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with engaging mechanics, making it a fun and entertaining choice for group play.

    • “Every time we play we are dying laughing at the silliness.”
    • “The game is a hilarious and fun experience with friends.”
    • “I've had so many great times laughing at the stupid situations we would get ourselves into or even just having fun with some stupid names we would give our characters.”
  • grinding80 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in later chapters where leveling up becomes a necessity for progression. While some enjoy the opportunity to farm for gear and appreciate the random events that break up the grind, others feel that the overall experience is marred by poor UI, frustrating mechanics, and a lack of engaging content. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “First two chapters were fun but the third chapter is absolute garbage; you almost instantly can't progress without grinding to level seven.”
    • “You literally just walk around grinding experience until you get high enough level to do the final dungeon while having to deal with scourges and minecarts that'll game over you if you ignore them.”
    • “Right now, it's a grindy, buggy, unbalanced mess.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, blending a cute yet punishing D&D-inspired aesthetic with beautiful graphics and a relaxing ambiance reminiscent of its predecessor. The soundtrack and improved sound effects significantly enhance the overall experience, making the atmosphere a top priority for players. While maintaining the adventure feel, the game also embraces its roguelite nature, adding depth to the atmospheric experience.

    • “The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “+ beautiful graphics and they managed to keep the relaxing atmosphere of the first part.”
    • “It's a cute yet punishing DnD-esque game; atmosphere should be one of the highest priorities.”
    • “The first is to remember that despite this game having the look and feel and atmosphere of an adventure, it is still a roguelite.”
    • “The game has the same feel and atmosphere as the first one but with a little bit of improvement.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the absence of aggressive microtransactions and the ability to earn in-game currency through gameplay, others criticize it as a cash grab that fails to deliver substantial new content. Additionally, frustrations arise from the inability to skip ads and cinematic sequences.

    • “They don't scam you to death with microtransactions and they listen to their players.”
    • “You can start with unique abilities you can buy in the lore store (no microtransactions, lore is a game currency you earn by playing).”
    • “Cash grab and doesn't really introduce much new content.”
    • “What a disappointment they went for a cash grab.”
    • “Can't skip into ads and no option to automatically skip into cinematic.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience with the game, highlighting moments of intense connection and vulnerability, particularly during challenging gameplay that can lead to feelings of loss and frustration. The combination of engaging mechanics and impactful narrative elements evokes strong feelings, making players feel both alive and heartbroken at times.

    • “I liked it, I was good at it, and it made me feel alive.”
    • “It died like 3 fights later and I cried.”
    • “And the two lives that it cost me within the first 7 minutes of the run made me feel pretty disadvantaged pretty early.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development is praised for its interesting and well-thought-out design, but players feel that the main quest's pacing hinders exploration and deeper character growth. The multiplayer aspect enhances the experience, yet the focus on boss events may detract from personal character journeys.

    • “The character design is interesting and well thought out.”
    • “Boss events are great, but the main quest shouldn't be pushed as hard to allow exploration and character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy For the King 2

Play time

11hMedian play time
31hAverage play time
4-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 78 analyzed playthroughs

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