Hands of Necromancy II

About

Hands of Necromancy II is a single player shooter game with fantasy, dark fantasy and violence themes. It was developed by HON Team and was released on September 16, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Will you once again don the mantle of the original Necromancer and prove his supremacy, or will you play as the new female up and comer, to show the world the true meaning of the word “power”? Each character has their own distinct weapons, spells, transformation abilities, as well as personality! No matter your choice, the journey will be difficult and fraught with danger, taking you through stun…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Authentic old-school fantasy FPS experience inspired by classics like Heretic and Hexen, with satisfying spell-based combat and well-designed level layouts.
Diverse gameplay mechanics including necromancy (reviving enemies as allies) and shapeshifting transformations that add depth to combat and exploration.
Outstanding atmospheric elements, particularly the soundtrack, which is highly praised and considered one of the best aspects of the game.

Level design can be frustrating with maze-like segments, excessive backtracking, and obscure secret locations that detract from the overall flow.
Technical and UI issues such as confusing item management, poor control schemes, frequent darkness causing visibility problems, and occasional performance or stability concerns.
Enemy variety and AI are limited, with some enemies feeling uninspired or behaving erratically; combat can sometimes feel slow or lacking impact.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
62%
13%
Gameplay in the game is praised for its punchy combat, novel necromancy mechanic, and engaging puzzle elements that add metroidvania-style progression, improving notably over its predecessor. While some find the gameplay average with unremarkable enemies and traditional magic attacks, others appreciate the tighter, more focused level design, resource management, and overall retro-inspired flow. The removal of hub exploration for a more linear, run-and-gun style enhances pacing, making gameplay one of the strongest aspects despite some rough edges in AI and controls.
- “The combat flow makes the spells feel punchy, the necromancy mechanic is novel and well integrated, and if you're a fan of the 'build engine' look, this game is about as pretty as it gets.”
- “This mechanic adds a puzzle-like layer to level design, turning environments into spaces that must be read and revisited with newly unlocked capabilities in mind.”
- “Among many retro shooters on Steam, Hands of Necromancy 2 stands out as one of the best and despite low-fi aesthetic and the engine that is getting a bit long in the tooth, its strong gameplay and level design shine through.”
- “This improves enough over the first game to actually be worth playing, but it is incredibly average in every way: the music, the gameplay, the level design, the art style, all of it is passable.”
- “However, the enemies are not that interesting mechanically.”
- “Bad sprites, bad audio, bad AI, bad controls and mechanics.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised, described as phenomenal, atmospheric, and richly complementing the dark fantasy tone. Many reviewers highlight its originality, emotional depth, and standout tracks, with some calling it one of the best game soundtracks they've heard. The soundtrack significantly enhances the overall experience, often prompting players to pause just to listen.
- “The sound design complements this well, with impactful spell effects, ominous ambient audio, and a soundtrack that underscores the dark fantasy tone without dominating the experience.”
- “The first game had some solid themes, but here the composer has pushed the chips all-in; individual songs wander between strange eerie vocal passages to moments of quiet beauty, with guitar and flute used to particularly great effect.”
- “The one element of the game that has really taken me by surprise is the excellent music, it just amps up the atmosphere and vibe a ton, it's so flipping good.”
- “The music is also kind of random, but the songs themselves are phenomenal.”
- “This improves enough over the first game to actually be worth playing, but it is incredibly average in every way: the music, the gameplay, the level design, the art style, all of it is passable.”
- “And then there's the music.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The graphics in Hands of Necromancy 2 feature retro, low-fi visuals typical of GZDoom shooters, with colorful, fantasy-themed environments and nostalgic 90s-style aesthetics. While the graphics are generally considered average or dated compared to modern standards, the level design and art style are praised for their beauty and nostalgic charm, though visibility and some layout aspects can occasionally be confusing. Overall, the visuals complement the gameplay but don't significantly innovate beyond the original game.
- “The level designs and textures sent me back to childhood with simple yet beautiful aesthetics I loved growing up in the 90s.”
- “Graphics and most of all the level design is very impressive, though it can sometimes be difficult to find the next step.”
- “I've so far not been confused on where to go at any point; you'll unlock shortcuts back to previously locked doors after obtaining the key for them, and as far as aesthetics go, the levels are gorgeous.”
- “Hands of Necromancy II is one of those old-timey games, with dated graphics, bit weird controls (despite the control overhaul) and the very typical kind of map.”
- “The graphics are very bad, like worse than original Doom, and the controls are a bit janky.”
- “The game uses the same engine and graphics from the first Hands of Necromancy game, but the environments are more disjointed.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
13%
The game features a detailed and bold visual style with clear enemy silhouettes and impressive spell effects, creating an engaging and expansive atmosphere enhanced by excellent 90's-inspired music. While praised for its immersive environments and unique magical weaponry, some feel it lacks the eerie, brooding vibe and challenge of its predecessor, though it remains atmospheric and technically well-designed.
- “Enemy silhouettes are clear, spell effects are bold, and environments are detailed enough to feel atmospheric without overwhelming the player.”
- “An atmospheric first-person shooter with an emphasis on large sprawling levels, exploration, and unique magical weaponry.”
- “As a bonus, it has amazing in-game music that made me stop more than a few times to just listen, and generally a top-notch 90's atmosphere throughout the whole experience.”
- “It's unfortunately a very linear game that doesn't have the eerie, brooding atmosphere of the original game.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The story in the game is minimal and lacks coherence, serving mostly as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a rich narrative. While there are a few cutscenes and some character-specific elements, the emphasis is clearly on action and exploration rather than plot development.
- “Hands of Necromancy Two is basically like the first one, but with way better gameplay, another playable character, more power-ups, and smaller but more focused maps which greatly improve the pace.”
- “Hands of Necromancy Two offers two playable characters with distinct stories shown in multiple cutscenes, enhancing the narrative depth.”
- “The game features a story layout that contributes to a coherent and engaging experience.”
- “There is not much story to tell, just wandering and shooting in random areas without much context or plot.”
- “Hands of Necromancy Two is basically like the first one, but with way better gameplay, another playable character, more power-ups, and not much story (if you don't count the three cutscenes, or six if we consider the other character's story).”
- “Story layout is poor.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's replayability is boosted by its dual-character structure, offering varied experiences depending on the character played. However, with only two similar characters and limited differences in their arsenals, the variation in playstyle and overall replay value is somewhat limited compared to games like Hexen.
- “This dual-character structure significantly enhances replayability, as levels and encounters feel subtly different depending on who you control, encouraging multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate the game’s systems.”
- “There are only two playable characters to choose from, and their arsenals are too similar to each other to provide different play styles or replay value, unlike the Hexen games.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect tedious and slow, criticizing the movement and weapon system for lacking the fast-paced, dynamic feel of games like Quake 1.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s optimization is generally smooth, but some users may mistake intentional in-game control restrictions during tutorials for stuttering or crashes, indicating occasional confusion rather than technical issues.

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