Orcs Must Die! 2

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,643 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • humor
Orcs Must Die! 2 Game Cover
Addictive and satisfying however you play, despite some difficulty spikes in single player.
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"Orcs Must Die! 2" is a thrilling action tower defense game where players can choose to be a War Mage or Sorceress, each with their own unique abilities. The game features a new story-based campaign, co-op mode, and an endless mode, all filled with a wide array of weapons, spells, traps, and upgrades to use against countless hordes of orcs and other monsters. Unleash devastating attacks and strategize with a friend to survive and save the day.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,643 reviews
gameplay406 positive mentions
grinding102 negative mentions
  • gameplay840 mentions

    The gameplay of "Orcs Must Die! 2" is a blend of tower defense and third-person shooter mechanics, offering a fun and addictive experience with a variety of traps and weapons. While many players appreciate the cooperative mode and the strategic depth it adds, some express frustration with frequent crashes and a steep difficulty curve in solo play. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics and humor, though it can become repetitive over time.

    • “While I didn't care much for the story myself, the gameplay is just excellent.”
    • “The strategic combination of traps, weapons, and cooperative gameplay creates an exhilarating experience.”
    • “The gameplay is highly addictive!”
    • “This feels like an Android game both quality and gameplay-wise.”
    • “I cannot get past all the gameplay changes.”
    • “There are some charms to this game, but I cannot begin to feel how the game mechanics, the skull system, and everything are just so badly done.”
  • story612 mentions

    The story in "Orcs Must Die! 2" is generally considered light and humorous, serving primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While it continues from the first game with some entertaining dialogue and character interactions, many players find it simplistic and short, often overshadowed by the engaging tower defense mechanics. Overall, the narrative is enjoyable but not deep, making it more of a fun addition rather than a compelling reason to play.

    • “Awesome game, awesome story line.”
    • “The characters have witty dialogue, and it has a simple, but fun story.”
    • “The story is humorous, the characters have good chemistry, and it is just generally fun to play.”
    • “Nobody gives a f*** about your shitty little plot that seems like it was written by a 12-year-old.”
    • “The story is nothing to be surprised at; at first, I thought the game would get repetitive in a few minutes played.”
    • “The only downside is a shorter story with only 15 maps, with an almost nonexistent plot - like 'only thing that matters is killing everything on sight.'”
  • humor574 mentions

    The humor in "Orcs Must Die! 2" is widely praised for its clever, campy dialogue and quirky character interactions, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. Players enjoy the light-hearted, absurd humor that permeates the game, from the comical traps and character designs to the witty one-liners delivered during combat. While some find the humor can become repetitive over time, many agree that it adds a delightful and entertaining layer to the tower defense mechanics, especially in cooperative play.

    • “The game is full of humor, from the quirky character designs to the witty one-liners.”
    • “Orcs Must Die 2 is a game that takes the humor and absurdity of the original and cranks it up to 11!”
    • “This game is jam-packed with even more silly humor and over-the-top action that will have you laughing out loud.”
    • “It's a decent tower defense / over-the-shoulder TPS, with some 'your mileage may vary' cringey humor.”
  • graphics411 mentions

    The graphics in "Orcs Must Die!" are characterized by a vibrant, cartoony art style that has aged well, maintaining a whimsical charm that complements the game's humor and gameplay. While some players note that the visuals are not groundbreaking compared to modern standards, they appreciate the smooth performance and engaging animations, with slight improvements over the original game. Overall, the graphics are considered solid and fitting for the game's lighthearted tone, making it enjoyable even on lower-spec machines.

    • “The graphics are top-notch, and the variety of enemies keeps every level engaging.”
    • “Great graphics, great animations, solid soundtrack - 100% fun.”
    • “The bright, cartoony visuals are pleasing and have aged extremely well.”
    • “The graphics are a bit rough around the edges, looking somewhat pixelated and making the framerate abysmal if effects fill up most of the screen, but it doesn't happen too often and is a minor inconvenience.”
    • “The graphics aren't the best possible but the top-notch gameplay is enough to keep you satisfied for a long time.”
    • “Unfortunately, the graphics are a bit outdated but who cares, the actual game is great.”
  • replayability346 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with players praising its variety of traps, difficulty settings, and modes such as endless and weekly challenges that encourage experimentation and strategic play. Many reviews highlight the fun of co-op gameplay and the ability to reset upgrades, allowing for diverse playstyles and strategies. While some players noted a potential for burnout after extended play, the overall consensus is that the game offers significant replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for both solo and multiplayer sessions.

    • “The game has a lot of replayability, with different levels, challenges, and difficulty settings to keep you coming back for more.”
    • “With almost infinite replay value, OMD2 should come with a 12-step program.”
    • “The testing of weapon, trap, and trinket combinations can be very rewarding and adds enormous replay value to the game.”
    • “Very little replayability.”
    • “It doesn't really have a replay value, and I find that you start to rely on the same old traps due to having to level them up to be useful.”
    • “While it eventually became repetitive, co-op and unlimited hordes of orcs offer replayability factor.”
  • music140 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and well-composed soundtrack, which effectively complements the gameplay and enhances the overall experience. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive over extended play sessions, many found it enjoyable and fitting for the game's tone, with a mix of orchestral rock and upbeat medieval themes. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The game’s constant mayhem is backed up by an extremely solid soundtrack.”
    • “With varying modes of play, said orcs must be deterred from reaching a rift in either a solo trial or in two-player multiplayer mayhem; combined with a heart-pounding soundtrack of heavy metal riffs mixed with more traditional themes, blasting away orcs has never been more entertaining!”
    • “The soundtrack suits the game perfectly, and I highly recommend you buy the soundtrack even if you don't want to play the game, especially if you like rock.”
    • “Graphics hold up 8 years later, story is meh, sound & voice acting is well done - personally I turn the music down since it can get repetitive and just play my own.”
    • “Also, the soundtrack isn't very remarkable.”
    • “My wife also noted that the music can be a bit grating, which is why I had no one to play with.”
  • grinding110 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Orcs Must Die!" is frequently described as excessive and tedious, particularly when it comes to unlocking and upgrading traps and weapons. While some players find the grind enjoyable, especially in co-op mode, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of farming for resources and the dated upgrade system. Overall, the game is seen as fun in short bursts, but the grinding can detract from the experience, especially for solo players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding!”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Much worse than the first, way less strategy and clever trap making, in exchange for a dated upgrade system that's easiest to upgrade by farming the first level over and over again.”
    • “Don't come into Orcs Must Die as a series without expecting some unwelcome grinding and moments that feel like they were designed so you can't possibly win on your first attempt, but do expect that it'll be somewhat worth your time.”
    • “Grinding is bad enough (maximizing traps, accessories, and weapons is expensive), but having to do it twice because you have to create two separate game files for each character is just increasing the longevity of the game in a bad way.”
  • optimization54 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed reviews; while many players appreciate the smooth performance on various systems and commend the developers for ongoing improvements, others report significant performance issues, particularly in multiplayer modes. Some users note that despite the game's polished graphics, they experience stuttering and network problems, especially in co-op play. Ultimately, while the game is generally well-optimized, it may not perform consistently across all hardware configurations.

    • “Special thanks to the developer for not forgetting the project and improving it further, constant optimization and protection.”
    • “Btw, the game is very well optimized and nicely polished.”
    • “Good cartoonish art, so far it was nicely optimized, no crashes and no FPS lag at all.”
    • “Bought this game full price because I really wanted a tower defense game like it, and I cannot recommend this with all the performance issues this game has. I would only buy on sale for the nostalgia.”
    • “Very cool game, but performance is garbage no matter what system you play.”
    • “Performance issues; I have twice the requirements.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and connectivity issues, particularly in multiplayer modes. Many players have experienced crashes, black screens, and a lack of effective support from developers, leading to frustration despite the game's enjoyable aspects. While some users note minor glitches that do not significantly impact gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial troubleshooting to achieve a stable experience.

    • “High replayability and it runs great!”
    • “It's fun, it's humorous, it runs great.”
    • “Has some minor issues with some driver versions - but overall, the game seems very polished and bug free.”
    • “Too many bugs and glitches.”
    • “We did the usual troubleshooting, delved a little deeper into it to try and find a fix, but unfortunately this really is an issue that only the devs can address; they just don't seem to care considering the quantity of reviews and forum threads with the same issue.”
    • “The game doesn't load, just goes into a black screen and freezes, and there seems to be no proper support for this.”
  • monetization18 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users highlighting the prevalence of microtransactions that detract from the overall gameplay experience. Players express frustration over slow progression unless they spend money, labeling the game as a cash grab filled with numerous DLC packs. Overall, there is a strong sentiment against engaging with in-game purchases, as they feel it undermines the fun and integrity of the game.

    • “This game has limited in-game purchases, which helps maintain a balanced experience.”
    • “I strongly advise against making any microtransactions in this game; it's better to enjoy it without spending extra money.”
    • “Please encourage others not to engage in microtransactions in 'Orcs Must Die!' to preserve the integrity of the gameplay.”
    • “That game felt like a hop on the MOBA bandwagon disaster filled with microtransactions and poorly planned gameplay that took away from the trap-based fun this game offered.”
    • “Sadly, newer games are riddled with microtransactions that have awful slow progression if you don't pay extra.”
    • “Overall, genuine fun is not there like the first one had; this is just a mess and a destitute cash grab, as seen by the numerous DLC packs that are already out.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its lightheartedness, humor, and colorful fantasy aesthetics, creating a fun and engaging experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements, charming characters, and the unique audio design, which together enhance the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. The combination of tight level design and a whimsical tone contributes to a delightful atmosphere that resonates well with the audience.

    • “Excellent soundtrack, interesting design, and unique atmosphere.”
    • “Then they sprinkle in the lighthearted atmosphere and charming characters with the simplistic-yet-captivating mechanics of the game… and it shapes up to be a really fun, delightful experience.”
    • “That banter made the PG atmosphere very tolerable.”
    • “+ campy voice-acting and audio design (though certainly not my cup of tea, personally) admittedly add to the game's theme and atmosphere.”
    • “This expanded sequel to the tower defense from a POV 'in the trenches' retains all of the original's colorful fantasy aesthetics, the tight and tense level design, the comedic physics interactions, and tongue-in-cheek atmosphere.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is characterized by humorous dialogue exchanges between the two playable characters, the warmage and the sorceress, which, while minimal, adds charm and personality to their interactions. The quirky character designs and witty one-liners enhance the comedic tone, with even enemy characters, like the orcs, contributing to the humor through their amusing remarks during gameplay. Overall, the lighthearted approach to character development enriches the gaming experience.

    • “At the start of each level, you'll get some dialogue between the two playable characters, the warmage and the sorceress. They both show some character development, though it's slight, and the dialogue is hilarious. You'll also get occasional lines when you kill monsters and place traps. A personal favorite of mine is when you place tar; the warmage will sometimes say, 'That'll slow 'em up.' The orcs also have some dialogue, and it's hilarious to hear them yelling in pain as they get hit by a swinging mace and then thrown into acid, or complain about not taking battle school before they invaded the fortress.”
    • “The game is full of humor, from the quirky character designs to the witty one-liners.”
    • “But what I like most are the player and enemy character designs.”
    • “At the start of each level, you'll get some dialogue between the two playable characters, the warmage and the sorceress. They both show some character development, though it's slight, and the dialogue is hilarious. You'll also get occasional lines when you kill monsters and place traps. A personal favorite of mine is when you place tar; the warmage will sometimes say, 'that'll slow 'em up.' The orcs also have some dialogue too, and it's hilarious to hear them yelling in pain as they get hit by a swinging mace and then thrown into acid, or complain about not taking battle school before they went and invaded the fortress.”
    • “The character development in the game feels minimal and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
    • “While the character designs are quirky and humorous, the overall development of the characters is disappointing and doesn't evolve throughout the game.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it capable of evoking strong feelings, such as laughter and nostalgia, others feel it lacks depth and emotional engagement. The gameplay is described as entertaining and strategic, focusing on cooperative action rather than emotional storytelling. Overall, it elicits a range of reactions, from joy to disappointment.

    • “10/10 would cry again.”
    • “Unlike Mr. Jackson, this game did not touch me, emotionally or physically.”
    • “Good wholesome orc slaughter, with a gleeful grin and a dash of strategy makes this some of the most engaging co-op action going, as you team up to let the orcs have it, 'right in the face!'.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

Buy Orcs Must Die! 2

Play time

21hMedian play time
124hAverage play time
8hMain story
42hCompletionist
10-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs

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