Hunting Simulator 2
- June 30, 2020
- Neopica
- 6h median play time
Slow-paced, relaxing, but with bursts of excitement, it's the best way to hunt without facing the weather.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Hunting Simulator 2" offers an immersive hunting experience in stunning locations worldwide. Track and hunt over 33 animal species using authentic weapons and gear. Online multiplayer mode allows for cooperative hunting with friends, while the new territories and challenges provide endless hunting opportunities.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features great visuals and sound design, creating an immersive atmosphere.
- The addition of a hunting dog adds a unique and enjoyable mechanic to the gameplay.
- The game offers a relaxing experience, allowing players to enjoy nature while hunting.
- The hunting laws and restrictions can be frustrating and unrealistic, limiting gameplay.
- Animal behavior and AI are often unrealistic, leading to repetitive and unengaging experiences.
- The user interface and overall game mechanics feel clunky and outdated, detracting from the overall experience.
- graphics41 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful environments and clean visuals, while others criticize outdated animal models and performance issues like lag. Many users note that while the graphics can be impressive, they often fall short compared to other titles in the genre, leading to a sense of inconsistency in quality. Overall, the visuals are seen as a strong point for some, but many agree that there is significant room for improvement.
“The graphics and environment look gorgeous, and you can bring a dog to help you hunt.”
“Very nice graphics and loads of fun.”
“Its a very fun and relaxing game; I would recommend it. The graphics are amazing, the animals look decent, and overall I think the game is pretty amazing!”
“Very small maps with very outdated graphics.”
“Also, the animal graphics are absolutely horrid, like 20 years ago horrid... the scope sway is worse.”
“I haven't seen graphics and animations this bad in a while.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of enjoyment and frustration, with some players appreciating the unique dog mechanics and graphics, while others criticize the lack of direction, poor mechanics, and limited encounters. The game is described as a blend of simulation and arcade elements, but many feel it falls short in providing a satisfying experience, often resembling a walking simulator. Overall, while there are enjoyable aspects, the gameplay is marred by issues that detract from its potential as a hunting game.
“What I really like is that some of the game mechanics are different from TheHunter: COTW.”
“As a big fan of hunting games (been playing them since 'Deer Hunter: The 2005 Season', published by Atari), I must say I like this game. It has nice graphics, nice gameplay, decent sound, and the wide selection of weapons, animals, and big maps make this an enjoyable experience.”
“Despite the title, the gameplay is somehow in between a simulator and an arcade game, but it has enough realism and challenge to make it worth buying if you are a hunting games fan!”
“In 6 hours of playtime, both ambushing and stalking gameplay styles produced no encounters.”
“This game is a boring slog; you're given no direction other than the first tutorial, the dog mechanic is useless and a pain.”
“It looks like a cheap Unity game without any gameplay idea or progression.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the hunting simulation game is generally viewed as minimal and lacking depth, with most players noting that it does not offer a traditional narrative experience. While there are attempts at storytelling, such as the ranger mode and a brief tutorial, these elements are often overshadowed by the gameplay focus on hunting. Additionally, some players express dissatisfaction with specific narrative elements, such as the love triangle in the DLC, indicating a desire for more engaging and meaningful story content.
“Not as predictable and simplified as 'Hunter: Call of the Wild', and not as story-driven and easy as 'Way of the Hunter'.”
“Being a hunting simulation game, HS2 really doesn’t have a story that other games would have, except for the newly added Ranger mode.”
“Being a hunting simulation game, HS2 really doesn’t have a story that other games would have, except for the newly added ranger mode.”
“The hunting simulations of the current generation have mostly neglected this aspect altogether; the only semblance of a story comes in the beginning via a short tutorial, which is understandable since you are, after all, hunting.”
“The love triangle in the DLC story mode makes me want to puke!”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning attention to detail in landscapes, weather effects, and sound design, creating an immersive and serene environment. Players find it to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful settings in a video game, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a relaxing experience. Overall, the natural atmosphere significantly enhances the gameplay.
“The attention to detail in the landscapes, weather effects, and even the sound design creates an immersive and serene atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere you feel when you start the game is honestly one of the most beautiful and peaceful environments I have seen in a video game.”
“I like the look and feel of the game; the sounds in the different areas are atmospheric.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the absurdity of its DLC offerings and the comically exaggerated animations, which can break immersion if scrutinized for too long. Overall, players find the humor to be a notable, if sometimes distracting, aspect of the experience.
“The fact that there are DLCs is absolutely hilarious.”
“The animations are hilarious and can destroy immersion if you look at them for too long.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat excessive, particularly due to the need to frequently return to the lodge for licenses, but they see potential for improvement if the developers continue to support and enhance the game.
“It's grindy, and the license system means you always have to go back to the lodge to get more licenses.”
“Kinda grindy but has lots of potential if the devs actually stick with it.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's beautiful graphics and well-designed maps, which contribute to its high replayability without sacrificing performance.
“The game features stunning graphics and beautiful maps, all while maintaining great replay value without sacrificing performance.”
“The replayability is impressive, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh and exciting.”
“I love how each run feels different due to the variety of gameplay options and challenges available.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received positive feedback, with players appreciating its performance and realistic challenges, particularly in resource harvesting.
“I fell in love with the performance of the game - it is very difficult to harvest something (just as it is in real life).”
“The game runs poorly on my system, even with the lowest settings.”
“I constantly experience frame drops and stuttering, which ruins the immersion.”
“The optimization is lacking; it feels like the game was rushed out without proper testing.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as potentially exploitative, suggesting that the developers may prioritize profit over player experience, leading to perceptions of a rushed or poorly executed product.
“It feels like the developers are more interested in squeezing money out of players than creating a balanced and enjoyable experience.”
“The monetization strategy is so aggressive that it ruins the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“It seems like the team behind it was either looking for a quick cash grab or the interns that built it have already moved on to their proper jobs.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express a mix of emotional experiences, highlighting moments of awe and connection with wildlife, such as having elk approach closely, contrasted with frustration from ducks getting stuck, which adds a layer of unpredictability to their interactions.
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game exhibits excellent stability, with no glitches or technical issues noted.
“The game runs smoothly without any glitches.”
“I haven't encountered any bugs or crashes during my playtime.”
“The overall stability of the game is impressive; it feels very polished.”
Critic Reviews
Hunting Simulator 2 (Nintendo Switch)
Real-life hunters should appreciate Hunting Simulator 2. Virtual hunters may sometimes find themselves in want, as this game can straddle the line between relaxing and dull. But it should grow on you, as your canine companion also grows beside you. You’ll develop “nerves of steel, and an incredible amount of patience.” Be prepared to invest a lot of time to get the most out of this entertaining if uneven offering, though.
70%Doggone it
The hunting simulation sequel arrives full of dog tech. Does it actually achieve good boy status? Our full review.
40%Hunting Simulator 2 GBAtemp review
Overall, Hunting Simulator 2 is an ok hunting game. If you're looking for absolute realism, with fines and licenses and sitting in one place for 2 hours so you can hunt a thing, you'll love Hunting Simulator 2. But if you want something a little bit more arcade-y or something that doesn't involve hours of running around with nothing to show for it, you're best off finding another hunting game.
70%
